Needing some style inspiration for spring? Us too! We’re looking to Gisele Bündchen and her closet for advice since we know it always channels timeless elegance. From loose and breezy pants to lightweight sweaters, these 14 rich mom pieces will get you in the spring spirit.
Make your wardrobe look a little extra rich this spring with pieces that stand the test of time. Our roundup includes everything from breezy pants like Bündchen was spotted in here to button up tops. And though these pieces look luxurious, they’re still wallet-friendly with styles starting at just $18. Time to stock up!
14 Gisele Bündchen-Inspired Spring Pieces to Channel Rich Mom Style
Timeless Tops and Sweaters
1. Our Favorite: One of the simplest ways to get Bündchen’s style is with this lightweight crewneck sweater. It’s a spring closet staple!
2. Cable Knit Classic: To recreate the supermodel’s style with this lightweight cable knit, simply pair the sweater with breezy pants or skinny jeans.
3. Understated Elegance: Wear this short-sleeve sweater with everything from jeans to slacks. Pair it with dainty jewelry for minimal style.
4. Breezy Beauty: Perfect for spring trips is this breezy button-up top that over 800 shoppers bought just last month!
Since winning her first Academy Award in 2014, Lupita Nyong’o has constantly stood out on the red carpet. For the Oscars 2025, she wore a custom Chanel gown that landed her at the top of every best-dressed list.
But as they say, it takes a village, and for Nyong’o, 42, it starts with Micaela Erlanger, her longtime stylist who was also behind the Prada dress she wore to take home the 2014 statuette for her role in 12 Years a Slave.
They have worked together for over 10 years and fostered a rare star-and-stylist relationship. Each brings unmatched talent and taste to the table, leading to a close friendship behind the scenes. In fact, the Oscar winner was even a bridesmaid in Erlanger’s destination nuptials.
The amount of prep it took to create Nyong’o’s Oscars look was similar to that of planning a wedding. Nyong’o’s custom gown alone took 660 hours to create, 22,410 embroidery elements and three fittings to perfect.
Meanwhile, Erlanger’s process began six months in advance. “When Lupita was announced as the new global ambassador for the house of Chanel, I got right to work,” the stylist told Us Weekly exclusively.
Erlanger didn’t waste a moment before requesting dozens of lookbooks from Chanel’s HQ in Paris. During her research, she unearthed a rare photo of supermodel Linda Evangelista modeling a look on the Chanel Haute Couture Spring 1991 runway. “Look 74, to be exact,” she diligently noted via Instagram, which immediately tells Us just how precise the stylist is when dressing her clients.
Courtesy of Virgile Guinard
“There’s always an element of storytelling in Lupita’s looks, and this one is no different,” Erlanger said. Classic Chanel codes were woven into the ivory charmeuse dress featuring crystal bugle beads, pearl tassels and straps that poked out from a tweed corset with a satin belt.
Lupita Nyong’o’s 2025 Oscars glam by makeup artist Nick Barose.Courtesy of Virgile Guinard
Erlanger styled the dress with diamond and pearl Chanel high jewelry to deliver an extra layer of Oscars-worthy star wattage, including a Colibri bracelet worn in her hair, Signature de Perles earrings, Signature White Tie bracelet, a Motif Russe ring and a Tweed Icône ring.
“This year, we wanted to channel effortless, classic elegance,” Erlanger told Us. “The design balances structure with fluidity, shimmering embellishments with an ethereal lightness.”
Courtesy of Virgile Guinard
Yet, look after look, Erlanger does not feel pressure to outdo herself when it comes to fashioning Nyong’o for the Academy Awards, who set the sartorial bar in said Cinderella-worthy Oscars dress in 2004.
“That Prada gown was a magical moment — one that we’ll always cherish,” the stylist said. “But I think of it as an opportunity to keep evolving. Lupita is not someone who repeats herself, and neither am I.”
Lupita Nyong’o in custom Prada at the 2014 Academy Awards. Styled by Micaela Erlanger.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
“Every year, we approach award season as a fresh canvas, asking ourselves, ‘What’s the story we want to tell?’ ‘What feels right for this moment in her journey?’” Erlanger continued. “If anything, that history pushes us to keep experimenting and finding new ways to surprise and delight.”
Micaela Erlanger and Lupita Nyong’o in the actress’ getting-ready suite before the 2025 Oscars.Courtesy of Micaela Erlanger
Erlanger found her answer in Evangelista’s 1991 Chanel Haute Couture look. The supermodel was the perfect reference for dressing the new Chanel ambassador, as she was also a longtime muse to the late Chanel Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld — and is now synonymous with the French luxury label, having worn many of Lagerfeld’s most iconic looks for countless campaigns and collections.
Like Nyong’o’s transformative red-carpet aesthetic, Evangelista’s ability to adapt her appearance to suit The Kaiser’s vision ultimately led to her being aptly called “The Chameleon.”
Erlanger also makes it her business to evolve Nyong’o’s look with every public appearance. “In the early years, we leaned into fairytale elegance,” the stylist told Us. “Over time, we’ve played more with avant-garde elements, intricate beading and sculptural shapes. The key is to keep things fresh while staying true to what makes Lupita shine.”
And shine Nyong’o did from head to toe, thanks in no small part to celebrity hairstylist Vernon Francois who Chanel-ified her elegant chignon by pinning pearls throughout.
Lupita Nyong’o’s 2025 Oscars updo by celebrity hairstylist Vernon François.Courtesy of Virgile Guinard
Nyong’o’s longtime makeup artist Nick Barose drew inspiration from the ’90 to give her eyes and lips a pop color with pearlescent highlights. He used Chanel beauty products, including the Ombre Essentielle eyeshadow in Menthe á L’eau (a seafoam green hue), the Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue liquid lipstick in Milky Blueberry and the Jeux de Lumières palette to lend her skin a lit-from-within glow.
“The gown set the tone, but we also wanted her hair and makeup to bring an unexpected element,” Erlanger said of Nyong’o’s “bold and refined” finishing touches. “The accessories and jewelry are never an afterthought but a way to amplify the story that we’re telling.”
“Lupita also loves when a look tells a story — whether through design details, cultural nods or historical references,” Erlanger shared with Us. “She’s daring, she takes risks and she’s always up for a narrative-driven approach to red-carpet dressing.”
Indeed, with Erlanger’s help, Nyong’o has proven to be a chameleon in her own right on the red carpet and now as a Chanel ambassador.
Is anyone else ready to enter their sneaker-head era? Celebs from Emily Ratajkowski to Kate Middleton continue to remind Us of the timelessness of sneakers. If you’re looking for a comfortable, versatile pair to add to your wardrobe ahead of spring, Nordstrom secretly marked down five ultra-popular Adidas sneaker styles we’re adding to cart ASAP.
From trendy, celeb-approved pairs to classic silhouettes, bargain hunters can score up to 50% off. Even better? Find new colorways and other accents you’ll want to stock up on before they go viral. Check out our top picks ahead!
There’s no denying it: The Adidas Samba is a footwear staple among our favorite fashionistas. Rihanna and Hailey Bieber are just two of our favorite A-listers who’ve been spotted in the viral sneaks. If you want to rock the trendy footwear essential, you’re in luck. Adidas just released the celeb-loved style in a new color featuring a trendy green accent shade.
Ready to rock fun, vibrant shades now that spring is finally on the way? Check out the Adidas Gazelle Indoor Sneaker. They come in a playful orange hue that adds the perfect pop of color to any transitional ensemble. Best of all? They’re on sale for 50% off — but not for long!
Meghan Markle and Amal Clooney are just two A-listers who frequently wear the Adidas Stan Smith sneakers. The timeless, lace-up sneaks get a stylish upgrade with the Primegreen Stan Smith iteration. True to the OG style, these sneakers feature the classic, three perforated stripes and a Stan Smith logo. Wondering what’s new? The upper is designed with 50% recycled materials.
These runner-inspired sneakers have been a hit with shoppers for decades. The sleek silhouette features a cushy platform and colorful design. Choose from four on-sale colors (the blue/white/Better Scarlet shade is our fave).
Jolie, 49, joined the Spelman College students at a mother-daughter brunch for Women in Training, Inc. held in Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday, March 1. As Zahara took the podium to address the crowd, her mom looked on from the audience with a smile.
“We’re very happy Zahara came!” Breanna Bennett, the 17-year-old cofounder of WIT, told Us Weekly in a statement. “Her speech was perfection and so vulnerable, yet powerful! It was exactly what we wanted the whole event to be about and it wouldn’t have been the same without her!”
Breanna’s twin sister and cofounder, Brooke Bennett, added that they “were elated” Zahara accepted their invitation to speak at the brunch. “The great thing is that we have now developed a working relationship with Zahara,” she added. “We want to partner with her to take our menstrual equity message globally.”
Women in Training, Inc./Mega
The Bennett twins founded WIT with the goal of alleviating period poverty, which is defined as the inability to afford menstrual hygiene products like tampons and pads. The organization’s signature program is the WITKITS Campaign, which provides monthly donations of canvas bags full of menstrual, hygiene and dental products to at-risk girls, low-income women and nonbinary youth.
Jolie shares Zahara and Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16, with ex-husband Brad Pitt. Zahara enrolled in Spelman, a historically Black women’s college, in 2022. The following year, she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, which counts former Vice President Kamala Harris, Brandy, Wanda Sykes and Yvette Nicole Brown among its famous alumnae.
Women in Training, Inc./Mega
In November 2023, an insider exclusively told Us that Zahara’s transition to life at Spelman has been “really seamless” for her. “Zahara moved onto the Spelman campus [in 2022] so she’s had the past year to adjust to college life,” the source explained. “She never had any problem making friends or blending in with her fellow students.”
Earlier this year, Zahara joined her mom on the red carpet at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, where Jolie was nominated for her performance as famed opera singer Maria Callas in the biopic Maria.
“Z is here,” Jolie told Variety on the red carpet in January, noting that her daughter gave her metallic gown her stamp of approval. “She’s hiding over there ’cause you’re live,” she joked about Zahara not joining her on camera.
“As this awards season comes to a close, I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude for this journey,” Moore, 62, wrote via Instagram on Monday, March 3. “It’s been the ride of a lifetime and we’re just getting started! So grateful for my team, my fellow nominees, and everyone who has made this experience so full of joy and light.”
Moore thanked her colleagues and fans of The Substance, adding, “Thank you to the cast, crew, and fans of @trythesubstance — @isimostar and @coralie_fargeat it’s been such an honor to work alongside you, learn from you, and celebrate this film with you.”
“And a huge congratulations to #MikeyMadison,” she concluded. “Can’t wait to see what you do next .”
The message came after Moore was the favorite to win the Best Actress award for her performance as TV fitness guru Elisabeth Sparkle in The Substance. After Moore scored a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for the role, Madison, 25, was awarded an Oscar for Anora.
“This is very surreal,” Madison said during her acceptance speech. “Forgive me, I’m nervous so I’m going to read off a paper. Thank you so much to the Academy. I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me. So to be here standing in this room today is really incredible.”
Madison also addressed the “sex worker community” in her speech. “I will continue to support and be an ally,” she said. “The women that I’ve had the privilege of meeting from that community have been one of the highlights of this entire incredible experience.”
Ahead of the Oscars, Moore’s daughter Scout Willispraised her performance. “[I’m most proud of] her grace and her absolute joy and love for all of the other nominees,” Willis, 33, exclusively told Us Weekly last month. “She made sure to reach out personally to every other actress in the category in anything she’s been nominated in.”
Willis pointed out how her mother moved through the awards season while being “so unbelievably gracious and humble, and she wants to use this performance and any opportunity she has to speak to be of service. That’s just who she is.”
While presenting an award with Hawn, 79, during the Sunday, March 2, awards show, Garfield, 41, made her emotional by revealing she brought his late mother “the most joy [and] the most comfort” before she died in 2019. “And tonight, I feel very lucky ’cause I get to thank that person from the bottom of my heart. That person is Goldie Hawn,” Garfield added. The actress then thanked him for his kind words.
Hudson, 48, called the onstage interaction “so touching and unexpected” in a Monday, March 3, Instagram post. “Andrew that was beautiful my man. I cried, I laughed, I swelled with pride and then became concerned that my mom was now gonna love Andrew Garfield more than me,” he wrote.
Hudson went on to joke that he’s “still not sure where I stand” with his mother after the Oscars. “She hasn’t responded to my texts so … ” he quipped.
Hawn, for her part, responded to her son’s concerns in the post’s comments section, writing, “I’m sorry I didn’t answer your texts honey, I was talking to Andrew!!!”
Hawn shares Oliver and daughter Kate Hudson, 45, with ex-husband Bill Hudson, and son Wyatt Russell, 38, with longtime partner Kurt Russell. Kurt, 73, also shares son Boston Russell, 45, with ex-wife Season Hubley.
Andrew Garfield and Goldie Hawn speak onstage during the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2025 in Hollywood, California.Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Hawn voiced her appreciation for Garfield in an Instagram post of her own on Monday. “Andrew Garfield is not only a consummate actor but an even more wonderful human being,” she wrote alongside a pic of the pair from the show. “Thank you, sweetheart! .”
Hawn turned this year’s Academy Awards into a fun date night with Kurt. The couple were all smiles walking the red carpet together at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. Fitting with both her name and the Oscars statue, Goldie glittered in a gold satin dress with bejeweled accents. Kurt, meanwhile, looked dapper in a classic black tux, white dress shirt and black bow tie. He completed his look with a pair of tinted glasses.
Garfield rocked a dark brown suit and matching silk shirt on the Oscars red carpet and on stage with Hawn before changing into a gray monochrome look for the Vanity Fair Oscar Party later that night. On the afterparty red carpet, he shared a reunion with his The Social Network costar Jesse Eisenberg.
Both Garfield and Hawn have earned multiple Oscar nominations throughout their respective Hollywood careers. Hawn took home the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1970 for her performance in Cactus Flower. A decade later, she scored a Best Actress in a Leading Role nod for her work in Private Benjamin.
Garfield is a two-time Best Actor in a Leading Role nominee, earning Oscars recognition in 2017 for Hacksaw Ridge and in 2022 for Tick, Tick… Boom!
Perhaps it’s the promise of warm weather, or maybe it’s the recent premiere of The White Lotus season three (this seems likelier), but we’ve been loving linen lately. The lightweight, flax-based fabric is a warm weather staple for a reason. Linen dries quicker than cotton (aka what denim is made of), and it’s ultra-breathable.
Whether you’re visiting a tropical destination or need comfy pants that won’t make you overheat, a pair of linen pants is in order to keep you cool and stylish. Below, find 13 linen pant styles that flatter all body types — starting at just $26!
11 Loose-Fitting Linen Pants to Wear Instead of Jeans This Spring
1. Everyday Staple: Available in navy, green, white or black, these wide-leg linen pants are the breathable basic to have in your wardrobe. And they have pockets!
2. Posh PJs: We accept any excuse to wear our comfy clothes outside. These blue and white striped pants lean into the pajama trend while still feeling adult and put-together.
3. Barreled Beauties: The internet has been all about barreled jeans, but these barreled linen pants are just as flattering and a bit more subtle in their silhouette. The blush tint color is so sweet for spring.
4. Some Slack(s): Take linen from the beach to the office with these sophisticated trousers that can be accessorized with a thin belt and kitten-heeled sandals. Right now they’re up to 60% off!
5. Wide Legs for Days: These roomy pants are so wide, they’re practically gauchos. We’re loving the navy pair because they could pass as flared jeans — but way comfier.
6. Precious Cargos: These pocketed pants are on the cutting edge of current fashion trends and practical to boot. Pair them with a tee and sneakers for a cute, casual look.
7. Big on Baggy: Linen fabric and lantern-style pants are a match that just makes sense. With more than 4,000 reviews and 4.2 stars on Amazon, these all-purpose pants cost less than $40.
8. Not-Your-Average Joggers: These tapered pants hit at the ankle and have a similar silhouette to joggers. Take them from day to night simply by switching out your flip flops with strappy sandals.
9. Gingham Moment: Palazzo pants get a trendy update with this checkered pair. The pants almost look like a chic, full-length skirt due to the ultra-wide legs.
10. Western Wonder: The cowboy motifs, such as boots, horseshoes and bulls, on these blue- and cream-colored Free People pants are too cute. Plus, their slouchy cut is so in style.
11. Cut It Out: This flowy item is a cut above the rest thanks to its cut-outs. Criss-crossed up the side, the slits add visual interest and tons of airflow. Each color is as cute as the next.
Armie Hammer once attempted to hook up with a man after experiencing frustration with women — but it didn’t go quite as well as he hoped.
The actor, 38, revealed he tried “hooking up with a dude one time” during his “The Armie HammerTime Podcast” on Monday, March 3. “It was hilarious because I was like, you know what, women are the worst. Like, gay dudes seem to have it so easy, like so easy.”
To test this theory, Hammer downloaded the dating app Grindr and soon got an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“I’m at a restaurant, my phone blows up and it’s, like, Grindr, and someone else is like, ‘I’m at the same restaurant do you want a b— j– in the bathroom?’” he recalled. “And you’re like, ‘Hey guys, I’ll be back in five minutes.’”
Hammer went to meet the man, but it didn’t take long for him to realize he wasn’t feeling it.
“I remember I met this dude, handsome, French, the whole thing, and I was like, ‘OK, this could work, let’s try this,’” he explained. “I remember I started making out with him and I just remember being like, ‘Urgh, God, beards, like I get it why women like it when you shave. This thing is f—ing rough, how do I get in there?’”
Armie HammerJim Spellman/WireImage
The Call Me by Your Name actor was also put off by the man’s size, adding, “And I remember I put my arms around him and I was like, ‘Oh, my God, and these shoulders are so wide, he’s so big, like he’s almost my height, this is so strange.’ And it did physically for me, absolutely nothing. Not even a twitch.”
Hammer went on to say he felt like he was just “going through the motions” rather than enjoying himself. He ultimately put a stop to the encounter when the man attempted to touch his “flaccid penis.”
The Lone Ranger star’s latest revelation comes weeks after he admitted to cutting the heart out of a live animal and taking a bite.
“You take a bite out of the heart, and you’ve got all your buddies around you, they’re goading you on,” Hammer said during an interview on “The Louis Theroux Podcast” last month. “It’s sort of like an almost overly charged male rite of passage when you go hunting for your first time. Everyone that I know who went hunting for their first time had to do something similar.”
He went on to note that taking the bite was “not for the purpose of any cannibalism or any sexual gratification.”
When host Louis Theroux directly asked whether Hammer is a cannibal, he replied, “You know what you have to do to actually be a cannibal? You have to actually eat human flesh. So, no.”
Hammer’s career in Hollywood effectively ended in 2021 after he was accused of rape by an ex. At the time, various unverified direct messages on social media detailing vivid sexual fantasies — including cannibalism — were attributed to him. He vehemently denied the rape allegations and said all of his sexual encounters were consensual. A Los Angeles Police Department investigation into the claims was closed in May 2023, and Hammer was not charged.
Speaking to Theroux, Hammer claimed that nothing he ever did was against the law, but he admitted that some of his actions made people uncomfortable.
“I left a lot of people in that wake very angry at me for my behavior. … A—— behavior. There’s no way around that,” he said. “Does it make me a d—? Absolutely. Like, I have no problem admitting that. I was a d—. That’s not illegal.”
If you aren’t following Rare Beauty on Instagram, you’re missing out. The brand’s founder, Selena Gomez, is always popping on to talk about her viral beauty products (hello, Soft Pinch Liquid Blush!) and demonstrate how to apply them properly. Recently, however, it was the actress’ accessories that created a buzz. Fans spotted Gomez’s earrings in an Instagram post and immediately wanted the details. Unfortunately, her original pair is over $2,750, but we found a near-identical alternative for under $100!
The Brook & York gold hoops look just like the Jennifer Meyer ones the Emilia Pérez star was seen sporting. Made of 14k gold-plated brass, this lightweight, two-inch pick is a way to make a statement without the discomfort that comes with bulkier alternatives. While hoops are a classic choice for any occasion, be it fancy or casual, part of the draw with this particular pair is the unique hammered pattern. A stainless steel post keeps these earrings secure, and taking care of this option is fairly easy — just keep them away from moisture and clean them with a dry cloth to ensure they last for years to come!
Even if your goal isn’t to copy Gomez’s style, shoppers can confirm that these lookalike hoops are well worth their price tag.
“Sturdy. . . good quality. . . love them!” one reviewer wrote on the Brook & York website. Another added that they were skeptical at first, but admitted that “these are my new favs!”
We’re never opposed to a style splurge, but if you can achieve the same vibe with something more budget-friendly, why not give it a go? However, you’ll want to hurry — now that the secret is out, there’s no telling how long these hoop earrings will be in stock!
Gene Hackman’s family is not jumping to any conclusions about the deaths of the legendary actor and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, before getting all the facts.
“We’re waiting on toxicology. That will tell us everything,” Gene’s nephew Tim Hackman exclusively told Us Weekly on Monday, March 3. “It’s hard to theorize. There are lots of theories out there and I don’t want to speculate. It’s easy to speculate negative theories.”
Tim explained, “The family wants to keep it positive for now and when we know the truth we will deal with it.”
Us confirmed on Thursday, February 27, that both Gene, 95, and his wife, 64, were found dead inside their residence one day prior after authorities were called for a wellness check. (The couple tied the knot in 1991 and lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for more than 30 years before their deaths.)
TheReplacements actor’s daughter Leslie Anne Allen told Us previously that carbon monoxide “was one of the things [police] thought might have happened.” (Gene is survived by his three children, Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie, and granddaughter Annie from his first marriage to Faye Maltese.)
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has since called the deaths “suspicious” after a search warrant revealed the detectives reportedly “found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened, deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom.”
A detective explained in an affidavit obtained by Us that there were signs that the heater was “moved” and “the pill bottle being opened, and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence.” The report noted, “No obvious signs of a gas leak.”
A search warrant obtained by People on Friday, February 28, revealed the previously mentioned pills found by police were Tylenol, unspecified thyroid medication and diltiazem, a medication used to treat high blood pressure.
That same day, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza shed some light on their ongoing investigation. “Both individuals tested negative for carbon monoxide, [and] an initial interrogation was conducted of Mr. Hackman’s pacemaker,” he said in a press conference. “This revealed that his last event was recorded on February 17, 2025. I was advised that a more thorough investigation will be completed.”
The sheriff explained, “According to the pathologist, I think that is a very good assumption” that when Gene’s pacemaker last registered was “hist last day of life.”
Mendoza noted that Gene and Arakawa’s deaths were still under “active investigation” and it had not been determined who died first. He added that they were waiting on several tests, including a toxicology report.
Tim, whose father, Richard Hackman, was Gene’s brother and a stuntman for the Oscar winner, told Us that the description of the scene where the bodies were found has raised a lot of questions.
“My uncle was 95 years old at an age where you think about, ‘OK, it’s time,’” Tim said on Monday. “But from the circumstances now things have changed a bit. It’s a major change.”
Despite having so many unanswered questions about Gene and Arakawa’s deaths, Tim said he is holding onto his fond memories of the actor — including their last in-person interaction when Gene came to his dad’s funeral about 11 years ago.
“He was [living] in Santa Fe, New Mexico,” Tim recalled of that time. “I would call Betsy and give an update on the kids. He’d come to California just to see his family or for the weather.”
Tim remembered that when The Royal Tenenbaums actor came around he was “like any other family member,” but at times his nephew was still starstruck.
“For me personally, it’s something I would find strange because I was a fan and a nephew. There were moments of, ‘Wow, Gene Hackman is in front of me,’” he shared.
Tim revealed that there was also another role Gene played that his fans may not have known. “He was a reconnaissance Marine radio man [and] he felt he didn’t deserve the title but he earned it,” he told Us. “He represented the Marines with pride in his own way. They say Marines lead the way and my uncle sure did and I’m very, very proud.”
When it comes to Gene’s legacy, Tim said he was “looking forward to seeing how the Oscars would remember” his late family member, who won the prestigious award twice — for Best Actor in William Friedkin‘s thriller The French Connection (1971) and for Best Supporting Actor in Clint Eastwood‘s western Unforgiven (1992).
During the 2025 Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2, Gene was among the actors who were honored during the In Memoriam segment of the show. Morgan Freemankicked off the tributes, recalling fond memories with Gene while filming 2000’s Under Suspicion.
“I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work. He received two Oscars, but more importantly, he won the hearts of film lovers all over the world,” Freeman, 87, shared. “Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people will remember me as someone who tried to put in good work.’ I think we speak for us all when I say, ‘Gene, you’ll be remembered for that and for so much more.’ Rest in peace, my friend.”
Tim tuned in for the broadcast, telling Us, “[I] thought they did a good job. I was touched by that.”
During the Sunday, March 2, awards ceremony, O’Brien, 61, quipped, “We’re halfway through the show, which means it’s time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile.” The joke was an apparent reference to Lamar’s scathing Super Bowl LIX halftime performance in February, where Lamar performed his Drake diss track, “Not Like Us.” (Lamar famously accused Drake of pedophilia on the 2024 track, something Drake has denied.)
Skyler Higley, O’Brien’s joke writer, told TMZ on Monday, March 3, that the quip was all about tapping into the pop culture zeitgeist and not a diss toward either artist.
“The idea that it’s being taken as a real call-out or taking sides in any way in the beef is absurd,” Higley, who worked on O’Brien’s former TBS talk show, told the outlet.
During Sunday’s Oscars telecast, O’Brien also delivered some stinging one-liners about Best Actor nominee Timothée Chalamet and Best Actress nominee Karla Sofía Gascón.
Conan O’Brien speaks onstage during the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, California.Kevin Winter/Getty Images
“Timmy Chalamet is up for Best Actor tonight, you’re amazing and you look amazing. I love that suit. You will not get hit on your bike tonight,” O’Brien told the audience inside Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, referring to the actor receiving a fine for taking a rideshare bike to the London premiere of A Complete Unknown. “Safe! Amazing actor. Timothée is nominated for his portrayal of Bob Dylan, yeah. Bob Dylan wanted to be here tonight, but not that badly.”
Addressing Gascón, whose past offensive X posts resurfaced following her Oscar nomination for Emilia Pérez, O’Brien joked, “Karla, if you’re going to tweet about the Oscars, remember, my name is Jimmy Kimmel.”
“There are times where you think, ‘We’ve got a good joke here, but I’m not gonna do it. It doesn’t feel right.’ We made a lot of changes backstage,” O’Brien told E! News at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. “You just decide, ‘Oh, this is a better joke,’ or you think of something in the moment, and you just go with it, and those can be blessings.”
Thankfully, O’Brien’s hosting style went down well with the A-listers in attendance.
“There’s the agony of before — preparation, getting ready — and that goes on for months. Then we worked so hard that by the time we got to the point where it was time to go, I couldn’t wait. And it was a really great crowd. They were laughs, thank God,” he told E! News.
As a shopping writer and petite fashion girlie, I’ve mastered the art of making myself look a little taller and leaner with the help of dresses. My secret lies in selecting styles that have elongating silhouettes, vertical details to draw the eye up and fabrics that skim the body without adding bulk. To make a petite frame look longer, aim for dresses with a v-neckline, an adjustable tie waist or ruching for that cinched-in look, or a tailored silhouette to create a streamlined effect.
Whether you’re looking to elevate your wardrobe with a boutique-looking dress or want to keep it casual with a comfortably-cute pick, this roundup offers a range of petite dress styles for everyone. Below, shop 15 petite-friendly spring dress styles I’m most excited to grab ahead of spring. Even better, these slimming styles start at just $20.
15 Petite-Friendly Spring Dresses to Look Taller and Leaner
1. Our Absolute Favorite: Checking all of the boxes for a streamlined silhouette is this boutique-style mini dress that has a defined waist, tailored look and v-neckline.
2. New and Notable: Bringing Us petites high-end style while on a budget is this designer-looking mini dress that features a cinched waist.
3. Shopper-Favorite: With over 9,600 five-star ratings, shoppers can’t get enough of this ruffled floral dress that features a deep v-neckline, which draws the eye upward.
4. Wrap Dress Wonder: The diagonal details of this flared wrap dress define and elongate the body.
5. Rich Mom Style: Nail the rich mom aesthetic this spring with this striped shirt dress from Steve Madden. The vertical lines create a streamlined effect.
6. Stunning Swiss Dot: This smocked midi dress pairs perfectly with a denim jacket and strappy sandals.
7. Floral and Fabulous: Show off the legs in this floral paisley dress from Petal & Pup that creates the illusion of length.
8. Chic Shirtdress: Channel quiet luxury style in this timeless mini shirtdress that’s best accessorized with a waist-cinching belt.
9. Elevated Comfort: Combining comfort with flattering style is this tie waist mini dress.
10. Waist-Flattering: Perfect for spring brunches, this stunning, puff-sleeve mini dress ties at the waist and has a ruffled hem.
11. Puff-Sleeve Princess: A go-to brand for petites, Abercrombie has a new puff-sleeve mini dress that comes in short girl sizing.
12. Create an Hourglass: Give your body some extra shaping with this smocked waist dress from Anthropologie that fakes an hourglass shape.
13. Boutique-Looking: Get boutique-looking style for less with this lace trim mini dress that’s now on sale at Gap.
14. Date Night Perfection: Be comfy and cute for your next date night with this little black dress that over 2,000 shoppers bought within the last month!
15. Designer-Looking: Looking like it came straight from a designer boutique is this slimming striped dress that comes in a plethora of pastel spring colors.
There may be thousands of neck creams on the market right now, but few rarely deliver on their promises to minimize lines and restore the area to its youthful appearance. Plus, these products tend to cost a fortune. If you’re shopping for a new formula to add to your routine — as in, one that actually yields visible results — it’s time to snag the goPure Neck Firming Cream from Amazon.
The firming neck cream is powered by active ingredients that work to reduce the appearance of sagging, crepey-looking neck skin. The formula includes hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, shea butter and wrinkle-reducing Bakuchiol — all of which are dermatologist-tested and meant to be gentle on the skin. At the same time, the neck cream is meant to pack a punch, providing a bit of lift while reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Another plus is that goPure Beauty’s formulas never include formaldehyde, parabens or dyes, making the products must-haves in your skincare routine.
When it comes to application, the luxurious, lightweight cream immediately melts into your skin, leaving it feeling nourished and soothed sans a greasy finish. Be sure to apply the product to clean skin before massaging it into the neck and decollete area.
Over 30,000 Amazon shoppers added the neck cream to their carts this month — proving it’s a sought-after skincare solution for many.
It’s “magic in a jar,” one impressed customer said. “I am writing this one in shock because I have bought ALL the things,” they continued. “I have been using this for two to three weeks. Honestly, I paid no attention to my neck until randomly this morning, I noticed it. I had to double and triple take, then had to scroll my phone to find a photo from the same side and in the same room. MINDBLOWN on how well this one has worked.”
“This product tightens loose, sagging skin in the neck area,” another wrote. “Just bought my second jar. It goes on smoothly and is not greasy. I’ve lost some weight in the neck area, and it has helped to firm my neck.”
“The best neck cream on the market,” someone else raved. “It makes your neck feel tight and moisturized without heaviness. The cream is lightweight, and the smell is not overpowering. For the price, I would recommend it to any woman or man who wants to keep their neck looking fabulous!”
With such promising reviews, we’re sold. What are you waiting for? Head to Amazon to stock up on this skincare essential.
Ahead of the Tuesday, March 4, premiere of her new Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, was surprised with a sweet note and gorgeous bouquet of flowers from her family to celebrate the launch.
Meghan shared a snap of the thoughtful gift via her Instagram Stories on Monday, March 3.
“Congratulations Mumma! We love your show and we love you!” reads a handwritten note accompanying an arrangement of pink and white flowers, including pink roses.
The sweet message — written on light pink paper — is hand-signed by all of the family, including Harry, 40, who signed off as “Papa,” Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3, who wrote “Lili.”
Meghan’s new lifestyle series features the duchess offering tips for cooking, baking, crafting and hosting with help from friends including comedian Mindy Kaling and chef Roy Choi.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Us Weeklyrecently watched advanced screeners of all eight With Love, Meghan episodes and can confirm that the show features sweet nods and references to Meghan’s family.
In the debut episode, Meghan made homemade bath salts out of arnica, lavender and pink Himalayan sea salt.
“We have a lot of Arnica in my house,” she said. “Toddler life! Lots of bumps and bruises.”
During Meghan’s DIY process, she revealed that her former Suits makeup artist Daniel Martin was due for a visit and gushed that Archie and Lili call him “Uncle Daniel.”
“He was in my life for the before, during and after, shall we say,” she said, subtly referring to her life as the Duchess of Sussex.
In another episode, featuring Choi, Meghan told Choi that she often makes a crudité platter for Archie and Lili. “We have them every day because that’s how our kids love eating vegetables,” she said.
Meanwhile, in the second episode, Meghan shared some sweet insights into her home life with Harry while cooking up a feast for Kaling. “I have a family, a husband who no matter what meal is put in front of him, before he tastes it, always puts salt on,” she said. “So, I try to undersalt.” Kaling chimed in, joking, “I love knowing that your husband likes it salty!”
Meghan Markle had a “magical” surprise for some of her most loyal fans.
The Duchess of Sussex surprised longtime supporters who followed her former lifestyle blog, The Tig, at a special New York City screening of her new Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, on Monday, March 3.
Meghan, 43, documented the surprise with photos and videos shared via her Instagram Stories Monday. “OK, we have a big surprise in store for girls who have been following The Tig and everything else for so long,” she said in a clip filmed outside the screening room.
“They don’t know I’m coming,” she added as she entered the theater, much to the surprise of the audience. “What do you guys think?” Meghan asked as she greeted her shocked fans.
The duchess shared more photos and videos of her hugging and talking to some of her most loyal fans. She captioned one image, “The girls that have been supporting me for nearly a decade!”
Meghan also got some surprises of her own. She shared a picture of two fans with tattoos bearing the logo of her recently rebranded lifestyle company, As Ever. In a video, she also received friendship bracelets that appear to be gifts for her and Prince Harry’s two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.
Courtesy of Meghan Markle/Instagram
Meghan shared a photo of an autumnal floral display with branding for her show visible in the background. “Thank you [Netflix] for hosting this magical evening!” she wrote over the pic.
Meghan’s eight-episode show premieres on Netflix on Tuesday, March 4. Us Weekly recently watched advance screeners of all eight episodes, which feature Meghan sharing her tips for cooking, baking, crafting and hosting with the help of friends including Mindy Kaling.
During the episode with Kaling, Meghan revealed that her last name is now Sussex. “It’s so funny, you keep saying ‘Markle,’” she told the actress. “You know it’s Sussex now. You have kids and you go, ‘I share my name with my children.’ I didn’t know how meaningful it would be to me, but it just means so much to go, ‘This is our family name.’ Our little family now.”
Meghan also shared with Kaling that her husband, Harry, 40, always seasons his food. “I have a family, a husband who no matter what meal is put in front of him, before he tastes it, always puts salt on,” she said. “So, I try to undersalt.” Kaling chimed in, joking, “I love knowing that your husband likes it salty!”
Millie Bobby Brown is hitting back at “disturbing” comments about her appearance.
The Stranger Things star shared an impassioned video via Instagram on Monday, March 3, calling out media articles “dissecting” her looks.
“I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me, something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny,” Brown, 21, captioned the post, sharing the transcript of her video.
“I think it’s necessary to speak up about this. I started in this industry when I was 10 years old. I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me. Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things Season 1. And because I don’t, I’m now a target,” she continued.
The Electric State actress went on to call out a series of recent headlines that she said are “desperate to tear young women down,” including pieces titled, “Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown ageing so badly?” and “What has Millie Bobby Brown done to her face?”
Pointing out one particular article, titled “Little Britain’s Matt Lucas takes savage swipe at Millie Bobby Brown’s new ‘mommy makeover’ look,” the British star said the piece amplified “an insult rather than questioning why a grown man is mocking a young woman’s appearance.”
“This isn’t journalism. This is bullying. The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, it’s disturbing,” Brown shared. “The fact that some of these articles are written by women? Even worse. We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when the time comes, it seems easier to tear them down for clicks. Disillusioned people can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not theirs.”
The Enola Holmes star went on, “I refuse to apologize for growing up. I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman. I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself. We have become a society where it’s so much easier to criticize than it is to pay a compliment. Why is the knee-jerk reaction to say something horrible rather than to say something nice? If you have a problem with that, I have to wonder—what is it that actually makes you so uncomfortable?”
“Let’s do better. Not just for me, but for every young girl who deserves to grow up without fear of being torn apart for simply existing,” Brown concluded her post.
This isn’t the first time Brown has hit back at criticism of her appearance.
Netflix
In January, the actress clapped back at internet trolls who claimed she looked older than her age via Instagram. “Women grow!!” she wrote in a since expired Instagram Story, per Page Six. “Not sorry about it :).”
Last week, Brown subtly responded to social media posts that claimed she looked older than she is via her Instagram Story. Brown reshared a British Vogue article headlined, “No One Cares How Old You Think Millie Bobby Brown Looks,” and wrote, “Thank you.”
Doja Cat performing at the 2025 Oscars.Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Doja Cat is clapping back at critics who slammed her performance at the 2025 Oscars.
The artist, 29, took to Instagram on Monday, March 3, and defended herself a day after performing “Diamonds Are Forever” during a James Bond medley.
“Thanks to the Academy Awards and Vanity Fair for having me,” Doja Cat captioned a photo of her in the curve-hugging, gold sequined Balmain gown that she’d worn to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party the night before. “I never get to sing like that and what I did was brave and scary as f— for me. I know a lot of people didn’t like it but a lot of people did and I feel good that I pushed myself. The song is a classic and I put a lot of work into it but the nerves got to me and a bitch hit some flats.”
She added, “I can’t wait to do something like that again. What a blessing that was. I feel amazing about the whole thing. Bye. .”
The rapper, singer and songwriter teamed up with Raye and Blackpink’s Lisa for the Bond tribute that took place toward the midpoint of Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony. After Margaret Qualley appeared in a dance number, Lisa, 27, performed a rendition of “Live and Let Die” from the 1973 Bond movie of the same name. Afterward, Doja Cat sang “Diamonds Are Forever” — originally sung by Shirley Bassey in 1971 — while wearing a jeweled dress befitting a Bond girl. Then Raye, 27, crooned “Skyfall,” the theme song of the 2012 movie.
Watching the tribute unfold, many viewers criticized Doja Cat, airing their grievances via X.
“Shirley Bassey deserves an apology on so many levels. Why was this approved,” one user complained, while another wrote, “That’s a really tough song to replicate and I don’t think she was the correct artist for this one.”
Despite the negative reactions, Doja Cat’s fans came to her defense.
“She was frickin’ great!” a fan gushed via X. “The entire Bond medley was powerful and awesome.”
Doja Cat, Lisa and Raye recently released their collaboration “Born Again,” but the official Oscars X account noted ahead of the telecast that the trio wouldn’t be singing that song.
“Not ‘Born Again!’ But still legendary. Stay tuned. ,” read a message posted in late February.
The announcement of the group’s performance surprised Oscar aficionados, as neither of the women had a connection to any of the movies up for awards this year. In 2022, Doja Cat contributed the song “Vegas” to the soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, which starred Austin Butler as the titular rock icon. The film was nominated for eight awards at the 2023 Oscars but came away empty-handed.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” Parton, 79, wrote via an Instagram statement. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
The pair tied the knot in 1966, when Parton’s music career was taking off. While the “Jolene” singer became super-famous, branching out into acting and philanthropy, her intensely private spouse preferred to stay out of the limelight.
After Parton gave her statement Monday, People published photos that reportedly showed Dean visiting a post office near their Brentwood, Tennessee, home in December 2019. The outlet reported that it was the first time Dean had been photographed publicly in 40 years. In the snapshots, Dean was then 77 years old and dressed in jeans, a checkered shirt and a tan coat. According to People, Dean had stepped out with an assistant that day.
“We’re the perfect partners,” Parton exclusively told Us Weekly in January 2022. “We both have a great sense of humor. … We’re able to solve any problem and any situation, making a joke about it and not letting it get too heavy, but we respect each other and we like each other. We lucked up, let’s put it that way.”
Parton and Dean in their younger days.Courtesy of Dolly Parton/Instagram
She added, “You know, most people can keep a marriage [going strong] if you make a little effort. Some people just get slouching and lazy and about stuff that ain’t important, like leaving the toilet seat up. And if that’s the worst thing you’ve to worry about, you’re already in trouble.”
The day after graduating from high school in 1964, Parton moved to Nashville from her hometown of Sevierville to pursue singing. She soon met Dean outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat.
When Dean set eyes on Parton, “My first thought was I’m gonna marry that girl,” he revealed on their 50th anniversary in 2016. “My second thought was, Lord she’s good lookin.’ And that was the day my life began. I wouldn’t trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth.”
As for Dolly, “I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me). He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”
Dean supported his wife’s high-profile career but wasn’t interested in being famous himself. He disliked the spotlight so much that he avoided attending events with his wife.
While interviewing Parton for a profile in 1979, a Cosmopolitan reporter finally caught a glimpse of Dean. “Tall and good-looking, rather like a young Gregory Peck, he has a way of moving his angular body so that he seems to come toward you in sections,” the article read. “He is a fan of television and nightclub comic Steve Martin.”
Parton previously addressed Dean’s need for privacy in a 2020 interview with Entertainment Tonight.
“A lot of people have thought that [he doesn’t exist] through the years, because he does not want to be in the spotlight at all,” Parton told the outlet. “It’s just not who he is. He’s, like, a quiet, reserved person.”
“He said, ‘I didn’t choose this world, I chose you, and you chose that world. But we can keep our lives separate and together.’ And we do and we have,” Parton said at the time, adding that she “always respected and appreciated” that side of him.
The comedian, 50, and the actor, 62, sparked romance rumors after they were spotted leaving Vanity Fair’s Oscar party arm-in-arm on Sunday, March 2. In photos published by People on Monday, March 3, Handler wore a strapless silver gown and her blond hair long and wavy. Fiennes sported a black tuxedo with the jacket buttoned.
Us Weekly has reached out to reps for Handler and Fiennes for comment.
Earlier Sunday, Fiennes attended the Academy Awards, where he was among the Best Actor nominees for his role in the film Conclave. He lost the trophy to The Brutalist star Adrien Brody.
Handler teased Fiennes while she hosted the Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles last month. She stood next to him in the audience for a staged bit, joking that he “played a ruthless Nazi, an evil lord and a celibate cardinal, and somehow you’ve made me want to have sex with you in all roles. … I’m begging you never play Vladimir Putin. I can’t do that again.”
Handler had also included Fiennes in another bit where she referenced Nicole Kidman’s notorious milk-drinking scene in Babygirl. That film “inspired me to hire a new sexy intern,” Handler quipped, drinking a glass of milk. “Good girl. Good girl. Good girl,” Fiennes, playing along, said encouragingly.
The Harry Potter star was previously married to actress Alex Kingston from 1993 to 1997 and later moved on with actress Francesca Annis. Handler previously dated fellow comedian Jo Koy and now has a new man in her life.
“I’m dating. Dating is wonderful,” she told Us Weekly exclusively last month, without naming her beau. “Now, I understand what kind of date I am. I want lovers all around the world. I want lovers all around the globe.”
Handler told Us that she’s “very honest and upfront with anyone who I’m dating, that you may not be the only one. And if you need to know, I’ll let you know, but I’m just letting you know. Hopefully you don’t need to ask any further questions.”
Handler said she doesn’t “thrive with dependency,” especially in a romantic relationship.
“I think an attractive quality in a man — the most attractive quality — which is hard to come by, is to find small egos on men. Men who have no egos,” Handler explained to Us. “Right now, I’m dating someone who has no ego. He’s very good at a lot of things, but he’ll never ever show you. He doesn’t need that kind of validation. He doesn’t need to be good at something. He doesn’t need to show off.”
She also described a nice moment they shared recently.
“The other day, he goes, ‘God, you know how lucky I am to be waking up next to you. Do you know how many men would die to wake up next to you?’ I wanted to go, ‘Do you know how many men would never in a million years even think about that?’ Nevermind, say it,” Handler said. “What a sweet thing to even think. Then a sweeter thing to even say, because just by virtue of saying that to someone means that you don’t have a big ego.”
Dolly Parton and Carl DeanCourtesy of Dolly Parton/Instagram
Dolly Parton is one of the most beloved stars on the planet. As a singer, actress and philanthropist, she looms larger than life; as a wife, she kept a veil of privacy over her marriage to late husband Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 at the age of 82.
Parton and Dean tied the knot in 1966, just as her music career was getting off the ground. While she soared to fame, making her mark in both Nashville and Hollywood, Dean managed to stay out of the public eye. Their union stood the test of time, perhaps because she was famous and he was not, making for an easy, yin-yang balance.
“We’re the perfect partners,” Parton exclusively told Us Weekly in January 2022. “We both have a great sense of humor. … We’re able to solve any problem and any situation, making a joke about it and not letting it get too heavy, but we respect each other and we like each other. We lucked up, let’s put it that way.”
She continued: “You know, most people can keep a marriage [going strong] if you make a little effort. Some people just get slouching and lazy and about stuff that ain’t important, like leaving the toilet seat up. And if that’s the worst thing you’ve to worry about, you’re already in trouble.”
Here’s everything Parton has said about her late husband over the years:
Why Dean Stayed Out of the Spotlight
The “Jolene” singer addressed Dean’s aversion to the limelight in a 2020 interview with Entertainment Tonight.
“A lot of people have thought that [he doesn’t exist] through the years, because he does not want to be in the spotlight at all,” Parton told the outlet. “It’s just not who he is. He’s, like, a quiet, reserved person.”
She explained at the time that Dean “figured if he ever got out there in that, he’d never get a minute’s peace, and he’s right about that,” adding that she’s “always respected and appreciated” that side of him and has honored his wish for privacy.
“He said, ‘I didn’t choose this world, I chose you, and you chose that world. But we can keep our lives separate and together.’ And we do and we have,” Parton said. “We’ve been together 56 years, married 54.”
Parton and Dean Had a Shared Sense of Humor
“When people ask me why it’s lasted this long, I say, ‘Because I stay gone.’ And there’s a lot of truth in that — the fact that we’re not in each other’s faces all the time,” Parton explained in 2020. “But we do have a great respect and admiration for each other. We both have a great sense of humor. So, we have a lot of fun.”
Despite their different comfort levels with fame, the Steel Magnolias star has said that she and Dean traveled well together.
“We have very similar tastes,” she said. “We love to travel around our little RV, and we don’t like parties and all that stuff.”
Parton and Dean Rarely Bickered Throughout Their 60-year Marriage
“Any time [there is] too much tension going on, either one of us can, like, find a joke about it to really break the tension, where we don’t let it go so far,” Parton told the “Dumb Blonde” podcast in December 2024. “We never fought back and forth — and I’m glad we never did.”
Parton and Dean Had Compatible Zodiac Signs
According to Parton, she and Dean were astrologically matched.
“Well, he was a homebody, and that worked well for us,” she said in her “Dumb Blonde” interview. “He was in asphalt paving, but his sign is Cancer and I’m Capricorn, and those are compatible signs. The Capricorn is the mountain goat because it’s always climbing and the Cancer is more of a homebody. He really was. He wanted to be around home. I loved to go and see what else is out there, but I think that’s worked well for us.”
How They Met
The couple met outside a Nashville Wishy Washy laundromat in 1964.
“I left two boyfriends that had wanted to marry me and kept saying, ‘No, I’m gonna move to Nashville,’” Parton said in 2024, the year they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. “I thought, ‘The last thing I want is a boyfriend,’ and so, I got here … the very day I got to Nashville, I met Carl Dean. And 60 years later, I’m still with Carl Dean!”
When Dean set eyes on Parton, “My first thought was I’m gonna marry that girl,” he revealed in a statement on their 50th anniversary in 2016. “My second thought was, ‘Lord she’s good lookin.’’ And that was the day my life began. I wouldn’t trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth.”
As for Dolly, “I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me). He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”
Parton once “begged” Dean to attend her 1967 BMI Song of the Year award ceremony.
“I rented him a tux and begged him to go and, oh, he was so uncomfortable the whole night,” she recalled to “Dumb Blonde” host Bunnie Xo. “As soon as we hit the door, he started pulling off stuff. He said, ‘Look, now, I want you to do everything you want to do and I wish you the best, but don’t ever ask me to go to another one of these damn things because I ain’t going.’ And he never did!”
Despite his distaste for attending industry events, Dean would go on to celebrate the couple’s personal milestones — away from Parton’s devoted fanbase.
“He doesn’t even like to go out to dinner, so even on anniversaries we usually stay home and make something special,” she reminisced two months before Dean’s death. “Now, we will go to Mexican restaurants and sit in a booth. He loves that! We’ll go sit in a booth … we know where to go before the big crowds come, but he’s just special to me.”
How They Felt About Not Having Children
Parton and Dean never become parents — something neither seemed to regret.
“Now that Carl and I are older, we often say, ‘Aren’t you glad we didn’t have kids?’ Now we don’t have kids to worry about,” Parton told Billboard in 2014.
They Kept The Romance Alive
The “Here You Come Again” songstress celebrated Valentine’s Day with Dean by wearing “some little fun” outfit and showering Dean in presents.
“I always wear some heart-shaped something and I always get him several Valentine’s cards,” Parton revealed to Us Weeklyin 2022. “You know, cause when you start looking for cards, you find so many and you want ’em all.”
At the time, she filled Us in on her secret to maintaining the spark with her spouse.
“You find little ways,” said Parton, who was then 76 years old. “Like last year on his birthday, I dressed up in my Playboy bunny suit, made him breakfast and [ran] around in that for a little while.”
The Couple That Cooks Together, Stays Together
“I’m the better cook, but [Carl] actually can cook pretty good,” Parton told Us, adding that “every once in a while” she’d let her husband lend a hand in the kitchen. “I’ve been gone so much [that] he had to [learn to] cook, but he actually does pretty good. He knows how to cook the things he likes, but he loves my cooking better.”
