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A Guide to All of Hollywood's Celebrity Godparents

A Guide to All of Hollywood's Celebrity Godparents

Find out which stars have famous godchildren

By Brooke Showell

Updated February 26, 2021 02:39 PM

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Mariska Hargitay & Sophia Meloni

Credit: Gregory Pace/FilmMagic

Hargitay and her Law & Order: SVU costar Chris Meloni are way more than real life BFFs — they're practically family. When Meloni and wife Sherman Williams welcomed daughter Sophia in 2001, they tapped Hargitay to be godmother.

"The birth of his first child and being privy to his amazing, solid relationship with his wife, before I had that for myself — I think that Chris and Sherman played a really big role for me, to see this really stable couple that loved each other," Hargitay told PEOPLE of the example they set for her.

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Tim McGraw & Rhodes Hedlund

Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty; John Shearer/Getty; Frazer Harrison/Getty

Garrett Hedlund told Kelly Clarkson that he and Emma Roberts chose McGraw as the godfather to their new son Rhodes Robert. in part because of Hedlund's work with the country star in 2004's Friday Night Lights and 2010's Country Strong.

"He's somebody that I admire and respect, not only as an amazing father and an amazing husband, amazing musician and amazing actor," he said. "I've known him for a long time."

"We laugh about it because it's probably been over 17 years since we did Friday Night Lights together, we played father and son. So I got to first experience him as a father — in that film, somewhat more of an abusive one — but then we did Country Strong together, and we've remained such close friends and, you know, I've seen his children, his daughters, from the time they were 1, 3 and 5," Hedlund added.

"He's the best," Hedlund continued, adding, "After around 12 weeks of Emma being pregnant, I called him, and the first thing he said was, 'I'm the godfather.' So, how can you argue?"

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Norman Lear & Katey Sagal

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"She's extraordinary," Lear said during a 2018 podcast chat with Sagal, who revealed that the legendary producer introduced her parents. "I've known you since I was born," Sagal added, calling Lear "kind of the reason I'm here."

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Steven Spielberg & Drew Barrymore & Gwyneth Paltrow

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

Two stars share more than A-list status: Barrymore and Paltrow both have Spielberg in common as a godfather. Gwyneth's parents Bruce Paltrow and Blythe Danner selected the director at birth to be godfather to their baby girl, while Spielberg assumed the mantle for Barrymore (whom he directed in E.T.) in her teens.

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Jacqueline Bissett & Angelina Jolie

Credit: Splash News Online

Bisset was named Jolie’s godmother thanks to her strong connection to Marcheline Bertrand, Jolie’s late mom. Bertrand died of ovarian cancer in 2007 at age 56.

“[Jacqueline] is very important to [Angelina],” a source told PEOPLE of the pair's bond following a July 2019 trip to Paris. “They’re very close, and Jacqueline is someone Angelina has admired for a long time. And of course, there is the connection to her mom.”

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B.J. Novak & Mindy Kaling's Daughter

Credit: Emma McIntyre /VF19/WireImage

From costars to even more: Kaling revealed former Office star Novak's important role in her life with daughter Katherine in May 2019.

“The truth is that B.J. is so much more like family now than a platonic friend. He’s the godfather to my daughter,” Kaling told Good Housekeeping.

“He comes over like once a week. Sometimes he’ll come over just to hang out with her,” the Late Night star added.

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Molly Bernard & Hilary Duff's Daughter

Credit: Splash News Online

The Younger star doesn't just work with Duff — she's godmother to the actress' young daughter Banks Violet, too.

“After [Banks] was born, I was like, ‘Oh, does she have a godmother?’ And Hil was like,” she told PEOPLE, pointing at herself.

Bernard frequently posts photos of herself hanging with Banks and Duff's other child, son Luca Cruz, and was one of the first to congratulate Duff on her engagement to boyfriend Matthew Koma.

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Meryl Streep & Billie Lourd

Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty

During a May 2019 visit to Watch What Happens Live, Andy Cohen asked Lourd (whose mom is the late Carrie Fisher) about the best part of having Streep as her godmother. And Lourd had the perfect response: "I mean, she's Meryl Streep!"

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Marisa Tomei & Zoë Kravitz

Credit: Fred Hayes/WireImage

If you've got the two coolest parents in the world (as Zoë does in Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet), it stands to reason your godmother will be pretty awesome, too. Zoë was interviewed by her "godmama" for an InStyle cover story, in which the two dished about their matching tattoos and long history together.

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Eva Longoria & David & Victoria Beckham's Children

Credit: Victoria Beckham/Instagram

Eva Longoria joined Victoria and David Beckham pals Ken Paves and Marc Anthony as godparents when their children Cruz and Harper (pictured) got baptized. As the first girl in the Beckham clan, Harper's milestones are cause for celebration in the family — and for doting godmother Longoria. "I was in L.A. [when Harper took her first steps]," Longoria told PEOPLE.

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Elton John & David & Victoria Beckham's Children

Credit: Dave Benett/Getty

Another proud godparent to the Beckham clan: Sir Elton, who has that role for the Beckhams' oldest two sons, Romeo (far right) and Brooklyn (not pictured). He continues to enjoy the role — check out the over-the-top cake he sent for Romeo's 16th birthday.

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Ted Danson & Mary Steenburgen & Laura Dern's Son

In a 2017 Instagram post, Steenburgen casually dropped that she and her husband, Danson, are godparents to Dern's son Ellery (with ex Ben Harper).

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Cicely Tyson & Lenny Kravitz

Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty

Days before the pioneering actress passed away, her godson paid tribute to her on her 96th birthday. "Happy Birthday to my dearest Godmother, Cicely Tyson," he wrote. "All I can do is thank God that we have been on this planet at the same time, and I have been so blessed to receive your love. The best is yet to come. I love you."

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Dolly Parton & Miley Cyrus

Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty

When times are tough, Miley Cyrus can count on her country-legend godmother to have her back. "I've loved her through the years and watched her grow up, and I've seen how smart she is and how talented she is," Parton told the London Evening Standard. "If she needs my opinion on something I will surely give it [but] I would never dream of calling her and saying, 'Well why are you doing this?' or, 'You shouldn't do this or that…' She's just trying to find her own place and wings and learn to fly."

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Joan Collins & Cara Delevingne

Credit: Kevin Tachman/MG19/Getty

The Dame is longtime friends with the model's parents, Pandora and Charles, and they frequently cross paths at fancy fashion events. But the Dynasty star knew her when: “Cara was an amazing child. Her favorite expression was ‘mine’. That’s the youngest of three: ‘Mine, mine’ ... [She] loved dancing to the Spice Girls, showing off the nicest routines.”

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Dakota Johnson & Addison Timlin's Daughter

Credit: Addison Timlin/Instagram

Johnson played along with her pregnant pal, Addison Timlin, and then eventually became godmother to Timlin's first child with Jeremy Allen White of Shameless.

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Kim Kardashian West & Khloé Kardashian's Daughter

Credit: Kim Kardsahian/Instagram

Khloé Kardashian's decision to make sister Kim godmother and guardian of daughter True caused a bit of a rift with big sister Kourtney.

But “watching Kimberly be a mom, I really respect her parenting skills — not that I don’t respect Kourtney’s, I relate to how Kim parents more,” Khloé said on a September 2018 episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. “But at the end of the day, this family is so close and we love each other so much and if anything, God forbid, were to happen, I know my daughter is in the best of hands no matter who her legal guardian is.”

“I feel like Kim has been so selfless during my pregnancy,” added Khloé. “She’s trying to just help make sure that you feel your best, look your best, have the best. She’s so secure in her life that I feel like she would be an incredible godparent. She’s just been a great friend and sister.”

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Quincy Jones & Nicole Richie

Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The legendary producer, a longtime pal of Nicole's dad Lionel Richie, serves as her godfather. (She has another godfather as well: the late Michael Jackson.)

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Macaulay Culkin & Paris Jackson

Credit: Paris Jackson/Instagram

A longtime friend of the King of Pop, Culkin was named godfather of Michael Jackson's middle child, Paris. Since the singer's death, Culkin and his goddaughter have spent lots of time together, documenting their get-togethers on social media. They even have matching tattoos!

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Henry Winkler & Bryce Dallas Howard

Credit: Andrew Toth/Getty

The God-Fonz-er? Bryce's dad Ron Howard stayed close with his Happy Days costar well after the sitcom wrapped, and named him godfather to his daughter Bryce, now an actress herself.

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Victor Garber & Jennifer Garner's Daughter

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Close pals since their days on Alias, they're now practically family: Garber is godfather to Garner's eldest, Violet.

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Zach Braff & Donald Faison's Children

Credit: Zach Braff/ Instagram

Braff is godfather to friend and former Scrubs costar Donald Faison's two kids with wife CaCee Cobb. "Thank you to @caceecobb for growing this for @donald_aison and I. #GodfatherII," Braff joked following the April 2015 birth of the couple's youngest, daughter Wilder. In July 2017, the proud godparent shared a video of Wilder and brother Rocco giving him an adorable message.

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Jessica Simpson & Donald Faison's Daughter

Credit: Courtesy Jessica Simpson

Wilder has a famous godmother, too. "Madly in love with my Goddaughter Wilder Frances Faison!!! I am beyond proud of @caceecobb and @donald_aison," Simpson wrote shortly after her best friend Cobb welcomed her second child with husband Faison.

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Cacee Cobb & Jessica Simpson's Daughter

Credit: John Shearer/WireImage; Inset: Courtesy Jessica Simpson

And it continues: for godmother to daughter Maxwell, Simpson turned to none other than best friend Cobb.

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Lady Gaga & Elton John's Sons

Credit: Getty; Inset: Larry Busacca/Getty

Elton John had a solid reason for choosing Gaga as godmother for his two sons with David Furnish, Zachary and Elijah. "She's a great role model," John told Extra. "She's been a great godmother to Zachary. She came to bathe him in Las Vegas. She was already dressed to go to the show, and she was sitting there and she bathed him, and she was like dressed like Audrey Hepburn… and she fed him… We're all bonkers in this business, but we're human beings at the same time."

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Cameron Diaz & Drew Barrymore's Daughter

Credit: Tommaso Boddi/WireImage

Charlie's Angels stick together — so it's no surprise Drew picked Cameron to be godmother to her younger daughter, Frankie.

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Kathie Lee Gifford & Kendall & Kylie Jenner

Credit: Thomas Concordia/WireImage

A longtime friend of KarJenner matriarch Kris Jenner, Today host Gifford is godmother to the youngest members of the fam, Kendall (far left) and Kylie (not pictured).

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Nick Jonas & Kevin Jonas' Daughter

Credit: Nick Jonas/Snapchat

The singer announced his role in niece Valentina's life with a sweet Snapchat photo. "My beautiful niece on her dedication day. With my sister in law's sister Katie. We are honored to be the god parents," he wrote. Valentina is the daughter of Jonas's brother Kevin and wife Danielle.

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David Beckham & Liv Tyler's Son

Credit: Courtesy Liv Tyler

Little Sailor may have officially hit the godfather jackpot: Liv Tyler took to Instagram to show off an adorable lunch meeting between her then-7-month-old son, proud papa David Gardner and Beckham, Sailor's "God daddy" (awww).

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Taylor Swift & Jaime King's Son James

Credit: Courtesy Taylor Swift

Swift officially met her godson, Leo Thames, in 2016. The youngster is BFF Jaime King's second son with Kyle Newman.

Choosing Swift as a godmother was an easy decision, King shared. "It was because of her morals and her values, the way that she treats people and how hard-working she is," said the Hart of Dixie actress. "That's the kind of person I want to be the guide and the spiritual protector of my child."

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Jessica Alba & Jaime King's Son

Credit: Courtesy Jaime King

Swift isn't the only celeb who'll play an important role in the lives of King's children. The actress revealed in a 2013 Instagram post that good friend Jessica Alba is the "Nina (Godmother)" of son James Knight. "Thank you Jess for your unending love and light – we are so grateful for you," King wrote. James also did pretty well in the godfather department: Topher Grace was asked to do the honors.

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Khloé Kardashian & Kim Kardashian West's Daughter

Credit: Courtesy Khloe Kardashian

Joining Kim Kardashian West, Kanye West and little North on a spring 2015 trip to Armenia ended up with its perks: as the family headed home to Los Angeles, they detoured to Jerusalem to baptize North, naming Khloé, who'd joined them on the voyage, as godmother. "It was epic," a source told PEOPLE of the event, which happened in the city's Armenian quarter. "So beautiful."

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Blake Lively's Daughter's 'Fairy Godmothers'

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Though Tamblyn told PEOPLE that the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants crew would be Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds's daughter James's godmothers, Lively set the record straight, announcing that her sister Robyn was picking up the official duties. However, her costars also have a special role in the little one's life as "fairy godmothers," Lively told E!

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A Guide to All of Hollywood's Celebrity Godparents

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Mariska Hargitay & Sophia Meloni

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Tim McGraw & Rhodes Hedlund

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Norman Lear & Katey Sagal

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Steven Spielberg & Drew Barrymore & Gwyneth Paltrow

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Jacqueline Bissett & Angelina Jolie

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B.J. Novak & Mindy Kaling's Daughter

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Molly Bernard & Hilary Duff's Daughter

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Meryl Streep & Billie Lourd

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Marisa Tomei & Zoë Kravitz

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Eva Longoria & David & Victoria Beckham's Children

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Elton John & David & Victoria Beckham's Children

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Ted Danson & Mary Steenburgen & Laura Dern's Son

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Cicely Tyson & Lenny Kravitz

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Dolly Parton & Miley Cyrus

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Joan Collins & Cara Delevingne

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Dakota Johnson & Addison Timlin's Daughter

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Kim Kardashian West & Khloé Kardashian's Daughter

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Quincy Jones & Nicole Richie

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Macaulay Culkin & Paris Jackson

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Henry Winkler & Bryce Dallas Howard

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Victor Garber & Jennifer Garner's Daughter

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Zach Braff & Donald Faison's Children

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Jessica Simpson & Donald Faison's Daughter

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Cacee Cobb & Jessica Simpson's Daughter

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Lady Gaga & Elton John's Sons

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Cameron Diaz & Drew Barrymore's Daughter