Let’s be real, when you hear grandparent, your mind likely goes to soft sweaters, silver hair, and tales about “back in my day,” not Grammy winners, action heroes, or reality TV stars. But in Hollywood, time doesn’t work the same way. Some of your favorite celebs have become grandparents long before you’d imagine, and they rock the moniker proudly. From music legends to film icons, here are 15 of the youngest celebrity grandparents who show that family in showbiz is all shapes and sizes (and ages).
15. Donny Osmond (Grandfather at 48)
Donny Osmond, forever remembered for his smile and energy, became a grandparent at 48. The singer, who now has 14 grandchildren, said in an interview with People he adores his “grandpa-in-the-corner” job happily sitting aside while the children play. With so many grandkids, he’s got a full-time job just keeping birthdays straight.
14. Nicolas Cage (Grandfather at 50)
The ever-eclectic Nicolas Cage became a granddad at 50 when his son Weston welcomed little Lucien. Cage, now a proud grandfather several times over, says being “Pop” is one of his greatest joys, and if you’ve seen his softer interviews lately, it’s clear he means it.
13. Mick Jagger (Grandfather at 49)
Rock ‘n’ roll never stops for diapers. The Rolling Stones singer became a grandfather at 49 when his daughter Jade gave birth to her first child, Assisi. Roll on a few decades, and Jagger’s family tree has expanded so quickly that he’s now a great-grandfather. You can rock and babysit simultaneously, it seems.
12. Charlie Sheen (Grandfather at 47)
At 47, Charlie Sheen swapped “winning” for “grandpa-ing” when daughter Cassandra had baby Luna. His greeting to his granddaughter? “Welcome to my planet.” Classic Sheen is unpredictable, a little crazy, and completely one-of-a-kind.
11. Jim Carrey (Grandfather at 47)
Comedy legend Jim Carrey became a granddad at age 47 when his daughter Jane gave birth to a baby boy, Jackson Riley Santana. He gleefully shared the news on the internet, referring to his grandson as “California dynamite.” Carrey later confessed the entire experience was “very odd but magical.” Sounds just like him.
10. Pierce Brosnan (Grandfather at 46)
Former James Bond Pierce Brosnan first became a grandfather at age 46 when his adopted daughter Charlotte gave birth to her daughter Isabella. After his wife and daughter lost their lives to ovarian cancer, Brosnan regularly talks about how much his grandchildren mean to him. They’re a shining light in his life.
9. Sarah Palin (Grandmother at 44)
Sarah Palin was the subject of two 2008 headlines, one political and one for giving birth to a grandchild at 44 years old. Her daughter Bristol gave birth to Tripp only a few months after Palin’s own baby arrived, making her both a new mom and new grandmother in the same year. Talk about doing it all.
8. NeNe Leakes (Grandmother at 44)
Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes became a grandmother at 44 when her son Bryson had a daughter, Bri’asia. Leakes prefers the title “Glam’Ma,” though, and she proudly posts about her grandkids on social media, saying they keep her young and laughing.
7. Snoop Dogg (Grandfather at 43)
When Snoop Dogg comes to mind, chances are you imagine chill atmosphere and groovy rhythm, not playdates and storytime. But the hip-hop legend was made a grandpa at 43 when his son Corde welcomed Zion. Now with a few grandkids, “Papa Snoop” explains they each “own a different piece of [his] heart.”
6. Kid Rock (Grandfather at 43)
Kid Rock entered the young grandparent club at age 43 when his son Robert Jr. had a daughter, Skye. The rock-rap artist quips that being a granddad helps him “stay real” because nothing’s more street cred than babysitting.
5. Brett Favre (Grandfather at 40)
NFL legend Brett Favre was just 40 years old when his daughter, Brittany, had Parker Brett, one of the youngest sports legends to become a grandfather. Nowadays, Favre likes cheering from the sidelines or the golf course instead of watching his grandkids take tackles on the field.
4. Dascha Polanco (Grandmother at 40)
Orange Is the New Black star Dascha Polanco became a grandmother at 40 when her daughter Dasany gave birth to a baby girl named Dior. Polanco told People she’s embracing the role: “There are younger grandmas than me, but I’m still fly!” And honestly, she is.
3. Kiefer Sutherland (Grandfather at 39)
At just 39, 24-year-old Kiefer Sutherland became a grandfather when his stepdaughter Michelle Kath had her son, Hamish. He later joked that an hour with his grandkids leaves him “completely wiped out like I’ve run a marathon.” Being Jack Bauer didn’t prepare him for playtime.
2. Whoopi Goldberg (Grandmother at 34)
Whoopi Goldberg wins the cake for one of Hollywood’s youngest and hippest grandmas. Her daughter Alexandrea was just 34 when she gave birth to Amara. Goldberg was a great-grandmother at 58. She once joked on The Tonight Show, “You made me a grandmother when I was 33, bitch.” That’s Whoopi, direct, humorous, and completely unfettered.
1. CeeLo Green (35-Year-Old Grandfather) & Mama June Shannon (32-Year-Old Grandmother)
CeeLo Green became a granddad at age 35 when his stepdaughter Sierra gave birth to a son. His grandkids refer to him as “Poppi,” he says, and he delights in sharing his musical energy with the next generation. But the youngest celeb grandma crown belongs to Here Comes Honey Boo Boo personality Mama June Shannon, who became a grandma at age 32 when her daughter Anna delivered Kaitlyn. Mama June insists Kaitlyn’s special spirit “makes her even more special,” and she wouldn’t trade it for anything.
So the next time you catch a glimpse of a star lighting up the stage or screen, keep in mind that they may be going home to bedtime stories, dance recitals, and sticky-fingered kisses. Hollywood’s youngest grandparents teach us family comes in all shapes… and sometimes, it arrives a little earlier than expected.