Ryan Reynolds Comments on Taylor Swift’s Role as Godmother to His Kids With Blake Lively
These celebrities were made an offer they just couldn’t refuse.
One of the biggest decisions some parents make is selecting who will be their child’s godparents, the two (or more) individuals invited to be active participants in their kids’ upbringing or to serve as legal guardians in the event of an emergency.
Needless to say, a lot of thought goes into the appointment. And Paris Jackson recently shared why she thinks her father Michael Jackson picked Elizabeth Taylor—who died nearly two years after his 2009 passing—to be her godmother. (ICYMI, Macaulay Culkin serves as her godfather.)
“I think because I was growing up in the spotlight. There’s definitely a part of him that knew that we would have a very similar experience,” the 26-year-old said in the September BBC docuseries Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar, per People. “I was homeschooled and because of that, I don’t know what it was like to be around other kids my age. Hanging out with adults, all the time. And I think it was just the same for her.”
Given the weight of the role, sometimes godparents need a moment to consider the position, too. Take Tyler Perry, for instance, who was picked by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to be the godfather of their daughter Princess Lilibet Diana. While the director was “honored,” he admitted in the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan that he needed to “take a minute” to reflect on the decision, especially if it meant having to take part in a public royal christening in England.
“I got off the phone, took it all in and then In called them back,” Tyler said. “I go, ‘Uh, hold on a second. Does this mean we got to go over there and do all of that in the church with them and figure all that out? ‘Cause I don’t want to do that. Maybe we can do a little private ceremony here and let that be that and if you have to do it there, then that’s OK.'”
Instead, Harry and Meghan—who are also parents to Prince Archie Harrison—held a private christening in California, and Tyler was certainly glad he said yes to being Lili’s godfather. “She’s just so beautiful,” he raved on a 2023 episode of Let’s Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa. “They make beautiful babies, that’s all I’ll say.”
Several other stars have taken on the very special role, too—including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Aniston and Taylor Swift.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
The Grammy winner revealed in July 2024 that she’s godmother to Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds‘ kids James, Inez, Betty and Olin. She’s also taken on the role for Jaime King‘s son Leo.
“I always thought if I were to have another child that she would be the ideal godmother because the way she not only treats me but the way she treats other human beings,” the Lights Out actress told E! News in 2016. “She’s so loving and so giving and so generous and she does everything from her heart and she’s incredibly brave and authentic. It’s a very rare thing to come across.”
Now, read on for more celebrities who are godparents.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Stephen Curry & Ayesha Curry
The NBA star and his wife are godparents to Lindsay Lohan and husband Bader Shammas‘ son Luai, as they revealed with a basketball jersey the athlete gifted them at a Golden State Warriors game in February 2024.
(Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
Tyler Perry
The filmmaker recalled the surprising moment when he was crowned godfather to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s daughter Lilibet Diana.
“They were pretty serious on the phone,” he recalled in the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan. “I go, ‘OK, what’s going on?’ They said, ‘Well, we’d like for you to be Lili’s godfather.’ I go, ‘Whoa.’ I take a minute to take that in. And I thought, ‘I’d be honored. I’d be absolutely honored.'”
Taylor Swift
The singer announced in 2015 that Jaime King had dubbed her godmother of her son Leo Thames. The Grammy winner posted a photo of her first meeting with her godchild on Instagram, writing, “Meeting my boy.”
Swift also shared in July 2024 that she is godmother to Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds‘ kids.
Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
Jessica Alba
Swift isn’t the only celeb that King tapped to be a godparent to her children, having revealed in a 2013 Instagram post that Jessica Alba was her eldest son James‘ godmother.
“Thank you Jess for your unending love and light,” King wrote. “We are so grateful for you.” Plus, King shared That ’70s Show star Topher Grace is James’ godfather.
Khloé Kardashian
Kim Kardashian named her little sis as North West‘s godmother during her baptism in Israel in 2015. Three years later, Khloé Kardashian returned the favor when she named the SKIMS founder as her daughter True Thompson‘s potential legal guardian, leading to tension with their older sister Kourtney Kardashian.
“So I can’t make anything official until the baby is born…but I am going to probably have Kim as the legal guardian if, god forbid, something happens,” the Good American mogul explained in a 2018 episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. “I don’t know my parenting style until I have a baby, but from what I envision my parenting style to be, I do think it’ll be more like Kim. A little more stricter.”
Kim’s reaction to the title? “It is my honor,” she said. “And I will take such good care of your kids.”
Vijat Mohindra/NBC via Getty Images
Dolly Parton
The renowned country singer-songwriter known for her big voice and big hair was named godmother to “Wrecking Ball” artist Miley Cyrus after forming a close bond with her father Billy Ray Cyrus when they worked together in the early 1990s.
“We just kind of jelled, ’cause we’re both country kids. We had a lot of fun just talking about that,” Parton said on SiriusXM’s Just Jenny in 2019. “And then when Miley came along, I said, ‘She’s got to be my fairy goddaughter.'” Parton would later make an appearance on Hannah Montana as the titular character’s fairy godmother.
Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Jennifer Aniston
The one where Courteney Cox asked Jennifer Aniston a very special question.
Cox and her ex-husband David Arquette tapped her Friends co-star and real-life bestie as their daughter Coco Cox Arquette‘s godmother.
After Cox posted a video of her and Coco singing a cover of Demi Lovato‘s “Anyone” in 2020, Aniston commented, “Aww, just like her godmother taught her.”
Photo by Kevin Tachman/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Joan Collins
The English actress and author is godmother to supermodel Cara Delevingne.
Photo by Unique Nicole/WireImage
Jamie Lee Curtis
The Oscar winner, once dubbed the “scream queen” due to her starring roles in the Halloween film franchise, is godmother to siblings Jake Gyllenhaal and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
(Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)
B.J. Novak
Who says you can’t stay friends with your ex? While their romantic relationship ended, The Office costars and writers remained so close that Mindy Kaling named B.J. Novak the godfather to her kids, Katherine, Spencer and Anne. While she has never publicly identified the father of her children, some fans have wondered if it’s Novak. As for how they feel about the speculation?
“It doesn’t bother me,” the A Wrinkle in Time star told Marie Claire in August 2022. “He’s the godparent to both my kids—and they have such a great relationship—and so far [the rumors haven’t] affected my happiness at all, it hasn’t affected my kids or B.J…If that’s what is going to be titillating to people, I’ll take it.”
Macaulay Culkin
After becoming close friends with Michael Jackson as a child star, the Home Alone actor was named the godfather of Paris Jackson, the late pop legend’s only daughter.
“I am close with Paris,” Culkin said on Marc Maron‘s WTF podcast in 2018. “I’m going to warn you now I am very protective of her, so just look out. I am a very open book when it comes to things but like with her, she is beloved by me.”
In September 2024, she revealed that acting legend Elizabeth Taylor was her godmother.
“There’s definitely a part of him that knew that we would have a very similar experience,” she explained in the first episode of the BBC docuseries Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar. “I was homeschooled and because of that, I don’t know what it was like to be around other kids my age.”
She added, “And I think it was just the same for her.”
Snapchat
Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas proved he’s a sucker for his niece Valentina Jonas, revealing on Snapchat in 2017 that his older brother Kevin Jonas and his wife Danielle Jonas asked him to be her godfather.
The “Jealous” singer posted a photo of himself and his sister-in-law Katie Deleasa holding Valentina on her “Dedication Day,” where they were officially named her godparents.
Vin Diesel
After Paul Walker‘s tragic death in 2013, his Fast & Furious co-tar Vin Diesel was first and foremost there for his then 15-year-old goddaughter Meadow Walker. Their bond held fast, and the action star was there to walk Meadow down the aisle at her wedding to Louis Thornton-Allan in October 2021.
“I could say that I am so proud of the person you are becoming,” Diesel wrote in a 2019 Instagram post for Meadow’s 21st birthday. “But the truth is I have always been proud of you.”
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Tim McGraw
From costars to close friends. After starring in two films together—Friday Night Lights and Country Strong—Garrett Hedlund selected Tim McGraw to be the godfather to his son Rhodes Robert, who he shares with his ex-girlfriend Emma Roberts.
“He’s somebody that I admire and respect, not only as an amazing father and an amazing husband, amazing musician and amazing actor,” Hedlund told Kelly Clarkson in 2021. “I’ve known him for a long time.”
After first working together in 2006 when they played father and son, Hedlund explained, “I got to first experience him as a father…and we’ve remained such close friends. He’s the best.”
Victor Garber
From Spy Daddy to godfather! Jennifer Garner tapped her Alias costar Victor Garber for the important role when she and then-husband Ben Affleck welcomed daughter Violet Affleck in 2005.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Bryan Cranston
Aaron Paul was the one who knocked when he asked his Breaking Bad costar Bryan Cranston to be the godfather of his two children with wife Lauren Paul.
Cranston said that being a godparent to his friend’s kids is “truly answering a call.”
“It is truly allowing me to go through the experience of what it feels like to be a grandfather,” he shared with British GQ. “My jaws hurt from [smiling].”
Of choosing Cranston, Paul told Jimmy Fallon, “I love the man to death. He’s one of my best friends in the world, and it was just a no-brainer.”
Jon Furniss / Contributor Getty Images
Jake Gyllenhaal
The award-winning actor is godfather to Matilda Williams, the daughter of his Brokeback Mountain costars Michelle Williams and the late Heath Ledger. Matilda counts her mom’s Dawson’s Creek costar-turned-BFF Busy Philipps as her other godparent.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Meryl Streep
“I mean, she’s Meryl Streep.”
That was the response Billie Lourd, daughter of the late Carrie Fisher, gave Andy Cohen when he asked what the best part of having the Oscar winner as her godmother was during a 2019 episode of Watch What Happens Live.
Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for NARAS
Sting & Trudie Styler
The British rock star and his wife are the godparents to Madonna and Guy Ritchie‘s son Rocco Ritchie.
Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Rupert Everett
Madonna’s adopted son, David Banda, has the My Best Friend’s Wedding actor as a godfather, forever and ever.
(Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
Zach Braff
The Garden State actor was given the title from his Scrubs costar and real-life best friend Donald Faison, who has two kids, Rocco Faison and Wilder Faison with wife CaCee Cobb.
“Thank you to @caceecobb for growing this for @donald_aison and I,” Braff joked in Aril 2015 after Wilder’s birth. #GodfatherII.”
Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images
Kathie Lee Gifford
A longtime friend of Kris Jenner, the former Today host is godmother to Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner.
Photo by Ryan Miller/Getty Images
Cameron Diaz
Angels forever! Drew Barrymore picked her Charlie’s Angels costar and best friend Cameron Diaz to be the godmother to her younger daughter, Frankie Barrymore Kopelman.
Photo by SGranitz/WireImage
Steven Spielberg
The famed director gave his goddaughters their big breaks, casting Barrymore in E.T. and Gwyneth Paltrow in Hook.
(Photo by George Chinsee/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Sophia Loren
And that’s not Barrymore’s only famed guardian angel. A scion of screen legends, she counts Italian acting icon Sophia Loren as her godmother.
Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Bono
The U2 frontman is godfather to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt‘s twins Knox and Vivienne.
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
Johnny Depp
The Pirates of the Caribbean actor is godfather to Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter‘s son Billy Ray Burton.
A version of this story was first published on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 at 3 a.m. PT.
