Celebrity Parents Who Became Empty Nesters This Year and What They've Said About It: 'And Now I’m Crying'

Mar. 15, 2025

Gwyneth Paltrow, Terry Crews, Katie Holmes.Photo:Daniele Venturelli/WireImage; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty; Santiago Felipe/Getty

Daniele Venturelli/WireImage; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty; Santiago Felipe/Getty

Letting go can be hard — just ask these celebrity parents!

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Terry Crews

Terry Crews and Rebecca King Crews with their kids.Rebecca King Crews Instagram

Rebecca King Crews Instagram

Father of fiveTerry Crewsadmitted not having his kids home is an adjustment.

TheAmerica’s Got Talenthost opened up about his experience being an empty nester while on CBS’The Talkon Sept. 9.

Crews and his wifeRebecca King-Crewsshare children Naomi, 36, Azriél, 33, Tera, 26, Winnie, 21, and Isaiah, 19.

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Ed Burns

Christy Turlington and Ed Burns with their children.Panas Group/Getty

The actor, who sharestwo kids— daughter Grace, 20 and son Finn, 18 — with wifeChristy Turlingtonrecently sent both kids off to college.

“Yeah, we’re empty. My kids are in college. They’re out of the house. We’re three weeks into it. It’s fresh,” hetold PEOPLEwhile at the Toronto International Film Festival.

“I’m glad that we’re both pretty busy this fall, so we’ve done that film. She’s got a big charity called Every Mother Counts, so she’s got a couple of trips planned around fundraising for that, and things like that,” he explained. “We’ll have to deal with it, I think, in earnest in February.”

03of 12Katie HolmesKatie Holmes.John Nacion/Variety via Getty ImagesGiving a rare look into her personal life,Katie Holmesopened up about how she’s feeling now that her daughterSuri is heading off for her first year of college.“I’m proud of my daughter,” Holmes toldTown & Country. “Of course, I will miss the close proximity, but I’m really proud of her and I’m happy.““I remember being this age, this time of beginnings,” she added. “It’s exciting to learn about yourself, and I loved that time, so it makes me happy to think about it like that.”

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Katie Holmes

Katie Holmes.John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images

John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images

Giving a rare look into her personal life,Katie Holmesopened up about how she’s feeling now that her daughterSuri is heading off for her first year of college.

“I’m proud of my daughter,” Holmes toldTown & Country. “Of course, I will miss the close proximity, but I’m really proud of her and I’m happy.”

“I remember being this age, this time of beginnings,” she added. “It’s exciting to learn about yourself, and I loved that time, so it makes me happy to think about it like that.”

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Jessica Seinfeld

As parents of three,Jerry and Jessica Seinfeldare having to settle into the brand-new role of empty nesters after dropping off their youngest,Shepherd Kellen, for college.

Along with a carousel of photos — including one of Jerry doing a very dad-coded final dorm room inspection — Jessica shared a sweet message to the fellow college parents out there.

05of 12Guy FieriGuy Fieri/InstagramFlavortown is now missing one key resident: Guy Fieri’s youngest son Ryder, who moved into his dorm with help from Fieri and his wife Lori.“It hasn’t fully hit us yet, but not seeing him everyday is gonna be hard,“Fieri captioned a carousel from move-in day.

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Guy Fieri

Guy Fieri/Instagram

Flavortown is now missing one key resident: Guy Fieri’s youngest son Ryder, who moved into his dorm with help from Fieri and his wife Lori.

“It hasn’t fully hit us yet, but not seeing him everyday is gonna be hard,“Fieri captioned a carousel from move-in day.

06of 12Debi MazarDebi Mazar and her daughters.Debi Mazar/InstagramDebi Mazaris celebrating some major milestones this year. In addition to turning 60, the mom of two is also gearing up tosend her youngest daughter off to university.“At my age, I’m about to be an empty nester,” Mazar, who shares daughters Evelina and Giulia with husband Gabriele Corcos, told PEOPLE earlier this summer. “And I’m going into a period where I’ve spent the past 23 years being on top of my children, and now I have more freedom to go work and not feel guilty.“She added, “I have more freedom to walk around in the house naked or have sex whenever I feel like it!”

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Debi Mazar

Debi Mazar and her daughters.Debi Mazar/Instagram

Debi Mazaris celebrating some major milestones this year. In addition to turning 60, the mom of two is also gearing up tosend her youngest daughter off to university.

“At my age, I’m about to be an empty nester,” Mazar, who shares daughters Evelina and Giulia with husband Gabriele Corcos, told PEOPLE earlier this summer. “And I’m going into a period where I’ve spent the past 23 years being on top of my children, and now I have more freedom to go work and not feel guilty.”

She added, “I have more freedom to walk around in the house naked or have sex whenever I feel like it!”

07of 12Brooke ShieldsBrooke Shields with daughters Rowan Francis Henchy and Grier Hammond Henchy.Dia Dipasupil/GettyAs the 2024 school year came to an end,Brooke Shieldssaid she was “not ready,” for her youngest daughter, Grier, leaving home for college followingher graduation from high school.“I thought I would be relieved, but I don’t know,” Shields, who shares daughtersGrier and Rowanwith husband Chris Henchy, told PEOPLE in May. “I’ll see when I get there … the thought of no longer living 24/7 in the house with these people that I’ve raised, it’s just very foreign. It’s like going to a totally foreign territory.“She posted a funny video to Instagram that showed her sprinting for the exit after dropping Grier off.

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Brooke Shields

Brooke Shields with daughters Rowan Francis Henchy and Grier Hammond Henchy.Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

As the 2024 school year came to an end,Brooke Shieldssaid she was “not ready,” for her youngest daughter, Grier, leaving home for college followingher graduation from high school.

“I thought I would be relieved, but I don’t know,” Shields, who shares daughtersGrier and Rowanwith husband Chris Henchy, told PEOPLE in May. “I’ll see when I get there … the thought of no longer living 24/7 in the house with these people that I’ve raised, it’s just very foreign. It’s like going to a totally foreign territory.”

She posted a funny video to Instagram that showed her sprinting for the exit after dropping Grier off.

08of 12Sunny HostinSunny Hostintook on the role of empty nester this year after dropping her youngest child, Paloma, off at Cornell University.The Viewco-host shared a carousel of photos from the weekend to Instagram that included a look at her daughter’s dorm room and a few teary-eyed snapshots.“I’ve been a little absent from social media trying to wrap my brain around being an empty nester and letting the birds fly,” Hostin, who shares Paloma and son Gabriel with husbandEmmanuel Hostin, wrote. “But I’m so proud of Paloma and her brother. GOOD people who will do great things in this world. I will miss seeing them every day tho.”

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Sunny Hostin

Sunny Hostintook on the role of empty nester this year after dropping her youngest child, Paloma, off at Cornell University.The Viewco-host shared a carousel of photos from the weekend to Instagram that included a look at her daughter’s dorm room and a few teary-eyed snapshots.

“I’ve been a little absent from social media trying to wrap my brain around being an empty nester and letting the birds fly,” Hostin, who shares Paloma and son Gabriel with husbandEmmanuel Hostin, wrote. “But I’m so proud of Paloma and her brother. GOOD people who will do great things in this world. I will miss seeing them every day tho.”

09of 12Cameron MathisonCameron Mathison with his kids.Cameron Mathison/InstagramAs the summer comes to a close,Cameron Mathisonis soaking up the “last few days” with his kids before they both head to college.Along with a carousel of photos — including one showing off the trio’s new matching ink — Mathison shared that his two kids, Lelia and Lucas, would be “off to Europe for college (Paris and London).“TheAll My Childrenactor, who shares his two kids withex-wife Vanessa, previously told PEOPLE that the prospect of becoming an empty nester was “tough” as his daughter geared up to join her brother overseas.“It’s the best thing in the world,” he added. “But at the same time, I don’t think I’m ready. I mean, you think you are. You’re like, ‘Oh, it’s going to be awesome,' but I’m going to miss them.”

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Cameron Mathison

Cameron Mathison with his kids.Cameron Mathison/Instagram

Cameron Mathison/Instagram

As the summer comes to a close,Cameron Mathisonis soaking up the “last few days” with his kids before they both head to college.

Along with a carousel of photos — including one showing off the trio’s new matching ink — Mathison shared that his two kids, Lelia and Lucas, would be “off to Europe for college (Paris and London).”

TheAll My Childrenactor, who shares his two kids withex-wife Vanessa, previously told PEOPLE that the prospect of becoming an empty nester was “tough” as his daughter geared up to join her brother overseas.

“It’s the best thing in the world,” he added. “But at the same time, I don’t think I’m ready. I mean, you think you are. You’re like, ‘Oh, it’s going to be awesome,' but I’m going to miss them.”

10of 12Gwyneth PaltrowGwyneth Paltrow with her kids Apple and Moses.Gwyneth Paltrow/InstagramBack in 2023, while her son Moses was still a high school junior,Gwyneth Paltrowtold James Corden she was feeling"not very well"about her “impending empty nest.“At the time, her daughter Apple had already fled the coop to college, which Paltrow called “a huge change.“The Goop founder previously told PEOPLE that sending her eldest off to college the first time was “horrible.““It was truly horrifying,” she said. “I was sick to my stomach, bursting into tears.“In May 2024, Paltrow and her ex-husband Chris Martingathered to celebrate Moses' high school graduation— signaling her “impending” empty nesting is coming up soon.

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Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow with her kids Apple and Moses.Gwyneth Paltrow/Instagram

Back in 2023, while her son Moses was still a high school junior,Gwyneth Paltrowtold James Corden she was feeling"not very well"about her “impending empty nest.”

At the time, her daughter Apple had already fled the coop to college, which Paltrow called “a huge change.”

The Goop founder previously told PEOPLE that sending her eldest off to college the first time was “horrible.”

“It was truly horrifying,” she said. “I was sick to my stomach, bursting into tears.”

In May 2024, Paltrow and her ex-husband Chris Martingathered to celebrate Moses' high school graduation— signaling her “impending” empty nesting is coming up soon.

11of 12Ali WentworthAli Wentworth, Harper Andrea Stephanopoulos, Elliott Anastasia Stephanopoulos and George Stephanopoulos.Nina Westervelt/Variety/GettyAhead of the new school year,Ali Wentworthshared how she and her husbandGeorge Stephanopolouswere adjusting to being empty nesters as both daughters are now college students.“We were traumatized at first, and now it’s kind of fun,” Wentworth, who is mom toHarper Andrea StephanopoulosandElliott Anastasia Stephanopoulos, toldPEOPLE in April 2024.“We’re young and in love again,” she continued. “We got married, I got pregnant after nine months. So we’ve never just been a married couple with no kids. So we’re loving it.”In August, Wentworthshared a glimpse of her family’s move-in daywith a picture of the mom-of-two — with a mallet in hand — appearing to bang on a bed in a dorm room.“Who doesn’t love college move-in day? No air-conditioning. Need a degree in engineering to assemble anything,” she wrote. “Who needs a shower caddy? And now I’m crying cause I already miss her….”

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Ali Wentworth

Ali Wentworth, Harper Andrea Stephanopoulos, Elliott Anastasia Stephanopoulos and George Stephanopoulos.Nina Westervelt/Variety/Getty

Nina Westervelt/Variety/Getty

Ahead of the new school year,Ali Wentworthshared how she and her husbandGeorge Stephanopolouswere adjusting to being empty nesters as both daughters are now college students.

“We were traumatized at first, and now it’s kind of fun,” Wentworth, who is mom toHarper Andrea StephanopoulosandElliott Anastasia Stephanopoulos, toldPEOPLE in April 2024.

“We’re young and in love again,” she continued. “We got married, I got pregnant after nine months. So we’ve never just been a married couple with no kids. So we’re loving it.”

In August, Wentworthshared a glimpse of her family’s move-in daywith a picture of the mom-of-two — with a mallet in hand — appearing to bang on a bed in a dorm room.

“Who doesn’t love college move-in day? No air-conditioning. Need a degree in engineering to assemble anything,” she wrote. “Who needs a shower caddy? And now I’m crying cause I already miss her….”

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LL Cool J

LL Cool J attends as Shari Redstone & Gelila Assefa Puck Host Rebuilding Bridges Dinner on October 17, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Back in February, LL Cool J shared how he felt now that all four of his kids had left home. His youngest daughter, Nina, was the most recent to leave following her graduation from college.

source: people.com