For birthdays, tragic anniversaries, and just good old-fashioned support, celebrities love honoring their parents with an Instagram tribute — especially mamas!
All of these we’ve collected hone in on the critical and emotional role our parents hold in our lives, regardless of if they’re still with us or not. If there’s one thing these tributes remind you of, it’s that life is fragile and we won’t always have our loved ones when it matters most. Honor and spend time with them while you can, and be sure to celebrate their impact on you once they’re gone.
While these may all be tributes from celebrities, what they’re representing is truly universal. Life can, and should, be celebrated. Especially the lives of the humans who gave us ours.
Charlize Theron Shared an Instagram Tribute for Mom’s Birthday
In celebration of her mom, Gerda, Charlize Theron recently shared a full set of photos to Instagram for her birthday. Not only did the photos include mom, but also grandma. The very last photo in the set pictures Gerda alongside Theron’s two daughters, out on a hike. In this photo, the resemblance between Theron and her momma is uncanny.
“Today is my mom’s birthday,” Theron wrote in the caption. “I wanted to share her with all of you because anyone who knows her, knows how utterly awesome it is to stand in her sunlight.” From there, she goes on to praise her mother, saying she “TRULY is life” and “laughs louder than anyone I’ve ever met.” Theron even celebrates her mom as a “gifted s*** talker,” saying, “She’s direct, she’s honest, she’s funny, and she’ll tell you how it is any time of the day!”
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Theron, herself, is a doting mom to her two daughters, August, 7, and Jackson, 10. Both were adopted by Theron, and she told NPR in 2019 that she went about adoption very organically. “I wanted to believe that somehow my child would find me,” she said, opting for whatever was meant to be. She filed wherever she was allowed to “as a single woman” looking to adopt.
Mark Wahlberg Has Shared Multiple Tributes to Hit Late Mom, Alma Wahlberg
Last year proved to be a challenging one for actor Mark Wahlberg, as it was the first one without his momma, Alma Wahlberg. The Wahlberg matriarch passed in April of 2021, after a lengthy dementia battle, according to E! Online. For his first birthday without her, as well as the first Mother’s Day, Wahlberg posted short and sweet tributes to his mom. His heartbreak always ever-apparent.
Shortly after Alma’s death, Wahlberg posted a photo of her. At the time, he wrote in the caption, “My angel. Rest in peace.” Then, for Mother’s Day, he posted a photo of himself, his mom, and his wife, celebrating the women in his life. “Happy Mother’s Day, ” he wrote. “What would I be without these two? Miss you mom. Love you babe. To all the moms, thank you.”
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Since then, Wahlberg has made a regular habit of sharing photos of his mom. He posted again on his 50th birthday, a significant milestone to hit without your mother. Simply, he captioned the photo with “Miss you,” and doesn’t seem to go for long without posting about her.
Oliver Hudson Had His Mom Goldie Hawn’s Back in His Instagram Tribute
Goldie Hawn is a fierce advocate for children’s mental health, reports Hello Magazine. In 2003, she founded the MindUP charity, which is the primary focus of The Goldie Hawn Foundation. It aims to assist parents and children in shaping mental fitness at a young age.
Last week, Hawn submitted a powerfully written opinion piece to USA Today on this topic in relation to COVID-19. Its title, Goldie Hawn: Covid trauma is hurting a generation of kids. We’ve failed them as a nation, thoroughly expresses the urgency of the piece. “We are in the midst of a national trauma that could very well surpass 9/11 and approach the heightened terror of the Cold War years,” she writes. In her words, it’s “a level of constant fear not seen in decades.”
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After the piece was published, Hawn’s son Oliver Hudson took to Instagram to promote and praise the piece. He posted a screenshot of the headline on USA Today. “Mama wrote a very important Op-Ed in USA TODAY. If you have kids, and even if you don’t, it’s a must-read,” he wrote in the caption. From there, he went on to emphasize that “she’s been doing this work for 20 years,” and praised her as an “expert.” He concluded his post by saying that when he grows up, “I want to be just like @goldiehawn,” tagging his mom.
Billie Lourd Still Posts Tributes for Late Mother, Carrie Fisher, Five Years On
Over this past Christmas, Billie Lourd posted a tribute to her late mother, Carrie Fisher, from Australia. Lourd was down under with her fiancé, Austen Rydell, and her 15-month-old son, Kingston Fisher Lourd Rydell. Sadly, her son will never have the opportunity to spend time with his magnificent grandma. Though, no doubt will understand how beloved she was, by all.
Fisher passed on December 27th, 2016, and Lourd opened up about the fifth anniversary of her passing on Instagram. “People always ask me what stage of grief I’m in. And my answer is never simple,” she wrote, alongside a photo of Fisher. “My grief is a multi-course meal with many complicated ingredients.” She goes on to use this meal metaphor to describe the layers of grief. Likening anger as an appetizer, depression as a side dish, acceptance as the entree, and denial as dessert.
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Since Fisher’s passing, Lourd has posted a similar tribute each year, usually from a different place. One year, she visited Norway to see the Northern Lights for the anniversary, according to NBC New York. And last year, she performed a cover of John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery.”
Snoop Dog Spent Most of Last Year Honoring His Mom On Instagram
Back in May of 2021, Snoop Dog reached out to his fans for prayers. At the time, he didn’t disclose details as to why the prayers were needed. “I need all my prayer warriors for momma right now, please and thank you,” he wrote, posting a photo of the radiant momma, decked out in red.
Then, a few months later, Snoop took to Instagram again to update his fans on the status of her health. “Happy Sunday,” he wrote, “Me and my brothers went to c mama today and she opened up her eyes to c us and let us know she still fighting.” In his photo, he gently touched his mother’s forehead, surrounded by his brothers.
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Unfortunately, in October of 2021, Beverly Tate passed on at the age of 70. Snoop posted two different tributes after she died. One included a posted graphic, where he wrote, “Til. We. Meet. Again.” And the other a photo of Tate, where he wrote, “Thank u God for giving me an angel for a mother.”
Lily Collins Wrote a Touching Instagram Tribute to Rockstar Dad, Phil Collins
For his 71st birthday, last week, Lily Collins, daughter of infamous musician Phil Collins, took to Instagram to celebrate. Collins is an actor in her own right, recently starring in Netflix’ Emily in Paris, but made time to give dad a shout out. But what do you even say when your dad is a beloved rockstar, loved by millions around the globe?
Collins posted a photo from childhood, of herself sitting upon daddy’s shoulders. “Happy birthday, dad,” she wrote in the caption. “I may no longer fit in your arms or sit comfortably on your shoulders, but you continue to hug me tightly when I need it most.” She goes on to recognize that they don’t see each other often, but says that “when we are face to face, you really do see me.” Regardless of the distance between them, she says, “I will always need you.”
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“Whether I’m proudly watching you up on stage, laughing at home together playing trivial pursuit, I’m forever grateful for the moments and memories we share,” she adds. As far as tributes go, you can’t really ask for better as a dad. Collins’ husband, Charlie McDowell, even jumped in the comments to wish dad many happy returns.
Ella Travolta Remembers Mom, Kelly Preston, With Dad John Travolta
Unfortunately, the Travolta family has experienced far more than their fair share of tragedy. Both Kelly Preston and John Travolta suffered the loss of their 16-year-old son, Jett, in 2009. According to Hello Magazine, he suffered from Kawasaki disease and a long history of seizures. Then, in July of 2020, Preston passed away from breast cancer. She left behind Travolta, their daughter, Ella, and son, Benjamin.
For what would have been Preston’s 59th birthday this past October, Ella Travolta posted a loving tribute to Instagram. In the photo, Preston and Ella, then a toddler, are holding hands. “Happy Birthday Mama, I love and miss you so much,” the young Travolta wrote in the caption. Similarly, John Travolta, posted his own loving tribute.
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Back in June, Ella also posted a loving tribute to her dad on Instagram for Father’s Day. She commented how easy he makes parenting look, even though she knows it isn’t. “You make every day better than the one before it… you bring us joy when we are down.” she wrote. From there, she expressed her hope to be “even half as good of a parent” as her dad.
Jamie Lee Curtis Dressed Up As Mom’s Iconic Character From Hitchcock’s Psycho
Some of may be unaware that Jamie Lee Curtis is the daughter of Janet Leigh. Chances are, even if you haven’t seen Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, you’ve heard of it. Leigh was the young woman we spend the first part of the 1960’s horror film with, before she’s viciously murdered in the shower.
Leigh passed on in 2004, but this past year, for the Halloween Kills premiere in Los Angeles, Curtis paid her legacy a fitting tribute. Dressed head-to-toe in her mother’s costume from the film, Curtis walked the red carpet. Accessorized to perfection with a bloody shower curtain draped over her arm. Later, Curtis shared the full look to her Instagram. “Honoring my mother in ALL her gory… I meant glory! Premiere party time!” she hilariously wrote in the caption.
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Back in 2015, Curtis pulled out another similar tribute to her late mom for Instagram. She did a photo recreation of Leigh’s iconic scream from Psycho and the likeness is spot on. “Honoring the royal legend that is/was/will always be, Janet Leigh,” she wrote in the caption.
Javier Bardem and Wife, Penelope Cruz, Honored His Mother’s Passing
Last July, Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz lost their “example” with the passing of Pilar Bardem. The late Bardem was 82, and an award-winning actor, herself. In 1995, she was honored with a Goya (essentially the Spanish equivalent of an Academy Award). After her passing, both her children and Cruz posted touching tributes to Instagram.
Bardem, and his siblings Carlos and Monica, shared a photo of their personal memorial. Alongside, they wrote, translated from Spanish, “We want to share the news that Pilar Bardem, our mother, our example, has passed away. She left in peace, without suffering and surrounded by the love of her family.”
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Cruz also penned her tribute in Spanish to Instagram, alongside a short series of photos. “You were always so good to me!” she writes, along with praise for Pilar’s strength as a mother, grandmother, and friend. “Thank you for always putting yourself on the side of those who need it the most,” she goes on to say. Further elaborating upon her admiration for Pilar’s resilience in being a voice for justice, her wisdom, and her humor.
Which celebrity Instagram tribute did you relate to the most? Do you post tributes to your parents on social media? Let us know in the comments below.
