The family tree of entertainment icon Jamie Lee Curtis has officially expanded, as her daughter, Annie Guest, has privately welcomed her first child, making Curtis a grandmother. While details surrounding the birth have been kept under wraps, the news signifies a new and joyous chapter for the renowned actress and her family. Curtis, known for her roles in iconic films such as "Halloween" and "A Fish Called Wanda," has long been a private individual regarding her family life, and this latest development continues that tradition.
This personal milestone for Curtis arrives as other prominent figures in the entertainment and sports worlds are also navigating their own family expansions, often sharing their journeys, including fertility challenges, with the public. Reba McEntire, the celebrated country music star and coach on "The Voice," recently saw her son, Shelby Blackstock, and his wife, Marissa Blackstock, announce their impending arrival. This news, shared with palpable excitement, highlights the universal theme of growing families and the anticipation that accompanies it.
Shelby and Marissa Blackstock Announce Pregnancy
Marissa Blackstock took to Instagram on April 14th to share the exciting news with a joint post alongside her husband, Shelby Blackstock. The caption, "Oh, BOY," radiated with joy, proclaiming, "We’re beyond excited to FINALLY announce our little man is coming in October. See ya real soon, pal! Mommy + Daddy love you!" The announcement was accompanied by a series of heartwarming photos. These included images of the couple proudly displaying a baby onesie, sharing a tender kiss in front of the iconic Walt Disney World castle in Orlando, Florida, and a sonogram image. A playful touch was added with a cake adorned with a blue Mickey Mouse pattern and a "Baby Blackstock" hat, further emphasizing the anticipation for their son.
Shelby Blackstock, who married Marissa, an esthetician, in 2022, expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support the couple has received. He shared on his Instagram Stories, "Thank you all for the outpouring of love. We are beyond excited to finally share this exciting news from our family." This sentiment underscores the communal joy that often surrounds such personal announcements, especially within the digital sphere.
Navigating the IVF Journey
Marissa Blackstock had previously offered an intimate glimpse into her and Shelby’s fertility journey earlier in the year, openly discussing their experiences with in vitro fertilization (IVF). She detailed the emotional and physical challenges, noting that their first round of treatment had been unsuccessful. Despite the setback, Marissa maintained a hopeful outlook, sharing in a January Instagram video that while their initial attempt didn’t result in a lasting pregnancy, it did yield a positive result for several days. "Unfortunately, it seems like a chemical pregnancy, to where he didn’t last," she explained at the time, referring to the embryo. "It’s OK. We’re onto our second."
At 33 years old, Marissa emphasized the renewed hope she felt going into their second round of IVF. "We’re pretty excited going into this ’cause it seems like at least, my body took the last time, even though it didn’t stay long-term," she shared. "I know that my body can do it. So we’re very excited and hopeful. We’re not putting too much pressure on it ’cause anything can happen."
Her candidness extended to expressing deep appreciation for the support system that buoyed them through their fertility struggles. "The love, messages, prayers, and support from friends and this community have been overwhelming in the best way," she captioned the video. "I wish I could thank every single person personally. Just know we feel it, and we’re so grateful. Infertility is hard, but we don’t feel alone." This sentiment highlights the growing awareness and open dialogue surrounding infertility, a condition affecting millions worldwide.
A Broader Landscape of Celebrity Fertility Journeys
Marissa Blackstock’s willingness to share her IVF experience is part of a larger trend among public figures who are increasingly choosing to shed light on their personal fertility journeys. This openness not only destigmatizes the often-private struggles of conception but also provides a sense of solidarity and shared experience for others facing similar challenges.
Bella Robertson and Jacob Mayo: The "Duck Dynasty" star, Bella Robertson, and her husband, Jacob Mayo, have also been vocal about their fertility struggles, choosing to incorporate their story into their family’s new reality series. In a May 2025 interview with Us Weekly, Bella explained the importance of sharing these experiences publicly. "We share the story of infertility in the show and that’s something that we haven’t really shared publicly that much, but that’s something that others just don’t know," she stated. She emphasized that "When you just look at someone on social media, you can’t know what anyone’s going through." For them, being authentic on their new show felt "right" and allowed them to be their true selves.
Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey: Two years before announcing their pregnancy, former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo detailed her endometriosis diagnosis and the potential impact it could have on her fertility. In a November 2022 episode of The Culpo Sisters, she expressed her desire to have children but also her concerns about her ability to conceive. "I want to have kids, but I want to make sure that I can," Culpo shared, having undergone surgery to treat the disease diagnosed in 2020. She explained the various ways endometriosis can affect fertility, including issues with ovaries, egg quality, and fallopian tubes.
Caelynn Bell and Dean Bell: "Bachelor Nation" alum Caelynn Bell has shared a candid message about the difficulties she and her husband, Dean Bell, have faced in conceiving since their 2023 wedding. In a March 2025 YouTube video, Caelynn admitted, "It’s hard," but noted she was "putting way less pressure on myself than I was in the first few months of trying." Despite the emotional toll, Caelynn remains positive as they undergo medical testing to "figure out what’s going on."
Bunnie Xo and Jelly Roll: The wife of country musician Jelly Roll, Bunnie Xo, has been transparent about her IVF journey since June 2024. Initially planning to keep it private, she decided to share their experiences, stating, "but decided our IVF journey needed to be shared because we’ve always been so open." She has documented the emotional rollercoaster on her Dumb Blonde podcast. While facing challenges, Bunnie Xo has also expressed openness to other family-building options, including adoption, stating, "If it is meant to be it’s meant to be. And if not, we can always adopt."
Julianne Hough: The Dancing With the Stars cohost has been open about her struggles with endometriosis and her efforts to preserve her fertility. In June 2025, she shared that she was undergoing her third round of egg freezing, highlighting her proactive approach to future family planning.
Whitney Port and Tim Rosenman: Since welcoming their son, Sonny, in 2017, The Hills alum Whitney Port has been candid about the challenges of her fertility journey, including two pregnancy losses and two miscarriages with her surrogate. In July 2024, she confirmed preparations for a second egg retrieval, expressing a greater sense of preparedness and trust in her medical team. Port has also emphasized that regardless of the outcome, her family of three is already complete, expressing gratitude for her son and the love they share.
Michelle Yeoh: The acclaimed actress, who married Jean Todt in 2023, previously shared the emotional difficulties she faced trying to conceive with her first husband, Dickson Poon. In a November 2024 podcast appearance, Yeoh spoke about the profound disappointment of fertility treatments. "I always wanted to have children," she said. "I went and did fertility [treatments] to aid in the process. I think that’s the worst moment to go through is every month. You feel like such a failure." She later found acceptance, stating, "At some point, you stop blaming yourself… You just have to let go and move on."
Eve and Maximillion Cooper: Rapper Eve, who shares her son Wilde with husband Maximillion Cooper, has spoken about a devastating pregnancy loss due to an ectopic pregnancy. While filming her sitcom Eve in 2006, she experienced the loss, which required emergency surgery and a two-week filming hiatus. She revealed in her memoir, Who’s That Girl?, that she initially lied about the reason for her absence, seeking more time for emotional recovery.
Mary Bonnet and Romain Bonnet: Selling Sunset star Mary Bonnet, who welcomed her son Austin at 15, has openly discussed her and husband Romain Bonnet’s fertility journey. In September 2024, she told E! News they were taking things as they came, acknowledging the stress of her busy schedule. Mary underwent surgery to correct a septate uterus. Despite the uncertainty, she and Romain are content with their "fur baby," Thor, and embrace a philosophy of letting nature take its course.
Erin Andrews and Jarret Stoll: The NFL sportscaster and her husband, Jarret Stoll, welcomed their son Mack in July 2023 after a challenging decade-long fertility journey. This path included navigating Erin’s cervical cancer diagnosis in 2017. Having previously frozen her eggs, she underwent IVF. Andrews decided to share her story in a 2021 essay, stating she was "so tired of keeping quiet" about the painful experience, aiming to connect with other couples facing similar struggles.
The Significance of Public Narratives
The increasing willingness of public figures to share their fertility journeys, from IVF to endometriosis to pregnancy loss, has a significant impact. It normalizes conversations around reproductive health, offers a beacon of hope for those experiencing similar difficulties, and fosters a greater understanding and empathy within society. While Jamie Lee Curtis maintains a private stance on her grandmotherhood, the broader cultural shift towards openness in discussing family-building challenges provides a valuable context for the ongoing evolution of personal and public narratives surrounding parenthood. Each story, whether shared with intimate detail or kept more private, contributes to a collective understanding of the diverse paths individuals take to build their families.
