A Guide to All of Hollywood's Celebrity Godparents
A Guide to All of Hollywood's Celebrity Godparents
Brooke Showell, Alex ApatoffMon, March 2, 2026 at 10:56 PM UTC
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Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage; Vivien Killilea/Getty
It's no surprised that celebrities have more connections than the average person — but some of those A-list links go well beyond business and into family ties. Many lucky celeb kids have some seriously famous godparents — and some of those kids have gone on to be superstars themselves.
Read on to find out which two A-listers share Steven Spielberg as a godfather; which lucky youngsters have not one but two famous godparents; and all the special stories about how their parents decided to bestow the honor, spiritually connecting their friends with their children forever.
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Jamie Lee Curtis & Maggie Gyllenhaal
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Jamie Lee Curtis is godmother to both Gyllenhaal kids, actors Maggie and Jake, thanks to her friendship with their parents in the industry (mom Naomi is a screenwriter and producer, and dad Stephen is a director). And Curtis' support for her godchildren goes far beyond lip service — she'll even flash her bra to promote their work, as she did for Maggie's upcoming directorial feature The Bride.
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Steph Curry & Ayesha Curry & Lindsay Lohan's Son Luai
Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty
When Lindsay Lohan and husband Bader Shammas attended a Golden State Warriors game in Feb. 2024, they got much more than a standard souvenir — they got some killer nursery decor thanks to superstar Steph Curry, who signed a game jersey for the couple's infant son Luai.
And the signature revealed a very personal connection beyond the court: "To Luai ... Your godparents love you!" Curry inscribed the gift.
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Tyler Perry & Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's Daughter Lilibet
Credit: Netflix
A longtime supporter of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Perry was asked to be godfather to Princess Lilibet Diana in 2021, sharing the news publicly in 2022.
"I had to take a minute to take that in," he later said in the couple's 2022 Netflix docuseries. "And I thought, 'I'd be honored. I'd absolutely be honored.' "
The movie mogul was one of about 30 guests at the tot's intimate christening at home in Montecito, California, in March 2023, flying in from Atlanta with a 10-person gospel choir that sang "Oh Happy Day" and "This Little Light of Mine" — a song that was played at Meghan and Harry's wedding.Lili's godmother has not been publicly named.
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Dakota Johnson & Jeremy Allen White's Daughters Ezer and Dolores
Credit: Addison Timlin White/Instagram; Vera Anderson/WireImage
According to a July 2022 chat with The Bear's head chef in Vanity Fair, Johnson is godmother to both of his children with ex Addison Timlin, daughters Ezer and Dolores.
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Bryan Cranston & Aaron Paul's Son Ryden
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Announcing the arrival of his second child, a baby boy, in April 2022, Paul also shared some extra-sweet news: his longtime friend and Breaking Bad costar, Cranston, was the baby's godfather.
"I asked Bryan on his birthday if he would be our baby's godfather," Paul shared, before teasing that Cranston initially turned down the offer.
"No, he's very excited, very honored," Paul continued. "I love the man to death. He's one of my best friends in the world, and, so yeah, it was just a no-brainer."
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Vin Diesel & Meadow Walker
Credit: ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty
The Fast and Furious star is godfather to his late costar Paul Walker's adult daughter, Meadow, and the two maintain a close relationship — he posted a video of one of their "Sunday family dinners" in March 2026.
Diesel was on hand to walk Meadow down the aisle at her Dominican Republic wedding to fiancé Louis Thornton-Allan in early October 2021. He wore a powder blue suit for the beachside nuptials, which the new bride documented on Instagram.
Speaking about his love for Meadow in the past, Diesel said, "I feel very protective. It goes beyond the movie."
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Elizabeth Taylor & Paris Jackson
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The starlet recalled fond memories of her super-famous godmother at the 2021 Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS in Los Angeles. "We'd always give each other little gifts. Every time I knew I was going to go see her, I'd find something around in my room, like a bracelet or a stuffed animal or something, and I would bring it to her," Jackson told PEOPLE. "Any time [she and my dad] were together, it was fun and it was joy."
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Macaulay Culkin & Paris Jackson
Credit: Paris Jackson/Instagram
A longtime friend of the King of Pop, Culkin was named godfather of Michael Jackson's middle child, Paris. Since the singer's death, Culkin and his goddaughter have spent lots of time together, documenting their get-togethers on social media. They even have matching tattoos!
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Jennifer Aniston & Courteney Cox's Daughter Coco
Credit: Jennifer Aniston Instagram
Friends 'til the end! The close bond between Aniston and Cox grew even deeper when Cox named her former costar godmother to daughter Coco Arquette.
"Jennifer has the biggest heart," Cox told PEOPLE, "and there could be no better godmother."
Aniston proved it when she wished her goddaughter a happy 17th birthday on social media, sharing a series of cute throwback photos, which included one with the caption "Happy birthday my sweet Cocolicious! Godmama LOVES you!"
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Mariska Hargitay & Christopher Meloni's Daughter Sophia
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Hargitay and her Law & Order: SVU costar Christopher Meloni are way more than real life BFFs — they're practically family. When Meloni and wife Sherman Williams welcomed daughter Sophia in 2001, they tapped Hargitay to be godmother.
"The birth of his first child and being privy to his amazing, solid relationship with his wife, before I had that for myself — I think that Chris and Sherman played a really big role for me, to see this really stable couple that loved each other," Hargitay told PEOPLE of the example they set for her.
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Tim McGraw & Garrett Hedlund & Emma Roberts' Son Rhodes
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Garrett Hedlund told Kelly Clarkson that he and now-ex Emma Roberts chose McGraw as the godfather to their son Rhodes Robert in part because of Hedlund's work with the country star in 2004's Friday Night Lights and 2010's Country Strong.
"He's somebody that I admire and respect, not only as an amazing father and an amazing husband, amazing musician and amazing actor," he said. "I've known him for a long time."
"We laugh about it because it's probably been over 17 years since we did Friday Night Lights together, we played father and son. So I got to first experience him as a father — in that film, somewhat more of an abusive one — but then we did Country Strong together, and we've remained such close friends and, you know, I've seen his children, his daughters, from the time they were 1, 3 and 5," Hedlund added.
"He's the best," Hedlund continued, adding, "After around 12 weeks of Emma being pregnant, I called him, and the first thing he said was, 'I'm the godfather.' So, how can you argue?"
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Norman Lear & Katey Sagal
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"She's extraordinary," Lear said during a 2018 podcast chat with Sagal, who revealed that the legendary producer (who died in 2023) introduced her parents. "I've known you since I was born," Sagal added, calling Lear "kind of the reason I'm here."
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Steven Spielberg & Drew Barrymore & Gwyneth Paltrow
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Two stars share more than A-list status: Barrymore and Paltrow both have Spielberg in common as a godfather. Gwyneth's parents Bruce Paltrow and Blythe Danner selected the director at birth to be godfather to their baby girl, while Spielberg assumed the mantle for Barrymore (whom he directed in E.T.) in her teens.
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Jacqueline Bissett & Angelina Jolie
Credit: Splash News Online
Bisset was named Jolie's godmother thanks to her strong connection to Marcheline Bertrand, Jolie's late mom. Bertrand died of ovarian cancer in 2007 at age 56.
"[Jacqueline] is very important to [Angelina]," a source told PEOPLE of the pair's bond following a July 2019 trip to Paris. "They're very close, and Jacqueline is someone Angelina has admired for a long time. And of course, there is the connection to her mom."
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B.J. Novak & Mindy Kaling's Children
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From costars to even more: Kaling revealed former Office star Novak's important role in her life with daughter Katherine in May 2019 (and he's assumed the mantle for her two subsequent children, Spencer and Anne).
"The truth is that B.J. is so much more like family now than a platonic friend. He's the godfather to my daughter," Kaling told Good Housekeeping.
"He comes over like once a week. Sometimes he'll come over just to hang out with her," the Late Night star added.
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Molly Bernard & Hilary Duff's Daughter Banks
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Bernard went beyond being Duff's Younger costar; she became godmother to Duff's daughter Banks Violet, too.
"After [Banks] was born, I was like, 'Oh, does she have a godmother?' And Hil was like ..." Bernard told PEOPLE, pointing at herself.
Bernard frequently posts photos of herself hanging with Banks and Duff's other child, son Luca Cruz, and was one of the first to congratulate Duff on her engagement to now-husband Matthew Koma.
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Meryl Streep & Billie Lourd
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During a May 2019 visit to Watch What Happens Live, Andy Cohen asked Lourd (whose mom is the late Carrie Fisher) about the best part of having Streep as her godmother. And Lourd had the perfect response: "I mean, she's Meryl Streep!"
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Marisa Tomei & Zoë Kravitz
Credit: Fred Hayes/WireImage
If you've got the two coolest parents in the world (as Zoë does in Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet), it stands to reason your godmother will be pretty awesome, too. Zoë was interviewed by her "godmama" for an InStyle cover story, in which the two dished about their matching tattoos and long history together.
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Eva Longoria & David & Victoria Beckham's Children Cruz and Harper
Credit: Victoria Beckham/Instagram
Eva Longoria joined Victoria and David Beckham pals Ken Paves and Marc Anthony as godparents when their children Cruz and Harper (pictured) got baptized. As the first girl in the Beckham clan, Harper's milestones are cause for celebration in the family — and for doting godmother Longoria. "I was in L.A. [when Harper took her first steps]," Longoria told PEOPLE.
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Elton John & David & Victoria Beckham's Sons Romeo and Brooklyn
Credit: Dave Benett/Getty
Another proud godparent to the Beckham clan: Sir Elton, who has that role for the Beckhams' oldest two sons, Romeo (far right) and Brooklyn (not pictured). He continues to enjoy the role — check out the over-the-top cake he sent for Romeo's 16th birthday.
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Ted Danson & Mary Steenburgen & Laura Dern's Son Ellery
In a 2017 Instagram post, Steenburgen casually dropped that she and her husband, Danson, are godparents to Dern's son Ellery (with ex Ben Harper).
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Cicely Tyson & Lenny Kravitz
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Days before the pioneering actress passed away, her godson paid tribute to her on her 96th birthday. "Happy Birthday to my dearest Godmother, Cicely Tyson," he wrote. "All I can do is thank God that we have been on this planet at the same time, and I have been so blessed to receive your love. The best is yet to come. I love you."
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Dolly Parton & Miley Cyrus
Dolly Parton and Miley CyrusCredit: Emma McIntyre/Getty
When times are tough, Miley Cyrus can count on her country-legend godmother to have her back. "I've loved her through the years and watched her grow up, and I've seen how smart she is and how talented she is," Parton told the London Evening Standard. "If she needs my opinion on something I will surely give it [but] I would never dream of calling her and saying, 'Well why are you doing this?' or, 'You shouldn't do this or that…' She's just trying to find her own place and wings and learn to fly."
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Joan Collins & Cara Delevingne
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The Dame is longtime friends with the model's parents, Pandora and Charles, and they frequently cross paths at fancy fashion events. But the Dynasty star knew her when: "Cara was an amazing child. Her favorite expression was 'mine'. That's the youngest of three: 'Mine, mine' ... [She] loved dancing to the Spice Girls, showing off the nicest routines."
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Kim Kardashian & Khloé Kardashian's Daughter True
Credit: Kim Kardsahian/Instagram
Khloé Kardashian's decision to make sister Kim godmother and guardian of daughter True caused a bit of a rift with big sister Kourtney.
But "watching Kimberly be a mom, I really respect her parenting skills — not that I don't respect Kourtney's, I relate to how Kim parents more," Khloé said on a September 2018 episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. "But at the end of the day, this family is so close and we love each other so much and if anything, God forbid, were to happen, I know my daughter is in the best of hands no matter who her legal guardian is."
"I feel like Kim has been so selfless during my pregnancy," added Khloé. "She's trying to just help make sure that you feel your best, look your best, have the best. She's so secure in her life that I feel like she would be an incredible godparent. She's just been a great friend and sister."
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Quincy Jones & Nicole Richie
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The late producer, a longtime pal of Nicole's dad Lionel Richie, served as her godfather. (She has another legendary musical godfather as well: the late Michael Jackson.)
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Henry Winkler & Bryce Dallas Howard
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The God-Fonz-er? Bryce's dad Ron Howard stayed close with his Happy Days costar well after the sitcom wrapped, and named him godfather to his daughter Bryce, now an actress herself.
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Victor Garber & Jennifer Garner's Daughter Violet
Credit: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Close pals since their days on Alias, they're now practically family: Garber is godfather to Garner's eldest (with ex-husband Ben Affleck), Violet.
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Zach Braff & Donald Faison's Children Wilder and Rocco
Credit: Zach Braff/ Instagram
Braff is godfather to his best friend and Scrubs costar Donald Faison's two kids with wife CaCee Cobb. "Thank you to @caceecobb for growing this for @donald_aison and I. #GodfatherII," Braff joked following the April 2015 birth of the couple's youngest, daughter Wilder. In July 2017, the proud godparent shared a video of Wilder and brother Rocco giving him an adorable message.
In 2025, Braff and Faison joked to PEOPLE about Braff's more hands-off nature as a godfather. "Let's keep it 100. He's not the biggest kid person on the planet," Faison said. Responded Braff, "I like kids ... [but] hey don't need to be making all that ruckus!"
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Jessica Simpson & Donald Faison's Daughter Wilder
Credit: Jessica Simpson/Instagram
Wilder has a famous godmother, too. "Madly in love with my Goddaughter Wilder Frances Faison!!! I am beyond proud of @caceecobb and @donald_aison," Jessica Simpson wrote shortly after her best friend Cobb welcomed her second child with husband Faison.
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CaCee Cobb & Jessica Simpson's Daughter Maxwell
Credit: John Shearer/WireImage
And it continues: for godmother to daughter Maxwell, Jessica Simpson turned to none other than best friend CaCee Cobb.
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Lady Gaga & Elton John's Sons Zachary and Elijah
Credit: Leon Bennett/Getty
Elton John had a solid reason for choosing Gaga as godmother for his two sons with David Furnish, Zachary and Elijah. "She's a great role model," John told Extra. "She's been a great godmother to Zachary. She came to bathe him in Las Vegas. She was already dressed to go to the show, and she was sitting there and she bathed him, and she was like dressed like Audrey Hepburn… and she fed him… We're all bonkers in this business, but we're human beings at the same time."
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Cameron Diaz & Drew Barrymore's Daughter Frankie
Credit: Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
Charlie's Angels stick together — so it's no surprise Drew picked Cameron to be godmother to her younger daughter, Frankie (with ex husband Will Kopelman).
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Kathie Lee Gifford & Kendall & Kylie Jenner
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A longtime friend of KarJenner matriarch Kris Jenner, Today host Gifford is godmother to the youngest members of the fam: Kendall (far left) and Kylie (not pictured).
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Nick Jonas & Kevin Jonas' Daughter Valentina
Credit: Nick Jonas/Snapchat
The singer announced his role in niece Valentina's life with a sweet Snapchat photo. "My beautiful niece on her dedication day. With my sister in law's sister Katie. We are honored to be the god parents," he wrote. Valentina is the daughter of Jonas's brother Kevin and wife Danielle.
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David Beckham & Liv Tyler's Son Sailor
Credit: Liv Tyler/Instagram
Little Sailor may have officially hit the godfather jackpot: Liv Tyler took to Instagram to show off an adorable lunch meeting between her then-7-month-old son, proud papa David Gardner and Beckham, Sailor's "God daddy" (awww).
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Taylor Swift & Leo Newman
Credit: Taylor Swift/Instagram
Swift officially met her godson, Leo Thames, in 2016. The youngster is BFF Jaime King's second son with (now ex) Kyle Newman.
Choosing Swift as a godmother was an easy decision, King shared. "It was because of her morals and her values, the way that she treats people and how hard-working she is," said the Hart of Dixie actress. "That's the kind of person I want to be the guide and the spiritual protector of my child."
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Jessica Alba & Jaime King's Son James
Credit: Jaime King/Instagram
Swift isn't the only celeb who'll play an important role in the lives of King's children. The actress revealed in a 2013 Instagram post that good friend Jessica Alba is the "Nina (Godmother)" of son James Knight. "Thank you Jess for your unending love and light – we are so grateful for you," King wrote. James also did pretty well in the godfather department: Topher Grace was asked to do the honors.
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Khloé Kardashian & Kim Kardashian's Daughter North
Credit: Khloe Kardashian/Instagram
Joining Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and little North on a spring 2015 trip to Armenia ended up with its perks: as the family headed home to Los Angeles, they detoured to Jerusalem to baptize North, naming Khloé, who'd joined them on the voyage, as godmother. "It was epic," a source told PEOPLE of the event, which happened in the city's Armenian quarter. "So beautiful."
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Blake Lively's Daughter James' 'Fairy Godmothers'
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Though Tamblyn told PEOPLE that the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants crew would be Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds's daughter James's godmothers, Lively set the record straight, announcing that her sister Robyn was picking up the official duties. However, her costars also have a special role in the little one's life as "fairy godmothers," Lively told E!
Another celebrity with a godparent role in Lively and Reynolds' kids' lives? Taylor Swift, of course! "She is the godparent to my daughters," Reynolds confirmed in 2024. (Her gift to the family? Using the girls' names James, Betty and Inez in a song on Folklore.)
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Busy Philipps & Jake Gyllenhaal & Michelle Williams' Daughter Matilda
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Talk about lucky! Michelle Williams' daughter Matilda has not one, but two celebrity godparents: Philipps (Williams' buddy from their Dawson's Creek days), and Gyllenhaal, who starred in Brokeback Mountain with Williams and Heath Ledger, Matilda's late father.
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Chris Martin & Simon Pegg (to Each Other's Kids)
Credit: Dave Hogan/Getty
The Coldplay frontman and actor go way back, which is why the trusted friends are godfathers to each other's children — Pegg to Apple, Martin's daughter with ex Gwyneth Paltrow, and Martin to Pegg's daughter Matilda. "[Chris] sang a song for [Matilda] in Berlin when she was born," Pegg shared. "He dedicated one of the songs, and I was really chuffed about it."
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Sting & Trudy Styler & Madonna's Son Rocco Ritchie
Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
From matchmakers to godparents! Sting and Trudie Styler introduced Madonna to former husband Guy Ritchie, so it's only fitting the then-couple chose them to be the spiritual guides to their son Rocco.
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Jenni Farley & Nicole Polizzi's Son Lorenzo
Two peas in a pod since Jersey Shore, Snooki's (a.k.a. Nicole Polizzi) first choice for son Lorenzo was a no-brainer: Farley, of course. At the baby's March 2013 baptism, Farley took her duties seriously. "My precious godbaby," she wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo of a party favor.
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Sia & Maddie Ziegler
Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty
The songstress is much more than a mentor to teen muse and collaborator Maddie Ziegler. "She is the best person in my life, she really is. She's my godmom now," the Dance Moms alumna revealed on The Tonight Show of Sia, who casts her in numerous music videos and live performances. "So if anything were to happen, she would take me, which is really cool. The day we met, we clicked, and we knew that it was a special connection … she's taught me so many life lessons and I'll never forget that."
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