Dads and their daughters — there’s something truly special about the bond that links a father and his little girl, and these celebrity dads are perfect examples of the fierce unconditional love every father should have for their daughter(s).
Although the hallmarks of a bonafide girl dad usually involve the occasional painted nails and impromptu tea party, daddy-daughter bonds go far beyond frills and girly thrills. For dads like John Legend, their daughters are truly their best friends. The EGOT-winning musician said during a 2020 radio interview, “I have so much fun hanging out with her. … [Luna is] so funny and smart and she’s just got good verbal skills — she’s just fun to be around.”
Fellow singer Lionel Richie is equally impressed by his eldest daughter, Nicole Richie. During a 2020 episode of HuffPost‘s “Talk to Me” series, the “Hello” crooner told The Simple Life alum, “I think you … changed my life a great deal in terms of softening my heart, because everything up to that point was about songwriting and the business and touring.” He explained, “All of a sudden I found something that I could actually fall in love with that was never going to leave me. How about that?”
For a closer look at celeb papas and their sweet bonds with their daughters, read on. Make sure you have a tissue in hand because some of these duos are guaranteed to make you shed a happy tear or two — they’re genuinely that touching.
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Jay-Z & Blue Ivy
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation. From frequenting sporting events together to writing songs about his first-born daughter, Jay-Z and Blue Ivy have an adorable relationship full of wholesome moments — like when he stepped up as her photographer, and that time he embarrassed her on the jumbotron. He may be one of the most legendary rappers in the game, but to Blue Ivy, he’s just her dorky dad.
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Lionel & Nicole Richie
Image Credit: Donato Sardella/Getty Images for REVOLVE. Nicole Richie is Lionel Richie’s eldest child, and the unconventional way the two became family is part of what makes their father-daughter bond so strong.
The musician took in the future fashion designer when she was just 4 years old — Nicole was the daughter of some friends who weren’t in a position to care for a child. During a 2015 interview with Piers Morgan, Lionel shared, “It took about maybe a year for me to just fall in love and she was a little button, and of course by that time I was ‘Dad.'”
Of meeting her and eventually adopting her when she was 9 years old, Lionel told Nicole during an episode of HuffPost‘s “Talk to Me” series, “I think you… changed my life a great deal in terms of softening my heart, because everything up to that point was about songwriting and the business and touring. All of a sudden I found something that I could actually fall in love with that was never going to leave me. How about that?”
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David & Harper Beckham
Image Credit: Getty Images. As the baby of the family and the only daughter amongst three older brothers, it’s safe to say Harper Beckham has a special place in her soccer star father’s heart. From letting her indulge in ice cream for breakfast while on vacation to sheepishly admitting he can’t say no to her (probably how she got away with the early morning dessert), David Beckham is the most doting of dads when it comes to his little girl.
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Seal & Leni Klum
Seal and daughter Leni Klum always look like they’re having the best time together, whether they’re hugging outside of the US Open or attending a red carpet movie premiere.
The singer adopted Leni when she was 5 years old, and their father-daughter bond seems to be stronger than ever. He told E! News in March 2023, “I’m so proud of everything that Leni has done [with her career], but I’m more proud of everything that she is.”
Seal continued, “She walks through life with this type of humility that allows her to move so gracefully through it all and she has an innate understanding of people in general and people’s feelings. So I’m kind of more impressed with everything that she is.”
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Barack, Malia & Sasha Obama
Image Credit: NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images. Barack Obama is one of our favorite girl dads — the way he talks about daughters Malia and Sasha is absolutely touching. For example, the former POTUS sang his girls’ praises during a 2020 interview with InStyle, saying, “Sasha is, as Malia describes it, completely confident about her own take on the world and is not cowed or intimidated — and never has been — by anybody’s titles, anybody’s credentials.”
He continued, “And Malia, she is just buoyant. She’s somebody who enjoys people, enjoys life, and enjoys conversation. She’s never bored, which is a badass quality that can take you places.”
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Tom & Vivian Brady
Image Credit: Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images. Vivian Brady is always in her dad’s corner, from Super Bowl wins to constructive gameday advice. The former NFL pro frequently shares sweet nuggets about his relationship with his only daughter, like when he shared her thoughts on his famous sideline scowl and how he caved and adopted two rescue kittens for her — “Vivi always wins,” the legendary quarterback wrote like a true girl dad.
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Will & Willow Smith
Image Credit: Getty Images. Will Smith is a fierce advocate for his kids, especially when it comes to his only daughter, Willow. From admitting he had to shift his parenting style to meet her needs to sharing the occasional adorable Instagram post in her honor, the I Am Legend actor is wrapped around his daughter’s finger.
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Dwyane & Zaya Wade
Image Credit: CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images. Dwyane Wade goes hard for his eldest daughter, Zaya, and fathers everywhere should take notes when it comes to the former NBA pro’s parenting style. From supporting her passions to her personhood, Wade shows up for Zaya in every way he’s able — even if he needs to educate himself in order to properly do so.
During a 2021 Instagram Live interview with TODAY, the ex-Miami Heat player explained his approach to learning how to parent his transgender daughter, saying, “I do the same thing I would do in basketball. I’m gonna get help, I’m gonna go work on me. So if I don’t know something in this life, especially when it comes from my children, then it’s my job to go and learn these things.”
He also publicly defended Zaya multiple times in 2022 as her mother attempted to take Wade to court over allowing Zaya to pursue legally changing her name and gender, proving he’ll go to bat for her no matter the cost.
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Dwyane Wade & Kaavia Union-Wade
Image Credit: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney. Wade’s youngest daughter, Kaavia (Shady Baby for the real fans), also has herself wrapped around his finger. In his memoir, Dwyane, the retired basketball star wrote, “With Kaavia, she’s given our family another lifeline. You find deeper purpose in your own life by the ones you are given the opportunity to protect.”
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Jason & Lola Momoa
Image Credit: Getty Images. Jason Momoa has often expressed how much meaning having kids has brought to his life, and when it comes to his eldest and only daughter, Lola, he encourages her to live her dreams — and he helps make them come true.
When the Aquaman actor was filming Slumberland, he brought Lola along to visit on set. She was so inspired by the movie magic, she and some friends choreographed a dance routine and pitched it to her dad — who loved it so much he had it added to the film as a dream sequence. Talk about a proud papa!
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Lenny & Zoë Kravitz
Image Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images. Speaking of proud papas, Lenny Kravitz is a fierce advocate for daughter Zoë. When she appeared as the guest host on Saturday Night Live in 2022, he showered her with love and praise via an Instagram post captioned, “To see you shine in the same building where your grandparents met and worked was surreal. You were perfection. I love you endlessly.”
The “American Woman” singer also described his close relationship with The Batman actress in a 2020 interview with PEOPLE. “Zoë and I have a very open dialogue. We can talk about anything and everything,” Kravitz explained.
He revealed, “My mother and my grandfather had a very close relationship — to the point where, as a teenager, I thought it was ridiculous. They loved each other, and they valued each other. So when I see the relationship between Zoë and myself, I see the relationship between my mother and my grandfather. It makes me very happy that we’ve elevated to that level.”
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John Legend & Luna Stephens
Image Credit: Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort via Getty Images. John Legend called daughter Luna his “best friend” in a 2020 radio interview, adding, “My daughter is so wonderful; I have so much fun hanging out with her. … [She’s] so funny and smart and she’s just got good verbal skills — she’s just fun to be around.”
The R&B crooner frequently shares snapshots of their bond on Instagram, from the time they wore coordinating outfits for a daddy-daughter birthday date to their sweet vacation selfies.
In Jan. 2023 Legend and wife Chrissy Teigen welcomed another baby girl, Esti, to the family — and we can’t wait to witness the sweet moments with her too!
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Ron & Bryce Dallas Howard
Image Credit: Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images. If anyone needed confirmation of how strong Ron and Bryce Dallas Howard’s daddy-daughter bond is, look no further than their super sweet birthday posts for one another on Instagram in 2023.
With birthdays just one day apart, Bryce shared some throwback photos of herself and her filmmaking father on March 1, writing, “Daddio, you are my best friend — always have been, always will be. I love you. Happy Birthday.”
The following day, Ron wrote an equally heartfelt message to his daughter: “It’s been one of THE joys of our lives to witness @BryceDHoward grow into the woman, mother, wife & consummate show biz pro that she is. … U make us grateful & proud.”
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Dwayne, Jasmine & Tiana Johnson
Image Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images. If The Rock weren’t already famous thanks to his pro wrestling and acting careers, he’d certainly be one of those viral internet dads who entertains any and every whim his daughters have.
From allowing them to give him “makeovers” that end up just being his entire face and head covered in hot pink lipstick to letting them introduce two hairless guinea pigs to the family, Dwayne Johnson is no rock when it comes to his girls — he’s but a domino waiting to be pushed, and he adorably documents all his girl dad adventures on Instagram.
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Andy & Lucy Cohen
Ever since the arrival of his daughter in 2022, Andy Cohen has been head over heels obsessed with baby Lucy — so much so that he once shared a video on Instagram of her laughing for 52 seconds. Honest to goodness — he captioned said video, “Fifty two seconds of Lucy laughing 😂 ❤️.” It doesn’t get cuter than that!
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