Rosie O'Donnell and Her Broadway Boy

Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Actress and television personality Rosie O’Donnell brought son Parker Jaren, 13, to opening night of the new Broadway musical Billy Elliot in Manhattan on Thursday night. Rosie, a veteran of the Great White Way herself, funds a foundation, Rosie’s Broadway Kids, which gives underprivileged New York City school children access to music and dance education.

Rosie and her wife, Kelli Carpenter O’Donnell, are also parents to Chelsea Belle, 11, Blake Christopher, 8 ½, and Vivienne Rose, who turns 6 in two weeks.

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Comments

Oh my gosh! I am surprised he is so big now! In my mind he was still a little boy

- Spiff on November 15th, 2008

CBB–just out of curiosity, why do you refer to Kelli as Rosie’s partner, not wife? (You refer to Tammy Lynn Etheridge as Melissa Etheridge’s wife.) Is it how Kelli and Rosie prefer it?

Also, is it necessary to put that the marriages were later voided, as if they are any less legitimate? Rosie and Kelli were married in a legal marriage ceremony, and to me that makes them still married regardless.

- The Nanny on November 15th, 2008

I can’t believe he is 13. I was only 9 when he was born and yet somehow I remember the adoption like… pretty well. That’s so weird to me. Haha.

- Emily on November 15th, 2008

I agree with the above…I remember when she had her show and she first adopted him.

- ERICKA on November 15th, 2008

And outside of California I do believe most states especially NY declared that out-of-state gay marriages that took place before Prop 8 are valid.

- ERICKA on November 15th, 2008

Something is wrong here. People today don’t care if there is someone out there being killed or assaulted enough to call police. Yet if it comes to our neighbours who are living in loving same sex relationship, they go out to the streets and protest.

I know lots of same sex couples who are living in a happy homes. I know lots of so called traditional couples who are living in abusive relationships.

I can honestly tell you that I would be happier with my daughter or son living in same sex marriage then with someone who’s abusing them.

- Nikka on November 15th, 2008

There is no way Vivienne is 6!!!Wasn’t she born like 3 years ago, at most?! Wow, time flies! Crazy…

- Becky on November 15th, 2008

Oh, wow! He’s sure grown up. I remember when Rosie first adopted him. Seems like it wasn’t that long ago.

- Lorus on November 15th, 2008

oh my I too remember the first baby pictures in people magazine of her adopting him then talking about him on her show!! Time flies!!

- JM on November 15th, 2008

Ericka, I don’t think Prop 8 had anything to with adoption rights of LGBT people. Just marriage. Adoption rights are probably next though, if they can take away marriage.

And when I read the headline, I was expecting a toddler, or maybe 8-9 year old kid. It seems like she just adopted him! It looks like he’s already taller than her too

- Kayla on November 15th, 2008

Wow, he’s big!

- Lilly on November 15th, 2008

It’s been that long? This guy is huge!

- Kandi on November 15th, 2008

what a handsome young man that she and Kelli have raised.

I do hope that one day prop 8 will be gone and that every state will legalize gay marriage.

Until then, all we can do is make sure people see the good that comes from these partnerships and the children parented by them…. I think that beaming smile on Parker’s face easily says just how much he is loved and how wonderful his childhood has been.

- Kat on November 16th, 2008

FYI, Prop 8 has nothing to do with adoption. It was solely gay marriage. As far as I know, there aren’t restrictions on adoption in Cali or NY.

- Bug on November 16th, 2008

OMG, I can’t believe her kids are all so big! I, too, remember when Parker was adopted… and it just doesn’t seem possible that Vivi could be six! Wow

- sigh on November 16th, 2008

I think that Kat meant that she thinks it would be nice if two such caring parents were allowed by law to be married.

- Jenny on November 16th, 2008

i cannot BELIEVE how big he’s gotten… just like, WOW!!!!

- fay on November 16th, 2008

Wow , just remembering the
Rosie O Donnell show when she
announced that she was adopting Parker.. And now she
is finally showing him..

Thanks for the photos ..
It nice to see how happy
they are

- MARY JO STEED on November 16th, 2008

I’m chiming in with everyone who remembers Parker when he was a wee one. I recall seeing his tiny foot — and nothing else — sticking out of a blanket when Rosie took him to a baby shower thrown by Meg Ryan. Now he’s a handsome young man!!!

- mp on November 16th, 2008

Mary JO: She adopted Parker a year before her show started. Parker was a year old when she started her show in May of 1996. She also wasn’t with Kelli when she adopted Parker. She met Kelli through one of her brothers, who is also gay, in 1996.

- Dawn on November 17th, 2008