'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQH/8QAHRAAAwACAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQRIQUGMf/EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL/xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AwvdWTeMeE9aSilyVueio4AI6+jsZHuestrbd4U2JK8nZGAUkAg8HGMFKP//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
On May 8, 2025, Rosie O’Donnell joined Andy Cohen on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live to revisit a moment that still warms her heart. During their conversation, she reflected on growing up enamored with The Sound of Music and the kindness she saw in Julie Andrews on screen.
In a candid admission, Rosie O'Donnell revealed that as a child, she used to dream that Julie Andrews would
“Marry My Dad and Become My Mom,”
A wish born from her need for a caring figure after losing her mother at age ten.
She then recalled the thrill of singing “My Favorite Things” alongside Andrews on The Rosie O’Donnell Show in January 1997, a moment that left her so starstruck she momentarily lost her place in the song. That simple, heartfelt longing and the memory of that on-stage duet illustrate how deeply Andrews’s presence resonated with O’Donnell during her formative years.
Also Read: Who is Camryn Kinsey? Details explored as Fox News panelist passes out in a shocking video
Rosie O’Donnell's early loss led her to seek screen-moms
Rosie O’Donnell was born on March 21, 1962, in Commack, New York, the third of five children in her family. When she was just shy of turning eleven, her mother died of breast cancer on March 17, 1973, leaving a gap no child should face so early.
In interviews, Rosie O'Donnell has said that loss drove her to look for caring figures on television. Seeing on-screen mothers who seemed warm and kind offered her a sense of comfort.
Singing with Julie Andrews on her show felt magical
On January 31, 1997, Julie Andrews appeared on The Rosie O’Donnell Show to promote the Broadway revival of Victor/Victoria. During that show, they sang “My Favorite Things” together, a song forever tied to The Sound of Music. Rosie laughed as she recalled,
“When she put her hand in her hair and put her elbow up, I lost my place.”
“I kind of lost my breath,”
Rosie O'Donnell admitted, describing how starstruck she felt.
Admiration for Julie Andrews grew from simple moments
Rosie O’Donnell has often told friends and interviewers that The Sound of Music is her favorite film. She called watching Julie Andrews on screen a “dream-like” experience that felt real to her as a child.
Andrews’s gentle smile and singing voice left a lasting mark on Rosie O'Donnell's imagination. Even after decades in the public eye, that early admiration remains vivid in her memory.
Rosie O'Donnell also looked up to Florence Henderson as a child
Besides Julie Andrews, Rosie O’Donnell spoke about Florence Henderson, best known as Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch.
She said she “wanted her to be my mom” just as much as she did Andrews.
To Rosie O'Donnell, Henderson represented a caring, TV-level mother figure at a time when she needed one most. These wishes weren’t shy hopes but heartfelt longings born from loss.
Playful tribute shows how that admiration lives on
In a TikTok video posted on February 2, 2024, Rosie O’Donnell showed a squirrel that visits her backyard.
She named it “Julie Andrews,” calling the little creature “a lot of spunk.”
Rosie said, “I love spunk, I do,”
And laughed at her own fondness for the name. That playful tribute illustrates how her childhood idol still brings her joy today.
Rosie’s new documentary reflects her passion for helping others
During the same interview, Rosie O’Donnell talked about her latest project, a Hulu documentary titled Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Children with Autism. The trailer premiered on April 15, 2025, and shows how trained dogs assist children in daily tasks.
Rosie O'Donnell said she hopes viewers see “how much difference a dog can make in a child’s life.”
This work aligns with her long-standing interest in using her platform to support others.
Childhood dreams remind us of the power of simple moments
Rosie O’Donnell’s story reminds us that small moments like sharing a song with an idol can feel life-changing. Her wish for Julie Andrews to “marry my dad and become my mom” captures the way we can form deep connections with people we admire.
Even today, Rosie O'Donnell looks back on that wish with warmth rather than regret. It shows how early experiences shape the person we grow up to be.
Reply
