Inside Nicole Richie and Joel Madden’s Family World

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Nicole Richie knows firsthand that teenage life isn’t always simple.

Speaking with *Glamour* in 2024, she said it felt like the experience just happened recently. When she became a mother, she knew she would eventually need to be honest with her children about her past. She’s actually felt liberated by being open with them, because she didn’t want them to find out something significant about her from someone else.

As a mom to Harlow, who’s 17, and Sparrow, 16, with Joel Madden, I’ve always made it a priority to be really open and honest with my kids. And honestly, I really hope they feel they can be the same with me – that open communication is so important to me!

For a bit of nostalgia, Richie also appeared in all five seasons of the reality show *The Simple Life* alongside his longtime friend, Paris Hilton.

People are really enjoying it – both my friends and people on TikTok,” she shared with TopMob News last November. “It’s been lovely to see so many people watching.”

Harlow and Sparrow, the children of Nicole, recently made their first red carpet appearance with their parents in April 2024. They attended the premiere of the updated BET+ version of the 1991 film *Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead*, where Nicole stars as Rose Lindsey. Nicole will be celebrating her 44th birthday on September 21st.

Joel recently shared on *The Drew Barrymore Show* that he feels fortunate to have such well-behaved children. He said his kids are a joy to parent, always making his job as a dad easy. He described them as genuinely good and believes they take after their mother.

Aw. But also par for the course.

Joel spoke lovingly about his wife of over 14 years, calling her “beautiful” and “my queen.” Having been together for nearly 17 years, he said their relationship is the longest commitment he’s made outside of his band, Good Charlotte, which he shares with his twin brother, Benji Madden. He described her as an amazing partner and said he feels very fortunate to have her.

In a 2022 interview with ET Canada, Nicole shared that she doesn’t have any special advice for a long-lasting marriage. She and her husband, from the band Good Charlotte, simply prioritize being themselves and enjoying life together.

Nicole admits that dealing with her teenage daughters, Harlow and Sparrow, often felt like two against one-“teens really can team up on you,” she says-but overall, she’s happily embracing this stage of their lives.

She explained that she appreciates when people help her see herself in a new light. She believes teenagers are particularly good at pointing out aspects of ourselves we might have been avoiding, and she sees them as valuable teachers, constantly learning from their perspectives.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always admired how my friends, like this particular couple, approached parenting. They really embraced the idea that confidence is great, but you also have to be okay with learning as you go – it’s a journey of constant trial and error, and that’s perfectly normal! They understood there’s no such thing as a perfect parent, just parents who are willing to learn and grow alongside their kids.

Back in 2009, when Nicole was expecting their child Sparrow, Joel told *People* magazine that you can’t really prepare for parenthood. He explained that you just have to adapt to whatever happens and learn from your own experiences as you go along.

A year later, he confidently-and sweetly-asserted his skills as a father. He told Parade.com, “I’m not trying to brag, but I truly am a very good-even amazing-father.” He admitted he’s usually self-critical about his work, but when it comes to parenting, he knows he excels.

Nicole shared a similar thought a few years later, telling *DuJour* magazine that there’s no single perfect way to raise a family. She explained that everyone simply does their best to be good parents.

If they seem very close, it’s no surprise – they’ve been that way ever since a mutual friend, Samantha Ronson, brought them together in 2006. Both value family, which helped them connect.

Oh my gosh, it’s SO cute! Apparently, when Justin and Hailey first got together, they basically practiced being a family with Hailey’s little sister, Sofia. Nicole, Hailey’s mom, even said Sofia wasn’t *technically* their first kid, but she felt like she was! It’s just…everything about them is perfect, and this just proves how naturally they fell into being a family. I knew it!

Nicole and Joel’s first child was born in 2007. Now, with their daughter Sofia expecting a baby with her husband Elliot Grange, does that mean Joel and Nicole are becoming grandparents?

Nicole shared on *Oprah: Where Are They Now?* in 2014 that she and her partner connected immediately and were a team from the start. When they learned they were expecting a child together, they realized neither of them had a great example of a healthy family growing up, due to their parents’ divorces and difficult relationships. They decided to acknowledge this and commit to building a strong family together, supporting each other every step of the way.

That was the plan and they’re sticking to it.

Harlow was born on January 12, 2008, followed by Sparrow on September 9, 2009. Joel and Nicole then got married on December 11, 2010.

Joel remembers clearly the day he decided to propose. He woke up on a Tuesday and thought to himself, ‘Why am I waiting?’ As he explained on Australia’s *60 Minutes*, he realized he was being foolish and immediately proposed to her that same night.

He and Nicole got married at Nicole’s father, Lionel Richie’s, home in Beverly Hills. Celebrities like Gwen Stefani and her then-husband Gavin Rossdale, Kris Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, Rachel Zoe, Ellen Pompeo, and Pete Wentz attended the wedding. Benji served as his best man, and he later returned the favor when Benji married Cameron Diaz in 2015.

Joel and Nicole both experienced intense fame in the early 2000s, attracting a lot of attention from the tabloids. Since then, they’ve been living a much more peaceful and private life together.

They happily discuss the ups and downs of raising children, but rarely share photos of their family life, particularly now that their kids are grown. They’ll still post pictures on special occasions, though – it’s a good reason to share an old baby photo!

Nicole shared a birthday post for her daughter Harlow, recalling a photo from when Harlow was three months old. She wrote, ‘Happy 13th birthday! You bring so much joy to my life, even if your bright phone screen sometimes lights up my bedroom at night. It’s amazing to watch you grow into the wonderful young woman you’re becoming, and I feel so lucky to be your mom.’

Nicole posted a lovely Mother’s Day photo on Instagram on May 14, 2023, showcasing her family’s good looks. The picture featured her mother, Brendathat, her daughter, and sister, Harlow, who had recently become a mother herself.

Joel often shares photos of his wife on Instagram, like when he posted about their wedding celebration in April 2023. However, for Mother’s Day in 2022, he chose to honor his mother with sweet, throwback pictures of his children, Harlow and Sparrow, calling her “one of the greatest of all time.”

Joel used a similar approach for his son Sparrow’s 11th birthday in 2020, sharing an old photo of a young Sparrow riding on his shoulders. He wrote a sweet message saying, “Happy Birthday to my baby boy! I love you Sparrow… and get ready for many more years of me embarrassing you!”

Based on what they’ve said, this couple has been focused on raising smart, independent children. Those kids might sometimes challenge their parents, but they usually have good reasons for doing so.

In a 2014 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Nicole explained that she always tries to approach her children with love and understanding. She believes they thrive when she listens to their opinions and that being honest with them is key – kids simply want the truth.

I always try my best, and I’m constantly talking to other mothers about how to build strong relationships with our children. It’s something I think about every day.

Nicole initially said she wanted to prioritize being home with her children, recalling her own childhood experiences with a frequently traveling father. However, in 2016, she and her family decided to travel extensively instead.

Nicole told *People* that touring with Joel is “a lot of fun, and a really great experience, especially for the kids.” Even though they’re constantly on the move, waking up in a new city each day, she says the kids love getting to spend so much time with them.

She explained that 6-year-old Sparrow had been performing for the family for years and was a lot like her father, Joel – she often saw him dressing like his dad. Eight-year-old Harlow was a bit quieter and enjoyed spending time on their tour bus doing artwork.

With a musician for a dad and a designer mom who famously named her brand after her daughter, Harlow’s creativity isn’t surprising. She also developed an early interest in fashion, which is why Nicole often let her play dress-up in her closet.

Oh my gosh, you guys, Nicole is just the coolest! She told Francesca Amiker at TopMob News that her closet is basically open to anyone, especially her daughter! It’s so sweet – her mom always let *her* raid her closet growing up, and now she’s doing the same thing! Seriously, it’s the cutest mother-daughter thing ever. And get this – she even *wore* her daughter’s amazing pink faux fur jacket back in 2014! Can you even?! I need that jacket…and access to their closets, obviously!

Nicole mentioned that when she partnered with Urban Decay in 2018, her 10-year-old daughter actually seemed to have more fun with makeup than she did!

I was so thrilled to hear Nicole talk about Harlow! She described Harlow perfectly – saying she’s completely different from anyone else, and absolutely deserves this campaign. Nicole said Harlow *is* makeup – everything from glitter and liner to blush and lipstick, even like a whole YouTube tutorial come to life! She’s just totally immersed in the beauty world, and it’s amazing to see her shine.

Joel expressed his wish for Harlow to be like her mother, Nicole, and it wasn’t just about Nicole’s great sense of style.

He described his wife as “one of the strongest women I’ve ever met” in a 2018 interview with Shane Power. He emphasized that she’s incredibly resilient and powerful, saying, “You can’t mess with her, even if you try.” He added that he’s never encountered anyone with her strength and hopes their daughter, Harlow, will be just as strong.

Rest assured, that’s always been Nicole’s plan as well.

She mentioned taking her daughter, Harlow, and her friends to a Women’s March in 2017 at their request, and explained that she wants Harlow to always feel empowered to stand up for what she believes in.

Oh my gosh, Nicole just *gets* it! She said she wants her daughter to grow up completely free – to be able to look anyone in the eye, man or woman, and just *feel* whatever she feels without a second thought. She wants her to trust her gut, to prioritize her own safety and happiness, and never feel like she needs to protect anyone else. It’s all about her having that inner strength, being confident in her voice, and just *owning* who she is. It’s honestly everything I want for her too!

When it comes to Harlow and Sparrow’s hobbies and passions, whether they share anything with their parents is entirely their own choice.

Last year, Nicole observed that her two children were growing into their own unique personalities. She intentionally avoided labeling either of them as simply mirroring herself or their father.

I’ve made a point of not talking about that in front of my children,” she explained to Entertainment Tonight. “My daughter is passionate about fashion, but she has her own unique sense of style, completely separate from mine.

If either Harlow or Sparrow asked to try something completely new, she’d initially say no, because of their age. But she added that if they were 18 and still wanted to pursue it, she’d be supportive as long as it felt right and genuine to them.

It’ll just be one more new thing to learn about.

And do scroll on for more scenes from Nicole and Joel’s romance:

The 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar party was the ideal occasion to dress to the nines.

Sharing fun activities is a great way for couples to strengthen their bond and build a lasting relationship. It’s often said that couples who enjoy time together, stay together!

Nicole showed a little of her shy side while hiding behind her man during a simple date night. 

Joel shared an old photo on Instagram of him and his partner, capturing a fun moment from the early 2000s.

Nicole and Joel basked in the sun during a beach day.

The parents of 2 showed off their “I Voted” stickers after performing their civic duty.

Nicole and Joel took a moment for a photo at a party in 2017.

The Simple Life star and musician smiled at each other at the G’Day Los Angeles Gala in January 2016.

The happy couple smiled for a sweet selfie that Richie snapped when they were 27 and 25.

The couple dressed to the nines in 2013.

Nicole and Joel showed some PDA on a warm day in 2013.

At the 2011 Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscars party, the singer from Good Charlotte wore a black suit, while Nicole chose a white outfit. Her engagement ring was clearly visible.

Nicole and Joel stopped and posed on the red carpet at the 2010 Oscars.

The two of them snuggled up at a New York Knicks basketball game in 2010.

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2025-09-21 13:18