For awhile now, in the tabloids and popular magazines that follow the stars, so much of what we’ve seen has to do with who is pregnant, who is having another child, and slews of pictures of Hollywood babies, babies, and more babies! Then just recently Ah! we hear from Rachael Ray and why she does not have children.

From the article:

I think that I’m 40 years old, and I have an enormous amount of hours that have to be dedicated to work,” said Ms. Ray. “For me personally, I would need more time to feel like I’d be a good mom to my own child. I feel like a borderline good mom to my dog. So I can’t imagine if it was a human baby….I feel like it would be unfair, not only to the child but to the people I work with.”

The interviewer, Cynthia McFadden, then pressed, “Do you think you’re missing something?”

“I don’t feel like I am. I really don’t,” replied Ms. Ray.

She is a great example of someone who is making a very responsible choice and one that is in the best interest of a child.

She is not the only childfree celebrity who is not a parent. One of the most famous is Oprah. Before her show goes off the air, I sure would like to hear why she has decided not to have children. Doing so would be a powerful example of this choice as a legitimate one, and one many people make for a host of reasons.

Patrick Swayze just died and I don’t know about you but it is the first time I saw in the media that he and his wife of many years had no children. With the new book out, The Time Of My Life we know they at one time wanted children, but his wife had a miscarriage, they toyed with the idea of adopting but ultimately decided not to do this.

Renee Zellweger is childfree and says she would rather be a cool aunt than have childen of her own.

Celebrities are revered and emulated. I wish we could hear more from the celebrity childfree–It would help many people understand regular folks who make the same choice. If we heard from more of them, it would also help to build equal legitimacy to a life that does not include parenting to one that does.

Other famous childfree include:

Stockard Channing – actress

Jay Leno – host, Tonight Show

Bill Maher – host, Politically Incorrect

Helen Mirren – actress

Stevie Nicks – singer/songwriter

Dolly Parton – singer/songwriter/actress

Bonnie Raitt – singer/songwriter

Christopher Walken – actor

Yanni – composer/musician

What other stars or well-known people do you know have not chosen not to have children? Have they spoken out about their choice? If you know celebs who have, please pass on to visitors of this blog!