Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour in Toronto.
Emma McIntyre/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
The Billboard 200 is the definitive all-genre chart for album sales in the US.
Only 10 artists in Billboard history have topped the chart at least 10 different times.
The Beatles have the most No. 1 albums with 19. Taylor Swift and Drake are tied for second place.
The Billboard 200 has tracked the best-selling albums in the US for decades.
It's a major accomplishment to top the chart, especially when an artist manages the feat with multiple different albums.
Only a handful of artists have crossed into double-digit No. 1s, including modern superstars like Taylor Swift, Drake, Jay-Z, and Future. They're listed below in ascending order.
Editor's note: Although Elvis Presley is often credited with 10 No. 1 albums, a Billboard representative told Business Insider that most of his biggest releases predate the modern Billboard 200 chart, which launched in 1963.
Madonna — 10
Madonna performs in New York City's Times Square in 2026.
Madonna is also the first artist with a No. 1 album in the 2020s to have already topped the chart in three other decades: twice in the 2010s ("Madame X" and "MDNA"), four times in the 2000s ("Hard Candy," "Confessions on a Dance Floor," "American Life," and "Music"), and thrice in the 1980s ("Like a Prayer," "True Blue," and "Like a Virgin").
Bruce Springsteen — 11
Bruce Springsteen performs with The E Street Band in 2023.
Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images
Bruce Springsteen's 11 chart-topping albums span over three decades, from 1980's "The River" to 2014's "High Hopes" — even though Springsteen has yet to score a No. 1 hit song on the Billboard Hot 100.
Barbra Streisand — 11
Barbra Streisand performs at Madison Square Garden in 2019.
Kevin Kane/Getty Images for BSB
Barbra Streisand logged her first No. 1 entry on the Billboard 200 with "People" in 1964.
Fifty-one years later, she set a record for the longest span between No. 1s when "Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway," her 2016 studio album, topped the chart.
Streisand previously held the record for the most No. 1 albums among female artists until Taylor Swift broke it in 2023.
Kanye West — 11
Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella
Ye, who still releases music under the name Kanye West, topped the Billboard 200 for the first time in 2005 with "Late Registration."
He logged his 11th consecutive No. 1 album in 2024 with "Vultures 1," a collaborative effort with Ty Dolla $ign.
Eminem — 11
Eminem performs during the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
When it was released in 2000, Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP" sold over 1 million copies in its first week, easily earning a No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200.
Two decades later, "Music to Be Murdered By" debuted at No. 1, becoming Eminem's historic 10th chart-topper. He logged his 11th in 2024 with "The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)."
Future — 11
Future performs during the We Trust You Tour in 2024.
Prince Williams/WireImage
Future earned his first No. 1 album in 2015 with "DS2," which has since spent over 300 weeks on the Billboard 200.
In 2024, Future's "Mixtape Pluto" debuted atop the chart — his third No. 1 album in just six months and 11th overall.
Earlier that year, Future topped the chart with "We Don't Trust You" and "We Still Don't Trust You," collaborative efforts with Metro Boomin. The former is widely known for reigniting a feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
Jay-Z — 14
Jay-Z performs during the 2017 Meadows Music And Arts Festival.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Jay-Z began collecting No. 1s in 1998 with his third studio album, "Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life." In 2017, he extended his total to 14 with his latest effort, "4:44."
Drake's grand total also includes one mixtape ("Care Package"), three collaborative albums ("What A Time To Be Alive" with Future, "Her Loss" with 21 Savage, and "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U" with PartyNextDoor), and one project mysteriously billed as a playlist ("More Life").
Taylor Swift — 15
Taylor Swift performs during the Eras Tour in 2023.
Marcelo Endelli/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Only one of Taylor Swift's albums hasn't topped the chart: her self-titled debut, which peaked at No. 5 in 2008.
Swift earned her first No. 1 later that same year with "Fearless," which has since been ranked the fourth-biggest album in Billboard 200 history. In the 2020s, Swift rerecorded four of her old albums and rebranded each new release as "Taylor's Version." All four of those topped the chart, too.
Most recently, 2025's "The Life of a Showgirl" launched atop the chart with the biggest sales week in history, breaking Adele's record. It became her 15th No. 1 album, extending her record for the most among women. She is tied for the most among solo artists.
Swift has also broken Elvis Presley's record for the most cumulative weeks spent at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a solo artist.
The Beatles — 19
The Beatles gave their final performance together in 1969.
Apple Corps Ltd
The Beatles hold both records for the most No. 1 songs on the Hot 100 and the most No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. The latter group includes classics like "Revolver" (1966), "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967), "Abbey Road" (1969), and their post-band breakup compilation "1" (2000).
As a solo musician, Paul McCartney has topped the Billboard 200 eight more times, while John Lennon managed the feat three times before he died in 1980.
With 15 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, "Showgirl" has surpassed "Fearless" and "1989" as Swift's second-longest reign on the all-genre album chart.
The impressive tally comes shortly after Swift set a personal-best chart record with "The Tortured Poets Department." Keep reading for a ranking of her 16 studio albums (including both originals and rerecords) based on their Billboard 200 performances.
10. "Taylor Swift"
Taylor Swift's debut album, "Taylor Swift," was released in 2006.
Taylor Swift
Billboard 200 peak: No. 5
Swift's self-titled debut is the only studio album in her catalog that hasn't reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
"Taylor Swift" debuted at No. 19 and scaled the chart for more than a year, peaking at No. 5 in 2008.
9 (tie). "Lover"
Taylor Swift's seventh album, "Lover," was released in 2019.
Taylor Swift
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for one week
Swift's seventh studio album was the first one that she owned outright, thanks to her new label contract with UMG.
"Lover" was promoted by several singles, including "You Need to Calm Down," "The Archer," and "The Man."
Four years later, after Swift kicked off the Eras Tour with "Cruel Summer" near the top of the set list, the fan-favorite song climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for four weeks, becoming the album's biggest hit.
9 (tie). "Red (Taylor's Version)"
The cover art for "Red (Taylor's Version)" was photographed by Beth Garrabrant.
"All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" was released alongside a short film directed by Swift and promoted by a convention-breaking performance on "Saturday Night Live." It became the longest song to reach No. 1 in the history of the Hot 100.
8 (tie). "Fearless (Taylor's Version)"
"Fearless (Taylor's Version)" was released in 2021.
Taylor Swift/UMG
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for two weeks
"Fearless" was the first rerecorded album that Swift ever released.
The "Taylor's Version" series was inspired by the sale of Swift's masters to Scooter Braun in 2019, which she described as her "worst case scenario" in a passionate open letter. Swift decided to remake and rerelease her first six albums in a bid to reclaim ownership of her life's work. Braun later sold Swift's masters to a private equity firm.
"I've spoken a lot about why I'm remaking my first six albums, but the way I've chosen to do this will hopefully help illuminate where I'm coming from," Swift explained. "Artists should own their own work for so many reasons, but the most screamingly obvious one is that the artist is the only one who really knows that body of work."
"For example, only I know which songs I wrote that almost made the 'Fearless' album," she continued. "Songs I absolutely adored, but were held back for different reasons."
Those skeptics were forced to eat their words when "Fearless (Taylor's Version)" began to outpace the original on streaming platforms. According to Billboard, "Fearless (Taylor's Version)" earned more equivalent album sales in its first week of release than "Fearless" earned over the entire next year.
Four years later, in May 2025, Swift announced that she bought back her masters from Shamrock Capital, giving her complete control over her musical catalog and rendering her "Taylor's Version" project moot.
8 (tie). "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)"
"Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" was released in 2023.
Taylor Swift/UMG
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for two weeks
The rerecorded version of Swift's third album featured six songs from the vault, including two duets with Fall Out Boy and Hayley Williams.
7 (tie). "Reputation"
The album cover for "Reputation."
Taylor Swift
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for four weeks
"Reputation" arrived after an extended period of silence. Swift's longtime feud with Kim Kardashian and Ye (then known as Kanye West) had reached a fever pitch; in response to a massive social media hate campaign, Swift decamped to London and withdrew from the public eye.
She returned with a new snake-infested aesthetic and "Look What You Made Me Do," a cheeky lead single that poked fun at her own persona — and quickly rose to No. 1 on the Hot 100.
Swift also declined to participate in interviews or media appearances while promoting her sixth album. Instead, she relied on a simple tagline: "There will be no further explanation. There will just be reputation."
7 (tie). "Evermore"
Taylor Swift's ninth album, "Evermore," was released in 2020.
Taylor Swift
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for four weeks
"Evermore" was surprise-released just five months after Swift's previous album, "Folklore." The two were billed as "sister albums," created under near-identical conditions with the same team of collaborators.
"To put it plainly, we just couldn't stop writing songs," Swift explained on social media.
"Evermore" was nominated for album of the year at the 2022 Grammys, but lost to Jon Batiste's "We Are."
6 (tie). "Speak Now"
Taylor Swift's third album, "Speak Now," was released in 2010.
Taylor Swift
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for six weeks
Swift's third album had a lot to live up to, following the blockbuster success of "Fearless."
In response to skeptics — who questioned whether the teen phenom was relying too heavily on her collaborators — she decided to write "Speak Now" entirely by herself. Swift is the only songwriter credited on the standard tracklist.
6 (tie). "Midnights"
Taylor Swift's 10th album, "Midnights," was released in 2022.
Taylor Swift
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for six weeks
Swift's 10th studio album sold over 1 million copies in its debut week, the first to cross that seven-figure threshold since Swift's own "Reputation." (She has now achieved the feat on eight different occasions.)
"Midnights" also won album of the year at the Grammys, joining "Fearless," "1989," and "Folklore" in the prestigious group of victors. Swift is the only artist in history to win album of the year four times.
6 (tie). "1989 (Taylor's Version)"
"1989 (Taylor's Version)" will be released on October 27, 2023.
Taylor Swift
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for six weeks
The rerecorded version of "1989" was released nine years after the original album. Swift added five vault tracks, including the fan-favorite song "Is It Over Now?"
5. "Red"
Taylor Swift's fourth album, "Red," was released in 2012.
Taylor Swift
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for seven weeks
"Red" is Swift's fourth studio album. It featured a mishmash of Max Martin-produced pop bangers, including "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "I Knew You Were Trouble," as well as country-rock breakup anthems such as "State of Grace" and "Holy Ground."
4. "Folklore"
Taylor Swift's new album cover and additional promo photos were taken by Beth Garrabrant.
The pandemic-era album was co-produced by Swift, Jack Antonoff, and Aaron Dessner of The National. It received rave reviews from critics and is widely considered Swift's best work to date.
3 (tie). "Fearless"
Taylor Swift's sophomore album, "Fearless," was released in 2008.
Swift's fifth album marked her official pivot from country to pop music, a move that Swift said she had to "really fight — and I mean aggressively fight — to have happen."
In addition to its double-digit streak atop the Billboard 200, "1989" yielded three No. 1 songs on the Hot 100: "Shake It Off," "Blank Space," and "Bad Blood" featuring Kendrick Lamar.
2. "The Life of a Showgirl"
Taylor Swift's 12th album, "The Life of a Showgirl," was released on October 3, 2025.
TAS Rights Management
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 15 weeks
Cowritten and co-produced with Max Martin and Shellback, "The Life of a Showgirl" was described by Swift as a snapshot of "everything that was going on behind the curtain" during the Eras Tour.
After its initial three-month run atop the Billboard 200, "The Life of a Showgirl" returned to No. 1 in October 2026 when Swift released the deluxe edition, dubbed "The Encore."
The album's reign at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 brought Swift's total sum atop the chart to 101 weeks, extending her record among solo artists.
Since the Billboard 200 was launched in 1956, only The Beatles have logged more weeks at No. 1 than Swift. The band holds the all-time record with 132 weeks.
1. "The Tortured Poets Department"
Taylor Swift's 11th album, "The Tortured Poets Department," was released in 2024.
Taylor Swift
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 17 weeks
Swift's 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department," did not leave the No. 1 slot for 12 straight weeks after its debut in April 2024, fending off new releases from stars like Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and Zach Bryan.
The uninterrupted reign of "Poets" was rare for a streaming-era release. It became the first album ever by a female artist to spend its first 12 weeks atop the chart, surpassing a record previously held by Whitney Houston's 1987 blockbuster "Whitney." (The all-time record for a consecutive streak among women is held by Carole King's "Tapestry," which spent 15 weeks at No. 1 in 1971.)
Swift briefly yielded the top spot to Eminem and Stray Kids before "Poets" notched 13th, 14th, and 15th consecutive weeks atop the chart.
The album eventually fell to lower positions, but then in December of that same year, it returned for two more weeks at No. 1 after Swift released physical versions of the album's deluxe version, "The Anthology," for Black Friday.
Shirlaine Forrest/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Taylor Swift's newest single, "Patient Zero," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Swift has the fourth-most No. 1 hits in history, trailing Elvis, Mariah Carey, and The Beatles.
Swift's biggest hits also include "Blank Space," "Anti-Hero," and "The Fate of Ophelia."
Since releasing her first No. 1 album in 2008, Taylor Swift has enjoyed a historic run on the charts, topping the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100 over a dozen times each.
Swift's collection of chart-toppers includes both radio-friendly pop singles and understated gems pushed to the top of the chart by passionate fans.
Most recently, "Patient Zero" joined the ranks of Swift's biggest songs. On the all-time ranking of most No. 1 hits, Swift only trails Elvis, Mariah Carey, and The Beatles.
All of Swift's No. 1 songs on the Hot 100 are listed below in chronological order of their peak dates.
1. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was released as a single in 2012.
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Weeks at No. 1: Three
Despite writing ubiquitous hits like "You Belong With Me" and "Love Story" earlier in her career (which peaked at No. 2 and No. 4, respectively), "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was Swift's first-ever song to top the Hot 100.
The country-pop crossover smash was released as the lead single from Swift's fourth album, "Red." It rose from No. 72 to No. 1 in its second week of tracking and remained atop the chart for two more weeks.
2. "Shake It Off"
"Shake It Off" was released as a single in 2014.
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Weeks at No. 1: Four
"Shake It Off" was released as the lead single from Swift's fifth album, "1989." It became her first No. 1 debut on the Hot 100.
3. "Blank Space"
"Blank Space" was released as a single in 2014.
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Weeks at No. 1: Seven
"Blank Space," the second single from "1989," debuted at No. 18 on the Hot 100.
It rose to No. 13 before soaring to No. 1 in its third week — dethroning "Shake It Off" and making Swift the first woman in history to replace herself in the chart's top spot.
"Blank Space" went on to become one of Swift's biggest hits, reigning atop the chart for nearly two months.
It rose from No. 53 to the chart's top spot after the music video premiered at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards and broke the Vevo record for most views in 24 hours.
5. "Look What You Made Me Do"
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Weeks at No. 1: Three
Despite mixed reactions from critics, Swift's lead single from "Reputation" rose to No. 1 after its first full week of tracking, breaking the weekly streaming record for a song by a woman.
Once again, Swift's music video broke the record for most views within 24 hours, racking up 43.2 million views in its first day.
6. "Cardigan"
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Weeks at No. 1: One
Swift announced the arrival of her eighth album, "Folklore," just one day in advance. The second track, "Cardigan," was released alongside the album and promoted with a whimsical music video.
"Folklore" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 while "Cardigan" simultaneously debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100, making Swift the first artist in history to open atop both charts in the same week.
7. "Willow"
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Weeks at No. 1: One
Just five months after "Folklore," Swift repeated her pandemic-era strategy and surprise-released her ninth album, "Evermore," alongside its lead single.
Again, "Willow" debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 while "Evermore" simultaneously debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
8. "All Too Well (Taylor's Version)"
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Weeks at No. 1: One
"Red (Taylor's Version)" was the second rerecorded album Swift released. It was accompanied by the long-awaited 10-minute version of "All Too Well," a fan-favorite track from the original album.
"All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version)" was promoted with a self-directed short film starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O'Brien, a convention-breaking performance on "Saturday Night Live," and plenty of theories about the song's muse.
It debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100, becoming the longest song in history to top the chart. The record was previously held by Don McLean's "American Pie (Parts I & II)" at 8 minutes and 37 seconds.
It dominated the Hot 100 for eight weeks, surpassing the high-water mark set by "Blank Space."
The same week that "Anti-Hero" debuted at No. 1, Swift became the first and only artist in history to occupy the entire top 10 on the Hot 100. The hit single was flanked by "Lavender Haze" (No. 2), "Maroon" (No. 3), "Snow on the Beach" (No. 4), "Midnight Rain" (No. 5), "Bejeweled" (No. 6), "Question...?" (No. 7), "You're On Your Own, Kid" (No. 8), "Karma" (No. 9), and "Vigilante Shit" (No. 10).
10. "Cruel Summer"
John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Weeks at No. 1: Four
"Cruel Summer" was originally released as the second track on Swift's 2019 album "Lover."
Although it was identified early as a fan favorite, the song was never promoted as a single and debuted modestly at No. 29 on the Hot 100.
Four years later, Swift transformed "Cruel Summer" into a showstopping spectacle on the Eras Tour. Streams of the song began to surge, and it reigned atop Billboard's Pop Airplay chart for two months. Swift's label sent the song to pop radio in June 2023.
Finally, following the release of "The Cruelest Summer" EP — which includes a live version of the song and a remix by LP Giobbi — the song reached No. 1 on the Hot 100, marking Swift's milestone 10th chart-topper.
11. "Is It Over Now?"
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Weeks at No. 1: One
"Is It Over Now?" was released as the final vault track on "1989 (Taylor's Version)," a rerecording of her beloved fifth album.
Although it wasn't initially slated as a single, its enthusiastic reception from fans pushed Swift's team to serve the song to pop radio.
"Is It Over Now?" debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100, dethroning "Cruel Summer." Swift remains the only woman in history to replace herself in the top spot, a feat she's now achieved twice.
12. "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone
Taylor Swift in the "Fortnight" music video.
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Weeks at No. 1: Two
"Fortnight," a duet with Post Malone, was released alongside "The Tortured Poets Department" and promoted as the album's lead single.
The song debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 while "Poets" simultaneously debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
For the second time in her career, Swift managed to occupy the entire top 10 of the Hot 100. In fact, the top 14 positions on the chart were occupied by "Poets" tracks, including "Down Bad" (No. 2) and "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" (No. 3), all the way through to "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived" (No. 14).
"Fortnight" returned to No. 1 on the Hot 100 for a second consecutive week.
13. "The Fate of Ophelia"
"The Fate of Ophelia" is the lead single from Taylor Swift's album "The Life of a Showgirl."
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Weeks at No. 1: 10
"The Fate of Ophelia" was released alongside Swift's 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," and promoted as the lead single.
The Shakespeare-inspired pop song debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100, while "Showgirl" simultaneously debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
All 12 tracks on the album debuted within the Hot 100's top 12 spots, making Swift the first and only artist to dominate the chart's entire top 10 on three separate occasions. "The Fate of Ophelia" was joined in the top five by "Opalite" (No. 2), "Elizabeth Taylor" (No. 3), "Father Figure" (No. 4), and "Wood" (No. 5).
"The Fate of Ophelia" remained atop the Hot 100 for eight straight weeks after its release. After falling to lower positions during the holiday season, it returned to No. 1 in early 2026, surpassing "Anti-Hero" as Swift's longest-leading hit to date and becoming her first to top the chart for double-digit weeks.
14. "Opalite"
Domhnall Gleeson and Taylor Swift in the "Opalite" music video.
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Weeks at No. 1: One
"Opalite" was originally released as the third track on "The Life of a Showgirl" and debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100.
It was later promoted as the album's second single, rising to No. 1 after Swift sold vinyl copies of the song. She also released a music video co-starring Domhnall Gleeson, which premiered exclusively on Spotify and Apple Music in a savvy move to boost streaming numbers.
Swift celebrated her latest chart achievement on Instagram, thanking fans for their support of the song.
"This is actually the first time I've had two Hot 100 #1s off of one album since my album 1989 came out in 2014, nearly twelve years ago!" Swift wrote. "I know that's a lot of numbers but it all adds up to me being so thankful to the fans who helped make this happen by welcoming this song into your lives with open arms."
15. "I Knew It, I Knew You"
Swift at the premiere of "Toy Story 5."
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for for TAS Rights Management
The twangy tune, cowritten by Swift and her longtime producer Jack Antonoff, was embraced by country radio and debuted simultaneously at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Country Songs charts.
"I hope you love them, because they were born out of pure gratitude for your exuberance for and celebration of the album we made," Swift wrote on social media.
"Patient Zero" followed in the chart-topping footsteps of "The Fate of Ophelia" and "Opalite," making "Showgirl" the first female album to yield three No. 1 hits since Swift's own "1989" over a decade earlier.
Since Swift began dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in the summer of 2023, she has been spotted cheering for the team at 25 games, including Super Bowl LVIII.
Swift's presence has been wholeheartedly embraced by the NFL, whose commissioner, Roger Goodell, has credited Swift with an increase in interest among female fans.
"I'm just there to support Travis," Swift previously told Time. "I have no awareness of if I'm being shown too much and pissing off a few dads, Brads, and Chads."
The megastar is now back in action for her third consecutive NFL season, supporting Kelce and the Chiefs during the 2026 season — their first since Swift and Kelce got married at Madison Square Garden.
Here are the best photos of Swift from each appearance so far.
Swift attended her first game at Arrowhead Stadium in September 2023.
Taylor Swift attends a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium on September 24, 2023.
David Eulitt/Getty Images
Swift's enthusiasm at her first Chiefs game seemed to confirm her then-rumored romance with Kelce.
Swift later said they were already an official couple before she watched the Chiefs beat the Chicago Bears.
"This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell," she told Time. "We started hanging out right after that. So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I'm grateful for, because we got to get to know each other."
"By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple," Swift continued. "I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date."
For her second appearance, she brought her longtime pal Blake Lively.
Taylor Swift and Blake Lively attend a game between the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium on October 1, 2023.
Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Swift and Lively watched the Chiefs defeat the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — where Swift had performed three sold-out concerts just a few months prior.
The October game drew the highest viewership for a Sunday TV show since the Super Bowl, NBC Sports reported.
Swift cheered with Kelce's mom, Donna Kelce, during a home game against the Denver Broncos.
Taylor Swift and Donna Kelce attend a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on October 12, 2023.
David Eulitt/Getty Images
Shortly before her third game-day appearance, Kelce accused the NFL of "overdoing it" with its wall-to-wall coverage of Swift.
"I think it's fun when they show who all is at the game. I think it brings a little more to the atmosphere, brings a little bit more to what you're watching," Kelce said during an episode of his "New Heights" podcast.
"But at the same time, I think they're overdoing it a little bit," Kelce continued. "For sure, especially for my situation. I think they're just trying to have fun with it."
Swift has struck up a friendship with Brittany Mahomes, who's married to Kelce's teammate.
Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes react during a game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on October 22, 2023.
David Eulitt/Getty Images
Just a few days before the release of "1989 (Taylor's Version)," Swift watched the Chiefs take down the Los Angeles Chargers.
She spent the home game cheering with Mahomes and showing off their secret handshake.
Swift wore a black turtleneck and a red teddy coat in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes cheer for the Chiefs in December.
Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Swift spent most of November 2023 on the road for the South American leg of the Eras Tour. Kelce even flew to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to watch Swift perform — and received an onstage shout-out in return.
She returned to Kelce's side in early December when the Chiefs took on the Green Bay Packers. It was her first time watching Kelce's team lose.
She wore a vintage Chiefs sweatshirt for the team's next home game.
Taylor Swift attends a Kansas City Chiefs game on December 10, 2023.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Swift purchased the '90s sweatshirt from Westside Storey, a secondhand clothing boutique in Kansas City.
The store's owner, Chris Harrington, told Business Insider he originally thought Swift's order — which totaled $1,200 for curated vintage pieces — could be fraudulent.
Instead, she wore one of those pieces at Arrowhead Stadium in December, causing a surge of traffic to Westside Storey's website.
"We've had hundreds of orders over the last 48 hours," Harrington told BI. "Sometimes our online store lights up after a Chiefs game when we win, but this is 100 times more than that, and we lost the game. It was the Taylor effect."
She brought her dad and friends to cheer for the Chiefs in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Taylor Swift attends a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots on December 17, 2023.
Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Swift hit the road to watch the Chiefs defeat the New England Patriots on the latter's home turf. She even convinced her father, Scott Swift, to swap his traditional Philadelphia Eagles gear for a Chiefs sweatshirt.
Several friends accompanied Swift, including Alana Haim, stylist Ashley Avignone, and backup singer Melanie Nyema.
Swift spent Christmas Day at Arrowhead Stadium.
Taylor Swift made another appearance at a Chiefs game on Christmas Day.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Even though the Chiefs lost to the Las Vegas Raiders on December 25, 2023, Kelce praised Swift and her family for making the day special.
The singer's brother, Austin Swift, dressed up as Santa Claus and gave Kelce a VHS copy of the 1994 film "Little Giants."
"He actually made me feel like a child because his gift to me was straight out of the bag," Kelce said on his podcast "New Heights.' "Whipped it out and handed me a VHS of my favorite football movie of all time."
She also spent New Year's Eve cheering for Kelce in Kansas City.
Taylor Swift attends a game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on December 31, 2023.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Swift wore a Chiefs varsity jacket for the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, which the home team won.
For her first game of 2024, Swift braved freezing temperatures to high-five fans.
Taylor Swift attends a game between the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on January 13, 2024.
"It's been a very interesting, very fun year having the two of them dating, the attention that's been focused on the Chiefs," Clark Hunt told CNBC. "Our female audience has grown leaps and bounds."
Kelce scored two touchdowns in Buffalo, New York, with Swift in the stands.
Taylor Swift attends a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on January 21, 2024.
Kathryn Riley/Getty Images
Swift joined Kelce's family to watch the Chiefs advance through the NFL playoffs — including his brother, Eagles center Jason Kelce, who lost his shirt in the frenzy.
She saw Kelce and his teammates become AFC champions.
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift celebrate the Chiefs' AFC Championship win.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Swift watched the Chiefs beat the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 AFC Championship Game, securing their spot in Super Bowl LVIII. She even joined Kelce on the field to celebrate the win.
Swift flew from Tokyo to watch the Chiefs play in Super Bowl LVIII.
Swift has attended the Super Bowl, though.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Swift was widely expected to attend the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas, despite having an Eras Tour stop scheduled in Tokyo the night before.
Sure enough, she made the trip in time to watch the Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers, with friends like Lively, Lana Del Rey, and Ice Spice in tow.
The superstar geared up for her second NFL season in September 2024.
Taylor Swift arrives ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs v Baltimore Ravens game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 05, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.
David Eulitt
Swift was back in Kansas City on the evening of September 5, 2024, as the Chiefs took the field for their first game of the season against the Ravens.
She donned an all-denim getup and thigh-high red boots.
Swift wore a vintage Chiefs T-shirt for Kelce's second home game of the season.
Danielle Haim and Taylor Swift arrive at Arrowhead Stadium on September 15, 2024.
Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Just a few days after attending the MTV Video Music Awards in New York (and giving her then-boyfriend a shout-out onstage), Swift was back in Kansas City to watch the Chiefs defeat the Bengals.
She also watched the Chiefs beat the Saints at Arrowhead Stadium.
Taylor Swift cheers from a VIP suite at Arrowhead Stadium on October 7, 2024.
Cooper Neill/Getty Images
After skipping two of Kelce's games in Atlanta and Los Angeles, Swift returned to Kansas City in style — wearing over $50,000 worth of jewelry and designer clothing — to cheer for the Chiefs against the New Orleans Saints.
The home team won 26-13, their fifth consecutive win of the season.
Swift cheered when the Chiefs beat the Buccaneers with a touchdown drive in overtime.
Taylor Swift waves to fans at Arrowhead Stadium on November 4, 2024.
Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images
One day after Swift wrapped the final US leg of the Eras Tour in Indianapolis, she was back in Kansas City to watch the Chiefs take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Despite a touchdown from the Buccaneers in the final minute of regulation play, the Chiefs rallied in overtime to score a winning touchdown.
The singer was on duty again to watch the Chiefs defeat the Broncos.
Taylor Swift at Arrowhead Stadium on November 10, 2024.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Swift wore her typical black-and-red combo for another home game at Arrowhead Stadium, pairing a Victoria's Secret corset with a Versace tweed two-piece set. She was joined in the VIP box by her mother, Andrea Swift.
Swift saw the Chiefs beat the Raiders at home.
Taylor Swift and Donna Kelce arrive at Arrowhead Stadium on November 29, 2024.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Swift arrived at Arrowhead Stadium with Kelce's mom, Donna. The pair cheered as the Chiefs clinched a narrow defeat against the Raiders.
A few weeks later, she watched the Chiefs win again at Arrowhead Stadium.
Taylor Swift arrives at Arrowhead Stadium on December 21, 2024.
Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Swift wore her boldest gameday outfit yet for the Chiefs vs. the Houston Texans, pairing a statement red coat with a faux-fur lining from Charlotte Simone and a vintage Chanel bucket hat.
Kelce and the Chiefs beat the Texans 19-27, adding another win to their dominant season.
Swift sat with Caitlin Clark during the divisional round of the playoffs.
Taylor Swift and Caitlin Clark hug at Arrowhead Stadium on January 18, 2025.
Perry Knotts/Getty Images
Swift and WNBA star Caitlin Clark were spotted celebrating together when the Chiefs defeated the Texans again, 23-14, advancing to the AFC Championship Game for the seventh straight season.
For the second year in a row, Swift celebrated on the field with Kelce and the Chiefs when they became AFC champions.
Taylor Swift on the field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 26, 2025.
David Eulitt/Getty Images
The Chiefs took down the Buffalo Bills 32-29 in the 2025 AFC Championship Game, sending the league's top-seeded team to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
Like she did the previous year, Swift joined Kelce, his mom, and his teammates on the field for their post-game celebration. Unlike the previous year, however, Swift wore a loud-luxury outfit covered with Louis Vuitton logos.
Swift traveled to New Orleans for a rare Chiefs loss at the Super Bowl.
Alana Haim, Taylor Swift, Este Haim, and Danielle Haim at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025.
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
The Chiefs faced the Eagles at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Serendipitously, Swift's trusted collaborator Kendrick Lamar headlined the halftime show.
As opposed to her usual Chiefs getup, Swift wore an agnostic white-and-denim outfit — perhaps to avoid rooting against her hometown team, who beat the Chiefs 40-22. (To date, the Chiefs have only lost four times with Swift in the stands.)
Swift skipped the Emmys to watch the Chiefs' first win of the 2026 season.
Taylor Swift at Arrowhead Stadium on September 14, 2026.
David Eulitt/Getty Images
During the 2026 Emmys, Swift appeared in a prerecorded sketch with host Mariska Hargitay and the rest of the "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" cast to explain her absence from the awards show. (Swift's latest Disney+ concert movie, which was filmed during her final performance of the Eras Tour, was nominated for outstanding variety special.)
As Hargitay's Olivia Benson pieces together, the Emmys overlapped with the Chiefs' first game of the 2026 season — playfully described in the scene as Swift's husband having a "work thing."
Indeed, Swift was spotted celebrating the Chiefs' win over the Broncos alongside her mom, Andrea; Kelce's mom, Donna; and Kelce's brother, Jason.
Swift celebrated Kelce's first touchdown of the 2026 season with a nod to their marriage.
Taylor Swift and her dad, Scott Swift, at Arrowhead Stadium on September 20, 2026.
David Eulitt/Getty Images
The Chiefs won their second game of the 2026 season against the Indianapolis Colts.
Swift returned to Arrowhead Stadium after a special performance in LA.
Taylor Swift at Arrowhead Stadium on October 18, 2026.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
On October 17, 2026, Swift took the stage at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures' sixth annual gala in Los Angeles. She sang her "Toy Story 5" soundtrack hit, "I Knew It, I Knew You," and gave her debut performance of "The Fate of Ophelia."
The following day, Swift was back in Kansas City to watch the Chiefs take on the Chargers. The home team won 22-6, extending their undefeated streak this season.
Actors James Van Der Beek, Hayden Panettiere, Robert Duvall, Chuck Norris, and Eva Marie Saint died in 2026.
So did musicians Dolly Parton and Duncan Sheik.
Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, activist Gloria Steinem, and NFL Hall of Famer Mike Ditka also died this year.
Below, we look back at the celebrities we lost in 2026, listed in alphabetical order.
Scott Adams, 68
Scott Adams.
Michael Macor/Getty Images
Scott Adams worked at a telephone company in the 1980s. The experience inspired his beloved comic strip, "Dilbert."
By the end of the decade, the character and his satirical office humor began appearing in comic strips.
At its peak, "Dilbert" was syndicated in over 2,000 newspapers. A cartoon series debuted in 1999, running for two seasons.
Adams gained notoriety when he began writing blog posts praising Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential run. In 2023, "Dilbert" was pulled from newspapers across the US following racist comments made by Adams.
The lead singer of 3 Doors Down, Brad Arnold launched the group into fame with the 2000 rock anthem "Kryptonite," which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year.
The success led to other hits like "Loser," "Here Without You," and "When I'm Gone." Arnold's vocal range and lyrics focused on love and love lost, which fueled the group to stardom.
Arnold died on February 7 from a type of kidney cancer.
Afrika Bambaataa, 68
Afrika Bambaataa.
Paul Natkin/WireImage/Getty
A hip-hop pioneer during the 1970s and 1980s, Lance Taylor, known professionally as Afrika Bambaataa, first gained attention as a DJ in the Bronx.
He signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1981 and released landmark songs like "Jazzy Sensation" and "Planet Rock." He would go on to influence the likes of Queen Latifah and A Tribe Called Quest throughout his career.
Bambaataa founded the hip-hop awareness group, Universal Zulu Nation, in the 1970s to steer kids away from gang life. Bambaataa stepped down as the head of the organization in 2016 after accusations of sexual abuse.
One of the icons responsible for bringing hip-hop to the mainstream, Rob Bass crafted the iconic track "It Takes Two" alongside DJ E-Z Rock.
The track, released in 1988, reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart and later went certified platinum. In 1989, it was voted the greatest single of all time by Spin magazine.
Nicholas Brendon was a television actor, best known for playing Xander Harris in all seven seasons of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
He also starred in "Criminal Minds" and "Kitchen Confidential."
Brendon died in his sleep on March 20 due to natural causes, according to his family's statement.
In 2023, Brendon suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. He also had cauda equina syndrome, which led to several spinal surgeries.
"While it's no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis, and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing," the statement to The Hollywood Reporter read. "Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart."
Peabo Bryson, 75
Peabo Bryson.
ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images
Two-time Grammy winner Peabo Bryson is best known for his classic love ballads.
Bryson began releasing music in the late 1970s, but one of his first major hits was opposite Roberta Flack on the 1983 duet, "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love." He continued hit-making a year later with the smash "If Ever You're in My Arms Again," and in 1991, he topped the R&B charts with "Can You Stop the Rain."
Bryson found global stardom with his renditions of two Disney classics. In 1991, he released the pop version of "Beauty and the Beast," alongside Céline Dion, and a year later, he duetted with Regina Belle on "A Whole New World" from the 1992 release of "Aladdin."
Bryson died on June 2. No cause was given.
James Burrows, 85
James Burrows.
Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images
An 11-time Emmy winner and co-creator of "Cheers," director James Burrows helped shape modern TV comedy through his work on iconic sitcoms including "Will & Grace," "Friends," and "Frasier."
Known for his comedic timing and elaborate blocking, Burrows got his start directing episodes of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Throughout his career, he directed episodes of "Frasier" (winning an Emmy for the pilot episode), "Will & Grace," "Friends," and "The Big Bang Theory." He directed over 50 pilot episodes.
Burrows died on June 19. No cause was given.
Kyle Busch, 41
Kyle Busch.
Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Busch was considered one of the greatest racers of all time.
Busch was hospitalized on May 21, before two upcoming races. Hours later, he was pronounced dead.
Robert Carradine was best known for his roles as Lizzie McGuire's dad and as the iconic geek Lewis Skolnick in the 1980s franchise "Revenge of the Nerds."
As a member of Hollywood's famed Carradine family, Robert was destined for an onscreen career.
He received one of his first screen credits starring in his brother David Carradine's popular 1970s TV series "Kung Fu" and went on to land roles in everything from Samuel Fuller's World War II classic "The Big Red One" to the "Lizzie McGuire" series.
Carradine's family shared statements with Deadline that emphasized being open about his struggles with mental illness.
"We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby's valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder," Carradine's family said. "We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness."
If you or someone you know is experiencing depression or has had thoughts of harming themself or taking their own life, get help. In the US, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is also available through the Crisis Text Line — just text "HOME" to 741741. The International Association for Suicide Prevention offers resources for those outside the US.
Bud Cort, 77
Bud Cort.
CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images
Most famous for his role as Harold in the 1971 cult-classic "Harold and Maude," Bud Cort became the epitome of 1970s counterculture thanks to his baby-faced looks, wit, and sophisticated persona.
The dark comedy starred Cort as Harold, a man in his 20s who is obsessed with suicide until he meets 79-year-old eccentric Maude (Ruth Gordon).
Before that, Cort scored bit parts in Robert Altman's "M*A*S*H*" (1970) and "Brewster McCloud" (1970).
After "Harold and Maude," Cort worked steadily for the rest of his life, occasionally showing up in hit movies like Michael Mann's "Heat" (1995) and Wes Anderson's "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004).
Curry is best known for playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult-classic musical "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," after originating the role in the original stage production.
Over six decades, Curry carved out a niche playing outlandish villains like Rooster Hannigan in the 1982 film "Annie" and Pennywise in the 1990 miniseries "It." Other notable roles include Wadsworth the Butler in "Clue" (1985) and Mr. Hector in "Home Alone 2: Escape from New York."
Curry suffered a major stroke in 2012, which required brain surgery. He said in 2025 that he was "still recovering."
Curry died at his Los Angeles home on August 26. No cause was given.
Eric Dane, 53
Eric Dane
Pief Weyman/NBC via Getty Images
Long before becoming one of TV's most recognizable heartthrobs, Eric Dane was building his career with guest roles on series like "Saved by the Bell" and "Married… with Children."
He later gained wider attention with appearances on "Charmed" before landing his breakout role as Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on "Grey's Anatomy." He most recently starred in HBO's "Euphoria," where he played Cal Jacobs, the father of Jacob Elordi's character, Nate Jacobs.
Dane has two children with his wife, Rebecca Gayheart. In April 2025, the actor said that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.
Dane died on February 19 at age 53, his publicist confirmed in a statement to Business Insider.
"He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world," his publicist said.
Clive Davis, 94
Clive Davis.
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
A legend in the music world, Davis was responsible for elevating pop music to unthinkable heights by discovering talents like Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Whitney Houston, and Alicia Keys, to name a few.
Over his 50-year career, along with being an executive behind millions of album sales, he also won five Grammys, including two for Album of the Year ("The Bodyguard" soundtrack and "Supernatural" by Santana).
Davis died on June 22. No cause was given.
Mike Ditka, 86
Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka gets carried off the field after they defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX on January 26, 1986.
Focus on Sport/Getty Images
Mike Ditka was the first tight end ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As a coach for the Chicago Bears, he led the team to its only Super Bowl win to date in 1986.
Ditka's success turned him into a celebrity who showed up in commercials, TV shows, and movies in cameo roles.
One of his most famous was starring opposite Will Ferrell in the 2005 comedy "Kicking and Screaming."
His persona became the long-running "Saturday Night Live" sketch called "Bill Swerski's Superfans," in which cast members dressed up as Ditka and spoke about their love for "Da Bears."
Ditka died on October 9; no cause was given.
Robert Duvall, 95
Robert Duvall.
Jack Mitchell/Getty Images
Robert Duvall starred in a plethora of timeless classics, including "The Godfather," "The Godfather Part II," "Apocalypse Now," "THX 1138," "The Natural," "Days of Thunder," and "The Apostle."
Duvall will be best remembered for starring in three of director Francis Ford Coppola's iconic films: playing Tom Hagen in the first two "Godfather" movies and Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore in "Apocalypse Now," in which he delivers one of the most memorable lines in movie history: "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."
Duvall was lauded for his acting talent, from not saying a word while playing Boo Radley in his first big screen role in the 1962 classic "To Kill a Mockingbird" to his portrayal of a country singer dealing with alcoholism in 1983's "Tender Mercies," which earned him an Oscar.
He died on his ranch in Virginia on February 15. No cause was given.
Brenda Fricker, 81
Brenda Fricker in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York."
20th Century Fox
This Irish actress was a fixture on the stage and screen for six decades. But she's most known for showing up in the "Home Alone" sequel.
As The Pigeon Lady in 1992's "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," Fricker has become a fixture for families during the holiday season for decades (and in 2020 became the subject of a popular meme).
But Fricker's acting talents go beyond playing a spooky wanderer of Central Park.
In 1990, she became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award, as she was given the best supporting actress Oscar that year for her performance in "My Left Foot."
Fricker died on July 16; no cause was given.
Mark Fuhrman, 74
Mark Fuhrman.
Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images
Fuhrman cemented his place in popular culture as one of the lead LAPD detectives on the 1995 murder case of O.J. Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Fuhrman found the famed bloody glove on the Simpson estate, and during the trial, he gained infamy when Simpson's defense team used his past racist language to discredit him as a witness.
Fuhrman retired from the LAPD after the Simpson trial and moved to Idaho, where he wrote true crime books.
For over six decades, one name has been synonymous with women's high fashion: Valentino.
The Italian designer launched his fashion business in Rome in 1960 and never looked back. Soon, every star wanted to be seen in his creations. They've been worn by icons like Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Collins, Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, Sharon Stone, and more.
Though Garavani retired from designing in 2008, his label is still a red carpet staple, as is his famous shade of bright red dubbed "Valentino Red."
No one defined a bully for a generation more than Gibb's hulking fraternity character Ogre in the "Revenge of the Nerds" movies of the 1980s.
Since the original raunchy comedy was released in 1984, Gibb's intimidating size and loud yells of "NERDS!" have become as memorable as the pocket protectors worn by the movie's geeks.
Gibb went on to star opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in his classic 1988 action movie "Bloodsport." He also landed guest star roles through his career on shows like "Quantum Leap," "Magnum P.I.," "MacGyver," "Night Court," and "Cheers."
Gilbert was the guitarist and backing vocalist for the punk band New Found Glory.
The band's hit albums include 2002's "Sticks And Stones" and 2004's "Catalyst." Both showed up in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Gilbert died on September 20; no cause was given, but Gilbert told People in April he was battling stage 4 adrenal cancer.
Glen Hansard, 56
Glen Hansard.
Frank Hoensch/Redferns/Getty
Irish singer-songwriter Hansard was the frontman of the rock band The Frames and one-half of the band The Swell Season. But he was perhaps best known for writing and starring in the hit 2007 indie film "Once," in which he and his Swell Season bandmate Markéta Irglová play two struggling musicians who fall in love. The duo won an Oscar for best original song for the film's standout track, "Falling Slowly."
Hansard also embarked on a solo career; his 2015 album, "Didn't He Ramble," was nominated for a Grammy for best folk album.
For those who grew up in the '90s, Dennis Haskins was your favorite high school principal, Mr. Belding.
Starring in the hit TV series "Saved By The Bell," Haskins' Belding character traveled the halls trying to be a step ahead of the hijinks inflicted by Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and his friends. But unlike many school principals in pop culture who were mean and seemed to hate kids, Haskins played his authority role with a playful, good-natured style.
He was on the show's full four-season run from 1989 to 1993, and also starred in the spin-off, "Saved By The Bell: The New Class," from 1993 to 2000.
Haskins' other credits include "The Bold and the Beautiful," "Mad Men," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and "New Girl."
Haskins died on September 27; no cause was given.
Anthony Head, 72
Anthony Head.
James Quinton/WireImage/Getty
Rising up through the UK stage scene in the 1980s, Head found fame when he was cast as Rupert Giles, who became a father figure to Sarah Michelle Gellar's Buffy Summers in all seven seasons of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
Most recently, he played the bitter former owner of AFC Richmond on "Ted Lasso."
Head's death was announced by his family on June 5. They stated the cause was "complications due to pneumonia."
David Hockney, 88
David Hockney at home in Los Angeles in 1987.
Anthony Barboza/Getty Images
British painter David Hockney was renowned for his striking portraits and figurative pop art. Many of his best-known paintings, including 1966's "The Splash" and 1972's "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)," were inspired by the bright colors and sun-dappled pools of Los Angeles.
Hockney moved to Los Angeles in the late '60s, and his work became synonymous with the warmth and leisure of Southern California. He was also one of the few popular artists at the time to depict openly gay scenes, and Hockney was outspoken about anti-gay censorship.
Throughout his career, Hockney split time between California, England, and France. He died at his home in London on June 12 at age 88, his publicist confirmed to The New York Times. No cause of death was given.
Jesse Jackson, 84
Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks at Operation PUSH in Chicago, Illinois in December 1989.
Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
The Rev. Jesse Jackson was a leader of the Civil Rights Movement, a minister, and an activist icon who twice ran for president.
Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson experienced Jim Crow segregation on public buses and at school firsthand. It would shape the rest of his life.
His fight for civil rights began in the 1960s, when he helped organize protests and demonstrations across the US and worked closely alongside civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
His decadeslong career as a leading civil rights activist included support for modern national movements, such as the push for voting rights, the fight against racism, and a higher minimum wage.
Jackson ran for president twice, both times as a democrat. He placed third for the party's nomination in 1984 and second in 1988. This marked the most successful presidential runs of any Black candidate prior to Barack Obama.
Jackson announced in 2017 that he'd been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In November 2025, Jackson was treated in a Chicago hospital after complications from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurodegenerative condition.
Jackson died on February 17.
Yayoi Kusama, 97
Yayoi Kusama presented an "Infinity Room" installation in Paris.
Alain Nogues/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images
Kusama was a famed Japanese pop artist who often used polka-dot motifs in her work, initially rising to prominence in Japan in the 1950s.
In 1959, Kusama presented her first solo exhibition in New York: a collection of abstract paintings that an ARTnews review praised as "strong, advanced in concept and realized."
Kusama later branched into sculptures, performances, and immersive installations. She continued to expand her influence and relevance into the social media era, when her mirrored "Infinity Room" installations became Instagram-friendly attractions that inspired many copycats.
As one of Hollywood's most renowned costume designers, Bob Mackie's eye set the style for decades.
Known as the Sultan of Sequins, the Rajah of Rhinestones, or the Guru of Glitter, a signature of Mackie's work was its use of sparkle, which made everyone from Cher to Elton John to Dolly Parton to Sabrina Carpenter shine on stage.
He also was the costume designer on "The Carol Burnett Show" for all eleven seasons through the 1970s. He won nine Emmys, a Tony Award, and was nominated for three Academy Awards for his work.
Mackie died on September 14; no cause was given.
RJ Mitte, 34
RJ Mitte.
Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic/Getty
Mitte was best known for playing the son of Bryan Cranston's Walter White in the hit series "Breaking Bad."
Mitte, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was 3 years old, became a disability rights activist after finding fame with "Breaking Bad."
His other credits include the 2021 movie "Triumph," in which he played a high school student with cerebral palsy who tries out for the wrestling team. He also starred in the 2024 thriller "Love Me Dead" opposite Dove Cameron.
In the 1990s, you couldn't escape the piercing eyes of Patrick Muldoon.
He played Austin Reed on "Days of Our Lives" for most of the decade, and when he wasn't on the soap, he was over on "Melrose Place" playing the villain role of Richard Hart.
If being on two iconic shows wasn't enough, he also showed up on "Saved by the Bell" and had a role in the cult classic movie "Starship Troopers."
With a career spanning more than five decades and including countless memorable performances in movies and television, Sam Neill was one of the most versatile actors of his generation,
The New Zealand actor starred opposite Nicole Kidman in the 1989 thriller "Dead Calm," played the loyal first officer opposite Sean Connery in 1990's "The Hunt for Red October," played the lead in John Carpenter's 1994 horror "In the Mouth of Madness," and most recently starred in the hit series "Peaky Blinders."
But Neill is best known for playing the brave and all-dinosaur-knowing Dr. Alan Grant in the "Jurassic Park" franchise.
Neill died on July 13; no cause was given. Neill was battling a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer, but was cancer-free at the time of his death, according to a post on his Instagram account announcing his passing.
Tom Noonan, 74
Tom Noonan.
Mike Albans/New York Daily News Archive/Getty Images
Standing at a towering 6' 5", Tom Noonan was born to play the bad guy. And he did just that, starring as the villain in movies like "Manhunter," "RoboCop 2," and "Last Action Hero."
But this actor had more to show off. He showcased his comedy chops as Rodney Dangerfield's degenerate gambling friend in the 1983 comedy "Easy Money," and set up the heist for Robert De Niro in Michael Mann's 1995 classic "Heat."
His knack for storytelling also translated behind the camera. Noonan wrote, directed, and starred in the drama "What Happened Was," which won the grand prize at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival.
Noonan died on February 14; no cause was given.
Chuck Norris, 86
Chuck Norris.
Frederic Meylan/Getty
Few action stars have Chuck Norris' credentials.
Before he ever stepped in front of a camera, he was a martial arts champion and a black belt in Karate, judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, and Tang Soo Do.
His talents would become known the world over in 1972, when he faced off against Bruce Lee in "The Way of the Dragon."
Through the 1980s, Norris became one of the biggest action stars in the world thanks to movies like "A Force of One," "The Octagon," and the "Delta Force" and "Missing in Action" franchises.
In the 1990s, he took over the small screen, playing the lead in the "Walker, Texas Ranger" TV show, which aired in over 100 countries during its run from 1993 to 2001.
Norris was hospitalized on March 19 in Hawaii and died the following day, according to his family. No cause was given.
Catherine O'Hara, 71
Catherine O'Hara at the 2024 Oscars.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
O'Hara, who was best known for her roles in "Beetlejuice" and "Home Alone," got her start in the Canadian comedy scene, appearing in the now-legendary cast of "SCTV."
It would mark the beginning of a fruitful partnership with fellow actor Eugene Levy, who became her frequent costar and collaborator in memorable appearances in Christopher Guest films like "A Mighty Wind" and "Best in Show" and television series like "Schitt's Creek," which earned her an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in 2020.
O'Hara's representative confirmed her death to Business Insider on January 30. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed in a death certificate viewed by People that O'Hara died of a pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer listed as an underlying cause.
Hayden Panettiere, 36
Hayden Panettiere.
Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic/Getty
Panettiere began acting as a child, landing one of her earliest major roles as Sarah Roberts on the ABC soap opera "One Life to Live," on which she appeared from 1994 to 1997.
As her career progressed, she became best known for portraying Claire Bennet on "Heroes" and Juliette Barnes on "Nashville."
Over the years, Panettiere had spoken openly about her struggles with alcoholism and postpartum depression. She detailed those experiences in her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," which was released in May.
Panettiere died on August 16. A final autopsy report by the Greenville County Coroner's Office ruled her death an accident caused by the toxic effects of fentanyl and other drugs.
Dolly Parton, 80
Dolly Parton poses for a portrait session in 1978.
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
Parton released her debut album, "Hello, I'm Dolly," in 1967 and went on to pen country hits like "I Will Always Love You" and "Jolene," both of which were released as singles in 1974.
In addition to her music, Parton was beloved for her flamboyant style and her philanthropy. She founded the Dollywood Foundation in 1988, a charitable organization focused on education and community initiatives in her home state of Tennessee. She continued to fund scholarship programs and donate to hospitals, public health initiatives, and disaster relief programs throughout her life.
Parton is known as the best-selling female country music artist of all time. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Parton's 49th and final solo studio album, "Rockstar," was released in 2023. The tracklist included both original material and covers of classic rock songs, featuring an array of guests like Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sting, Joan Jett, and Parton's goddaughter, Miley Cyrus.
News broke on August 25 that Parton died following unspecified health issues. She was 80.
Vincent Pastore, 80
Vincent Pastore.
Lawrence Lucier/FilmMagic/Getty
This character actor found fame appearing in a string of mob movies in the 1990s, like "Goodfellas," "Carlito's Way," and "Men of Respect." But Pastore truly became a star when he was cast in the hit HBO series "The Sopranos."
As Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero, Pastore was part of the main cast for the first two seasons of the show, playing Tony Soprano's mob enforcer-turned-FBI informant. Bonpensiero's shocking death was one of the most famous in the show's history and proved that no one was safe from getting whacked.
Pastore died on August 1. No cause was given.
Valerie Perrine, 82
Valerie Perrine.
Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images
Perrine found herself cast alongside the biggest stars of the 1970s.
She played the love interest opposite Jeff Bridges in 1973's "The Last American Hero" and Robert Redford in 1979's "The Electric Horseman." She earned an Oscar nomination for starring alongside Dustin Hoffman in 1974's "Lenny."
For most, she'll be remembered best for sharing the screen with Gene Hackman as the secretary to his evil Lex Luthor in 1978's "Superman." She also starred in the sequel. As Ms. Teschmacher, her loyalty to Luthor is questioned when she rescues Superman (Christopher Reeve) after he's chained with Kryptonite.
A prolific character actor, Riehle has over 400 screen credits, appearing in everything from "Casino" to "Bridesmaids" over his career.
He's best known for playing the worker in "Office Space" who, after being laid off, wins a large payout from a lawsuit after a suicide attempt.
Other credits include "The Fugitive," "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," and "Transformers: Age of Extinction."
Riehle died on October 15; no cause was given.
Sonny Rollins, 95
Sonny Rollins.
Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images
One of the most influential jazz musicians in history, Rollins recorded more than 60 albums over his seven-decade career.
His live album, "A Night at the Village Vanguard," is considered one of the greatest jazz albums ever made.
Rollins died on May 25; no cause was given.
Eva Marie Saint, 102
Eva Marie Saint.
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An Oscar and Emmy winner, Eva Marie Saint appeared in classic movies in Hollywood history.
She made her film debut starring opposite Marlon Brando in Elia Kazan's 1954 classic "On the Waterfront," which won her the Oscar for best supporting actress. In 1959, she heated up the screen with Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock's defining thriller "North by Northwest."
In 1990, she won an Emmy for her work in the miniseries "People Like Us."
Sedaka is responsible for some of the biggest pop songs of the 1960s and 1970s.
The Brooklyn native wrote over 500 songs, including classic hits like "Laughter in the Rain," "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," "Bad Blood" and the Captain & Tennille song, "Love Will Keep Us Together."
Sedaka died on February 27; no cause was given.
Gene Shalit, 100
Gene Shalit.
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Before there was Rotten Tomatoes or even Siskel & Ebert, movie lovers got their recommendations from Gene Shalit.
The iconic movie critic could be seen sporting his signature look of glasses, bushy hair, and big mustache as a staple on the "Today" show from 1973 to 2010. If he wasn't interviewing the biggest movie stars, he was reviewing movies with incredible puns ("'Ishtar' is Ish-terrible.")
His larger-than-life presence left a mark on pop culture: he was parodied as a Muppet and on countless episodes of "SCTV" and "Saturday Night Live."
Shalit died on June 12; no cause was given.
Duncan Sheik, 56
Duncan Sheik.
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Sheik found success in the late 1990s with his hit song "Barely Breathing." He later pivoted from alt-rock to a career on Broadway, composing the music for the Tony-winning musical "Spring Awakening." His other stage credits include "American Psycho" (2013) and "The Secret Life of Bees" (2019).
An icon in the women's liberation movement of the 1970s, Steinem dedicated most of her life to fighting sexism.
Starting her career as a journalist, she became a columnist for the newly founded New York Magazine in 1968. She cofounded Ms. magazine in 1971, which focused on women's issues. She also helped launch the Women's Action Alliance, which focused on tackling sexism.
Steinem was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.
Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr became a legend in the arthouse world for his unflinching work featuring several-minute-long takes.
With movies like "Family Nest" (1979) and "The Turin Horse" (2011), Tarr showcased his slow cinema style while focusing on marginalized characters living bleak lives. Tarr pushed the envelope with his style when he made "Sátántangó" in 1994, which had a run time of 450 minutes.
His work influenced several arthouse filmmakers, including Jim Jarmusch and Gus Van Sant's "Death Trilogy" ("Gerry," "Elephant," and "Last Days").
You might not recognize the name, but if you're a movie fan, you know the face.
Tolkan's tough-guy persona made a mark on movie history in films like "Top Gun" and the "Back to the Future" franchise.
In "Top Gun," he played Commander Tom "Stinger" Jardian, who famously gives Tom Cruise's character a tongue lashing, saying, "Your ego is writing checks your body can't cash."
In "Back to the Future" and its sequels, he played Principal Strickland, who had zero tolerance for "slackers."
Other credits include "Serpico," "WarGames," "Masters of the Universe," and "Dick Tracy."
Tolkan died on March 26; no cause was given.
Ted Turner, 87
Ted Turner.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Ted Turner changed the television landscape thanks to his maverick maneuvers to harness the 24-hour news cycle.
After taking over his father's advertising company in the 1960s at the age of 24, Turner embarked on a path to change the media landscape by buying up radio and TV stations around the South. He even bought sports teams including the Atlanta Braves MLB team and the Atlanta Hawks NBA team.
All of that programming would eventually become part of TBS, a "super station" that showed old movies, reruns, and Braves and Hawks games.
Turner then set his sights on the news. He founded CNN, the first 24-hour news channel, in June of 1980.
Over the decades, Turner gained celebrity status, particularly after marrying Jane Fonda, a union that lasted from 1991 to 2001. In 1991, he was named Time's "Man of the Year." He sold his networks to Time Warner for $7.5 billion in 1996.
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler became one of the biggest artists of the 1980s thanks to her legendary power ballads.
Tyler was behind hits like "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero," which was also featured on the 1984 "Footloose" soundtrack. Both songs were chart-toppers that have since become two of the best-selling singles of all time.
Over her career, Tyler was nominated for three Grammys and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
Tyler died on July 8 in Portugal, where she was being treated for an illness, according to a statement posted on her social media.
James Van Der Beek, 48
James Van Der Beek.
Keith Torrie/New York Daily News Archive/Getty Images
Van Der Beek was beloved all over the world for his role as the titular teen Dawson Leery on the WB series "Dawson's Creek."
The series, which ran from 1998 to 2002, turned Van Der Beek into a star and a teen heartthrob. While "Dawson's Creek" was still airing, he'd cement his stardom playing the lead role of high school quarterback "Mox" Moxon in the 1999 coming-of-age drama "Varsity Blues."
Van Der Beek found steady work the rest of his career in movies like "Texas Rangers" and "The Rules of Attraction, and memorably played a fictional version of himself on the TV series "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23," and performed on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2019.
Van Der Beek previously told Business Insider that the news came as a shock, given the subtleness of his symptoms and his efforts to stay as healthy as possible.
"I was doing everything," he said. "I was doing sauna, cold plunge, weightlifting, Pilates. I would dance and also do football training."
Weir was one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead.
The singer-songwriter wrote and/or sang on songs like "Sugar Magnolia," "Playing in the Band," "Truckin,'" "I Need a Miracle," and "The Other One."
After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir went on to form several other bands, including Kingfish, Bobby and the Midnites, RatDog, The Other Ones, and, alongside John Mayer, Dead & Company.
In the summer of 2025, Weir was diagnosed with cancer.
Willis was the lead singer of the iconic disco band the Village People.
Along with being the lead vocalist and dressing as the police officer (and sometimes naval officer), Willis was also the cowriter on many of the band's hits, including "In the Navy," "Macho Man," and the song that will keep the Village People in pop culture lore until the end of time, "Y.M.C.A."
Willis left the band to embark on a solo career in 1979, then re-formed the Village People in 2017.
Willis died on June 30 following a "short but aggressive illness," according to the Village People Facebook page.
Frederick Wiseman, 96
Frederick Wiseman.
Loic Venance/AFP/Getty
For over five decades, Wiseman's brand of non-fiction storytelling put a spotlight on everyday people.
From high schoolers to hospital workers to Air Force cadets training for nuclear war, Wiseman's close to 50-film catalogue is an unvarnished reflection of America over the last half century.
A24's new documentary about Elizabeth Holmes, "You Can See Everything," is in theaters now.
Directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, it's more character study than straightforward doc.
The story about the downfall of Theranos has been told — but this one hasn't yet.
Elizabeth Holmes famously does not blink, whether she's pitching investors or, by her own admission, flirting with a guy.
Is her moony gaze haunting or hypnotic? A calculated act or proof of her naivete? At various points in A24's new documentary, "You Can See Everything," I vacillated between each of the above.
A good portion of Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's movie could be classified as a provocative staring contest, as Fielder probes Holmes about her life and the demise of her company, Theranos, in the weeks before she reported to prison to serve an 11-year sentence in May 2023.
The answers he gets from Holmes are rarely satisfactory. (At one point, she insists she's never told a lie in her entire adult life; despite being convicted of fraud, she maintains her innocence throughout the film.) But with the camera zoomed in tight on Holmes' every micro-expression and clump of mascara, the movie's power is in the questions it raises in the space between her words.
In these profoundly uncanny scenes, I found myself fluctuating between being freaked out by the lack of emotion in Holmes' vacuous gaze and, to my surprise, pitying her. Then I'd quickly shift back to being freaked out, because what if pity was exactly the reaction that Holmes — a talented, convicted fraudster — was angling for? If she could manipulate her voice to sound more authoritative in the workplace, she could certainly adapt her face to appear more sympathetic onscreen.
It turns out that just because you can see everything, that doesn't mean you know anything. At least not for sure.
'You Can See Everything' is not the movie it appears to be
Nathan Fielder and Elizabeth Holmes in "You Can See Everything."
A24
Much like its subject, "You Can See Everything" is a slippery mind-trick of a film — part character study, part psychological thriller, part surrealist thought experiment. What it is not, despite its subject, is a movie about a tech company.
The story of how Holmes went from being named the youngest self-made female billionaire by Forbes to being convicted of defrauding investors as the founder and CEO of the blood-testing startup Theranos is well documented. Holmes has already been the subject of a more traditional documentary, Alex Gibney's "The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley," which exhaustively maps the discrepancies within Theranos, and a scripted Hulu miniseries, "The Dropout," which dramatizes Holmes' origin story and attempts to illustrate how her ambitions outpaced her abilities.
Both of those works lean into the prevailing narrative about Holmes, who was often pitched as "the next Steve Jobs" and proved especially skilled at wooing powerful men to her cause.
"You want it to be true so badly," Tyler Shultz, a former Theranos employee-turned-whistleblower, says of Holmes' vision in Gibney's doc. "I was working with these devices every single day, and she could still kind of convince me. When I think back on those conversations, I just think, 'How did she do that?'"
Elizabeth Holmes in "You Can See Everything."
A24
The Holmes we see in "You Can See Everything" is tamer, gentler, and, at times, far more submissive than many headlines would have us believe. Yet even Fielder isn't immune to her strange charisma.
Early in the film, Fielder admits to Holmes that he did a lot of research about her tenure at Theranos. He challenges her answers to questions, at one point telling Holmes, "I don't think anyone will ever believe you ever again."
Yet, as time goes on, Fielder seems alternately bemused and unnerved by the onetime wunderkind — though never to the point of aversion. On the contrary, Holmes seems to draw Fielder ever closer, like a close-up magician with a deck of cards in her hands and a trick up her sleeve.
Toward the end of the film, Fielder's memory is called into question. A friend asks if Fielder is retroactively polishing his interactions with Holmes, perhaps unconsciously, because he's grown to care about her. Maybe he wants to protect her.
Seemingly taken aback, Fielder replies, "I'm not putting my feelings into this. I'm just trying to be accurate."
It's one thing to be told someone is a master manipulator, as "The Inventor" and "The Dropout" plainly do. It's quite another to experience the manipulation firsthand. "You Can See Everything" offers audiences the latter.
During a Q&A after an early screening of "You Can See Everything" in New York, Oppenheim described how he, Fielder, and the crew would swap interpretations of what they'd just seen and heard after the cameras were switched off. "The disagreements were so dynamic," Oppenheim recalled.
It's been over three years since their close encounter of the Holmesian kind, and Fielder said he's still trying to process what he felt in her presence.
"I'm really curious to hear what everyone else thinks, and what they make of certain things," Fielder said. "I think it will actually help me understand."
Elizabeth Holmes and Billy Evans leave federal court in San Jose, California, in 2022.
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Elizabeth Holmes, the Theranos founder convicted of fraud, has two kids with William "Billy" Evans.
Evans plays a big role in Nathan Fielder's new A24 documentary, "You Can See Everything."
In the film, Evans says he's trying to launch "Theranos 2.0," another blood-testing startup.
William "Billy" Evans emerges as the unlikely star of "You Can See Everything," the new A24 documentary about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. But while Evans is certainly a scene-stealer, the doc doesn't cast him in the best light.
Evans is Holmes' partner and the father of their two young children. The couple met in 2017, and, as Evans says in the doc, fell in love instantaneously.
The couple welcomed their first child, William, in 2021. Their daughter, Invicta (Latin for "invincible"), was born sometime around February 2023, just a few months after Holmes was sentenced to 11 years in prison for defrauding investors.
Holmes has said she knew it was bad timing — to put it lightly — to fall in love and start a family. But she didn't want her felony convictions or the perception of outsiders to "dictate how we live our lives."
"Finding your person in the middle of all of this and experiencing that love when you're going through hell is the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced," Holmes told The New York Times in 2023.
In the weeks before her looming incarceration, Holmes and Evans invited comedian Nathan Fielder to observe and document their domestic life. The resulting film, "You Can See Everything," depicts Evans as a dominant force in their home — chiding Holmes for how she prepares scrambled eggs, dictating her schedule, and frequently cutting in during her conversations with Fielder.
Holmes reported to prison in May 2023, but the movie doesn't end there. Fielder continued to document Evans as he worked on a new blood-testing startup, building upon the vision that Holmes had for Theranos.
"The idea is to put the band back together and do it all again," Evans tells Fielder.
Here's everything we know about Evans and his plans for "Theranos 2.0."
Evans grew up near San Diego as an heir to his family's successful hospitality business
The Lodge Torrey Pines in La Jolla is one of the properties owned by Evans Hotels.
Shutterstock.com
Evans is one of three children born to his parents, Susan and William L. Evans, per the Daily Mail.
The Evans family has lived in the San Diego area for generations.
Billy Evans' grandparents, Anne and William D. Evans, founded a hotel management group in 1953 called Evans Hotels. The group manages three properties in the San Diego area: The Lodge at Torrey Pines, the Bahia Resort Hotel, and the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa.
After his grandfather William D. Evans died in 1984, his grandmother, Anne, added two of her children to the Evans Hotels management team, including Billy Evans' father.
He studied economics at M.I.T. and tried to launch a healthcare startup after graduation
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Evans graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in economics. During summers between school, Evans worked at various financial and consulting companies in California, according to a version of his LinkedIn profile that has since been modified.
He was also a student brand manager for Red Bull, his LinkedIn said, and he completed a study abroad program at Fudan University in Shanghai.
After graduating from MIT, Evans reportedly tried to launch a healthcare startup for transporting wealthy Chinese people to the US for "concierge medical attention."
Although he studied Chinese language and literature in Shanghai, the idea never took off, according to theNew York Post.
After that, Evans worked as a strategy and leadership program analyst at LinkedIn until February 2017. Evans then moved to Luminar Technologies, a startup working on radar and sensor technology for autonomous cars, where, according to his LinkedIn, he was a manager of special projects. Evans was reportedly close with Luminar's CEO, Austin Russell, the Post reported.
Evans left his job at Luminar in January 2019. Employees told the Post they suspected the reason was the publicity surrounding his relationship with Holmes.
When asked by The New York Times what he does for work, Evans replied, "A lot of different stuff — investing, starting companies."
Evans and Holmes met in 2017 before her indictment
Evans appeared alongside Holmes frequently during her monthslong trial.
Nick Otto/AFP via Getty Images
Holmes had relocated to San Francisco after Theranos shut down all its clinical labs and Wellness Centers in late 2016. Holmes herself had recently been banned from the lab-testing industry for two years. But it wasn't untilMarch 2018 when Theranos, Holmes, and her former business partner-slash-ex-boyfriend, Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, were charged with fraud by the SEC.
During that limbo period before Holmes was indicted, she met Evans at a house party in San Francisco, according to their interview with The New York Times. The two were introduced by a mutual friend. She was 32, he was 25.
"To say we immediately fell in love isn't an overstatement," Evans told the Times.
Holmes and Evans were first spotted together at Burning Man, the arts festival in the Nevada desert, days before Theranos fully shut down in 2018. Evans also posted a selfie with Holmes taken at the event, per the Daily Mail.
"Maybe we'll get married someday. But our bond is more than a piece of paper," Holmes said, adding, "We bought rings on Amazon before I went to prison."
Evans said he didn't recognize Holmes at first, and was reluctant to start a relationship
Evans recalled his early misgivings about their relationship in his letter.
In his, Evans recounted the couple's love story, including his initial hesitation to pursue a relationship with Holmes, and gave a glimpse into their private lives throughout the trial.
Evans wrote that when he met Holmes, "it was as if the rest of the world ceased to exist."
He said Holmes wore a sunhat and oversized sunglasses to "stay under the radar," so he didn't initially recognize her as the Theranos founder. (Evans told Fielder a similar story, adding that she also wore a Band-Aid on her face.)
"It was strange to feel so comfortable and willing to share with someone who I didn't know. I was captivated by her childish wonder and authenticity," Evans wrote. "We spoke for hours, I lost track of time, and even if I didn't know it ... I fell in love. She pulled out her business card, scribbled her personal cell on the back and then it clicked who she was."
Evans said they kept things platonic for about six months, writing, "I was admittedly hesitant to dive in given all that had been said, Liz had been consistently vilified in every piece of media imaginable."
"The more I got to know her the more I loved who she was," he continued in his letter to the judge. "It was not long before the friendship turned into something more."
Evans said that he and Holmes struggled to maintain privacy throughout the trial and were forced to relocate multiple times after their home address was revealed.
"This will follow us for the rest of our lives," he wrote. "There is no avoiding the scorn that accompanies Elizabeth Holmes."
Evans was a fixture at Holmes' trial and her attempts to postpone prison time
Elizabeth Holmes and Billy Evans outside a San Jose courthouse.
Peter DaSilva/Reuters
As the clock was running out with a scheduled sentencing date fast approaching, Holmes requested a new trial on the grounds that a key government witness visited her home in August 2022, expressing regret that his testimony had helped convict her.
The witness was Adam Rosendorff, who was Theranos' lab director from April 2013 to November 2014. Holmes' motion relied heavily on a recollection of the encounter documented by Evans, who spoke with Rosendorff when he appeared at their home.
In an email to Holmes' attorneys recalling his encounter with Rosendorff, Evans wrote: "He said he feels guilty, it seemed like he was hurting. He said when he was called as a witness he tried to answer the questions honestly but that the prosecutors tried to make everybody look bad (in the company). He said that the government made things sound worse than they were when he was up on the stand during his testimony. He said he felt like he had done something wrong. And that this was weighing on him, He said he was having trouble sleeping."
Rosendorff explained that he'd felt bad for Holmes because of the possibility that a child would grow up without a mother, but he stressed that his testimony was accurate.
Evans relocated to Texas when Holmes reported to prison
Elizabeth Holmes is serving her prison sentence in Bryan, Texas.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Holmes is incarcerated at Federal Prison Camp, a minimum-security women's prison in Bryan, Texas. The facility is located about 100 miles from Houston, where she grew up.
"You Can See Everything" documents the family's move from California to Texas in the days before Holmes turned herself in.
Evans and their two children are able to see Holmes on family visitation days. However, according to People, conjugal visits between Holmes and Evans are not allowed.
"It kills me to put my family through pain the way I do," Holmes told People in 2025. "But when I look back on my life, and these angels that have come into it, I can get through anything. It makes me want to fight for all of it."
For his part, Evans told People, "Everyone tried to break us, but instead we forged an unbreakable bond," calling Holmes his "best friend and soulmate."
Evans said he's planning to launch 'Theranos 2.0' with input from Holmes
Billy Evans and Nathan Fielder in "You Can See Everything."
A24
In 2025, The New York Times and NPR reported that Evans had raised millions for a new blood-testing startup called Haemanthus.
In marketing materials reviewed by The New York Times, Evans described Haemanthus a "the future of diagnostics" and "a radically new approach to health testing." The materials describe the company's goal as "human health optimization."
Evans will solicit Holmes for advice on the new venture, but there are no plans to give her a formal role at the company, according to NPR. As part of a 2018 settlement with the SEC, Holmes is barred from serving as an officer or director of a public company for a decade.
Evans' LinkedIn lists his current role as CEO of Haemanthus since October 2022.
"You Can See Everything" offers a closer look at Evans' biotech ambitions. He repeatedly insists to Fielder that Holmes did nothing wrong at Theranos, that her vision still deserves to be executed, and bristles at the suggestion that her failed company "used the wrong technology."
In one scene, before Holmes reports to prison, she completes a full-body scan. The scan is used to create an AI-generated three-dimensional avatar in her absence; the avatar looks and sounds like Holmes, but it's controlled by Evans, who says he also has power of attorney.
Evans tells Fielder that means he's able to make decisions on Holmes' behalf regarding her voice and likeness: "I can literally do whatever," he says.
Evans also admits to Fielder that he runs Holmes' X account, which has been active throughout her incarceration. When Fielder expresses doubt that Evans is acting in his fiancée's best interest, Evans claims he uses lines and phrases from Holmes' letters to craft the posts. He adds: "Some things that she doesn't frame as for the internet, I put there."
In other scenes, Evans says on-camera, "I've got vengeance in my heart," and says Holmes would describe her legacy as "building monuments of love for me."
Paige Leskin and Sarah Jackson contributed to previous versions of this story.