Dolly Parton, John Cena among Hollywood couples with no children

Several Hollywood couples have chosen not to have children, prioritising their careers and personal freedom. Dolly Parton and Carl Dean were married from 1966 until his death in 2025 but never had kids. In her memoir 'Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business', Parton said she and her husband never really wanted children, though she sometimes lied about being unable to have them to avoid feeling guilty. She told Oprah Winfrey in 2020 that not having children gave her the freedom to work, which she credits as a big part of her success.

John Cena and Shay Shariatzadeh, married in 2020, have also decided against parenthood. Cena told Drew Barrymore in 2022 that balancing his career and being a good husband is hard work, and that having a passion for parenting is a stronger reason than just being good at it. Other celebrity couples who spoke about remaining child-free include Dave Franco and Alison Brie, who have dedicated themselves to being cat parents, Christopher Walken and Georgianne Walken, and Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham. Winfrey said she has no regrets, as her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa fulfils her maternal instincts.