Weird Al Yankovic, the best-selling comedy recording artist in history, has built a career around making people laugh. Now, he’s bringing parents to tears.
Recently, Yankovic appeared on NPR’s “Wild Card,” where he spoke candidly about his 22-year-old daughter, Nina, whom he shares with his wife Suzanne.
When asked which period of his life he daydreams about, Yankovic, 65, replied with hesitation: Nina’s childhood.
“My wife and I talk about this all the time,” Yankovic told host Rachel Martin. “We always used to say it would be great if we had a Nina at every age living in our house—just one through 22. Twenty-two Ninas.”
“Because each one is so special and so beautiful and lovely,” he continued. “It’s such a sense of loss when that person becomes something else — equally good — but you’re missing the other person. You know what I mean?”
“I do. I do know exactly what you mean,” Martin, a mother of two sons, replied.
The moment struck a nerve, not just in the studio, but far beyond. On the NPR Facebook page, hundreds of parents echoed the sentiment, sharing their own reflections on the fleeting nature of childhood. Many praised Yankovic for putting their thoughts into words, expressing gratitude for his ability to capture such a universal, deeply felt experience.
“I’ve never heard someone else explain the way I feel,” one person wrote in the comments.
Added another, “I sobbed in agreement. I would absolutely take one of each of my babies at every age. No hesitation. I can still remember the weight of their bodies when they were sleeping in my arms. It really does go by so fast.
Nina is set to graduate in June from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., with a double major in studio art and environmental studies, according to her LinkedIn. In 2024, Yankovic shared on TikTok a humorous clip of himself “helping” Nina with her campus radio show.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
