Everyone loves to read juicy gossip about their favorite celebrities, and there’s nothing more intriguing than a surprise pregnancy announcement from a star. Naturally, the oldest surprise pregnancy would be the Virgin Mary’s immaculate conception. But today’s celebrities have also dropped some bombshell pregnancy news in the most creative ways — ahem, Rihanna’s 2023 Super Bowl performance.
It’s difficult for pop icons to hide their growing baby bumps since they’re under constant scrutiny from the paparazzi. So, when they manage to make a pregnancy announcement super late in the game, it’s sure to shock the masses.
Here are 30 celebrities that kept their pregnancies a secret until it was simply impossible to deny the reason behind their expanding waistline.
30. Lucille Ball
TVA / PictureGroup / AP Photo
Profession: Actress
Announced in: 1952
How it was announced: Wrote her real-life pregnancy into an episode of “I Love Lucy”
What Made the Announcement Shocking
AP Photo
When Lucille Ball wrote her real-life pregnancy into the plotline of “I Love Lucy,” it was a groundbreaking move since she challenged cultural norms and television standards that had avoided this subject matter in the past.
The birth episode saw a huge jump in ratings and opened the path for more pregnancy-related TV shows.
29. Grace Kelly
Bill Ingraham / AP Photo
Profession: Actress/Princess of Monaco
Announced in: 1956
How it was announced: A statement made to the press
What Made the Announcement Shocking
AP Photo
Grace Kelly’s pregnancy announcement surprised the public because she was pregnant just one week after marrying Prince Albert II of Monaco. Her baby bump became the topic of international gossip until the truth was revealed.
Kelly kept her growing midsection a secret for as long as possible by covering it with a large Hermes purse. The brand later renamed the accessory the “Kelly Bag,” It remains one of the company’s most iconic products to date.
28. Audrey Hepburn
Jim Pringle / AP Photo
Profession: Actress
Announced in: 1960
How it was announced: A statement made to the press
What Made the Announcement Shocking
AP Photo
British actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn was a film and fashion icon considered a legend in the Golden Age of Hollywood. She had suffered multiple miscarriages, which was rarely discussed publicly in the 1950s and 1960s.
But it was later revealed that Hepburn had a medical condition known as cervical incompetence that prevented her from carrying a baby to term. She could only have her first baby after being on strict bedrest during the months of her pregnancy. Fans were overjoyed by the news that, at last, Hepburn gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
27. Catherine Deneuve
AP Photo
Profession: Actress
Announced in: 1972
How it was announced: Press release
What Made the Announcement Shocking
AP Photo
Deneuve was only 19 when she had her first child with director Roger Vadim who was 16 years older. Her pregnancy was considered shocking and scandalous at the time since she and Roger were not married.
The famously private actress admitted that she always wanted children and went on to have another baby with a different man in the early 1970s.
26. Farrah Fawcett
Jean Yves Grandemange / AP Photo
Profession: Actress
Announced in: 1985
How it was announced: Press release
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Ray Stubblebine / AP Photo
Farrah was dating actor Ryan O’Neal and was very public about not getting married, even after her baby Redmond was born.
Although her decision was considered shocking at the time, Fawcett’s refusal to get married paved the way for single mothers who wanted to take charge of their careers while raising a child.
25. Demi Moore
Profession: Actress
Announced in: 1991
How it was announced: Pregnancy reveal on the cover of Vanity Fair
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Jordan Strauss / AP Photo
One of the most iconic moments in celebrity pregnancy announcements, Demi Moore was 7 months pregnant with baby Scout when she posed nude for the cover of Vanity Fair.
Some critics called the picture vulgar, but Moore’s photo shoot was one of the most celebrated covers in magazine history.
24. Madonna
Profession: Singer/Actress
Announced in: 1996
How it was announced: Revealed on the cover of People magazine
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Evan Agostini / AP Photo
Madonna was at the height of her career when she revealed that she and Carlos Leon were expecting a child. She appeared on the cover of the July 8, 1996, issue of People magazine with several other actresses who were new mothers or expecting.
This announcement surprised fans since it coincided with the release of “Evita” and Madonna’s performance as Eva Peron. Evita was a colossal hit that won the singer/actress a Golden Globe for Best Actress and an Oscar for Best Original Song.
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Michael Jackson had not been divorced long from Lisa Marie Presley when the superstar announced that Debbie Rowe, a dermatology assistant (and significant fan of MJ’s), was expecting his baby.
Knowing how desperately Jackson wanted children, Rowe had offered to carry his child. The birth of the music icon’s first child made major headlines, and Rowe gave birth to another baby (Paris) a year later. After the couple called it quits in 1999, Rowe signed over custody of both children to MJ.
22. Cindy Crawford
Profession: Model
Announced in: 1999
How it was announced: Pregnancy reveal on the cover of W
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Dan Steinberg / AP Photo
Following the footsteps of Demi Moore, Cindy Crawford also posed nude for the cover of a magazine eight years later, but this time, it was better received by the public. Fans were far more accepting of Crawford posing nude in photo shoots during her pregnancy.
Several months after Crawford’s son Presley was born, the supermodel produced a workout video geared for mothers trying to get back into shape after giving birth.
21. Gwen Stefani
Danny Moloshok / AP Photo
Profession: Singer
Announced in: 2005
How it was announced: On stage during a concert in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Jason DeCrow / AP Photo
Stefani took the stage during a concert in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and yelled, “I want to sing so loud that the baby hears it,” thus confirming that she and husband Gavin Rossdale were expecting a child. The announcement came as a shock since Stefani’s press agent denied the pregnancy rumors just days earlier.
The rock royalty singer gave birth to her first child, son Kingston, in May 2006.
20. Britney Spears
Shuji Kajiyama / AP Photo
Profession: Actress
Announced in: 2006
How it was announced: Pregnancy reveal on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Jordan Strauss / AP Photo
Spear’s pregnancy announcement (with second-child Jayden) was a surprise since the pop icon wasn’t planning on getting pregnant again any time soon. The tabloids exploded with the news that Spears and her husband, Kevin Federline, were expecting again, but fans were already concerned about Britney’s mental health after photos circulated of her driving with her son Sean on her lap (without a seatbelt).
Two months after little Jayden was born, Spears filed for divorce from Federline.
19. Anna Nicole Smith
Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP Photo
Profession: Model/Actress
Announced in: 2006
How it was announced: In a video clip on her website
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP Photo
Anna Nicole Smith reached stardom after appearing as a Playboy Magazine centerfold and was then involved in a highly publicized marriage to 89-year-old billionaire J. Howard Marshall. After he died 13 months later, Smith spent many years in lengthy court battles over the inheritance her case frequently spotlighted in the media.
Needless to say, fans were shocked when Smith released a video announcing her pregnancy while refusing to identify the father. The man’s name remained a secret even up until Anna Nicole’s sudden death just 5 months after giving birth to her daughter Dannielynn. Several men came forward as possible candidates as the biological father, but a paternity test confirmed the father was Nicole’s ex, entertainment photographer Larry Birkhead.
18. Jennifer Lopez
Evan Agostini / AP Photo
Profession: Singer/Actress
Announced in: 2008
How it was announced: During her El Cantante Tour
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Eric Charbonneau / AP Photo
Fans had been speculating for quite some time that J.Lo was pregnant, but they were shocked that she chose to deliver the news on the last leg of her El Cantante Tour in Miami, Florida. The crowded arena burst into applause for the singer and husband, Marc Anthony.
Lopez gave birth to twins Emme and Max on Feb. 22, 2008.
17. Padma Lakshmi
Evan Agostini / AP Photo
Profession: “Top Chef” Host/Cookbook Author
Announced in: 2009
How it was announced: Press release
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Mark Von Holden / AP Photo
After believing she was infertile due to severe endometriosis, Lakshmi became pregnant at age 39, surprising everyone, including her doctors.
She kept the father’s identity (Adam Dell) a secret until her baby girl was born in 2010.
16. Jourdon Dunn
Profession: Model
Announced in: 2009
How it was announced: At the Jean Paul Gaultier Runway show
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Dunn surprised the audience at a runway show when she appeared in a custom-made pad (designed by Gaultier) worn across her belly. It was a groundbreaking move in the model industry since most models’ pregnancies were considered career-enders.
In this case, Dunn’s career was enhanced by the brave move to accentuate her baby bump.
15. Samantha Cameron
Joel Ryan / AP Photo
Known for: Being British Prime Minister David Cameron’s wife
Announced in: 2010
How it was announced: Told media outlets two days before her husband took office
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Joel Ryan / AP Photo
Cameron’s pregnancy announcement was bittersweet since the couple had lost their youngest son, Ivan, the year before.
Baby Florence was born in August 2010, and when the Prime Minister took paternity leave to help his wife, it was considered a progressive, groundbreaking decision.
14. Rachel Zoe
Dan Steinberg / AP Photo
Profession: Fashion designer
Announced in: 2011
How it was announced: Notified media before the start of season 4 of “The Rachel Zoe Project”
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Diane Bondareff / AP Photo
Rachel and her husband’s desire for a baby became a central plot line in season 3 of her show. However, it was still a surprise to fans when she announced her pregnancy before season 4.
Zoe previously had been under public scrutiny for her thinness, and fans worried about her health. However, Zoe had an uneventful pregnancy and gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Skyler.
13. Gisele Bundchen
Peter Kramer / AP Photo
Profession: Model
Announced in: 2011
How it was announced: During a television interview
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Evan Agostini / AP Photo
For a long time, Gisele Bundchen would not confirm or deny if she was pregnant with her second child. Paparazzi spotted the supermodel in a bathing suit on a beach in Costa Rica and noticed her prominent baby bump.
However, the news was not confirmed until Bundchen surprised her fans by admitting to the pregnancy during her interview with South American broadcaster TV Global.
12. Beyonce
Matt Sayles / AP Photo
Profession: Singer
Announced in: 2011
How it was announced: MTV Video Music Awards show
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Chris Pizzello / AP Photo
Beyonce almost wins for most dramatic pregnancy announcement with her big reveal on stage at the 2011 VMAs. Her designer had been making special clothes for months to hide her growing belly.
But while the singer was on stage performing her hit, “Love On Top,” she opened her jacket to reveal her baby bump, and the audience went wild. As a result, her VMA moment is considered one of the most iconic nights in music history.
11. Kate Middleton
Nicolas Asfouri / AP Photo
Profession: Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge
Announced in: 2012
How it was announced: Public announcement from the palace
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Matt Dunham / AP Photo
Despite public speculation, no one knew for certain if Kate Middleton was expecting. The palace kept the news quiet until Kate had to be hospitalized for hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness).
At that point, the cat was out of the bag, so the palace had to formally announce that Kate and William were expecting their first child.
10. Kim Kardashian
Eric Charbonneau / AP Photo
Profession: Reality TV Star
Announced in: 2013
How it was announced: Dropped the bombshell announcement on an episode of “Keeping Up With The Kardashians”
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Charles Sykes / AP Photo
Kim’s pregnancy shocked fans when she announced on her show that she and Kanye West were expecting a baby while she was technically still married to her ex, Kris Humphries.
Kim made a splash when she appeared at the Met Gala in May 2013 in a tight floral dress that emphasized her pregnant midsection. Her pregnancy was the most widely discussed topic on the night of the gala.
9. Serena Williams
Charles Sykes / AP Photo
Profession: Tennis Player
Announced in: 2017
How it was announced: Accidentally revealed the news on Snapchat
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Serena Willaims conceived her first baby just one month after announcing her engagement to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
She had to keep her pregnancy a secret while playing in the Australian Open and did not officially confirm that she was expecting until after the tour.
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Nicki Minaj took to social media to announce her pregnancy in July 2020. The singer wore a flashy bikini for an Instagram post with the caption #Preggers.
Fans were surprised by the announcement and had mixed feelings that Minaj was having a baby with her controversial husband, Kenneth Petty, a registered sex offender.
7. Halsey
Richard Shotwell / AP Photo
Profession: Singer/Songwriter
Announced in: 2021
How it was announced: Instagram
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Halsey shocked the world when she casually announced on Instagram that she was pregnant. This surprised fans since Halsey had been very public about her miscarriages and reproductive challenges. She suffered from severe endometriosis and feared she might never conceive.
So, fans were overjoyed when they learned that Halsey and Alev Aydin were expecting their first child together.
6. Cardi B
Richard Shotwell / AP Photo
Profession: Rapper
Announced in: 2021
How it was announced: At the BET Awards
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Cardi B kept news of her second pregnancy quiet after dealing with negative social media trolls during her first pregnancy. She took a brief hiatus from social media when she discovered that she was expecting and only informed close family members of her pregnancy.
But at the June 2021 BET Awards, Cardi B appeared on stage in a tight body suit that exposed her baby bump, confirming rumors that she was expecting her second child.
5. Kylie Jenner
Andy Kropa / Invision / AP Photo
Profession: Reality TV Star
Announced in: 2021
How it was announced: Instagram video
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Kylie surprised her fans on Sept. 7, 2021, with an emotional video tribute about her pregnancy journey, including her positive test result, doctor scans and the day she surprised her mother, Kris Jenner, with the exciting news.
Kylie’s video racked up more than 164 million views and counting.
4. Chrissy Teigen
Jordan Strauss / Invision / AP
Profession: Model/Cookbook Author
Announced in: August 2022
How it was announced: A John Legend concert and Instagram
What Made the Announcement Shocking
In 2020, Teigen and her husband, John Legend, went public with the devastating loss of their baby when Chrissy was just 20 weeks pregnant. In February 2022, Teigen again took to social media to say that she was undergoing IVF treatments to conceive but asked fans not to over-speculate her condition.
In August, during a private performance, John Legend announced to concert attendees that he and Teigen were again expecting. Chrissy also posted a series of baby bump mirror selfies on Instagram to confirm that a new baby was on the way.
3. Keke Palmer
Profession: Actress/Singer
Announced in: December 2022
How it was announced: Pregnancy revealed on “Saturday Night Live”
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Rumors had been circulating about Keke’s pregnancy with Darius Jackson, but she never confirmed or denied if she was expecting.
During her opening monologue on “Saturday Night Live,” the actress/singer finally admitted that the rumors were true, then unbuttoned her jacket to reveal the baby bump she had been hiding from the public eye.
2. Meghan Trainor
Profession: Singer/Songwriter
Announced in: January 2023
How it was announced: Revealed on the “Today Show”
What Made the Announcement Shocking
The way Meghan announced her pregnancy on TV was genius. She appeared on the “Today Show” to promote a new advice book on motherhood, then handed the book over to co-host Hoda Kobb. When Hoda opened the book, she found a sonogram photo of Trainor’s baby.
Meghan stood up and revealed her new baby bump to an audience that applauded her clever and creative announcement.
1. Rihanna
Jeff Lewis / AP Photo
Profession: Singer
Announced in: February 2023
How it was announced: Rihanna performed at the Super Bowl Half-Time Show
What Made the Announcement Shocking
Matt Slocum / AP Photo
For years, Rhianna has been the subject of false pregnancy rumors, but in 2021, whenever she stepped out with partner ASAP Rocky, fans found it suspicious that she only wore baggy clothes. After the singer posed in an unbuttoned coat that revealed her widening midsection during a photo shoot, the paparazzi went nuts.
Fast-forward one year later and just nine months after her first baby was born, Rihanna performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show with what appeared to be another baby bump. Right after the performance, her publicist confirmed that, yes, she was indeed pregnant with her second child, and fans went crazy, applauding her for performing pregnant on such an international stage.
