Cover Stars include: Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Viola Davis, Michael J.
Fox, Dwayne Johnson,
Nicole Kidman, John Legend,
Matthew McConaghey, Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon
PLUS The Next Power Players,
How PEOPLE Changed My Life and More!
NEW
YORK, April 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PEOPLE is
celebrating its 50th anniversary, marking a half-century of
captivating storytelling, celebrity features, and cultural
snapshots that have defined generations. Since its inception in
1974, PEOPLE has been a beacon of pop culture, offering readers an
intimate look into the lives of icons and everyday heroes alike.
The 50th anniversary issue is a celebration of the people who have
helped shape the culture and who will do so for years to come. The
cover stars–with a combined 14 primetime Emmys, 16 Golden Globes,
five Oscars, four Tonys and 14 Grammys–have achieved that and more.
The crew also includes three Sexiest Men Alive, two EGOTs, multiple
humanitarian award winners, a World Champion and a G.O.A.T. The
50th anniversary issue includes a full digital issue, and an
exclusive motion cover that can be found here.
PEOPLE DEBUTS 50TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
FEATURING 11 COVER STARS
When speaking about his relationship with PEOPLE over the years,
Michael J. Fox stated, "PEOPLE has
been this chronicler of my life, and I appreciate it. Remember that
I was pretty funny and I cared, and all the other stuff just fell
in. I just wanted to have a giggle—and I giggled a lot." Drew
Barrymore has covered the magazine 15 times throughout her career:
"I have been a lifelong lover of this magazine. At every interval
that's been symbolic in my life, there is a PEOPLE cover to show
for it." When discussing advice she would give to her younger self,
Oprah Winfrey says,"The most important thing is to
remain centered, so whether you're on the cover of PEOPLE or not,
your identity isn't tied to what the rest of the world says it
is."
While it's impossible to get the most popular stars in America
together for one photo shoot, we turned to celebrity photographer
Art Streiber. Art shot our cover
stars separately — measuring every chair and place setting
precisely — and worked with set designer Anthony Altomare and retoucher Angie Marie Hayes to create the work of art that
became our cover. For more on how it came together, read about the
making of our 50th Anniversary cover.
From groundbreaking exclusives to heartfelt human-interest
stories, PEOPLE has consistently provided readers with a unique
blend of entertainment, inspiration, and insight. Its iconic covers
have been seen worldwide and featured everyone from Hollywood
A-listers to influential leaders, showcasing the diversity and
dynamism of the human experience. Tina
Turner, in 1981, revealed in PEOPLE how she had survived an
abusive marriage, fleeing husband Ike with only 36 cents to her name and a Mobil credit card. In
1998, Michael J. Fox disclosed his
Parkinsons' diagnosis in a PEOPLE cover story—and he's since
changed the course of research for the disease. When tragedy struck
on 9/11, PEOPLE pulled together an issue in less than 24 hours; it
was the first U.S. magazine on newsstands after the attack and,
with 4 million copies sold, is still the best-selling issue in the
magazine's history.
To celebrate the 50th, PEOPLE is working with Fotografiska NY on
a photo exhibition to commemorate the anniversary. PEOPLE:
Celebrating 50 Years will open on May 9, 2024, featuring original covers and
photographs from the magazine. The unique archive includes images
and ephemera that celebrate the world's most beloved celebrities
and capture cultural moments that captivated the nation. PEOPLE's
success has been deeply connected to the power of the photographic
image, with the very first prospectus for the magazine stating,
"the succession of dramatic images should make turning the pages
irresistible." Some of the greatest photographers of their
generation have worked with the magazine, including Martin Schoeller, Harry
Benson, Gordon Parks, Co
Rentmeester (and daughter Coliena Rentmeester), Ruven Afanador, Cass Bird, Elinor Carucci and Art
Streiber who also created the cover for this week's special
issue.
PEOPLE's audience is the largest of any magazine brand in the
world. Reaching 90% of zip codes, PEOPLE has defined entertainment
news for 50 years, connecting our audience to the pulse of American
culture. When looking towards the future, Wendy Naugle, PEOPLE Editor in Chief says,
"Someday, there will be another editor sitting in this chair,
planning a 75th or 100th anniversary of PEOPLE that will live on
the page or a screen or in 3D or some new spatial plane yet to be
invented. What tips would I give them? Matthew McConaughey's advice to his younger self
sums it up: 'I'd let him figure it out…Take feeder roads off the
highway. Get confused, get frustrated, feel lost, and overcome it.'
And I'd add: Make it fun. Make it fabulous."
The Next Power Players
These stars have already made a
name for themselves in Hollywood.
Now they're making moves to run the place. This next group of stars
featured in PEOPLE's 50th Anniversary issue include: Zendaya,
Timothee Chalamet, Lulu Wang,
Taylor Swift, Renee Rapp, Yara
Shahidi, Jenna Ortega,
Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X,
Sadie Sink, Amanda Gorman, Jeremy
Allen White, Austin Butler
and Alex Cooper. When asked about
the younger generation, Michael J.
Fox mentions Taylor Swift and
says, "She moves economies. She changes the way the world works,
and that's amazing." Oprah Winfrey named Amanda Gorman and stated, "Whatever the medium,
Gorman 'is going to shift the culture. She's got the spiritual
grounding and the emotional depth."
READ: The Next Power Players (p. 68)
How PEOPLE Changed my Life
They survived unimaginable
circumstances. Now they look back on what happened when they shared
their harrowing stories with PEOPLE. Alexa
Smagala was featured in the 9/11 issue as a baby alongside
her mother Dena Smagala. PEOPLE has
kept in touch with the now 22-year-old graduate student who lost
her father on Sept. 11th. When
speaking with us, Alexa says, "PEOPLE helped connect me to how I
really felt. When we did the 20th anniversary story, I came to
terms more with the loss." When 18-year-old Natalee Holloway disappeared in Aruba in 2005, PEOPLE joined her mother
Beth Holloway, in the search for
answers. "[People reporter] Jeff
[Truesdell] and I were in Aruba for the same reason: to find out what
happened to Natalee. We developed a trust," says Beth. "It's very
tiring for families to continue these searches for their missing
loved ones, but little threads of information could be around any
corner. [People was] a powerful tool in that search, in turning
over every stone for answers. In seeking justice." Keishall Barrow
was separated from her 20-month-old daughter for three weeks
following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. PEOPLE published a successful
call to reunite them. "After the PEOPLE story came out, my phone
starts ringing off the hook. The first lady that called said,
'Kalise is in Mississippi. Call
the sheriff's department. They know where your daughter is,'" said
Barrow. Fast-forward, Kalise is now in school to be a journalist.
Barrow says, "Kalise, tell your story. Because what are the odds
you were in PEOPLE, and now here you are? You're going to be
telling other people's stories, but guess what? You already have a
story to tell, baby."
READ: How PEOPLE Changed my Life (p. 85)
For more on the 50th Anniversary and this week's special
issue, click HERE and pick up the issue
on newsstands Friday, April
12th.
PEOPLE MAGAZINE FACTS & FIGURES
- Mia Farrow was the first nationwide cover star of PEOPLE
on March 4, 1974. See cover HERE
(3.4.74 Issue)
- Taylor Swift re-created
the Mia Farrow cover for PEOPLE's 40th anniversary issue. See cover
HERE (10.20.14 Issue)
- PEOPLE's 9/11 issue is the most sold in the magazine's
history with over 4 million copies sold. PEOPLE scrapped the
current issue at the time and focused solely on the 9/11 news. The
issue was put together in less than 24 hours and was the first
magazine to hit newsstands following the terrorist attacks. See
cover HERE (9.24.01 Issue)
- Princess Diana has graced
the cover 59 times, the most ever! Her first appearance on the
cover was in 1981. See cover HERE (6.22.81 Issue)
- Princess Diana's tribute
cover is the highest-selling tribute cover ever. See cover HERE
(9.15.97 Issue)
- The first Sexiest Man Alive cover featured Mel Gibson in 1985. See here for the full
SMA fact sheet. See cover HERE (2.4.85 Issue)
- The first "Beautiful Issue" featured Michelle Pfeiffer in 1990. See cover HERE
(Summer 1990)
- PEOPLE did not have a tribute cover for Elvis Presley. Dick
Stolley, PEOPLE's founding managing editor, declared this
has his biggest mistake! (He instead ran a cover of Marty Feldman and Ann-Margret. See
cover HERE 8.29.77 Issue)
- The first tribute cover ever for PEOPLE was for John Lennon's death in 1980. See cover HERE
(12.22.80 Issue)
- George Clooney was in the
Sexiest Man Alive issue 22 times (twice on the cover). See Sexiest
Man Alive covers HERE. Click HERE for the Sexiest Man Alive fact
sheet
- Drew Barrymore was 9 years old when she first appeared
on the cover of PEOPLE. See cover HERE (11.12.84 Issue)
- Charlie's Angels were the first TV cast ever to
appear on the cover of PEOPLE. See cover HERE (12.6.76 Issue)
- New Kids on the Block was the first boy band to make the
cover of PEOPLE. See cover HERE (8.13.90 Issue)
- The PEOPLE logo, except for variations in size and the addition
of an outline, hasn't changed since the first official issue. The
word "Weekly" was taken off the logo in 2002.
- Entertainment Weekly, InStyle, Teen PEOPLE, PEOPLE StyleWatch,
and PEOPLE En Español were all brand extensions of PEOPLE.
Get PEOPLE Everywhere:
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04-22-24 Issue: On Newsstands
Friday, April 12, 2024
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SOURCE Dotdash Meredith