All About Anna Nicole Smith and Larry Birkhead's Daughter, Dannielynn Birkhead

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty

Dannielynn’s supermodel mother,Anna Nicole Smith, died from an accidental drug overdose in 2007, just five months after Dannielynn was born in September 2006. At the time of Dannielynn’s birth, Smith claimed thatDannielynn’s fatherwasHoward K. Stern, thePlayboymodel’s attorney and romantic partner. However, a court battle to establish paternity determined that Birkhead was Dannielynn’s biological father. Birkhead was thenawarded custodyof his daughter.

Ever since, the father-daughter duo has traveled everywhere fromDollywoodto Hawaii with, of course, stops in Louisville, Kentucky, for the famous horse race.

On Dannielynn’s 17th birthday in September 2023, Birkhead paid tribute to his daughter on Instagram.

“You are funny, crazy smart, pretty and just about everything I could ever imagine,” he wrote. “Your Mom would be so proudof you, I sure am.”

But who is Dannielynn Birkhead? Read on to learn about Anna Nicole Smith and Larry Birkhead’s daughter and how she’s staying connected to her mother’s legacy.

She was born in the Bahamas in 2006

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Dannielynn was born Sept. 7, 2006, in Nassau, Bahamas, as Dannielynn Hope Marshall Stern. Smith initially said that Stern was the father of her daughter, but Birkhead contested that claim anddemanded a DNA test.

When the results came in, Stern was cooperative, hugging Birkhead outside the courthouse. “We’re gonna do what we can to make sure that the best interests of Dannielynn are carried out,” Stern said. “And I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure that he gets sole custody. Larry can come over to the house and spend as much time with [Dannielynn] as he wants to right now.”

She had a brother

Prior to welcoming Dannielynn, Smith had one son namedDaniel Wayne Smith. Three days after Dannielynn was born, 20-year-oldDaniel diedin Smith’s hospital room of an accidental drug overdose. He had arrived that same day to visit his mother and meet his newborn sister.

She stays connected to her late mother

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In February 2021, Birkhead and Dannielynnappeared in a20/20special, in which they traveled to Smith’s hometown of Mexia, Texas. “When we talk about Anna Nicole, there were a lot of happy moments for her,” Birkhead said. “There were a lot of highs before there were a lot of lows.”

The special aired on the 14th anniversary of Smith’s death. Dannielynn met her mother’s childhood friends, who shared memories of the supermodel before she was famous, and Birkhead gave her some of Smith’s belongings, including the wedding dress she wore to marryJ. Howard Marshall IIin 1994.

“Anna should be remembered as this larger than life figure that was really a caring, giving person,” Birkhead said. “A beautiful lady who loved her fans and loved her family.”

Her dad says Dannielynn reminds him of Smith

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty / Michael Loccisano/Getty

“Today, I remember your heart, your soul and your beauty, both inside and out,“Birkhead wroteon the 15th anniversary of Smith’s death. “Your love is alive still to this day, in the form of a truly one of a kind teenager with her Mom’s smile, beauty and courage.”

Birkhead and Smith’s relationshipwas the subject of an episode of Lifetime’sHopelessly in Lovein 2020. In January 2022, Netflix announced anupcoming documentaryabout Smith’s life featuring never-before-seen footage.

“She inspired a lot of people. I think she changed a lot of lives,“Birkhead saidon20/20. “That’s why I think, to this day, there’s still a fascination about Anna Nicole, and I think there will be for a long time.”

She and her father spend lots of quality time together

Larry Birkhead Instagram

Instagram/larryanddannielynn

The father-daughter duo are also bigDuran Duran fans, as they spent Father’s Day 2023 at one of their concerts.

In January 2024, the pairtook a trip to Disneyland in California— a place they’ve visited several times since Dannielynn was a little girl. Birkhead reminisced about “great” visits past on Instagram.

Birkhead saved Smith’s clothes for her

Birkhead put all of Smith’s clothing in storageafter she died — anticipating that Dannielynn would eventually want to wear items from her mom’s wardrobe.

While chatting with PEOPLE in May 2023, Birkhead revealed that Dannielynn has already pulled a few items from the archive.

“There’s some T-shirts and different things she fits in, but there’s also some things that she’ll say, ‘Dad, no thanks, that’s not my style,’ " he said. “There’s also some things that would have to wait till later. Some things are a bit more revealing and low-cut.”

Larry Birkhead/Instagram

“To be honest, the dress was so big I had to drive it from Florida. It was too big to go on the plane and check it in. This was a full-on production,” Birkhead told PEOPLE.

She paid tribute to Smith at the 2023 Barnstable Brown Gala

The Barnstable Brown Gala was where Smith and Birkhead first met in 2003.

“It’s funny how one event can change your life. And that’s what this party did for me. If I had not been there that night and had that connection, how different my life would have been if I hadn’t met Anna and had our daughter,” he told PEOPLE.

She’s an excellent student

Dannielynn’s senior year of high school is right around the corner. And with plans to attend college, she’s taken her studies seriously.

In June 2023, Birkhead bragged about his daughter on Instagram aftershe made the honor roll, yet again.

“Dannielynn finished 11th grade and maintained honor roll through some challenging times we had taking care of my Mom before she passed away,” the doting dad wrote. “I am so proud!”

During a previous interview with PEOPLE, Birkhead said Dannielynn is considering a career in forensics.

source: people.com