In 2010, April Webster and Nathan Fishbourne became the youngest parents in the UK, a title that would follow them for years.

They were just 13 when April became pregnant, and by the time their son, Jamie, entered the world, they had both turned 14.

Their story made headlines, sparking debates, shock, and curiosity. The world watched, some with judgment, others with sympathy. But when the media frenzy faded, and the headlines moved on, what happened to the family that had once captured the world’s attention?

Didn’t tell her parents

Becoming a parent is one of life’s biggest milestones, and for 14-year-olds April Webster and Nathan Fishbourne, it was no different. But one thing set them apart — their incredibly young age.

April and Nathan’s story began when they met as classmates at St Cenydd School in Caerphilly, South Wales. But their teenage romance took an unexpected turn when April became pregnant at just 13.

April discovered she was pregnant with Jamie just one day before her 14th birthday – and the news sent shockwaves through their families. April had not told her parents about their sexual relationship because she felt “too embarrassed.”

According to April and Nathan, they took no precautions whilst having sex because after trying contraceptives once, Nathan didn’t like it.

Nathan’s parents, Julie and Ron, a retired trucker, were angry with their son at first.

”I had a real go at him and told him he had been stupid. But we can’t undo what has happened and will now accept Jamie into our family. There’s no way we’ll turn our backs on him,” Ron told The Sun at the time.

April Webster young mother

After the initial shock, both the maternal grandparents prepared themselves to fully support the young parents.

April’s mother, Maria, then 36, shared, ”It was a big shock at first, but we let April make the decision on whether to go through with it.”

Jamie was born in November 2010, arriving through a dramatic cesarean section. Weighing 8lbs 14oz at birth, Jamie’s start was challenging due to a malformed oesophagus that made feeding difficult. However, doctors performed an operation, and after spending 11 days in the hospital, he was declared healthy and allowed to go home.

By the time the British tabloids caught wind of the story, Jamie was already four weeks old. At that point, he was living with his mother, April, at her parents’ home.

To paint a clearer picture of the situation, April and her newborn shared a room with her 17-year-old sister, Robyn, who pitched in by helping to feed Jamie with a bottle. The family dynamic was unique, to say the least, with the young mother navigating both the challenges of new motherhood and living under her parents’ roof.

Nathan lived a few miles away with his parents.

Confusion surrounding the relationship

Despite the unconventional circumstances, April was determined to be the best mother she could be.

”Jamie wasn’t planned, but I’m going to be a great mum for him. He’s perfect and I’m going to give him everything he ever wants,” April said.

Back in 2010, it was still uncertain how the young parents would manage to figure out the best way to raise their son.

”I’d love to have him at weekends – and April can have him five days during the week,” Nathan said at the time.

But early on, there was confusion surrounding the state of their relationship. April revealed that they were having a ”cooling off period” and admitted that she was unsure if their partnership would last.

April Webster and Nathan Fishbourne today

Four years later, April shared that she and Nathan were no longer a couple.

“I broke up with Nathan about three years ago; we’re not really in contact,” she said in 2014. “I don’t really want to be in contact with him. When I first had Jamie, I hoped we might stay together. There are no regrets, though.”

April had initially planned to continue her education, but she never took her GCSEs, which is generally regarded as the equivalent of a US High School diploma.

“I’m not in school or working, I’m just looking after Jamie and everything is going amazingly with him,” she said.

Thankfully, April’s family and friends have been supportive all the way.

“My mom and sister love having Jamie in the house. He’s fun. He goes to school in the mornings, which gives me time to chill out. I might go to college and take some exams when Jamie is older. I’m not planning on having another baby soon, though.”

If we take a look at April’s social media today, we can see how much her life has blossomed since Jamie’s arrival.

She’s now a proud mother of three, with Jamie Rhys, Rowan David, and Ava Lianne. April, now 28 years old and known as April Lianna, is in a happy new relationship with her partner, Jake Jones. It’s heartwarming to see how far April has come and how wonderfully her life is unfolding.

Looking at where Nathan is today, it seems things are going well for him too. In February 2023, he got engaged to his partner, Samantha, and he’s also built a new family with several children. It’s great to see that Nathan has found happiness and is thriving in his own way.

Teen pregnancy can undoubtedly bring a host of challenges, from societal judgment to the pressures of raising a child at a young age.

However, in this case, we see that despite the early struggles, both April and Nathan have managed to build positive and fulfilling lives. It warms our hearts to see that both are involved in their parenthood and are there as Jamie grows into a young man. Wishing them all the best in the future!

Their stories are a reminder that, while the journey is not easy, with support and determination, it is possible to overcome adversity and find happiness.

Hollywood has always been full of stars. Some stay in the spotlight for decades, while others peak briefly before disappearing as quickly as they arrived.

Through the years, we’ve seen legendary actresses such as Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, Jayne Mansfield, Raquel Welch, and Jean Harlow garner plenty of attention, helped no end by their natural talent and gorgeous looks.

But even when they sat the throne as queens of the industry, there were always others waiting in the wings, vying for a chance to take over. One such was American actress Sydne Rome, dubbed the golden girl from the American Midwest.

Sydne didn’t walk the same path as any other actress to make it in the entertainment business. Instead, she went to Europe, and with her blonde hair and blue eyes, viewers couldn’t get enough of her. It’s reported that she even once dated David Bowie.

But even though Rome might have had the it factor, she didn’t stay in the spotlight for long. Even so, she is still very much active, and over the years has created a family of her own. Sadly, one accident left her face scarred for life. 

Sydne Rome was born in Akron, Ohio on March 17, 1951. Her father worked in plastic manufacturing, and her mother was, as Sydne herself explained, a “born hippie.”

She came from an upper-middle-class family and grew up in the small community of Upper Sandusky, which has a population of 5,000. It was said to have had the highest per capita income of any town in the United States.

Sydne Rome – early life

Throughout Hollywood history, we’ve witnessed many examples of actors’ children making it big in their own right. A few examples are Miley Cyrus – child of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus – Dakota Johnson, whose parents Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson were actors, as well as Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson’s daughter, Kate Hudson.

The term “nepo baby” is used, which Sky describes as “a catchier way to say the successful child of a celebrity – someone who rode to fame on the coattails of their talented parent, often making a name for themselves in the same or an adjacent industry.”

For some, having a famous mom or dad offers a fantastic opportunity, presenting them with contacts within the entertainment industry. But for others, it’s not always easy, as it puts pressure on them to match the achievements and star power of their parents.

For Sydne Rome, this was not something she had to worry about. None of her family members had ever come close to entering the entertainment industry.

“There was nothing in the family that should have given me my craze for acting,” she told the Daily News in 1974. “My father had a plastic company, and my mother is just ‘mom.’ I have two sisters and two brothers, all younger.”

Rome went to high school in Ohio, but by that point she had begun showing plenty of interest in acting. The young girl had made plans for her future, but that all changed when she spoke to people close to her.

Instead of moving to Illinois, her new home became Pennsylvania, and the famous Carnegie Tech School of Acting at Pittsburgh University.

First shot at Hollywood fame

“I planned to enter Northwestern University after finishing high school. But there, I was told that if I were seriously interested in acting, I should study at Tech. So I did, and I’m glad I did,” Sydne told The Pittsburgh Press.

At the Carnegie Tech School of Acting, Rome began crafting her acting skills. She had well-respected vocal coach and voice actress Edith Skinner as her teacher, as well as film executive Bern Stearn, whose daughter she later would become close to. At the school, she starred as Tania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Nina in Anton Chekhov’s The Sea Gull.

After finishing her studies in Pennsylvania, it was time for the promising actress to make her way to California. She joined the Pasadena Playhouse and continued to thrive on the stage.

But even though Rome starred in productions from Shakespeare, Chekhov, and Tennessee Williams, her first shot at Hollywood fame in movies was a disaster. She lost out on her first significant role in the film Candy, sent to Rome by her agent, and after another year with the Pasadena Playhouse, she once again tried her luck in Europe.

There was no denying that she was a beautiful woman. But in that day and age, it wasn’t enough to look good with clothes on.

“I had a terrible time in Rome with young Italian directors who wanted me to play in the nude,” she told the Daily News. “I didn’t want to do it. Now my view is different. Playing in the nude has become part of our trade. Provided it is really called for in the script and doesn’t involve brutal love scenes, it’s OK by me.”

Sydne Rome starred mostly in minor Italian films heading into the 1970s.

Compared to Birgitte Bardot

Then, in 1972, she got her big breakthrough when she worked with director Roman Polanski in the film What? Though critics hated the movie, it was a big step forward for Sydne. In 1973, she also wed photographer and cameraman Emilio Lari.

By that stage, the young American actress was being compared to the likes of Brigitte Bardot. The Sunday Telegraph even dubbed her “the up-and-coming Jean Harlow or Raquel Welch, the ticking Sex Bomb of the nineteen-eighties” in 1979.

That comparison could have put a lot of pressure on a young actress’s shoulders. Sydne, though, took it in her stride.

“[Brigitte] is wonderful, exciting, very open, terribly available. She is everyman’s dream. Perhaps at first look, I seem less available. But I think audiences will take a second look and think differently. And I am a better actress than Bardot,” she said.

Though Rome seemed to have everything it took to make it in Hollywood, she just never seemed able to take the final step. Her first film was in 1969, starring in Some Girls Do, but it didn’t help her career. So instead, she tried her luck in another part of the world, starring in many French, Italian, and German films.

As the 1970s ended, Rome landed a role in David Hemmings’s film Just a Gigolo, starring alongside the great David Bowie.

“We were friends. When I was going to Berlin to have the first [script] readings, I was told that they hadn’t found the leading man. He [Bowie] had an interest in that period of Germany, between the two world wars, so I thought maybe David would like to do this part. I called him and asked if I could send him the script. We did so and he accepted,” she told NME in 2021.

Romance with David Bowie

It was even rumored that the two were dating at one point – which she confirmed in a later interview on Italian television.

“I met him because he called me to accompany him to Paris to see the premiere of his film, and I accepted [the offer for Just a Gigolo] immediately,” Rome. “We were together for a year. He was so much fun and appetizing.”

Rome moved to the city of Rome, which she called her home for over ten years. With the arrival of the 1980s, she became a musician, releasing several albums, all of which unfortunately failed to take off.

Synde starred in many productions, including the 1980 film L’uomo puma [The Pumaman]. With a meager 2.2 out of 10 rating on the International Movie Database, it doesn’t take a film expert to gauge its success. Rome also began doing documentaries, including one about Formula 1, shot in Rio De Janeiro.

While her dream of becoming a big star was still there, the fact that the film business had become more than just good films bothered her.

“I’m well-known worldwide except America,” she said. “I love creative work, but I hate the business side of my ‘career.’ An actress can get to feel she’s just a business asset – that no one cares about her, but only what she represents in terms of a deal.”

“Being in films can be terrible for a woman – no, it’s not just having passes made, I can take care of that,” Sydne continued. “But it’s the years you have to slog before anyone realky respects you at all. Actresses are not supposed to have any brains.”

She concluded: “Maybe that’s why so many actors and actresses feel insecure.– the woman more than the men. I have several actress friends, and we cry on each others’ shoulders. Actually, actors make friends easily, because they don’t really belong to any particular class – they’re not aristocrats, or middle-class, or lower-class. They can fit in anywhere.”

Car crash left Sydne Rome scarred for life

Rome’s marriage to Emilio sadly didn’t last. She re-married doctor Roberto Bernabei, and together they decided to adopt two sisters, Vanessa, and Jesse, from the favelas of Sao Paulo, Brazil, according to Corriere. He became a–respected medical worker – and in 2021, was appointed the personal physician of Pope Francis.

Rome’s career continued with her starring in many productions, but her big breakthrough never came in the US. Despite that, she found more important things in life, such as a peaceful, loving family.

Then, in 2009, Sydne Rome’s life changed forever. While driving her car – with one of her then-eight-year-old daughters in the vehicle – she was involved in a serious accident.

In an interview on the Italian talk show Vieni da Me, Rome explained that she had been driving her car for the first time after it had been in the garage for three weeks.

With her daughter in the car, Sydne ended up veering off the road and hitting a tree. The airbag blew up in her face – and did a lot of damage.

“I went to the hospital and they stitched up my ski,” Rome said, adding that the doctors didn’t realize that her facial muscles had taken a hit because of the accident. “That part of my face after a while became paralyzed, and so 10 years ago I had physical therapy and today I’m a little bit better.”

Looking at photos from her past, Sydne sadly admitted that she didn’t recognize her face in pictures because of the change to the right side of her face.

Sydne Rome today

“I know it’s me, but it’s like seeing another person again,” she added.

Despite her brutal injury, Sydne didn’t let it bring her down. She continued to work in the entertainment industry, and most recently starred in the Italian film La Quattordicesima Domenica Del Tempo Ordinario, released in 2023.

Moreover, Sydne, now age 72, had a recurring role in the Italian television series Don Matteo, appearing in 53 episodes between 2021 and 2022.

Sydne Rome didn’t become the next Brigette Bardot, but has always done what she enjoyed. Despite the sad accident, she has continued to follow her passion.

Please, share this article if you also think you should always follow your dreams! 

In 1960, Jim Reeves dropped a song that would go on to change the game in both country and pop music—“He’ll Have to Go.”

With its smooth vocals and lush orchestration, the track became a hit that bridged the gap between two genres, making Reeves a legend. His voice? Pure velvet. His style? Sophisticated and polished. And the song? It became a cultural phenomenon, cementing Jim as one of Nashville’s finest.

The backstory of “He’ll Have to Go”

Jim Reeves wasn’t just any country singer. Known as “Gentleman Jim,” he had this incredible ability to balance sophistication with country music’s raw emotion.

Born in Texas, he had worked as a radio announcer before diving into full-time music. By the time “He’ll Have to Go” was released, he was already a country star, but this song pushed him into another stratosphere. It wasn’t just about the tune —it was about the whole vibe he brought to the table.

The backstory of “He’ll Have to Go” is as interesting as the song itself. Written by Joe and Audrey Allison, the song was inspired by a real-life moment Joe overheard at a bar. A man was on the phone with his lover, begging her to get closer to the phone, trying to win her back.

That became the heart of the song—the opening line, “Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone.” It’s simple, but it’s that perfect mix of longing and vulnerability that hit home for so many.

A huge moment for country music

When Jim recorded it, he didn’t just sing it — he felt it. The production was minimal, with just enough backing to let his voice shine through. Chet Atkins, who was behind the production, kept things subtle, and the result was this intimate, emotional track that drew listeners in.

The song quickly became a hit, topping the Billboard Country Chart and even crossing over to the Pop Chart, where it hit #2. It was a huge moment for country music, showing that it could be mainstream and still keep its soul.

The impact of “He’ll Have to Go” didn’t stop with chart numbers. It became a cultural touchstone, a song that people could relate to, no matter their background. The heartbreak, the pleading—it’s universal. And Jim’s delivery? It’s that perfect blend of confidence and vulnerability. He didn’t have to overdo it—his voice just worked.

With the success of the song, Jim Reeves was suddenly a global star. He toured all over the world, bringing country music to new audiences. He wasn’t just a country singer anymore; he was an international ambassador for the genre.

The smooth, polished sound he brought to country music helped redefine it, proving that country could be sophisticated, emotional, and mainstream.

But let’s be real — “He’ll Have to Go” wasn’t just a hit; it was a game-changer. It helped popularize the Nashville Sound—a more polished, orchestral style of country music that was easier for mainstream audiences to digest. And that style became a blueprint for future artists looking to mix country with other sounds.

The song’s influence didn’t stop there. It inspired countless covers by artists like Elvis Presley and Ry Cooder. But let’s be clear—no one did it quite like Jim. His version is the one that stuck.

How Jim Reeves died

Sadly, Jim’s life was tragically cut short in 1964 when he died in a plane crash at just 40 years old. His death left a huge void, but his music — especially “He’ll Have to Go”—has kept his legacy alive.

The song stayed on jukeboxes and radio stations for years, ensuring that his smooth baritone would never be forgotten. And, of course, Jim was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, cementing his place as one of the all-time greats.

Today, “He’ll Have to Go” is still one of the most loved country songs ever. It’s been featured in movies, TV shows, and commercials, introducing it to new generations. The magic of the song lies in its simplicity—it’s raw emotion wrapped in a timeless melody. It’s just one of those songs that never gets old.

Jim’s ability to blend country with pop is a legacy that’s still felt today. Artists like Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban owe a lot to Jim Reeves for showing that country could cross over without losing its authenticity. “He’ll Have to Go” wasn’t just a hit—it was a moment in music history. And it’ll stay a classic for years to come.

Jim Reeves proved that country music could be emotional, sophisticated, and universal. “He’ll Have to Go” wasn’t just a song—it was a movement. And it continues to resonate, showing the timeless power of music to connect and inspire.

Share this so those who haven’t heard this masterpiece can discover Jim Reeves’ incredible talent.