Michelle Phillips, Last Surviving Member of the Mamas & the Papas, Spotted in Rare Outing

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Jane LaCroix is a Newsweek writer based in Miami, FL. Her focus is reporting on U.S. celebrity news and viral trends. She has in depth knowledge of celebrity and internet culture and has covered entertainment news extensively. Jane joined Newsweek in 2024 from Ranker and had previously worked at People and HollywoodLife. She is a graduate of Fitcburg State University in Fitchburg, MA. You can get in touch with Jane by emailing j.lacroix@newsweek.com. Languages: English.

Jane LaCroix

Contributing Entertainment Writer

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Michelle Phillips, singer of the iconic ’60s group The Mamas & the Papas, stepped out for a rare public appearance.

80-year-old Phillips was photographed while on a walk in Los Angeles on Monday, March 10. The last remaining member of the musical group dressed in a black-and-white striped long sleeve shirt paired with black trousers, boots, and sunglasses, in the photos obtained by People.

Phillips, who co-founded The Mamas & the Papas in 1965, was part of a band that became synonymous with ’60s folk rock. She was joined by Denny Doherty, her late ex-husband John Phillips, and Cass Elliot, with whom she released five studio albums and earned four Grammy nominations, including a win in 1967.

Though her public appearances are few and far in between, Phillips has attended a few notable events in recent years. The last time she was photographed on the red carpet was in February 2024 at the 66th Grammy Awards Pre-Grammy Gala. Before that, Williams’ made an appearance when The Mamas & the Papas were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with Cass Elliot receiving a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022.

Phillips has been married three times in her life. She was first married to her bandmate John in 1962, and the couple had one child together, daughter Chynna Phillips – who would go on to find fame as a member of the pop trio Wilson Phillips. The marriage, however, ended in 1970. Following her split from John, Michelle married actor and television producer, Dennis Hopper, in 1971, but their marriage was short-lived and ended in divorce just 8 days later. She later married radio executive Robert Burch in 1978, though they divorced a year later.

In addition to Chynna, 57, Phillips is also the mother of actor Austin Hines, whom she had with actor Grainger Hines, and adopted Aron Wilson, whom she became a foster mother to in the 1980s.

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