The singer, who first found fame with The Fugees, wrote and recorded her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, while she was pregnant with her first son, Zion.
Having a baby at the height of her career was such a point of contention that Lauryn wrote the album’s song “To Zion” about her decision to become a mother against the advice of many in the music industry.
“That song is about the revelation that my son was to me,” she told Rock’s Backpages in 1999, per The Guardian.
“I had always made decisions for other people, making everybody else happy, and once I had him that was really the first decision that was unpopular for me …
And it was the best decision that I could have ever made because I’m the happiest and healthiest that I have ever been.”
From the mid-’90s to the 2010s, the “Doo Wop (That Thing)” singer was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Bob Marley’s son Rohan Marley.
During that time, they had five children: Zion, born in 1997; Selah, born in 1998; Joshua, born in 2001; John, born in 2003; and Sara, born in 2008. Lauryn later welcomed her son Micah in 2011.
Before Lauryn and Rohan became involved, he was married to Geraldine Khawly from 1993 to 1996. They had a daughter, Eden Marley, in 1994 and a son, Nico Marley, in 1995. Lauryn is close with both of them, often posting photos of Nico and Eden on Instagram and penning sweet birthday tributes to them.
Though Lauryn has been performing around the world since the 1990s, she never released a follow-up to her eight-time platinum album. “Everybody asks me, ‘What’s your next move?’, and right now my focus is just being a good mother,” Lauryn told Rock’s Backpages in 1999. “If I could do that properly, I’d be really, really happy. If I could be half the parent that my parents were to me, then I’d be very happy.”
To commemorate Mother’s Day in 2021, Lauryn posted two galleries of throwback photos of her children on Instagram. “Motherhood is no doubt one of the most challenging albeit rewarding responsibilities in the world,” she captioned the posts. “Taking this moment to acknowledge everyone out there in the loving struggle.”
Here is everything to know about Lauryn Hill’s six children.
Lauryn and Rohan welcomed Zion Marley on Aug. 3, 1997. When Lauryn became pregnant with him she was experiencing explosive fame and success with The Fugees.
“Having Zion helped me realize what was really important,” Lauryn told the Los Angeles Times in 1998. “I had made a lot of decisions for other people more than myself — which women tend to do. A lot of people were against my having a child so early, and at that point in my career. After the success of The Score, I was suddenly forced to go off the road, because I was seven or eight months pregnant. It was one of the first things I did where I put my happiness first.”
On her 1998 multi-platinum album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the singer included the song “To Zion” about deciding to have her first son. “I knew his life deserved a chance,” she wrote in the lyrics. “But everybody told me to be smart / ‘Look at your career’ they said / ‘Lauryn, baby use your head’ / But instead I chose to use my heart / Now the joy of my world is in Zion.”
During a 2022 concert in Atlanta, Lauryn was performing the famous song when Zion made a surprise appearance onstage. After a brief break backstage, he reappeared with his children whom he shares with his longtime girlfriend Tania.
“This is my grandson Zephaniah. This is my granddaughter Azaria. This is my son, Zion,” she told the crowd. Later in the show, John, Sara and Micah all joined Lauryn onstage.
Lauryn and Rohan expanded their family with the addition of their daughter Selah Marley on Nov. 12, 1998. Despite The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill winning five Grammys, the singer opted not to record a second album. Instead, she took a huge step back from her career to focus on her family, whom she raised mostly in New Jersey with her mother.
“She loves [suburban life], being with her children, seeing them grow and instilling our teachings of righteousness into them,” Rohan told PEOPLE in 2008. During her childhood, he added, Selah was involved in gymnastics.
Selah started modeling in 2011, when she was in seventh grade, and has since modeled for Chanel, Calvin Klein and Beyoncé’s Ivy Park. She is also a singer who has released music on YouTube.
“Music is my biggest passion,” she told W Magazine in 2017. “The thing about music I love, even besides me making my own music, I really fall in love with other people’s music.”
Selah continued, speaking about the influence of her mother’s songs on her work. “I guess because my mom had a studio in our house and I would go there and she was always making music and she was always doing something creative on tour, doing something. So it definitely really inspired me,” the young songstress added.
In an interview with Flaunt Digital in 2017, Selah reflected on her family’s legacy and the pressures of being descended from great talents. “My family has instilled greatness in me,” she said. “My legacy has also ensured that I always perform at my highest capability because I have such large shoes to fill … I think both sides of my family have worked really hard to liberate the minds of people around the world, and that is why they have such devoted fans.”
In 2020, Lauryn posted a photo gallery on Instagram in celebration of Selah’s birthday. “22 years ago today my beautiful daughter Selah was born, a vision of loveliness…clear, alert, and absolutely precious,” she captioned the photos. “We’ve had an arduous journey, but I celebrate your life, your growth, and your complete healing.”
Lauryn and Rohan welcomed their son Joshua Marley on Dec. 5, 2001.
When he turned 18, Lauryn penned a sweet post on Instagram, writing, “I look forward to seeing you flower more and more everyday. Pls take manhood seriously, approach it with care, responsibility, character, dignity, humility and make room for laughter. Don’t be afraid to ask for love and support when you need it. I love you immensely!”
In 2021, Joshua started his own family with the birth of his son Caleb. He later welcomed twins, according to a June 2023 Instagram post.
Like his mother, Joshua is also an artist. He goes by the stage name “YG Marley” and has collaborated on music with Lauryn. The duo performed Joshua’s latest singles “Praise Jah in the Moonlight” and “Survival” on The Tonight Show in May 2024.
Lauryn and Rohan expanded their family again with the birth of John Nesta Marley on June 28, 2003.
In 2008, Rohan told PEOPLE that John was focused on academics. Now, their youngest son often posts outfit photos on his Instagram. In 2019, he joined his siblings to model for a Rag & Bone campaign.
The following year, Lauryn posted a birthday photo collage of John on Instagram. “I tell the story often of how your smile was a reflection of love and a source of clarity for me during challenging days,” she wrote in the caption. “May you always connect to that source of love and let no fear or vain thing stop you from being your greatest. I love you always!!”
Lauryn and Rohan welcomed Sara Marley on Jan. 2, 2008. For a long time after her birth, the couple had a difficult time deciding on the right name for Sara. “We want a name that means ‘Glory of the Ark’; for now, we call her Baby Marley,” Rohan told PEOPLE in 2008 when she was 7 months old.
In January 2024, Sara celebrated her 16th birthday with a 1920s-themed party at Cipriani in New York City.
After the party, Rohan posted photos of the event on Instagram. “My Princess ‘ we have so much beautiful memories in this moment…” he captioned the post. “I Love You @whoissaramarley. Thank You to Your amazing Mother @mslaurynhill no one does it better.”
For the event, Sara wore two couture gowns from designer Galia Lahav, but it’s not the first time she’s gone full glam. Since she started her Instagram account in 2021, she often posts photos of herself in chic looks.
Per one of her Instagram Highlights, Sara is an athlete, running various track events and playing basketball at her high school.
Lauryn welcomed her son Micah Hill on July 23, 2011. Just a week after giving birth for the sixth time, the singer performed a concert at the Los Angeles Rising Festival.
After Micah’s birth, Lauryn posted a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter) clarifying that Rohan was not her newborn’s father.
“Contrary to the numerous reports, Mr. Marley did not abandon me while pregnant with his child,” Lauryn wrote in the since-deleted post. “We have had long periods of separation over the years but our five children together remain a joy to both of us.”
Micah seems to be interested in basketball — for his birthday celebration in July 2022, NBA player Derrick Rose led Micah and his friends in a basketball-centric party.
Lauryn posted a tribute to her youngest son on Instagram to honor his special day. “Happy Happy 11th birthday to my beloved and youngest son Micah!!” she wrote in the caption. “May your enormous heart and sense of kindness always be preserved. May you continue to pursue the things you love with great passion and inspiration … Love Always, Mom.”
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Source: USA Today
