The Life, Love, and Labor of Jennifer Love Hewitt

Jennifer Love Hewitt was the “it” girl of the ‘90s and seemed poised to be an enduring icon like Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan. Unfortunately, Hewitt’s light dimmed in the past two decades, leaving her with the status of has-been. So what happened to the stunning actress? What aspects of her life, relationships, and career led her away from the spotlight — and was it intentional?

Hewitt is a Southern belle through and through! The actress was born in Waco, Texas on February 21st, 1979. Her mother, Patricia Mae, was a speech-language pathologist — while her father, Herbert Daniel Hewitt, worked as a medical technician. Jennifer grew up alongside her older brother Todd in Texas. Sadly, Patricia and Herbert got a divorce, after which Mae and her two children moved to Nolanville. Little did the residents of the small town know that there was a budding star in their midst.

At just three years old, Hewitt performed Whitney Houston's “The Greatest Love of All”, showing that despite being a small child, she had some big talent. Jennifer continued to display her abilities and was the talk of the town by the time she was four years old. At the age of five, it was clear that singing alone wasn’t going to do the trick. So, the little star began learning tap dancing and ballet too, in order to bulk up her resume.

Jennifer Love Hewitt continued to train for a life of stardom throughout her childhood. At nine years old, she joined the Texas Show Team, which allowed her to showcase her abilities to people outside her hometown — including as far as the Soviet Union. By the age of 10, Hewitt was getting attention from talent scouts and was encouraged to expand her performances to Hollywood. It was winning a state-wide talent competition that finally convinced Hewitt’s mother to move to Los Angeles and make Jennifer a star!

While most people struggle for years before making any sort of dent in Hollywood, Hewitt found success almost immediately. The actress booked over 20 commercials, which swiftly gained her the recognition she needed to score a role in Disney’s Kids Incorporated, from 1989 to 1991. Boasting three Young Artist Award nominations, Hewitt met talent scout Jonathan Neville, who recommended her for the dramatic TV series Party of Five.