Channing Tatum has shared a heartfelt update on his daughter Everly, highlighting how quickly she has transformed into a teenager. The actor, 45, spoke about his 12-year-old daughter during a January 20 interview on Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, describing how she has recently undergone a rapid change. Tatum, who co-parents Everly with his ex-wife Jenna Dewan, expressed both awe and a hint of sadness at how fast his daughter is growing up.
“They say it happens fast, right? I felt like I left for two weeks to go do some press and I came back and it was the first two weeks of seventh grade and all the baby was gone,”
Tatum said, reflecting on Everly’s transition.
The Emotional Impact of Everly’s Teenage Shift
Tatum elaborated on this swift development, recalling his initial expectations and the reality he faced.
“It was just gone in two weeks. I thought I was going to have three months or four months of like watching it sort of fade away, but now she’s a full-on teenager now,”
he explained.
“It’s beautiful but also like, you want to cry.”
The proud father praised Everly’s abilities, describing her as
“so talented and clever. It’s a wild journey.”
Everly’s Changing Personality Captured in Real Moments
In a previous October 9 appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Tatum discussed how he noticed Everly’s evolving behavior as she edges closer to her teenage years. He compared notes with Barrymore, who has two daughters, Olive and Frankie.
“I don’t know when yours started changing or if, but it’s just happening for me,”
Tatum said, addressing Barrymore directly.
Barrymore responded,
“Tell me everything because I have 13 and 11, so I’m sandwiching her.”
Tatum shared specific examples of Everly’s new assertiveness, recounting a moment in an escape room where she yelled at him—a first in their relationship.
“She was always like, you know pretty opinionated, very strong willed, but now it’s like just on a whole different level,”
he said.
“I got yelled at in an escape room yesterday. Like she’s never yelled at me before.”
He recalled the incident:
“All I did I was like, ‘I wonder what’… She’s like, ‘Dad, don’t touch that!’ And I’m like, ‘Whoa, what was that?’ We’re both trying to solve this problem and now I feel like we have to go to therapy because of that moment. Like, that was not you. Her eyes changed. Like they just went like shark black or something. It was crazy.”
Balancing Fatherhood and Career Amid Everly’s Middle School Years
That same month, Tatum appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, where he spoke candidly about the challenges of managing his acting career and being present for Everly during this pivotal stage. He described the arrangement as
“a balance and it’s a constant negotiation,”
emphasizing how he discusses career decisions with his daughter.
“I actually just had a conversation with my daughter on the way to school like two days ago because I’m trying to make some decisions on a movie to go do next year that’s going to be in Australia and I won’t get to see her for like almost two months,”
he explained.
Tatum recalled a similar conversation about his role in Roofman, filmed in North Carolina, noting how difficult it is to leave while she is in middle school.
“It was a conversation then as well because it was in North Carolina, … and she’s in middle school.”
He also reflected on the thought process behind considering a role in Avengers: Doomsday, which would have filmed in London.
“And I remember I was having the conversation about doing [Avengers: Doomsday] because [Avengers: Doomsday] was going to be in London. Same thing. It wasn’t as long, but I was like, ‘I don’t know if I want to take it because I’m going to miss like the beginning of your middle school.’ And she was like, ‘No, Dad, you that’s a really good part. I want you to go do that.’”
Everly’s Teen Transformation Reflects Broader Parenting Challenges
Channing Tatum’s update on his daughter Everly offers insight into the emotional experiences many parents face during their children’s transitions into adolescence. Through candid stories, the actor reveals the complexities of navigating evolving relationships, balancing professional commitments, and supporting a child’s growth. As Everly continues to embrace her teenage years, Tatum’s reflections show the bittersweet nature of watching a child rapidly gain independence while maintaining a strong bond.
