More than fifty years after The Waltons first turned her into a household name, Judy Norton is loved by many fans who tune in to watch her on YouTube channel every week. From a recording studio to a California stage, the actress who grew up in front of America as Mary Ellen Walton continues to take on new creative challenges. Speaking from her home on California’s Central Coast, she was warm and candid while reflecting on her decade on one of television’s most beloved family dramas, her music, and her latest leading role.

How Judy Norton turned years of practice into a singing career

Many fans know Judy Norton as an actress, writer, director, and producer, but fewer realize she is also an accomplished singer with two albums to her name. Her love of music started with musical theater and the stories she could tell through music.

“I really wanted to be able to do musicals,” she told me, and that instinct still guides the material she chooses. “It’s all about the lyrics and telling that story,” she shared, comparing the experience to acting and the emotional connection a performer builds with an audience.

Her first solo album, Reflections, grew out of a long search for the right songs. After years of false starts, the answer came during a cabaret concert she decided on the spot to record, keeping many of the spoken introductions that wove pieces of her own life into the set. The result, she said, was a collection of standards and Broadway favorites. Asked to name a favorite track, she demurred with a laugh, observing that it depends on the day.

Why she recorded a secular Christmas album during the pandemic

Norton’s second album, the holiday collection Home for Christmas, came out of an unlikely moment. “I’ve always loved Christmas music, and I love the holidays,” she said, describing a lifelong wish to record the seasonal songs she had heard on the radio every December. When the world shut down in 2020, she finally seized the opportunity, choosing a project she could complete despite the restrictions.

The collaboration unfolded across an ocean. Her longtime producer was living in the Czech Republic at the time, so the two built the tracks remotely, with Norton sending him keys and ideas before recording her vocals stateside. Because they had worked together in person for years, she recounted, the long-distance process felt seamless and even joyful, a way to keep creating during an isolating stretch.

She also made a deliberate choice with the song list. “I chose to make it secular,” she observed, hoping the record would welcome listeners of every background. Holiday music, she added, has a timeless quality that renews itself each year. “Most people, I think, do listen to a lot of the same songs every year,” she said.

From child actor to ‘The Waltons’ fame as Mary Ellen

Norton was performing in children’s theater by the age of seven and had already worked in television before landing the role that would define her career. She was 13 when she was cast as Mary Ellen in the 1971 TV movie The Homecoming. “It was just the TV movie at first,” she explained, describing a project designed only as a Christmas special before it quickly expanded into a full series and reunited the young cast for nine seasons.

The bond among that cast endures. “We really are like a family,” Norton said, noting that the most common question she still fields is whether the actors keep in touch. They do. They often talk and see each other, and they also travel to appear together at fan events for The Waltons.

Fame arriving in her early teens never felt like a sacrifice. “Oh, no, I loved it,” she said brightly, describing the experience as something that added to her life rather than something that forced her to give anything up. Having already spent years in public school, she welcomed the chance to enter the working world.

Because she was schooled on set, Norton’s education looked very different from a typical teenager’s. The cast worked with tutors in a one-on-one setting that she came to appreciate, returning to their own schools only during the roughly three-month hiatus between seasons. The personalized attention she received during her on-set schooling, she reflected, let her move quickly through material she grasped and slow down where she needed help. “Anything I needed help with, I could get that personal attention,” she shared.

Returning to regular school between seasons proved bittersweet. “It was hard once I was working to have to go back into a regular public school situation,” she admitted, recalling that she had to focus on catching up rather than joining clubs or making friends. Part of the disconnect, she explained, was that the series carried little cachet in 1970s Los Angeles, where almost no one seemed to be watching. “It just wasn’t cool,” she said, adding that the reception would have been entirely different somewhere else as The Waltons became a huge hit throughout the United States.

Playing Mary Ellen also meant living out many of her own milestones on camera, since she was often the same age as the character she portrayed. “It really paralleled a lot of my own experiences,” she observed, describing how closely the role reflected her real adolescence.

The ‘Waltons’ storyline Judy Norton pushed back on

Judy Norton felt a deep kinship with the independent, strong-willed Mary Ellen. “I was a tomboy who could dress up,” she said with a smile, adding that she admired the character’s determination. “I loved that she wanted to forge her own path, and I admired that,” she reflected, sharing that Mary Ellen’s willingness to rebel exceeded her own. Playing her offered the best of both worlds. “I got to rebel, and with none of the consequences,” she laughed.

Not every plot thrilled her. Norton pushed back when writers married Mary Ellen off and gave her a baby while still a teenager, a turn that clashed with the character she knew. Mary Ellen, she pointed out, had always insisted that she wasn’t going to follow that traditional path.

Series creator Earl Hamner, whom she described as a loving man who treated the cast well, eventually steered the character back toward independence and a path to medical school. As Norton put it of Hamner’s devotion, “It was his legacy; it was his family.”

Even when she disagreed with a plot, Norton understood the realities of the job. An actor takes the script handed to her each week and plays it fully, she explained, regardless of personal feelings, and sometimes that meant performing scenes “whether you’re cringing inside.”

Inside Judy Norton’s ‘Waltons’ YouTube channel

The pandemic also inspired her popular YouTube channel, where she shares behind-the-scenes stories, episode breakdowns, and conversations with former castmates. Revisiting the series meant watching episodes she had not seen in decades. When the show originally aired, she reminded fans, “there were no video recorders.” As she put it, “If I didn’t see it on a Thursday night, I didn’t see it.” Returning to the material left her struck by its staying power and the timelessness of its messages.

The channel grew into a community she clearly cherishes, and she keeps it positive by design. “I read all of the comments, and I at least acknowledge all of the comments,” she said, describing regular viewers she has come to recognize by name. Her own relationship with the role has only grown stronger over the years, too. After an early stretch of typecasting, she came to a realization: “This has opened more doors for me than it’s closed,” she shared, explaining that she chose to embrace the legacy rather than fight it.

Judy Norton stars in ‘On Golden Pond’ at Big Bear Lake

Her most recent chapter as an actress is a theatrical one. Norton starred as Ethel Thayer in On Golden Pond at the Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center, which ran from June 18 through 28, 2026, opposite her friend and frequent collaborator Don Most of Happy Days fame, who personally recommended her for the part. To make the role her own, she deliberately avoided revisiting the famous film version. “I chose not to watch it again,” she explained. “I have to find it for myself.”

The part also marks a milestone. After years of leading-lady and mother roles, Norton recognized she had reached a new stage, describing a career that moved from “playing the love interest to playing the mom, to… grandma.” She greeted the shift with genuine excitement for a layered, complex character.

Between travels, the stage, and prepping segments to keep her channel running during the run, Judy Norton embraces joyful creativity. Fans can keep up with her projects, music, and upcoming appearances at judynorton.com.

Thank you for reading. For more interviews with inspiring entertainers, I invite you to follow me on

 

It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than 25 years since Everybody Loves Raymond first hit TV screens!

The hit sitcom – starring Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, Monica Horan, and Madylin Sweeten – premiered on CBS back on September 3, 1996.

Throughout the course of the show, Everybody Loves Raymond won countless awards, including 15 Emmy Awards. After nine seasons, the show came to an end on May 16, 2005.

The cast of the hit show has gone on to achieve incredible things in their own careers, and have amassed an impressive amount of money.

We’ve gathered all of the main cast members of Everybody Loves Raymond, and ranked them from lowest to highest estimated net worth.

If you didn’t know, Everybody Loves Raymond is available for streaming on Peacock and Paramount+.

Click through the slideshow to find out who the richest Everybody Loves Raymond cast member is…

Posted To:Brad Garrett Doris Roberts EG Everybody Loves Raymond Extended Madylin Sweeten Monica Horan Net Worth Patricia Heaton Peter Boyle Ray Romano Slideshow

 

Relatives of victims killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks are circulating a Change.org petition asking organizers to keep New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani away from the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero, calling the first-term Democrat an “unwelcome guest” whose record on Israel, Islamism, and past political associations makes his attendance inappropriate at what they describe as a sacred day.

The petition, reported Saturday by the New York Post, is being pushed by a group that includes real estate agent Charles Galante and Cheri Sparacio, whose husband Thomas was killed in the World Trade Center.

Organizers say they intend to press lawmakers and the nonprofit 9/11 Memorial & Museum, which runs the plaza commemoration, to exclude Mamdani from the Sept. 11, 2026, program.

Signers cite Mamdani’s refusal during last year’s mayoral race to disavow the phrase “globalize the intifada,” his campaign-trail appearance alongside Brooklyn imam Siraj Wahhaj, and his hiring of civil rights attorney Ramzi Kassem as chief counsel to City Hall, according to the Post’s account of the petition.

Kassem previously represented detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

The petition also flags Mamdani’s endorsements of Democratic Socialists of America candidates Aber Kawas and Darializa Avila Chevalier, as well as old social media posts in which Mamdani discussed the radicalized cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.

“This day is sacred to us,” Galante told the Post, adding that the ceremony “is not a platform for those connected to such views.”

The Memorial & Museum said it does not screen elected officials based on politics.

Spokeswoman Julie Wood said every sitting president, governor, and mayor since 2001 has attended and that officials sit in a designated area without speaking.

That framework, established after earlier disputes over political speeches at the memorial, treats the ceremony as an act of witness rather than a public forum.

Monica Iken-Murphy, a founding trustee of the museum whose husband Michael was killed on 9/11, signed the petition but told the Post it is not about Mamdani’s ideology.

She said the 25th anniversary should be reserved for officials who were part of the recovery, such as former mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani, former Sen. Hillary Clinton, and Council Speaker Julie Menin, whose small business was destroyed in the attacks.

Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, has attended prior 9/11 events since taking office in January, including an April wreath-laying with King Charles III and a May visit to the memorial with the fire commissioner.

Council Member Joann Ariola, R-Queens, told the Post she is prepared to help the petitioners take their case to the Council.

The practical stakes are limited: the museum controls the guest list, and its stated policy admits every sitting mayor.

Barring a change from the nonprofit, Mamdani would be seated in the officials’ area on Sept. 11 regardless of how many signatures the petition collects.

President Donald Trump returned to the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Friday night, delivering a rambling, hour-long speech that praised some journalists, took potshots at others, made jokes about public figures’ weight and intellect, and quipped about a third presidential term.

He assured the crowd of journalists, though, that he’d scrapped the most biting parts of his remarks.

“That was going to be a doozy,” Trump said about the speech he’d been prepared to give in April, before a gunman upended the original dinner and forced its postponement.

“As I said three months ago, the show must go on,” the president said to begin his remarks, hailing the decision to reschedule the dinner. He referred to “the attempted mass murder” that could have happened that night in April, but then moved largely to humor — and insults.

Trump’s return to the correspondents’ dinner — and his promise to come back next year as well — represented a notable moment in his relationship with the news media, which he has attacked, sued and taken administrative action against since he began his second term early last year. Among the audience members were reporters he had denounced and barred from events.

Trump’s sometimes off-color speech, which lasted just over an hour, was full of vague potshots directed at individuals he doesn’t like — from Jane Fonda to Bruce Springsteen to “Barack Hussein Obama.” The audience, reacting at first with some friendly laughs, slowly quieted to scattered titters as the insults piled up.

Among other targets of Trump’s humor: Late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel; Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; California Gov. Gavin Newsom; former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; and Trump’s own speechwriters, whose jokes he sometimes criticized even as he delivered them. Some of the comments flirted with racism.

The president also spent some time expressing pride in the ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, formerly the Trump International Hotel. “It’s great to be back at a place that I know very well, because I built it,” Trump said.

He also made reference to the journalism awards that had been handed out earlier in the evening, most of them for stories challenging him and his administration. “Do I have a say in those awards?” he asked with a grimace.

He made a brief mention of the Iran war and several remarks about the ballroom he is building at the White House. He also used the occasion to joke about the possibility he would serve a third term — something barred by the U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment.

“Just like my presidency, the second time is always better,” the president quipped. “And the third time will be better yet.”

He added: “I’m only kidding.” Then, at the end, he donned a red cap that said “Trump 2028” and delivered the “scoop” that he was running again.

Earlier, Trump had entered the ballroom to polite applause, and was thanked for his support by outgoing White House Correspondents’ Association president Weijia Jiang of CBS News. After dinner, he then sat through more than an hour of awards presentations.

One of the winners, Tyler Pager of the New York Times, was in fact one of the reporters who had been subpoenaed by Trump’s Justice Department over his reporting about Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet. Those subpoenas were withdrawn on Thursday in a New York courtroom — just one of the arenas where the president, in his second term, has been seeking to control media coverage that displeases him.

The rescheduled dinner was taking place at a smaller venue this time that held only about 700 people. Security was markedly tighter. Guests entered via a single entrance, through two ID checks and past a detection dog, armed officers and security guards. There was no red carpet and no separate cocktail receptions preceding the dinner.

“Let’s try this again,” Jiang quipped, welcoming the crowd. The White House press corps, she noted, “always have a follow-up.” Turning serious, she referred back to the trauma and confusion of the original dinner in April.

“Tonight our message is this: We are back,” she said. “We will not be intimidated. We refuse to let an act of violence have the final word.”

Early in his speech, Trump signaled that he had decided to tone it down. But he kept some zingers. Like this one, to the media-heavy audience: “This is really the largest group of ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ people put together at one time.”

Besides the pared-down approach, there was another change at Friday’s dinner: two additional awards. One was presented to Victor Gonzales, the Secret Service agent who was staffing a security checkpoint in April and was struck in his protective vest.

Gonzales “placed himself directly in harm’s way and engaged the armed suspect,” Jiang said. “He stayed in the fight and the attacker was stopped.”

A second award was presented to the staff of the Washington Hilton hotel, site of the first dinner, hailed for professionalism under pressure.

The dress code this time was a looser “black tie optional,” and dinner included grilled peach and burrata salad, lobster and beef Wellington. The evening, as in April, featured entertainment by mentalist Oz Pearlman — who this time got the chance to do his act..

Jiang and her fellow board members had worked hard to bring about this WHCA dinner 2.0, not wanting to let a violent act — or the image of colleagues hiding under tables — remain the final thought. Announcing the rescheduling, she emphasized the dinner’s stated purpose: “A celebration of a free press and the vital role of journalism in our democracy for over a century.”

But it’s also clear that some people felt the dinner should not be rescheduled at all.

Many never thought it was much of a good look in the first place, with the sight of journalists in formal wear cozying up to their sources, or the objects of their reporting.

“It undermines the public faith in how the press does its work, and it makes it look like we are pals with the people we cover,” Kelly McBride, an ethics expert at the Poynter Institute, a journalism think tank, said when the deliberations were taking place.

The new dinner came at a time of fast-increasing tension between the media and a president who, in his second term, has tried to exert pressure on media outlets he is unhappy with in a variety of ways. That pressure has ranged from sanctions against members of the White House press corps to regulatory actions through the Federal Communications Commission to outright lawsuits. Those tensions have only escalated since April.

Trump, though, ended with an attempt to mend fences to a point. “I have a lot of respect for your profession,” he told the assembled journalists. He also touted his own success, and declared: “When I’m not around, you’re all gonna be broke.”

And he concluded about the evening: “I didn’t know what to expect. It’s far worse than I originally thought.”

In surveys last week, this is what America told Rasmussen Reports:

– President Trump ended the polling week on Friday with a daily job approval of 43%.

– The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is viewed favorably by less than half of Americans, and more than two-thirds of Democrats would vote for candidates who pledge to abolish ICE.

– Nearly a third of American voters identify as progressives, but even more are worried about how much influence progressives now have in the Democratic Party.

– More than two-thirds of voters support term limits for Congress, at a time when the health of 84-year-old Sen. Mitch McConnell has highlighted the problem of those who stay too long on Capitol Hill.

– The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) continues to be viewed favorably by most voters, although many don’t believe America’s allies are doing enough to help the military alliance.

– Revelations about China’s breach of American election systems have many voters worried in the wake of President Donald Trump’s speech on the subject last week.

– A majority of Americans remain confident in the safety of the nation’s food supply, but an outbreak of cyclosporiasis may change their fast-food habits.

– Millions of Americans are looking for love online, but a majority don’t have a favorable view of popular dating apps.

– Thirty-six percent (36%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction.

Visit the Rasmussen Reports home page for the latest current polling coverage of events in the news. The page is updated several times each day.

Remember, if it’s in the news, it’s in our polls.

Rasmussen Reports is a media company specializing in the collection, publication and distribution of public opinion information.

We conduct public opinion polls on a variety of topics to inform our audience on events in the news and other topics of interest. To ensure editorial control and independence, we pay for the polls ourselves and generate revenue through the sale of subscriptions, sponsorships, and advertising. Nightly polling on politics, business and lifestyle topics provides the content to update the Rasmussen Reports web site many times each day. If it’s in the news, it’s in our polls. Additionally, the data drives a daily update newsletter and various media outlets across the country.

Some information, including the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll and commentaries are available for free to the general public. Subscriptions are available for $4.95 a month or 34.95 a year that provide subscribers with exclusive access to more than 20 stories per week on upcoming elections, consumer confidence, and issues that affect us all. For those who are really into the numbers, Platinum Members can review demographic crosstabs and a full history of our data.

To learn more about our methodology, click here.

The Waltons’ Neighboring Families: An Overview

The Waltons, a classic American television series that aired from 1972 to 1981, is praised for its heartwarming depiction of rural family life during the Great Depression. While the series centers on the Walton family, it occasionally shines a spotlight on their neighboring families, providing a broader view of the community they are part of.

The Baldwin Sisters

The Baldwin sisters, Miss Mamie and Miss Emily Baldwin, stand out as some of the most memorable neighbors of the Waltons. Residing in an impressive ancestral home, the sisters are characterized by their eccentricity, yet their kindness is undeniable. Among their more quirky traits is their tradition of making a special “recipe,” a clandestine family concoction passed down from their father, which suggests an intriguing nod to the Prohibition era without expressly stating its true nature. Despite being at the heart of comedic events, the sisters command respect in the Walton’s Mountain community. Their presence in the series often underscores the recurring themes of community compassion and mutual aid, and their home often becomes a sanctuary for gathering and sharing.

The Godsey Family

The Godsey family, consisting of Ike Godsey and his wife Corabeth, plays a significant role in the Walton’s Mountain area through their ownership of the general store. Ike is portrayed as an affable and fair-minded individual, frequently involved in many community activities thanks to his role as the store owner. His wife, Corabeth, introduces an element of sophistication and sometimes an air of pretension to the dynamic duo, dreaming of a more refined lifestyle. Despite occasional discord between them due to their contrasting personalities, Ike and Corabeth Godsey form a crucial part of the microcosm within the rural setting. The store becomes a hub where community members, including the Waltons, exchange news and support one another, illustrating the interconnectedness imperative for surviving and thriving in those difficult times.

The Spencer Family

While the Spencer family might not be as frequently depicted as the Baldwins or the Godseys, their presence is no less significant. Their interactions with the Waltons are emblematic of collaboration and shared adversity. During the challenging times of the Great Depression, the Spencers, much like the Waltons, exhibit resilience and determination in striving to sustain their livelihoods. Though they do not always take center stage, their story provides a mirror to the Waltons’ own journey of navigating through trials with dignity and perseverance. This subtle parallel draws viewers into a broader narrative of shared hardship and triumph.

Community Dynamics

In examining the neighboring families portrayed in The Waltons, a nuanced view of the dynamics at play within Walton’s Mountain emerges. Each family, with their unique traits and roles, enriches the fabric of the rural community. The Baldwins, Godseys, and Spencers become representative of various facets of rural life, enhancing the authenticity and depth of the series. Relationships among families spotlight the essence of community solidarity, particularly during financially trying periods. This dynamic is underlined by mutual reliance and the tolerance and strength derived from strong neighborly relationships. As hardships abound, it is through these connections that the community’s true spirit is unveiled.

The Importance of Neighborly Bonds

The portrayal of these familias in The Waltons extends beyond mere characterization. It delves into the essence of surviving and prospering in a tightly-knit rural environment. The recurring theme of interdependence suggests that survival in such an environment is not solely about individual or familial strength, but largely about the cooperative essence of the community. This theme is reflected in numerous interactions across episodes where disputes are resolved, joys shared, and burdens collectively borne by the Waltons and their neighbors.

Inter-generational Dynamics

Inter-generational influence and respect within the community is another aspect nicely depicted through the neighboring families. The elders, represented by figures such as the Baldwin sisters, embody wisdom and tradition, thus linking the past with the more modern aspirations of the younger generations like those expressed by Corabeth. This continuity ensures that despite changes and challenges, the core values and spirit remain constant, offering a foundation upon which the community builds and adapts.

Conclusion

Overall, the neighboring familias in The Waltons serve to enrich the narrative, adding layers of complexity and authenticity to the series. Through their interactions with the Walton family, the show captures the essence of communal life during a challenging historical era. The portrayal of these familias reflects both the diversity and unity found in small communities, contributing to the enduring charm of the series. The themes explored through these interactions remain timeless, echoing the importance of community support in today’s world just as they did during the Great Depression era. Through its depiction of neighborly bonds, The Waltons leaves an impactful legacy, highlighting the significance of shared experiences and collective resilience.

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