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The Hindu
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Celebrated poet Andrea Gibson dies at 49
Andrea Gibson, a celebrated poet and performance artist who through their verse explored gender identity, politics and their 4-year battle with terminal ovarian cancer, died Monday (July 14, 2025) at age 49. Gibson's death was announced on social media by their wife, Megan Falley. Gibson and Falley are the main subjects of the documentary 'Come See Me in the Good Light,' winner of the Festival Favorite Award this year at the Sundance Film Festival and scheduled to air this fall on Apple TV+. 'Andrea Gibson died in their home (in Boulder, Colorado) surrounded by their wife, Meg, four ex-girlfriends, their mother and father, dozens of friends, and their three beloved dogs,' Monday's announcement reads in part. The film — exploring the couple's enduring love as Gibson battles cancer — is directed by Ryan White and includes an original song written by Gibson, Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile. During a screening at Sundance in January that left much of the audience in tears, Gibson said they didn't expect to live long enough to see the documentary. Tributes poured in Monday from friends, fans and fellow poets who said Gibson's words had changed their lives — and, in some cases, saved them. Many LGBTQ+ fans said Gibson's poetry helped them learn to love themselves. People with cancer and other terminal illnesses said Gibson made them less afraid of death by reminding them that we never really leave the ones we love. In a poem Gibson wrote shortly before they died, titled 'Love Letter from the Afterlife,' they wrote: 'Dying is the opposite of leaving. When I left my body, I did not go away. That portal of light was not a portal to elsewhere, but a portal to here. I am more here than I ever was before.' Linda Williams Stay was 'awestruck' when her son, Aiden, took her to hear Gibson perform at a bar in San Francisco a decade ago. Their poetry was electrifying, lighting up the room with laughter, tears and love. Gibson's poetry became a shared interest for the mother and son, and eventually helped Stay better understand her son when he came out as transgender. 'My son this morning, when he called, we just sobbed together," Stay said. "He says, 'Mom, Andrea saved my life.'" 'I know,' she responded. Gibson's poetry later helped Stay cope with a cancer diagnosis of her own, which brought her son back home to St. George, Utah, to help take care of her. They were delighted when Gibson accepted their invitation to perform at an event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in southern Utah. 'It was truly life-changing for our community down there, and even for our allies," Stay said. 'I hope that they got a glimpse of the magnitude of their impact for queer kids in small communities that they gave so much hope to.' Early years Gibson was born in Maine and moved to Colorado in the late 1990s, where they had served the past two years as the state's poet laureate. Their books included 'You Better Be Lightning,' 'Take Me With You' and 'Lord of the Butterflies.' Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Monday that Gibson was 'truly one of a kind' and had 'a unique ability to connect with the vast and diverse poetry lovers of Colorado.' In a 2017 essay published in Out magazine, Gibson remembered coming out at age 20 while studying creative writing at Saint Joseph's College of Maine, a Catholic school. Identifying as genderqueer, Gibson wrote that they didn't feel like a boy or a girl and cited a line of their poetry: 'I am happiest on the road/ When I'm not here or there — but in-between.' Comedian Tig Notaro, an executive producer on the documentary and Gibson's friend of 25 years, shared on Instagram how the two came up together as performers in Colorado. Hearing Gibson perform for the first time was like witnessing the 'pure essence of an old-school genuine rock star,' and their words have guided Notaro through life ever since, she said. 'The final past few days of Andrea's life were so painful to witness, but simultaneously one of the most beautiful experiences of all of our lives,' Notaro said. 'Surrounded by real human connection unfolding in the most unlikely ways during one of the most devastating losses has given me a gift that I will never be able to put into meaningful words." Gibson's illness inspired many poems about mortality, depression, life and what happens next. In the 2021 poem 'How the Worst Day of My Life Became My Best,' Gibson declared 'When I realized the storm/was inevitable, I made it/my medicine.' Two years later, they wondered: 'Will the afterlife be harder if I remember/the people I love, or forget them?" "Either way, please let me remember.'
Miami Herald
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Andrea Gibson, poet and the subject of an award-winning documentary, dies at 49
LOS ANGELES - Andrea Gibson, a poet, activist and subject of the documentary film "Come See Me in the Good Light," died on Monday following a four-year fight with ovarian cancer. They were 49. According to an announcement made on Instagram, Gibson died on Monday at their Longmont, Colorado, home at 4:16 a.m., "surrounded by their wife, Meg, four ex-girlfriends, their mother and father, dozens of friends, and their three beloved dogs." The post also included a quote from Gibson: "Whenever I leave this world, whether it's sixty years from now, I wouldn't want anyone to say I lost some battle. I'll be a winner that day." They were the author of seven poetry books and were well-recognized for their role in the documentary film "Come See Me in the Good Light," which won the Festival Favorite Award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The film follows both Gibson and their partner as they come to terms with their terminal cancer diagnosis. "Throughout the Festival, we saw audiences moved by Andrea Gibson's and Megan Falley's journeys in 'Come See Me in the Good Light,'" Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming Kim Yutani said to the fest's website. "Festival goers embraced the humor and heartbreak of this intimate documentary directed by Ryan White, as it speaks to art and love and reminds us what it means to be alive as we face mortality." Tig Notaro, a producer on the film, on Monday reminisced about the impact that Gibson had on poetry in the wake of their death. "As far as poetry went, I really only knew the roses are red type stuff. Then, Andrea Gibson walked on stage," Notaro wrote on Instagram. "Andrea was truly a rock star poet. So many of Andrea's words have quietly guided me through life's twists and turns- I will forever be so grateful." Gibson, born on Aug. 13, 1975, in Calais, Maine, was a two-time winner of the Independent Publisher's award in 2019 and 2021. They were named the ninth Poet Laureate of Colorado in September 2023, and they served until their death. The two-year title honors outstanding Colorado poets and promotes the art form. "Andrea's voice holds a fierce conviction in inspiring others to pursue art and take action toward solving social issues and they personify our Colorado for All spirit," Colorado Governor Jared Polis wrote in a press release upon Gibson's achievement in 2023. "I know Andrea will be a strong advocate for the arts and art education as a way to bring us together, has a strong desire for unity and to bring people together through poetry." On Monday, Polis remembered Gibson as "one of a kind" and an artist who "will be deeply missed." In 2008, Gibson won the first-ever Women of the World Poetry Slam. According to their Academy of American Poets profile, they received its Laureate Fellowship in 2024. "Meg and Heather, the authors of this post, have absolutely no idea how to encapsulate the magnitude and magnificence of a life like Andrea Gibson's," Monday's announcement continued. "So they intend to keep writing, to keep telling Andrea's story, to keep Andrea alive in every way they can. "Andrea would want you to know that they got their wish. In the end, their heart was covered in stretch marks." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Los Angeles Times
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Andrea Gibson, poet and the subject of an award-winning documentary, dies at 49
Andrea Gibson, a poet, activist and subject of the documentary film 'Come See Me in the Good Light,' died on Monday following a four-year fight with ovarian cancer. They were 49. According to an announcement made on Instagram, Gibson died on Monday at their Longmont, Colo. home at 4:16 a.m., 'surrounded by their wife, Meg, four ex-girlfriends, their mother and father, dozens of friends, and their three beloved dogs.' The post also included a quote from Gibson: 'Whenever I leave this world, whether it's sixty years from now, I wouldn't want anyone to say I lost some battle. I'll be a winner that day.' They were the author of seven poetry books and were well-recognized for their role in the documentary film 'Come See Me in the Good Light,' which won the Festival Favorite Award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The film follows both Gibson and their partner as they come to terms with their terminal cancer diagnosis. 'Throughout the Festival, we saw audiences moved by Andrea Gibson's and Megan Falley's journeys in 'Come See Me in the Good Light,'' Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming Kim Yutani said to the fest's website. 'Festival goers embraced the humor and heartbreak of this intimate documentary directed by Ryan White, as it speaks to art and love and reminds us what it means to be alive as we face mortality.' Tig Notaro, a producer on the film, on Monday reminisced about the impact that Gibson had on poetry in the wake of their death. 'As far as poetry went, I really only knew the roses are red type stuff. Then, Andrea Gibson walked on stage,' Notaro wrote on Instagram. 'Andrea was truly a rock star poet. So many of Andrea's words have quietly guided me through life's twists and turns- I will forever be so grateful.' Gibson, born on Aug. 13, 1975, in Calais, Maine, was a two-time winner of the Independent Publisher's award in 2019 and 2021. They were named the ninth Poet Laureate of Colorado in September 2023, and they served until their death. The two-year title honors outstanding Colorado poets and promotes the art form. 'Andrea's voice holds a fierce conviction in inspiring others to pursue art and take action toward solving social issues and they personify our Colorado for All spirit,' Colorado Governor Jared Polis wrote in a press release upon Gibson's achievement in 2023. 'I know Andrea will be a strong advocate for the arts and art education as a way to bring us together, has a strong desire for unity and to bring people together through poetry.' On Monday, Polis remembered Gibson as 'one of a kind' and an artist who 'will be deeply missed.' In 2008, Gibsonwon the first-ever Women of the World Poetry Slam. According to their Academy of American Poets profile, they received its Laureate Fellowship in 2024. 'Meg and Heather, the authors of this post, have absolutely no idea how to encapsulate the magnitude and magnificence of a life like Andrea Gibson's,' Monday's announcement continued. 'So they intend to keep writing, to keep telling Andrea's story, to keep Andrea alive in every way they can. 'Andrea would want you to know that they got their wish. In the end, their heart was covered in stretch marks.'
New York Post
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Poet Andrea Gibson, candid explorer of life, death and identity, dead at 49
Andrea Gibson, a celebrated poet and performance artist who, through their verse, explored gender identity, politics, and their 4-year battle with terminal ovarian cancer, died Monday at age 49. Gibson's death was announced on social media by their wife, Megan Falley. Gibson and Falley are the main subjects of the documentary 'Come See Me in the Good Light,' winner of the Festival Favorite Award this year at the Sundance Film Festival and scheduled to air this fall on Apple TV+. 'Andrea Gibson died in their home (in Boulder, Colorado) surrounded by their wife, Meg, four ex-girlfriends, their mother and father, dozens of friends, and their three beloved dogs,' Monday's announcement reads in part. Advertisement 4 Andrea Gibson, a celebrated poet and performance artist who explored gender identity, politics, and their 4-year battle with terminal ovarian cancer, died at age 49. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP The film — exploring the couple's enduring love as Gibson battles cancer — is directed by Ryan White and includes an original song written by Gibson, Sara Bareilles, and Brandi Carlile. During a screening at Sundance in January that left much of the audience in tears, Gibson said they didn't expect to live long enough to see the documentary. Tributes poured in Monday from friends, fans, and fellow poets who said Gibson's words had changed their lives — and, in some cases, saved them. Many LGBTQ+ fans said Gibson's poetry helped them learn to love themselves. People with cancer and other terminal illnesses said Gibson made them less afraid of death by reminding them that we never really leave the ones we love. Advertisement In a poem Gibson wrote shortly before they died, titled 'Love Letter from the Afterlife,' they wrote: 'Dying is the opposite of leaving. When I left my body, I did not go away. That portal of light was not a portal to elsewhere, but a portal to here. I am more here than I ever was before.' 4 Gibson's death was announced on social media by their wife, Megan Falley (right). Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Linda Williams Stay was 'awestruck' when her son, Aiden, took her to hear Gibson perform at a bar in San Francisco a decade ago. Their poetry was electrifying, lighting up the room with laughter, tears, and love. Gibson's poetry became a shared interest for the mother and son, and eventually helped Stay better understand her son when he came out as transgender. Advertisement 'My son, this morning, when he called, we just sobbed together,' Stay said. 'He says, 'Mom, Andrea saved my life.'' 'I know,' she responded. Gibson's poetry later helped Stay cope with a cancer diagnosis of her own, which brought her son back home to St. George, Utah, to help take care of her. They were delighted when Gibson accepted their invitation to perform at an event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in southern Utah. 'It was truly life-changing for our community down there, and even for our allies,' Stay said. 'I hope that they got a glimpse of the magnitude of their impact for queer kids in small communities that they gave so much hope to.' Advertisement Gibson was born in Maine and moved to Colorado in the late 1990s, where they had served the past two years as the state's poet laureate. Their books included 'You Better Be Lightning,' 'Take Me With You,' and 'Lord of the Butterflies.' Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Monday that Gibson was 'truly one of a kind' and had 'a unique ability to connect with the vast and diverse poetry lovers of Colorado.' 4 Gibson's books included 'You Better Be Lightning,' 'Take Me With You,' and 'Lord of the Butterflies.' AP In a 2017 essay published in Out magazine, Gibson remembered coming out at age 20 while studying creative writing at Saint Joseph's College of Maine, a Catholic school. Identifying as genderqueer, Gibson wrote that they didn't feel like a boy or a girl and cited a line of their poetry: 'I am happiest on the road/ When I'm not here or there — but in-between.' Comedian Tig Notaro, an executive producer on the documentary and Gibson's friend of 25 years, shared on Instagram how the two came up together as performers in Colorado. Hearing Gibson perform for the first time was like witnessing the 'pure essence of an old-school genuine rock star,' and their words have guided Notaro through life ever since, she said. 4 Gibson and Falley are the main subjects of the documentary 'Come See Me in the Good Light,' winner of the Festival Favorite Award this year at the Sundance Film Festival and scheduled to air this fall on Apple TV+. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Advertisement 'The final past few days of Andrea's life were so painful to witness, but simultaneously one of the most beautiful experiences of all of our lives,' Notaro said. 'Surrounded by real human connection unfolding in the most unlikely ways during one of the most devastating losses has given me a gift that I will never be able to put into meaningful words.' Gibson's illness inspired many poems about mortality, depression, life and what happens next. In the 2021 poem 'How the Worst Day of My Life Became My Best,' Gibson declared 'When I realized the storm/was inevitable, I made it/my medicine.' Two years later, they wondered: 'Will the afterlife be harder if I remember/the people I love, or forget them?' 'Either way, please let me remember.'
NBC News
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Poet Andrea Gibson, candid explorer of life, death and identity, dies at 49
Andrea Gibson, a celebrated poet and performance artist who through their verse explored gender identity, politics and their 4-year battle with terminal ovarian cancer, died Monday at age 49. Gibson's death was announced on social media by their wife, Megan Falley. Gibson and Falley are the main subjects of the documentary "Come See Me in the Good Light," winner of the Festival Favorite Award this year at the Sundance Film Festival and scheduled to air this fall on Apple TV+. "Andrea Gibson died in their home (in Boulder, Colorado) surrounded by their wife, Meg, four ex-girlfriends, their mother and father, dozens of friends, and their three beloved dogs," Monday's announcement reads in part. The film — exploring the couple's enduring love as Gibson battles cancer — is directed by Ryan White and includes an original song written by Gibson, Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile. During a screening at Sundance in January that left much of the audience in tears, Gibson said they didn't expect to live long enough to see the documentary. Tributes poured in Monday from friends, fans and fellow poets who said Gibson's words had changed their lives — and, in some cases, saved them. Many LGBTQ fans said Gibson's poetry helped them learn to love themselves. People with cancer and other terminal illnesses said Gibson made them less afraid of death by reminding them that we never really leave the ones we love. In a poem Gibson wrote shortly before they died, titled "Love Letter from the Afterlife," they wrote: "Dying is the opposite of leaving. When I left my body, I did not go away. That portal of light was not a portal to elsewhere, but a portal to here. I am more here than I ever was before." Linda Williams Stay was "awestruck" when her son, Aiden, took her to hear Gibson perform at a bar in San Francisco a decade ago. Their poetry was electrifying, lighting up the room with laughter, tears and love. Gibson's poetry became a shared interest for the mother and son, and eventually helped Stay better understand her son when he came out as transgender. "My son this morning, when he called, we just sobbed together," Stay said. "He says, 'Mom, Andrea saved my life.'" "I know," she responded. Gibson's poetry later helped Stay cope with a cancer diagnosis of her own, which brought her son back home to St. George, Utah, to help take care of her. They were delighted when Gibson accepted their invitation to perform at an event celebrating the LGBTQ community in southern Utah. "It was truly life-changing for our community down there, and even for our allies," Stay said. "I hope that they got a glimpse of the magnitude of their impact for queer kids in small communities that they gave so much hope to." Gibson was born in Maine and moved to Colorado in the late 1990s, where they had served the past two years as the state's poet laureate. Their books included "You Better Be Lightning," "Take Me With You" and "Lord of the Butterflies." Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Monday that Gibson was "truly one of a kind" and had "a unique ability to connect with the vast and diverse poetry lovers of Colorado." In a 2017 essay published in Out magazine, Gibson remembered coming out at age 20 while studying creative writing at Saint Joseph's College of Maine, a Catholic school. Identifying as genderqueer, Gibson wrote that they didn't feel like a boy or a girl and cited a line of their poetry: "I am happiest on the road/ When I'm not here or there — but in-between." Comedian Tig Notaro, an executive producer on the documentary and Gibson's friend of 25 years, shared on Instagram how the two came up together as performers in Colorado. Hearing Gibson perform for the first time was like witnessing the "pure essence of an old-school genuine rock star," and their words have guided Notaro through life ever since, she said. "The final past few days of Andrea's life were so painful to witness, but simultaneously one of the most beautiful experiences of all of our lives," Notaro said. "Surrounded by real human connection unfolding in the most unlikely ways during one of the most devastating losses has given me a gift that I will never be able to put into meaningful words." Gibson's illness inspired many poems about mortality, depression, life and what happens next. In the 2021 poem "How the Worst Day of My Life Became My Best," Gibson declared "When I realized the storm/was inevitable, I made it/my medicine." Two years later, they wondered: "Will the afterlife be harder if I remember/the people I love, or forget them?"
