At a Glance
- Candy Spelling, 80, graces the February/March 2026 cover of Westlake Malibu Lifestyle Magazine
- Fans online compared her youthful look to Trisha Paytas, Gizelle Bryant and Khloé Kardashian
- She recalls meeting late husband Aaron Spelling: “I’m going to marry you some day”
- Why it matters: The Broadway producer’s reinvention at 80 spotlights life after loss and late-in-life success
Candy Spelling has stepped back into the spotlight at age 80, landing the cover of Westlake Malibu Lifestyle Magazine’s February/March 2026 issue and sharing intimate memories of her 38-year marriage to television legend Aaron Spelling.
The Broadway producer and mother of actress Tori Spelling spoke with the outlet for a cover story published on Jan. 11, triggering a wave of social-media reaction over her seemingly age-defying appearance.
Cover Reaction
Instagram users flooded the magazine’s post with comments noting how different Spelling looks from recent red-carpet photos.
Several followers said the cover evoked:
- Actress Trisha Paytas
- Bravo Housewife Gizelle Bryant
- Khloé Kardashian
Meeting Aaron
Spelling recounts the moment she met her future husband in her early 20s.
“There was something indescribable between us from the moment we met,” she told the magazine. “It was a profound connection. I remember feeling like we could see something in each other that no one else could. We danced… and during one of the dances, Aaron said, ‘I’m going to marry you some day’.”
The couple dated exclusively for the next two years and married in November 1968.
“I was a young girl when I married the hardest-working television writer in Hollywood. Fortunately for me, my new husband’s talents at the typewriter were matched by his kindness and generous spirit,” she said.
Aaron Spelling created TV hits including:
- Beverly Hills, 90210
- Fantasy Island
- The Love Boat
Family Life
The Spelllings welcomed daughter Tori in 1973 and son Randy in 1978. Both children appeared in their father’s shows, with Tori starring in Beverly Hills, 90210.
Candy told the outlet that she overcame “emotional obstacles” with Aaron’s “loving support” while raising their two children and providing a stable home life for her busy husband.
Life After Loss
Aaron died in June 2006 at age 83 in his mansion near Beverly Hills with Candy by his side.
“When Aaron died, I not only lost my life partner, but I was also suddenly missing the force of nature who had defined me and our family,” she said. “For the first time in 38 years, I had to learn to function in the big, scary world on my own.”
Second Act
Spelling thrived after her husband’s death. She starred in and executive produced Selling Spelling Manor in 2012, breaking HGTV rating records.
She then shifted to Broadway, earning multiple Tony nominations and wins. Her producing credits include:
- Promises, Promises
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
- After Midnight
- The Color Purple
“I’m most proud of the two Tony Awards that I’ve won,” she said. “They always make me smile when I walk into my den and right along next to my husband’s Emmys are my two Tonys. We have a little mixture going there – Moulin Rouge! The Musical and The Color Purple.”
Key Takeaways
- Candy Spelling’s magazine cover at 80 generated viral buzz for her youthful look
- She detailed her decades-long love story with TV mogul Aaron Spelling
- After his 2006 death, she rebuilt her life through reality TV and Broadway success
- The producer now counts two Tony Awards alongside her late husband’s Emmys in her home
