At an Aerosmith concert, eight-year-old Liv Tyler discovered through a chance encounter with her look-alike sister that the rockstar onstage was actually her biological father, not the man who raised her.
At a Glance
- Liv and Mia Tyler discovered they were sisters at an Aerosmith concert when they were eight and nine years old
- Liv had grown up believing Todd Rundgren was her father, while Mia knew Steven Tyler was her dad
- The revelation occurred when a fan at the concert asked if the two girls who looked strikingly similar were sisters
- After the question, Liv’s mother Bebe Buell confirmed that Steven Tyler was her biological father
- Despite the shocking revelation, Liv has since developed close relationships with both her biological father and half-sister
A Backstage Discovery That Changed Everything
In a remarkable twist of fate at an Aerosmith concert, young Liv Tyler’s life changed forever when she discovered rockstar Steven Tyler was her biological father. The revelation came during a concert where Guns N’ Roses opened for Aerosmith, creating the perfect storm for family truths to emerge. Both Liv, then eight years old, and her half-sister Mia, nine, were brought to the same show by their respective mothers, Bebe Buell and Cyrinda Foxe, unaware of the life-altering moment that awaited them backstage.
The sisters, who had never met before but were dressed similarly with matching hairstyles, found themselves playing together in a VIP area. The pivotal moment came when a fan approached the girls, noted their striking resemblance, and innocently asked if they were sisters. This simple question set in motion a revelation that had been kept from Liv her entire young life – that rock legend Steven Tyler, not Todd Rundgren who had raised her, was her biological father.
The Emotional Revelation
When confronted with the fan’s observation, Liv turned to her mother for answers. The emotional weight of the moment was captured in Liv’s recollection: “I looked at my mom, and she just started crying. My mom was bawling, and I was like, ‘is Steven my dad?’ and she just burst. She took me to a bench and we sat at an outdoor amphitheater, and she told me the whole story in the most sincere, beautiful way.”
Adding to the surreal nature of the night, Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose had dedicated a song to Mia during the opening performance. As Mia recalled, “Axl used to dedicate ‘Sweet Child o Mine’ to me like every tour, and he’d like bring me out on stage and be like ‘this is again to you’.” The backstage area became the setting for a life-changing family revelation, with the soundtrack of rock royalty playing in the background.
A Complex Family History Unraveled
The story behind Liv’s parentage is as complicated as it is fascinating. Bebe Buell, Liv’s mother, had been in a relationship with Todd Rundgren when she had a brief affair with Steven Tyler. When Liv was born, Rundgren agreed to sign the birth certificate and raise her as his own, a decision made partly due to Steven Tyler’s struggles with substance abuse at the time. Liv grew up in Maine with her mother and Rundgren, while Mia was raised in New Hampshire by her mother Cyrinda Foxe.
Despite the emotional shock of learning about her true paternity, Liv has maintained deep respect and love for Todd Rundgren. She has acknowledged the significant role he played in her life, expressing gratitude for his decision to be a father figure despite knowing the biological truth. Meanwhile, she has also developed meaningful relationships with her biological father Steven Tyler and her half-siblings, including Mia as well as Chelsea and Taj, Steven’s children with his second wife, Teresa Barrick.
Building New Family Bonds
In the years following the revelation, Liv has forged strong bonds with both sides of her family. The sisters recently discussed their unique story on the iHeart Radio podcast “Sibling Revelry With Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson,” reflecting on how that chance meeting at an Aerosmith concert forever changed their lives. Despite growing up separately and under very different circumstances, Liv and Mia have developed a close sisterly relationship that has endured through the decades.
Their story serves as a testament to the complexities of family relationships and how truth, even when revealed in unexpected ways, can ultimately lead to healing and new connections. For Liv Tyler, discovering her true paternity opened the door to a relationship with her biological father and half-siblings while still honoring the man who chose to raise her as his own – creating an expanded family circle built on honesty and acceptance rather than secrets.
