Melissa Gilbert, known to many as “halfpint” from Little House on the Prairie, turned 61 on May 8. She kept her birthday celebration light and fun — nothing extra. Instead, she posted a fun Instagram video where she was dancing with her friend Ilena Tovia. Both of them were dressed in matching dresses from Melissa’s brand, Modern Prairie.
The video was not just fun; it showed that she is calm, happy, and full of life. Turning 61 hasn’t held her back; she seems even more at ease with herself. And that is such a beautiful thing to see.
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Melissa started Modern Prairie, a clothing brand, in 2022 to support women over 50. She knows how often older women are made to feel invisible or overlooked, and Modern Prairie is her way of pushing back against that idea. It is a brand that mixes style, purpose, and community for women who still have so much to give.
In her book, Back to the Prairie, Melissa wrote about slowing down, finding joy in small things, and learning to love the season she is in. “This is a woman who has earned her opinions,” she said. That’s the core of her message, to tell women that aging doesn’t make you less. It makes you more sure of who you are.
Melissa Gilbert on just being herself
After many years in Hollywood, Melissa lives in a peaceful cabin in upstate New York with her husband, actor and director Timothy Busfield. They married in 2013, and together they worked on the cabin with their hands. Now, the lovers enjoy a life surrounded by nature, with a garden outside and the comfort of home-cooked meals.
The actress often shares short videos of herself baking from scratch, wearing prairie-style dresses, and just being real. She is not trying to chase trends or look younger; she is simply doing what feels right for her. And that’s the kind of aging story more people should see.