No matter the accomplishments, the venue, or the circumstances, a star’s mom is still their mom. Valerie Bertinelli proved that beyond any doubt when her son, Wolfgang Van Halen, was performing at the Oscars, no less, and she took a chance to embarrass him on that illustrious stage.
Wolfgang, affectionately nicknamed “Wolfie” by his mother, is Bertinelli’s son with the late guitar legend Eddie Van Halen. At age 33, Wolfgang is already well into a music career of his own, which he formally kicked off 20 years ago. His most recent solo project is the group Mammoth WVH, but Wolfgang also had the honor of performing at the Oscars celebrating a very Barbie world—and some affectionate teasing from mom.
Valerie Bertinelli admitted to embarrassing her son, Wolfgang, at the Oscars
The 2024 Oscars were held on March 10 at the Dolby Theatre and promised a night full of worthy contenders for the illustrious awards. In honor of Barbie, starring Margot Robbie as the titular doll brought to life, Wolfgang was among the artists recruited to perform “I’m Just Ken,” sung originally in the film by Ryan Gosling as Barbie’s foil.
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Wolfgang would eventually call the opportunity a “magical night,” but it wasn’t without a little lighthearted fun.
Speaking on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Friday, Bertinelli was asked if she ever embarrassed her son, to which she replied, “Are you kidding me?” She went on, “All the time! I feel like when the eye-rolling stops, I’m not doing my job. So my son played the Oscars, and we’re sitting in the audience, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, Wolfie, there’s so-and-so,’ and he’s like, ‘Mom, inside voice please.’ I forget! I get so excited. He’s like, ‘Mom, you’re embarrassing me.’ I keep telling him I’m a cool mom, but I’m so not a cool mom. I’m the opposite of a cool mom.”
That was the least of Wolfgang’s worries that evening
Wolfgang revealed that preparing to attend the Oscars was actually more hectic and stressful for him and his wife, Andraia Allsop, than their October 2023 wedding.
“It actually felt like we were getting ready for our wedding today,” Andraia told PEOPLE. Wolfgang agreed, reiterating, “I think it was more stressful getting ready today.”
The night just as much a chance to celebrate Wolfgang’s work on Barbie as it was for him to jam out at such an esteemed venue. He can be heard in the film’s soundtrack as one of the guitarists who recorded for “I’m Just Ken.” Bertinelli also revealed that Wolfgang also “did a lot of work with [soundtrack producer] Mark [Ronson] for two days.” Knowing how her son contributed to a musical and cinematic phenomenon that’s been honored at multiple award shows, Bertinelli gushed that she is “really proud” and wanted “to support him.”
Ultimately, “I’m Just Ken” was not Kenough to win the Oscar for Best Original Song, but the prize still went to Barbieland for the song “What Was I Made For?” brought to fans by Billie Eilish and FINNEAS.
