Sibling Rivalry

I'm watching Wimbledon today and heard that there have only been 2 years during this decade that one of the Williams sisters' names haven't appeared on the championship trophy, the Venus Rosewater Dish. And with the sisters competing against each other for this year's title, this year will be no different. You have to wonder if its in the genes or if its just two outstanding individuals who have pushed themselves to become 2 of the greatest female tennis players in the world, and who happen to be sisters.

I began thinking of other famous families and wondered the same thing. When thinking of famous sibling athletes, such as the Williams sisters or Eli and Payton Manning, or famous sibling musicians, such as Donny and Marie Osmund, Kevin and Michael Bacon (in the words of one writer, the Bacon Brothers are secretly successful with 11 years touring and 5 albums), or the newly famous Jonas Brothers, you have to think good genes play a major role in their success. There are times, however, that its not all about talent, and more about the opportunities having a famous sibling creates (i.e. Ashley Simpson).

This can especially be argued when the fame siblings share is that of movie stardom. A lot of people have the talent to at least reach a low level of stardom but it takes that big break to get them in the spotlight. Sometimes a brother or sister who has already made their mark can be that break, like Elle Fanning (Deja Vu, Babel) sister of Dakota Fanning. Or what about the Smith family? You've got mega star Will Smith (iRobot, I Am Legend, Hancock) and his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith (Matrix Reloaded/Revolutions) and they have Jaden (Persuit of Happyness) and Willow (Kit Kittridge: An American Girl). The list goes on: Hilary and Haley Duff, John and Joan Cusack, Alec Billy St... all the Baldwins, Maggie and Jake Gyllenhal, Hanson.

Of course, not all blood-relations are destined for greatness. In fact for some the only "fame" these black sheep enjoy is the fame of embarrassing their families. Jimmy and Billy Carter, Kylie and Dannii Minogue, Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears... ok, so maybe the latter both get to enjoy the embarrassing spotlight.

Are parents pushing these kids to become famous and that's why it becomes a "family business"? According to Debbie Glasser, a clinical psychologist and editor for NewsForParents.org "parents who are really pushy and controlling really do undermine kids' underlying motivation. The best strategy, is the old tried-and-true: nurturing. The majority of famous siblings will say they were nurtured, not pushed."