Katherine Heigl just made a rare public appearance in Mar-a-Lago. Here’s why
Katherine Heigl was back in South Florida over the weekend, mixing business with pleasure — and philanthropy.
The “Grey’s Anatomy” alum made a rare red-carpet appearance Sunday at the Wine, Women & Shoes charity event at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. The annual fundraiser benefited Big Dog Ranch Rescue, based in nearby Loxahatchee, which works to place dogs into forever homes.
The sold-out event, which actually rolled out a pink carpet, raised a record-breaking $5.5 million. President Donald J. Trump wasn’t home at the time, playing golf at his course down in Doral and meeting with world leaders.
Heigl’s plus-one was mom Nancy, who’s also her partner running the Jason Heigl Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to animal welfare. The organization is named after Heigl’s late brother who died at age 15 in 1986 after being thrown from a pickup truck while driving with friends in New Canaan, Connecticut, where the family lived at the time.
“Our biggest goal right now really is to diminish the number of unwanted litters coming into this country, which is what is overcrowding our shelters,” Heigl, 47, told The Palm Beach Post.
Sporting a tropically colored dress and yellow Chanel purse, Heigl looked every bit the Hollywood star. But fans already know the actress has kept a relatively low profile the last few years, stepping away from the spotlight on purpose. Her last project was Netflix’s friendship drama “Firefly Lane,” which ended in 2023; and her last major public appearance was the Primetime Emmy Awards in January 2024.
On Instagram, you see snapshots of a chill, domestic life in rural Utah, with husband, “Amazing” singer Josh Kelley, their three kids and a bunch of furry friends. Heigl stays busy on the homestead, baking, reading and painting, and also has a dog-food brand, Badlands Ranch.
Last month, though, shortly after “Grey’s Anatomy” costar Eric Dane died from complications from ALS, Heigl posted a throwback pic of them together from their halcyon TV days.
Heigl sent condolences to Dane’s wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters, and ended the message with Robert Frost’s poignant poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” often used in eulogies:
“I will never forget Eric’s gold and I will forever be grateful I got to bask in it for even a brief moment in time. Thank you for sharing him with us. God Speed my old friend … here’s to your next great adventure.”
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 1:19 PM.
