General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Icon Genie Francis to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced on Thursday, September 3 than none other than Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) will receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Honor at the upcoming 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, taking place October 30 in Hollywood, California.
In addition, next year in February, Genie will celebrate her 50th anniversary milestone of her debut on General Hospital where she first appeared on-screen as a teenaged Laura Vining back in 1977. She secured her place in pop culture history when an estimated 30 million viewers tuned in to watch the iconic 1981 wedding of Laura and Luke Spencer (the late Anthony Geary) Fast-forward to 2026, and Laura serves as the mayor of Port Charles.
Throughout her daytime career, Francis has also appeared on ABC’s All My Children as Ceara Connor, Days of Our Lives as Diana Colville, and CBS’s The Young and the Restless as Genevieve Atkinson. She won her only Daytime Emmy back in 2007 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series for her role as Laura on General Hospital.

Photo: JPI
GENIE FRANCIS TO MARK 50 YEARS AS GENERAL HOSPITAL’S LAURA
In a statement on her Lifetime Achievement honor, Genie Francis expressed, “I want to offer my deepest gratitude to the leadership of NATAS for honoring me with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This February marks 50 years since I first portrayed Laura on General Hospital. Stepping onto that set at just 14, I could never have imagined the extraordinary journey that lay ahead. I am deeply grateful to have been welcomed onto your television screens and into your homes for five decades; for the love, support, and loyalty I’ve been given; and for the privilege of being a small part of your lives.”
She continued, “Thank you to NATAS, my colleagues, the daytime community and, most of all, the viewers. My career in daytime television has truly been the adventure of a lifetime, and I am deeply honored by this recognition.”
Adam Sharp, President and CEO, NATAS said on the selection of the iconic actress, “We are thrilled to celebrate Genie Francis’s remarkable career. From Port Charles and beyond, she has left an indelible mark on the landscape of daytime television, and she continues to tackle bold topics as a courageous storyteller to this day.”

Photo: ABC
A CAREER THAT SPANNED DAYTIME, PRIMETIME AND THE STAGE
In addition to daytime, Francis began her career at the age of 13 guest starring on ABC’s Family. Thereafter, she has enjoyed a diverse acting career, with notable roles in the miniseries North and South and Bare Essence, as well as The Note. Following were numerous television guest starring roles ranging from: Third Rock From the Sun, Murder She Wrote, the final episode of Perry Mason, Roswell, and more, plus numerous stage productions.
Francis and her husband, Jonathan Frakes, (best known for his role as Commander William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation) have been married for nearly 40 years, and have two adult children, Jameson and Eliza.
MORE ON THE 53RD ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS
The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of genres, including daytime dramas, talk series, entertainment news, culinary, adventure, instructional and legal/courtroom programming. This year’s Gold & Silver Circle Inductees and ceremony presenters will be announced at a later date. Tickets will go on sale September 9, 2026.
The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be a single ceremony in 2026, produced by NATAS Productions. Adam Sharp and Lara Gates are executive producers, with Leon Knoles returning to direct for a fifth straight year. Rachel Schwartz serves as Head of Daytime, and the firm of Lutz & Carr, LLP, provides accounting services for the competition.
Fans can watch the ceremony when it streams live on October 30 via the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) official website at watch.theemmys.tv or via the official The Emmys app.
What do you think of Genie Francis being named the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient at this year’s Daytime Emmys? Share your thoughts and reactions via the comment section below.
How neat! Love Genie
In an ideal world, this alone would get ABC to televise. Please let it at least be on YouTube and not just the academy website.
Congratulations to Genie. From the David Hamilton murder, to a sweet romance with Scotty, dancing at Wyndhams and the Ice Princess and even Miss Star Eyes, Genie is the main reason GH skyrocketed in popularity. There would be no Luke without Genie’s success as Laura.
When the show was at a creative lull in the 90s, Genie’s return helped usher in the second golden age of GH. If not for the carelessness of a certain EP, Laura might have remained on screen further into the aughts.
She made an impact on other soaps (mostly AMC) and was one of the best parts of North and South – an outstanding miniseries.
May Genie and Laura continue to bless our screens for years to come.
This was so lovely OG Steve. Spot on.
Congratulations. Genie Francis !
Great point, it should be televised anyway!!!
Congratulations to Genie Francis. Was hoping for Deidre Hall. Maybe in 2027!
I agree it about time she a great actress
Wonderful well deserved!!!!!
She so deserves this! This has been along time coming. Well over due!
I agree .
This is a well deserved honor. Miss Francis was part of the GH resurgence and juggernaut Luke and Laura coupling and storyline that became a pop culture sensation and helped daytime drama evolve. Sadly, the awards are not broadcast on television.
OUTSTANDING!! Congratulations Genie, I have always been a Daytime Opera fan since 1977 and have always admired your work in any genre as an Acress.
she deserves the award i am a big fan if genie and her role on General HospitalSo many story lines so well each time and hasnt stopped congrats Genie Francis
Congratulations Jenie Francis, you deserve this award. I watch GH every day. Can’t wait to see who killed Jack Brennan. I pray it Willow. I did like Jack Brennan, the role he played, the relationship with Nina. I would’ve liked to of had that story line developed. So many fantastic actors on the GH show.
Wèll deserved, Genie. Congratulations!! ♂️♀️
Congratulations Genie. You deserve this honor. One of the hardest working ladies in daytime but one who never takes the accolades. She is a quiet legend.
Its about time she received this award! She and Tony Geary changed the face of daytime tv forever. I wonder if Tony was still alive if he would have received one too. Imagine how great it would have been to see both of them on stage receiving the Lifetime Achievement Awards!
Totally deserves it! She is an amazing actress who should have won a Daytime Emmy for Best Actress by now.
Congratulations, Genie Francis !!
Well deserved .
Good for her she was wonderful on General Hospital. I watched it everyday and her wedding was incredibly beautiful!
Congrats to Genie Francis. She deserves it. I have watched GH since 1967 and watched her grow. She is such a great actress. Also watched North and South, Bare Essence, etc. Please put the awards on TV or U-Tube. You are doing a disservice to the fans
She is so talented so perfect to play Laura. Without her GH would not have been the same. She has the ability to perform with such professionalism. She deserves the award.
Will we be able to watch the awards show on regular local channels? That’s what most people prefer not everyone has access to website. For years I watched the show on TV local stations now the academy is making it hard for little people like me with fixed income
If you read the article, it tells you. The last line of the article:
Fans can watch the ceremony when it streams live on October 30 via the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) official website at watch.theemmys.tv or via the official The Emmys app.
Wonderful and well deserved!!
General Hospital
Who Should Justin Bruening Play on ‘General Hospital’? Wife Alexa Havins is Down for His Return to Soaps

Will General Hospital be able to reunite on-screen real live loves and former All My Children co-stars Justin Bruening and Alexa Havins, by casting Justin in a role on the ABC daytime drama series?
The subject came back up when Alexa, who attended the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday, October 30 to root GH on to its sixth Outstanding Drama Series win in a row, spoke with Swoon.
Havins shared, “There’s always talk about him: ‘Is he going to come (on the show)?’ That would be amazing since we started (on a soap). Why not? He would definitely come in and play,”

Photo: ABC
IS IT TIME TO REUNITE JUSTIN AND ALEXA ON-SCREEN IN PORT CHARLES?
However, when taking to the red carpet, it was obvious Justin was not with his wife, and she clarified while she attended daytime’s biggest night, the former Jamie Martin of Pine Valley dropped her off at the Emmys, and went home to take of their four children. Alexa smiled, “Right now, he’s watching all my children. That’s my pun!”
Bruening and Havins married back in 2005. Recently, and as reported, Justin came to visit his wife at the set of General Hospital and posted some photos from it via his Instagram. One caption read directed towards Alexa, “You’re cute…..What are you doing the rest of your life? I’m thinking……… 4 kids? House in the burbs? 1,001 pets?”
General Hospital is also the current soap home of Bruening’s former TV father, Michael E. Knight (Martin Grey) who played Tad Martin on the beloved All My Children. So, if Justin nabs a role, he could be reunited with both his wife and Pine Valley father!
So, put your casting director hats on! If Justin Bruening were to come to General Hospital? Should be play an original role created for him? Should he be a recast for a character currently off the canvas? And, should he brought on as a love interest for Lulu Spencer or someone else? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.
General Hospital
2026 Daytime Emmys Red Carpet: Dashing Duos – Who’s Got the Look? (Photos)

At the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards, real-life couples, family members, fictional soap couples, or a pose with your co-star, dazzled the paparazzi who flashed their cameras to capture the moment.
Let’s take a look at the duos everyone was buzzing about before, during, and after the 2026 Daytime Emmys, which celebrated the achievements in daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, culinary and legal/courtroom programs and more.
Check out some of the beautiful duos from General Hospital, Days of our Lives, Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless.
Starting with as pictured above: GH’s Steve Burton (Jason) and wife Michelle Lundstrom, Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Genie Francis (Laura, GH) with her longtime love and husband, Jonathan Frakes, Supporting Actress nominee, Amanda Setton (Brook Lynn, General Hospital) and her husband. producer and actor. Ryan Lynn and this year’s winner for Outstanding Lead Actor Scott Clifton (Liam, B&B) with his lady love Elle Anderson.
Now below, take a look at some other snaps of dashing duos 2026!

Photo: NATAS
The Young and the Restless icon Eric Braeden (Victor Newman), a Lead Actor nominee, took to the carpet with his granddaughter Tatiana Gudegast.

Photo: Hutchins Photo
The young stars of The Bold and the Beautiful took to the red carpet – Sydney Bullock (Dylan) and Brayan Nicoletti (R. J. Forrester). Will Dylan and R.J. conspire to keep Will (Crew Morrow) and Electra (Laneya Grace) apart forever … or is that already a fait accompli?

Photo: HutchinsPhoto
The Bold and the Beautiful’s on-screen marrieds, Carter and Daphne, played by two-time Daytime Emmy nominee, Lawrence Saint-Victor and Murielle Hilaire, glitzed and glammed it up for the Emmy red carpet.

Photo: JPI
Beyond the Gates’ creator, head writer and executive producer, Michele Val Jean, alongside dear friend and cast member, Jon Lindstrom (Joey Armstong) struck a pose!

Photo: NATAS
The Bold and the Beautiful’s Don Diamont (Bill Spencer) with wife and longtime love, Cindy Ambuehl on-hand to root his TV son, Scott Clifton on to his way to his fourth Emmy gold.

Photo: JPI
Passions favorite Juliet Mills (ex-Tabitha Lennox) made an appearance during the Daytime Emmy ceremonies, and hit the red carpet with her husband, former The Colbys star Maxwell Caufield (ex-Miles Colby).

Photo: NATAS
General Hospital co-stars, Sawandi Wilson (Isaiah) and Tanisha Harper (Jordan) lit up the red carpet in red velvet and deep lime green!

Photo: NATAS
Days of our Lives baddies unite! AlexAnn Hopkins (Joy Wesley) and Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera) had a moment to be all smiles on the Emmys red carpet; before going their separate ways and wreaking havoc on the lives of the residents of Salem.

Photo: NATAS
Beyond the Gates Supporting Actor nominee, Timon Kyle Durrett (Bill Hamilton) posed on the carpet alongside Dr. LaKeesha Legree.

Photo: JPI
Daytime Emmy winner for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Roger Howarth (Matt Clark), hanging out with his wife, Cari Stahler after winning the gold for his work on The Young and the Restless.

Photo: NATAS
Finally, Steve Burton had a beautiful family affair on the red carpet, when he attended the Emmys with his wife, Michelle Lundstrom, who brought her two daughters, and Steve brought his daughter, Makenna.
So, which duo do you think topped your favorite looks for a real-life couple or co-star snap on the red carpet at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know via the comment section below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Brennan’s Body is Found, Heather Makes Her Reentry into Port Charles

This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, after Heather Webber (Alley Mills) stunned Trina (Tabyana Ali) at the Cat’s Eye Lounge, she wastes no time with her newborn wealth and letting everyone in Port Charles know she’s back in town, plus Jude Jacks (Wil Traval) continues to plot to get baby Phoebe away from the Quartermaines, and after Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) went snooping, Brennan’s body is finally found!
Airing November 2-6, the latest GH spoilers video shows, Heather running into Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) at Bobbie’s and then rushing into the arms of Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst), expressing, “It’s so good to see you!” This moment also stuns head nurse Webber who looks completely befuddled.
Then, WSB agent Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) voice is heard saying, “Jude Jacks …he’s a threat!” Next, Hudson (Troy Lennon Appel) attempts to stop Jude from getting any closer to Josslyn while at the Brown Dog Bar. However, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), who spent the night and hooked up with the mysterious Jude, sees the whole thing go down.

Courtesy/ABC
GIVE ME A HAND
Next, Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) is seen admitting, “Phoebe is in danger,” as quick cuts emerge between Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Jude in a stare down. Will these two become the next mortal enemies trying to exist together in Port Charles?
Finally, detective Joe Fitzpatrick (Jonathan Bennett) is on the scene and is searching through the nature preserve for the body of Jack Brennan. Ava’s (Maura West) voice is heard telling someone, “The police found Brennan’s body.”
How will she and Drew (Cameron Mathison) play their game of cover-up, since they were the person’s responsible for burying him there in the first place, while viewers still don’t know who the real culprit is, or how exactly Jack wound up dead floating in the Metro Court pool.
SPOILERS
Now below, take a look at the official GH spoilers for the action this week.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Jason and Danny mark the anniversary of Sam’s death. Trina is stunned by Heather Webber’s announcement. Britt seeks out Jude. Brook Lynn and Chase strategize. Josslyn is shaken.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Carly is in the hot seat. Ava dodges Alexis’ questions. Portia is livid. Sonny learns about Jude. Anna encounters Heather Webber.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4
Jordan faces a setback. Willow ticks off Tristan. Monet has encouraging news for Curtis. Brook Lynn opens up to Sonny. Lucas makes a discovery.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5
Tracy places her trust in Jason. Sonny tries to tempt Jude. Emma and Gio are suspicious. Alexis pushes back. Serena makes a risky offer.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
Drew’s celebration may be premature. Jason gets an earful from Alexis. Dante makes a pitch to Carly. Josslyn’s discovery leaves her fuming. Lulu asks Elizabeth for a favor.
Check out the latest General Hospital promo entitled, “Nothing Stays Buried” below.
Now weigh-in, who do you think is the responsible party for the death of Jack Brennan and who will be the next person taken by the WSB to Steinmauer or the PCPD? What is Heather’s plan now that she came back to Port Charles? Is she just a red-herring as Trina’s stalker, or is she helping someone stalk the gal? Will Sonny and Jude go to war? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.
-

Beyond the Gates5 days ago53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Winners: ‘General Hospital’ Takes Drama Series, Tamara Tunie and Scott Clifton Top Acting Honors
-

Breaking News6 days agoWho Should Win Outstanding Lead Actor at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards? (Poll)
-

General Hospital1 week agoCould Justin Bruening Join ‘General Hospital’? Set Visit with Wife Alexa Havins Stirs Fan Hopes
-

News1 week agoY&R’s Jason Thompson and Mark Grossman Deliver the ‘Power Performances of the Week’
-

Beyond the Gates5 days agoWho Should Win Outstanding Daytime Drama at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards? (Poll)
-
Beyond the Gates1 week agoRATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Bests ‘General Hospital’ in Key Demos
-

General Hospital1 week agoGENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Brook Lynn Gets a Shock from Jude, Nina Gets a Reprieve, and Ava’s in the Hot Seat
-

Breaking News6 days ago‘General Hospital’s’ Nancy Lee Grahn Hosts Daytime Emmy Lead Actress Dinner Keeping the Tradition With a Twist!









