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
Alley Mills Returns to ‘General Hospital’ as Heather Webber

Heather Webber, one of the all-time villains in General Hospital history is on her way back to the canvas, when two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Alley Mills reprises the role beginning on the Thursday, November 5 episode.
TV Insider revealed the comeback news today. Mills began playing the role of Heather back in October of 2002. The previous Heathers included: Robin Mattson, Mary O’Brien and the very first Heather, who was none other than Georganne LaPiere (the half-sister of Cher).
As for Mills, she actually took home the Daytime Emmy last year at the 52nd annual Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series. She won in the same category back in 2022.

Photo: ABC
FROM THE WONDERS YEARS TO THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL TO GENERAL HOSPITAL
Alley Mills assumed the role of Heather Webber in October 2022 and had ended her initial run in 2023 and then was back again in 2024. Soap fans also know that Mills had played Pam Douglas on the The Bold and the Beautiful since 2006 and appeared on the series through 2019, and made appearance in story in 2021 and 2022.
On B&B, Alley was a part of the memorable storyline which saw Pam and Stephanie’s (Susan Flannery) mother, Ann Douglas (the late Betty White) pass away. In addition to GH and B&B. primetime fans know Alley as Norma Arnold, the mom of the ABC’s hit late 80s and early 90s series, The Wonder Years.
When GH viewers last saw Heather and her crime spree as The Hook, she had taken the life of Brando Corbin (the late Johnny Wactor) and what was believed at the time to be the life of Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud), although a few years later, Britt showed up alive.
Heather wound up in the slammer at Pentonville, but got released in 2024, when it was revealed that she had a bad hip replacement which resulted in cobalt poisoning which was said to be the root cause of her erratic behavior.
WHAT BRINGS HEATHER WEBBER BACK INTO THE STORY?
Eventually, Heather’s son, Steven Lars (Scott Reeves) returned to Port Charles to retrieve his mother, and to make sure she was taken care for out of town. Now the question becomes, why is Heather back on the GH canvas in 2026?
One theory! Could Heather be revealed as the person stalking Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali)? After all, Heather is the mother to the late Esme Prince (Avery Pohl). Perhaps, she wants retribution for her daughter, and this is her twisted way of doing it? Or, is something else at play here? Stay tuned!
Take a look at our conversation with Alley from the 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards immediately following her second Emmy win below.
Now let us know, excited to know Alley Mills is returning as Heather? What do you think will be her storyline this time around? Weigh-in via the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jordan Sees Sonny and Justine Making Out, Britt and Anna Have a Chat, Valentin is Livid

On the Tuesday, September 22 episode of General Hospital, Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) got an earful from Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) after her proposed stunt to get damning evidence against Drew (Cameron Mathison), Anna (Finola Hughes) and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had a conversation they needed to have, and Jordan (Tanisha Harper) came upon Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Justine (Nazneen Contractor) making out in the parking lot of the Brown Dog Bar.
Let’s take a closer look as the action and story that went down: First, Valentin was horrified to learn what Charlotte was plotting to get Drew to leave Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) alone. Learning that Charlotte thought that her plan to make it look as if Drew was making out with a teenage girl was a great idea, Valentin fired back. “Dammit, why can’t you admit you put your life at risk?”
Valentin firmly told his daughter that she will not have any more contact with Danny. However, Charlotte said she will see Danny at school, Valentin stated, “Not anymore.” Will Valentin put Charlotte in another high school? Send her out of town or leave town with his daughter? Stay tuned.
APOLOGY ACCEPTED
After leaving the Brown Dog Bar, Britt headed over to Aurora Wellness and had a tense confrontation with Anna, the woman who planned on killing her. Anna apologized to Britt noting she would always regret what she did and would like to smooth things over with Britt if she would let her.
Taking in Anna’s apology, Britt also apologized for not coming to Anna’s rescue sooner while Anna was locked up in Wyndemere. Anna says she understands Britt was made to believe she was dying of Huntington’s disease. However, Anna said that Cesar Faison had caused just as much long-term damage to his daughter as he has with her. That moment, leaves Britt startled.
JORDAN OFFERS AN ENDORSEMENT THEN GETS AN EYEFUL
Back at the Brown Dog, Jordan offered Justine her endorsement for the Port Charles district attorney position. Jordan even went one step further and said as much as she does not like going out in public (due to her facial scars) she would help organize a kick-off rally.
Jordan also let Justine know she will have tough competition during her DA election campaign, and for Justine not to be surprised if one of her competitors goes looking for any dirt or skeletons they can dig up on her. While Justine glances over at Sonny, who is at another table, she tells Jordan she is confident no one will find anything to use against her.
HOWEVER at the end of the episode, Sonny followed Justine into the parking lot after they had separately exited the Brown Dog Bar, where they flirted and reminisced about their first kiss in the same spot. Next thing you know, the two are making out when Jordan happens upon the scenes and is witness to their smooches. We fade to black.
Take a look at the final moments from today’s GH in a scene entitled, “Not Public Knowledge” below.
Then weigh-in, Why do you think it was Jordan who came upon Sonny and Justine’s romance? How will Jordan use the intel to her own advantage, or will she? What do you think Britt will do next? And what did you think of Charlotte’s plan to get some video on Drew to use against him to get him to leave Danny alone? Let us know in the comment section below.
General Hospital
THIS FRIDAY: ‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali to Drop Music Video for Her Single ‘Pray’

General Hospital’s Tabyana Ali (Trina Robinson) is following up the September 1st premiere and drop of her new single Pray, with the release of the music video for it this Friday, September 25.
Ali made the announcement on Tuesday, September 22 via her Instagram account, which featured snippets from the music video with the date 9.25.26.
The timing couldn’t be better since most of the music industry is all about Sunday night’s September 27 MTV VMAs (Video Music Awards).

Photo: ABC
TRINA TIME
Previiously, Trina and Gio (Giovanni Mazza) performed the song “Pray” at a showcase arranged by music executive Simon (Grady Eldridge), with the looming question of who is Trina’s stalker yet to be revealed.
In more recent episodes of GH, Trina was on the warpath after learning that Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) was the actual driver of the car involved in the accident with Jordan (Tanisha Harper) and her father, Curtis (Donnell Turner).
Realizing Brook Lynn kept her mouth shut, in the end, Curtis is serving two years of jail time over accosting Isaiah Gannon (Sawani Wilson) believing he was the other driver! When Brook Lynn knew it was her all along. The situation has caused tension between Trina and her music manager.
WHERE TO LISTEN AND FIND TABYANA ALI’S LATEST SINGLE
Pray is based off a poem written by Ali and was turned into a track.
Currently, you can download or stream the song via You Tube Music, Apple Music, Spotify and more.
So, are you looking forward to seeing Tabyana’s music video for her single Pray this Friday? Let us know via the comment section.
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