Questlove Says Fatherhood Is One of His 'Biggest Fears'

The Roots member and DJ says he's repeatedly delayed having children.

Los Angeles, CA - November 08: Questlove attends the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Questlove explained why he's on the fence about becoming a father on a recent episode of his podcast.

On the Dec. 28th episode of The Questlove Show, The Roots drummer, 54, chatted with rapper Open Mike Eagle and shared around the fifty-minute mark below that he's apprehensive about raising a child.

"One of the biggest fears I have in life is becoming a father. And I'm not a father. And I have kicked that can down the road," the Academy Award winner said. "Alright, when I'm 33, I'm ready. All right, I'm 36. And all it takes is just like a day with one of Roots 'kids for me to be like, Nope, I'm good. I'm good. I'll wait till I'm 41. All right, 45. I'll wait 'til then. And it's time to shit or get off the pot."

Elsewhere, the musician asked Open Mike, who's the father of an 16-year-old boy, whether he was "ready" to have a child.

"'Cause in my mind it I always felt like, Okay, I've got to make this amount of money and I've got to have these projects done and everything and then then I'm ready," Questlove said.

While Questlove isn't yet a father, he's released children's books, including The Idea In You and graphic novel The Rhythm of Time.

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