Hedlund and Roberts welcomed their son in December 2020

NEED TO KNOW

• Garrett Hedlund caught up with PEOPLE at PaleyFest NY 2026 on Oct. 10
• He shared that his and Emma Roberts’ 5-year-old son, Rhodes, is “on cloud nine” in kindergarten
• Hedlund and Roberts welcomed Rhodes in December 2020

Garrett Hedlund and Emma Roberts’ son, Rhodes, is loving his time in school.

Hedlund, 42, caught up with PEOPLE exclusively at PaleyFest NY 2026 on Saturday, Oct. 10, and shared an update on his 5-year-old.

“He’s phenomenal,” the proud dad said. “He just started kindergarten. He’s on cloud nine.”

The Tulsa King star added, “He’s loving it. Loving every bit of it.”

Asked whether Rhodes might be interested in a career in entertainment one day, Hedlund revealed that his son has shown an early passion for music.

“Oh man, he’s loved music since the day he was born,” he told PEOPLE. “We’re driving all the time — we do a lot of car rides — and we’ve got quite the playlist. Music’s become a big part of our life together, so it’s wonderful to see.”

Hedlund and Roberts welcomed Rhodes in December 2020. In January 2022, shortly after they celebrated his first birthday, PEOPLE confirmed that the pair had split. Roberts got engaged to actor Cody John in July 2024, and the two married in July 2026.

Hedlund previously shared a look into Rhodes’ time in pre-kindergarten, telling PEOPLE that his son was developing faster than he could ever imagine at that stage of life. 

“[He] gets to do that stuff with friends, socialize, learn the things that I didn’t think about teaching him right off the bat, like using the scissors,” he explained.

“You know, I point at the highest tree and say, ‘Climb that,’ ” he continued. “Help him take it step by step.”

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Last year, Hedlund opened up about fatherhood — and joked that Rhodes has him “wrapped around his finger.”

During an appearance on the 3rd Hour of Today on Sept. 15, 2025, he shared that his son “absolutely” runs the show, “all day long.”

“Oh man, I am wrapped around his finger like you won’t believe it,” he said.

Hedlund said he and Rhodes enjoy having outings and adventures together.

“We just spent three hours at Hank’s Pumpkin Patch the other day,” he said. “I was trying to get him to go after about 45 minutes, cut to three hours later. And that’s just an example of every single day, me and him running around.”

Of his life with his son, Hedlund added, “It’s the journey, adventure, risk, reward, all day long.”

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