New dad John Stamos tears up over baby boy: 'I feel so hopeful for my son'

Love for John Stamos crosses generational lines.

The Full House star drove thousands of students wild Thursday when he hosted the WE Day California event, and he was just as happy to see them. Stamos, whose wife, Caitlin McHugh, gave birth to the 54-year-old’s first child on April 10, choked up late in the show.

John Stamos speaks at WE Day California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
John Stamos speaks at WE Day California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

“Tonight, we’re celebrating a generation of young people who are making the world a better place — just in time, too,” Stamos said. “Because guess what? I became a dad.”

Stamos talked about how his late parents — including his father, whom son Billy is named after — would have enjoyed the event, which celebrates youth empowerment. The students attending the star-filled show earned a ticket through charity work.

“When I look at you today, I am in awe,” he said. “The compassion and the love and every value that you have… I feel so hopeful for my son.”

Earlier in the show, Selena Gomez‘s voice shook with emotion when she introduced Nellie Mainor, a 7-year-old struggling with a rare kidney disease, being honored for helping others. Mainor works to raise awareness of kidney disease and provide kids in the hospital with toys and get-well cards.

Selena Gomez chats with her new best friend, Nellie Mainor, onstage at WE Day California. (Photo: Allen Berezovsky/FilmMagic)
Selena Gomez chats with her new best friend, Nellie Mainor, onstage at WE Day California. (Photo: Allen Berezovsky/FilmMagic)

Gomez revealed in September that she received a kidney transplant over the summer. “It was actually weird and kind of a hard time,” said Gomez, who acknowledged that she was nervous as she spoke.

“Do you know how much I admire you? Have I told you that in the past two days?” Gomez asked her young friend. “I’m gonna tell you more. Is it annoying?”

Nellie’s smile said it wasn’t.

Selena followed up by asking, “Are we best friends now? Promise?”

Paula Abdul shared her own heartwarming story about overcoming challenges she faced in being a dancer, like her idol Gene Kelly. For starters, Abdul noted that she couldn’t afford ballet classes as a child, and she wasn’t born with a traditional dancer’s body. But, as fans know, she ended up choreographing routines for the Los Angeles Lakers cheerleaders, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and dancing in her own videos for “Opposites Attract” and other hits.

Paula Abdul poses with fans before WE Day California. (Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for WE)
Paula Abdul poses with fans before WE Day California. (Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for WE)

“So you never know,” Abdul said, “you never truly know what you’re capable of until you find that one passion that runs so deep within you that it challenges you every day to be the best version of yourself.”

A WE Day special featuring some of the day’s best moments will air on Friday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. PST/7 p.m. EST on ABC.

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