The Untold Truth Of Hollywood Medium's Tyler Henry

If you haven't heard of Tyler Henry yet, just wait. This young man's name is everywhere. Henry has been sitting down with some of the most beloved faces in entertainment to help them connect with departed loved ones as the Hollywood Medium. On his reality show, Henry brings memories to the surface as he gives famous faces messages from their deceased loved ones.

The young reality star has become famous in his own right as a celebrated author as well as a television personality. But even if you're already a devotee of his shows, there may be a lot you don't know about Tyler Henry. You might be surprised to learn how young he was when he discovered his gift, and shocked to find out that he wasn't always planning on being a professional medium. Learn more about this reality superstar, and find out how he lives day to day with a gift that he can't just turn on and off.

"Hollywood Medium" Tyler Henry has been honing his clairvoyant skills for a long time. During an On Air with Ryan Seacrest interview, Henry revealed that he was just 10 years old when he discovered his abilities. "I actually woke up one night and knew that my grandmother was going to die," he recalled. He told his mother about the feeling he was having. "As I was telling my mom this, her phone rang, and when she picked up the phone, it was the news that my grandmother had just died."  

Henry said, "That whole instance changed everything." Henry hasn't exactly been a practicing medium since age 10, but he has been aware of his abilities for over a decade. This spooky incident became a starting point for Tyler Henry's Hollywood career as a communicator with the spirit world.

Tyler Henry started being paid for his medium abilities while he was still attending Sierra Pacific High School, often performing readings for other students and even teachers.

But Henry was unhappy with high school and left Sierra Pacific to begin homeschooling instead. Through an accelerated program, he graduated from high school early. Just three years later, he was well on his way to becoming a TV star and well-known author who routinely hangs out with celebrities from every corner of the entertainment industry. When he signed on to do his TV show, he wasn't even old enough to buy beer.

After having his first psychic experience at the age of 10, Tyler Henry embraced his gift. Rather than trying to shut out all of the information he was suddenly receiving, Henry began sharing it with those around him, even if they didn't ask for it. From fellow students to teachers, Henry would simply tell folks what he'd learned about their families, although not everyone believed. Even so, the future reality TV star decided this was what he needed to do and, at 16, he set up shop inside a New Age bookstore in his hometown of Hanford, California. For just $35, Henry would offer readings at Cosmic Corral and soon, his fan base grew to include locals as well as big names, like actor Sarah Paulson.

What you don't know about Sarah Paulson is that she was so impressed with her own experience that she invited Henry to a party in Los Angeles where he met talent managers Larry Stern and Michael Corbett. After watching Henry do his thing — "It was pretty shocking," Corbett told The Cut – the duo decided to film the young medium doing a group reading for 10 of their friends. The resulting footage then became a show pitch to E! and thus, "Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry" was born.

Just a month after his 18th birthday, Tyler Henry got a surprise he never wanted. Following weeks of headaches, he could no longer ignore the pain and went to hospital for testing, only to discover he had suffered a stroke and was now dealing with the effects of an arachnoid brain cyst. Although the cyst was congenital, meaning Henry was born with it, it had suddenly started blocking the flow of fluids, leading to swelling and mounting pressure in his brain. "Only 24 hours earlier, I had jogged two miles," Henry wrote in a candid Facebook post. "Now, I was being told by nurses that I was not permitted to move, let alone walk, at the risk of my brain rupturing." The famed medium was rushed into surgery to remove the "grape-sized mass on my brain stem" and, thankfully, it was a success.

Choosing to look at this harrowing ordeal as an opportunity to grow, Henry told fans on Instagram, "This experience taught me early on the importance of timing and trust." It also impacted some more practical matters, like driving. Following surgery, Henry decided he'd never get behind the wheel of a car, but as he cheekily told TV Insider, he didn't hate his mom being his chauffeur. "I don't mind being chauffeured through the crazy LA traffic," he quipped. "I plan to milk this for as long as I can."

Tyler Henry told Out magazine that he always knew he wanted to help people. But originally, he thought he was going to help the world by working as a nurse. He enrolled in college with the goal of becoming a hospice nurse in mind, but his path ended up taking him in a different direction before he completed his education in this field.

"When I was going to school, I got a reading from a woman who told me that when I was 19 I'd start filming a TV show, and that it would do well and that I'd write books and that was my life purpose," Henry said. "At the time I was open-minded but I said, 'I don't know how that could be.' And then sure enough, when I was 19 it all happened." Henry is still taking care of people and helping them, just not in the way he pictured as a child.

It's not just Hollywood gossip. Tyler Henry really did warn Alan Thicke about his heart issues just months before the late actor died from a ruptured aorta. In a chilling episode of "Hollywood Medium," Henry spoke with the "Growing Pains" star and Robin Thicke's father face to face during a reading. In a later episode of his E! reality series, Henry showed a video of the session to Thicke's widow, Tanya.

"Blood pressure is going to be something that we really have to keep in mind," Henry told Thicke during his reading. "Heart issues, they happen to men, it's not uncommon." He continued, "It's possible that within your family, there might be multiple men who end up at a later age dealing with blood pressure issues, but also deal with either a heart murmur or heart arrhythmia." Thicke sort of laughed off Henry's concern, calling him "Dr. Henry" and saying, "I'm going to take that to heart."

Just about everyone has been "fixed up" romantically. But in most cases, the people setting up the date are alive. Tyler Henry met his husband, Clint Godwin, in a very unusual way: Godwin's dead grandfather brought them together. 

About two weeks before the future couple met, Godwin's grandfather died. That's when Henry's medium abilities began to pick him up. Henry told People that the grandfather "kept coming through repeatedly." Henry "took it as a sign to connect with his grandson." He did, and met Clint. The two have been happily enjoying each other's company ever since. It's hard to outdo a fix-up story that comes with a supernatural twist like this one.

Though skeptics say that many mediums use research and other techniques in order to give their clients accurate readings, those who work behind the scenes at Tyler Henry's reality show insist that he has no idea who he's going to meet when he does a reading. "Hollywood Medium" executive producer, Michael Corbett, gave more details to Metro Weekly, saying, "We are very secretive. We never let Tyler know who he's going to read. It's never written down anywhere ... he doesn't know who he's going to read until he opens the door. That's the reality."

Speaking in an interview with TV Insider, Corbett said that code name are used in order to maintain the utmost secrecy. The executive producer said he became a "firm believer" in Henry's abilities after he received a reading himself. "Tyler tapped right into two people I knew," Corbett recalled. When the reading was over, the exec said he knew he had to create a show featuring Tyler Henry.

Tyler Henry has done readings for some of Hollywood's heaviest hitters. His client roster includes such names as comedian and media mogul Ellen DeGeneres — one his favorite readings, and La Toya Jackson, sister of the late Michael Jackson. The "Thriller" singer even came through in the reading. "[Michael Jackson] came through just like a brother trying to connect with his sister," Henry said of the pop superstar to Elite Daily.

However, there is one name that remains on Henry's celebrity wish list. When asked who he would like to give a reading to, Henry gave an answer that may surprise some people: infamous ice skater Tonya Harding. "The reason being is, well, I'm a huge fan of Tonya Harding, but in seeing her life, you know, she has gone through some extraordinary stuff," he said. "I just feel like as a person, she has an incredible story. There's a lot of healing that could be had there that I feel she could really benefit from, and I would be honored to be able to help her facilitate that."

Tyler Henry says that many are skeptical of his gift and feel that he needs to prove his abilities before they will trust him. "I do inherently understand both sides," he told Out magazine in an interview. That's why he strives to focus on "information that can't be researched or googled," things like "inside jokes or sentimental pieces of information that only families really know."

Despite endorsements from celebrities and a devoted fan following, Henry has been labeled as a fraud and a "grief vampire" by some. Henry was the target of a blistering editorial from the Neurologica Blog, where the unappealing label is used outright. Henry has also been a frequent target for CSI, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Multiple articles about Henry have been posted there, often with headlines containing the "grief vampire" label. Henry's name has also appeared on the Skeptoid Blog, where he's been accused of feeding off grief.

Being a medium can have its advantages, sure. Tyler Henry has been able to rub elbows with some of Hollywood's most elite celebs, but the spirits who speak to him aren't always related to strangers. Sometimes, Henry revealed in an interview with E! News, ghosts can put a real damper on relationships.

Though Henry is happily in a relationship currently, there are times when the spirit world makes things really weird. Sometimes when they're together, Henry begins receiving messages for his boyfriend from the other side. However, boyfriend Clint Godwin is very understanding, according to Henry. "We'll be hanging out at 11 o'clock at night and something will come through from his grandfather or I'll get a message for his family and he understands that I kind of have to get it out so we can go about our evening," Henry said. "It's a little awkward, but he understands how I work."

Tyler Henry is starting to become as recognizable as his famous celebrity clients, but plenty of people aren't quite sure which famous person he actually is when they run into him out and about in the world. When speaking to BuzzFeed in 2017, Henry revealed the celebrity that he gets confused with the most, and it's definitely one you'll recognize.

"I'm typically used to being mis-recognized as Macaulay Culkin by people who don't know he's 36," Henry said. Look at images of Culkin about 10 years ago, however, and the resemblance is remarkable. Henry is a dead ringer for Culkin's character in "Party Monster." Even today, the similarity in their features and hairdo is pretty easy to see. The Hollywood Medium could easily pass as one of Culkin's many younger brothers.

Henry has also been mistaken for Dylan Minnette from the Netflix hit "Thirteen Reasons Why," though the resemblance there is much less striking.

Tyler Henry has given readings to many celebrities, but there's one group that interests Henry's fans more than everyone else. In an interview with Elite Daily, Henry said that he's most often asked about the Kardashians and Jenners, in which he's given readings to multiple family members. "They're lovely," he said of the reality TV stars. "When I talk to them it's like talking to anybody else. They're looking for the same things, they have the same questions."

Henry was attending a party with some of the Kardashians and Jenners when he ended up giving a reading to Bella Thorne, who was also in attendance. Henry previously gave a reading to Khloe Kardashian, where he talked about her relationship with Tristan Thompson before reports of his cheating began to circulate. Henry also also gave readings to Kris Jenner and Kylie Jenner.

While Tyler Henry is well known for "Hollywood Medium," the popular series isn't the only option for watching the clairvoyant work his magic. Eventually, the reality star released the Netflix show "Life After Death with Tyler Henry" in 2022. The unscripted series sees Henry taking a break from Hollywood and traveling all over the U.S. to offer readings to people searching for answers. Additionally, Henry gets personal, sharing what it's like to live with his abilities and how it affects his life, and seeks closure for a bizarre mystery surrounding Henry's family.

Additionally, in an effort to explore the validity of Henry's gift (and promote the new series), Erin Jensen received a special reading from the star and reflected on whether or not he's actually the real deal. While admitting that some of the information provided could've been found on the internet, Jensen added that certain statements were too personal to be a simple coincidence, ultimately concluding that she's convinced by the medium's abilities.

In his Netflix series, "Life After Death," Tyler Henry not only provides insight to others in search of answers, he also dives into a dark mystery that definitely hit close to home. In 2019, Henry's mom, Theresa Koelewyn, learned that the woman she believed to be her biological mother was, in fact, not related to her at all. If that wasn't shocking enough, it's additionally noted that the woman previously believed to be Theresa's mother had also been convicted and served time for her role in a double murder.

The outlet added that while trying to dive further into the mystery on his Netflix series, Henry learned that he was too emotionally close to get a clear reading from his biological relatives or their possessions. The television star stated that it "felt like I wasn't a medium, that I was just a human being." 

Similarly, in a clip promoting "Life After Death," Henry is seen investigating his family tree and stating that he wanted to know the truth. While reflecting on the obviously emotional topic, the medium declared, "She [Koelewyn] could have had a completely different life and that was taken from her by this criminal" (via Netflix). The reality star is also shown embracing his mother after she breaks down while exclaiming that she's nothing like the woman that stole her.

In addition to his other talents, Tyler Henry has also written books that discuss the medium's views on the spiritual world. His first book, "Between Two Worlds: Lessons from the Other Side," is a memoir that was initially released in 2017 and became a national bestseller. The book not only reflects on how Henry's experiences led him to become a celebrity clairvoyant, but it also addresses how spirituality can impact our lives. The reality star's second written work, "Here & Hereafter: How Wisdom from the Departed Can Transform Your Life Now," was published in 2022, and focuses on helping Henry's readers learn how to live their best lives while embracing their spiritual sides.

Additionally, the day before the release of "Here & Hereafter” Henry had a live stream where he answered questions and offered signed copies of the book. Stating that the book involved two years of hard work, the star noted that one of his recent health issues (which forced the medium to have emergency surgery after his lung collapsed) is also addressed in the book. Going on to explain that "Here & Hereafter" is about using wisdom to avoid regret, Henry told his viewers that we can all gain insight from the mistakes of the past. "If we can approach life in that way, we can prevent future regret by learning from what other people have to teach us," he said.

With an ever-growing reputation for his clairvoyant abilities, it's not surprising that people are clamoring to get a reading from Tyler Henry. While you don't have to be a celebrity to inquire, you do have to have patience, at least according to his still-expanding waitlist, which currently sits at over 300,000 people. While there's no time frame for a response, the page to request a private reading from the reality star notes that Henry's "demand is a bit overwhelming at the moment." So it's clear that a visit from the "Hollywood Medium" star won't be instantaneous.

Similarly, Henry's site doesn't list any rates for his services, something those patiently waiting should probably keep in mind. Some high-profile mediums, like John Edward, can charge $850 for a private reading, while others like "Long Island Medium” star Theresa Caputo's services range from $50 to $175. 

However, even with a potentially hefty price tag, many of Henry's fans still can't wait for the opportunity to get a one-on-one with the famous clairvoyant. If you really want to try speeding things up, the article does suggest a potential alternative. Henry is known to sometimes give away readings online, so following his social media pages and sending a message could result in getting an ever-coveted reading from the Netflix star.

When Corey Feldman appeared on "Hollywood Medium" to get a reading from Tyler Henry, he was thrilled when Henry offered him messages from his friend, the late Corey Haim. While Feldman was initially guarded, the information provided by Henry convinced him of the clairvoyant's abilities. Henry even ended up offering Feldman some advice, and encouraged the star to be more open about his mistreatment as a child star, with Feldman responding that the medium's words were the exact answer he was looking for.

However, despite Feldman's positive reaction, not everyone was thrilled with their encounter. Judy Haim, the late actor's mother, is no fan of the celebrity clairvoyant. Haim stated that Feldman's attempts to contact her son on Henry's show "Hollywood Medium" were purely for financial gain, adding that prior to his death, her son wasn't close to Feldman. Similarly, Entertainment Tonight Canada reported that Haim reaffirmed her statements during an interview, saying that Feldman's claims of close friendship with the late celebrity are statements he used to stay in the spotlight. She accused Feldman's interaction with Henry of being pure fabrication.

While plenty of us wonder about an afterlife, Tyler Henry has some answers. "I think there is definitely life but that is very different from the familiarities in this realm," the clairvoyant told Newsweek. In clarifying his words, the celebrity medium said that though he still has plenty of questions himself, he believes that it's natural for humans to be limited in their understanding of the spiritual world and what comes after death. Still, Henry thinks that the deceased he connects with have moved on to a place where they are at peace.

"When people come through they're not talking about heaven or hell," said the Netflix star. Henry also noted that no matter what or where it is that people go after death, what's important is that something awaits us and that these spirits still find ways to contact those they've left behind. "We do still have the ability to connect to our loved ones and the love that we share with them," Henry declared. The author also said that he's constantly gaining further knowledge about the afterlife as he continues his work. As for the doubters, Henry acknowledged that not everyone will accept what he has to say. "I've definitely come to a point in understanding that I can only help the people that want my help."

Fans of the high-profile medium love it when Tyler Henry opens up about his personal life. While chatting with NewNowNet, Henry discussed everything from his religious upbringing in a small conservative area to his life as an openly gay clairvoyant. Soon after, Henry revealed the significance of meeting RuPaul when America's favorite drag queen appeared on "Hollywood Medium" for a reading. "I would say that one was so memorable for me because growing up, I watched RuPaul, he was somebody who I felt a sense of relatability to when I grew up in this little small town," Henry said.

In getting to meet the iconic celebrity and help him find closure with his late father, Henry stated that he felt like he was finally able to repay RuPaul for providing him with a wider range of representation during his youth. Additionally, the Netflix star noted that he and RuPaul still keep in touch, and at one point, RuPaul even gave Henry a recommendation for a gay bar in Atlanta. "And we made chocolate together, so I think I'm one of the few people can say I made chocolate with RuPaul," the clairvoyant added, declaring it an unbelievable experience. 

If you believe in Tyler Henry's gift, you may find yourself feeling slightly jealous of his ability to parlay with those who have passed. However, as the famed medium told The Cut in 2024, his unique gift can also be a curse. That's because there is no way to shut off the communication he receives from spirits and so, even if he wanted to take a break, it simply wouldn't be possible.

Asked what would happen if he stopped doing readings, Henry told the outlet that he'd previously tried that and found his mind soon became overly crowded by outside voices and stories. Offering an example, Henry explained he'd find himself pondering things like, "Why do I feel sadness over not calling my alcoholic son? I don't have an alcoholic son." What's more, ignoring the connection only made matters worse. "If I want to take three weeks off, by week No. 2, I start feeling a little funny and even funnier and even funnier," he revealed. The only way to stop said feeling from intensifying is to unburden himself from the influx of emotions and stories, which means sharing them with others.

Tyler Henry first met musician Clint Godwin thanks to the Kardashians — well, sort of. As the reality TV star told GLAAD in 2022, Godwin spotted him on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" and reached out to book a reading of his own. Henry agreed and the session not only proved to be extremely powerful, but it also changed the trajectory of both of their lives. "I knew the second I saw him that I had something that I needed to share with him regarding his grandfather, who had died," Henry recalled.

Godwin's grandfather had taken his own life and Henry was able to communicate to both Godwin and his mother why that had happened. "Immediately, I found myself being a part of his family, being immersed in what they were going through," the medium shared. That formed a unique and strong bond between them and soon, the pair began dating.

That was 2016 and nearly a decade later, in May 2025, they decided to tie the knot. Taking to Instagram, Henry shared a photo of the happy couple beaming in front of the Beverly Hills courthouse and gushed, "I knew when we met nearly a decade ago that you would be the one." Calling Godwin his best friend, he cheekily added, "Best premonition ever!"

Despite all of his success, Tyler Henry still has a fear of failure because, as he told USA Today, it comes with the territory. "As a medium, there's a great fear of humiliation," he confessed. "There's a great risk of not only being wrong but looking fake." Even so, he's never allowed those types of thoughts to stop him from pursuing his passion. Indeed, in 2024, Henry teamed up with Netflix for something never tried before in the realm of mediums: readings broadcast in real time with no editing. 

"We, going live, will see what happens in real time with very little safeguards," Henry told the outlet while promoting the new series, called, "Live from the Other Side." As the famed medium noted, he was confident that the formula would be appealing to both skeptics and believers — if it went according to plan — because it would spotlight what the cameras usually don't show on "Hollywood Medium" after editing.

As for why he was willing to take such a risk, Henry shared that it's important to not shy away from fear. Rather, he's a firm believer in facing it head-on and working past it. "There's something to be said about being able to have the courage to face discomfort and understand that is where growth exists," he mused.

A decade after his initial brain surgery at age 18, Tyler Henry found himself in hospital yet again. In May 2025, the medium took to Instagram to let fans know that he had undergone a successful brain operation, similar to his first. Again, doctors removed a colloid cyst (a slow-growing tumor that is most often benign) which they had found close to the center of Henry's brain. Although such masses do not always have to be removed, they may cause complications, such as fluid buildup and increased pressure, in which case surgery is necessary. It's unclear if Henry was showing such symptoms but, as he pointed out, it was his second time undergoing such a procedure and he felt positive about his recovery.

Indeed, just a couple of weeks later, Henry was back on Instagram announcing that he would be holding a virtual group reading that very week. After thanking followers for their support and well-wishes, Henry explained that getting back to work so soon after surgery was actually one of the best things he could do for his health. "Readings are a huge relief for me," he noted. "It ultimately allows me to blow off unnecessary steam, keeps my skills sharp, and it really is the passion of my life."