Lily Collins Reveals She Gained a ‘Deeper Appreciation’ for Dad Phil After Becoming a Parent

Phil Collins will always be in his daughter Lily Collins’ heart — especially on Father’s Day and as he continues to battle health issues.

“Happy Father’s Day, Dad,” Lily, 37, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Sunday, June 21. “I’m endlessly grateful for your unconditional love, guidance and support. Now as a parent, I have a newly found understanding and deeper appreciation for everything you’ve done and continue to do.”

The Emily in Paris star and her husband, Charlie McDowell, welcomed daughter Tove Jane via surrogate in January 2025.

“Tove is lucky to call you Grandpa P,” Lily gushed on Sunday, using the grandparent moniker for Phil, 75. “Love you to the moon and back.”

In addition to Lily, whom Phil shares with ex Jill Tavelman, the retired Genesis rocker shares Joely, 53, and Simon, 49, with Andrea Bertorelli, as well as Nic, 24, and Mathew, 21, with Orianne Cevey. 

Phil and Lily, in particular, have a special bond. The musician even famously recorded “You’ll Be in My Heart” from 2002’s Tarzan as a lullaby for his youngest daughter.

“[Lily] calls me up and goes, ‘It’s all over the radio,’” Phil recalled in an Entertainment Tonight interview at the time, speaking on the song’s initial popularity. “[She adds], ‘I go to school and it’s all over the billboards.’ So, she’s really thrilled about it. When she went to the cinema with her mum, a trailer came up [and] she stood up and said, ‘That’s my dad!’”

Lily, even now, continues to celebrate the “You’ll Be in Me Heart” dedication.

“Still saying ‘That’s my dad!’ 25 years later,” the actress wrote via Instagram in June 2025. “Now, I get to play [Tarzan] for my own daughter, who will one day point at the screen and say ‘That’s my grandpa!’ Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I love you and [am] forever proud to be your daughter.”

Later on Sunday, Lily also paid tribute to her husband.

“My absolute favorite view. Happy Father’s Day @charliemcdowell,” she wrote via Instagram, sharing a picture of McDowell, 42, playing with his daughter. “Seeing lil T light up with you and experience the world by your side is the greatest gift. Tove and I couldn’t love you any more.”

McDowell’s mom, actress Mary Steenburgen, replied in the comments section, “Happy Father’s Day @charliemcdowell. I couldn’t be prouder of the father you are.”

As for Phil, he’s been navigating a series of health challenges since retiring from Genesis in 2022.

“You know, I have a 24-hour live-in nurse to make sure I take my medication as I should do,” Phil told BBC Radio 2 in January. “I’ve had challenges with my knee. I had everything that could go wrong with me, did go wrong with me. … I can walk, albeit with assistance, you know, crutches or whatever.”