For decades, readers knew her simply as Dear Abby. But behind that familiar name was a family story that stretched from Pauline Phillips in 1956 to her daughter Jeanne Phillips — and, in 2026, another major change.
The latest development is not a rumor. Jeanne Phillips announced her retirement in July 2026 after nearly 40 years writing the column.
Who Was the Original Dear Abby?
The original Dear Abby was Pauline Phillips, an American advice columnist who began the nationally syndicated column in 1956 under the pen name Abigail Van Buren.
According to Andrews McMeel Syndication, the column was established on January 9, 1956. Its premise was straightforward: readers sent personal problems, and Abby answered with direct, practical advice.
Phillips was not initially a traditional newspaper journalist. Before Dear Abby became a national institution, she was a wife and mother who had become interested in advice writing after seeing the success of another columnist.
That other columnist was particularly close to her.
The Twin Sister Connection
Pauline Phillips had an identical twin sister, Esther Pauline Friedman, better known as Eppie Lederer.
Lederer became famous under another pen name: Ann Landers. The sisters therefore became two of the most recognizable advice voices in American newspaper history.
This connection matters because the origins of Dear Abby are sometimes simplified into a story about one woman suddenly becoming famous.
The documented history is more complicated. Phillips followed her sister into advice writing, but developed her own voice and identity as Abigail Van Buren.
Why the Name Abigail Van Buren?
The name itself was deliberately constructed.
According to the historical account reported by CBS News, Phillips chose “Abigail” from the Bible and “Van Buren” from the name of former U.S. President Martin Van Buren.
The result became one of the most recognizable newspaper identities in America.
The name “Dear Abby” eventually became bigger than the person who created it.
Jeanne Phillips Entered the Story Early
The next part of the story is where the family connection becomes especially unusual.
Jeanne Phillips, Pauline’s daughter, became involved with the column while she was still a teenager. Andrews McMeel says that when Jeanne was 14 and wanted spending money, her mother asked how she planned to earn it. The answer eventually became a lifelong partnership.
Jeanne helped her mother with the column for years.
That experience gave her something unusual: decades of exposure to the letters, problems and questions sent by readers before she ever became the person publicly known as Dear Abby.
When Did Jeanne Phillips Become Dear Abby?
The transition did not happen overnight.
Andrews McMeel confirms that Jeanne began writing the column after taking over from her mother in 1987. She ultimately became the principal writer behind the Dear Abby name and continued the column for almost four decades.
The family publicly identified Jeanne as the writer behind Abigail Van Buren in the early 2000s.
Pauline Phillips had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and Jeanne eventually carried the column forward herself. Pauline died in January 2013 at age 94.
What Happened to Dear Abby in 2026?
This is the newest chapter.
On July 15, 2026, Andrews McMeel announced that Jeanne Phillips would retire from writing Dear Abby. The syndication company said an experienced editorial team would continue the column.
Two weeks later, Jeanne’s farewell appeared in the column.
She explained that she wanted the freedom to travel without the daily deadline that had shaped her professional life. After nearly 40 years as Dear Abby, she was stepping away.
The change does not mean Dear Abby disappears.
Instead, the column enters a new era.
Is Jeanne Phillips Still Writing Dear Abby?
There is an important distinction.
Andrews McMeel said Jeanne would continue to contribute answers periodically through the end of 2026, while its editorial staff gradually assumes full responsibility for the column.
So claims that Dear Abby simply ended in July 2026 would be inaccurate.
The person associated with the column for nearly four decades retired, but the syndicated feature continued.
Current listings still identify Dear Abby as a continuing syndicated column.
Why the Dear Abby Name Still Matters
The longevity of Dear Abby is perhaps the most revealing part of the story.
The column survived its creator, passed from mother to daughter, and then moved toward an editorial-team model. Andrews McMeel describes it as having a worldwide readership of more than 110 million.
That scale helps explain why the name has endured.
Readers were never simply following Pauline Phillips or Jeanne Phillips. They were following a familiar voice — one that turned private problems into public lessons about relationships, family, etiquette and everyday life.
The Mystery Behind the Name Is Finally Clear
So, who is Dear Abby?
Historically, she was Pauline Phillips, the woman who created Abigail Van Buren in 1956. Later, she became Jeanne Phillips, her daughter and successor, who spent nearly 40 years maintaining the column’s identity.
In 2026, that chapter changed again.
Jeanne retired, but Dear Abby continued.
The name that began with one woman and passed through her family is now entering its next stage — no longer dependent on a single writer, but still carrying the identity that readers have recognized for generations.
Author Bio:
Written by an investigative human-interest journalist specializing in cultural figures, media history and the stories behind familiar public names. The reporting focuses on separating documented history from assumptions and presenting major developments in clear chronological context.
