Selena Gomez and Martin Short honor late daughter with new award

At the annual Rare Impact Fund Gala in Los Angeles, Selena Gomez and actor Martin Short introduced the ‘Katherine Short Legacy Award’. The award was established to honor Short’s daughter, Katherine, a clinical social worker who passed away in early 2026.

Gomez stated that the award aims to honor individuals who demonstrate a similar commitment to community service and mental health advocacy as Katherine did during her career.

During an emotional speech, Martin Short discussed the profound impact of his daughter’s death and the challenges his family has faced. He emphasized the importance of recognizing mental health as a legitimate illness, stating, “Mental health is simply an illness, not to be hidden in the shadows or perceived as a family embarrassment.” He noted that his family has come to view both mental health struggles and cancer as diseases that can sometimes be terminal.