Celebrity PEOPLE's 50th Anniversary Is Here — Here's How to Read the Star-Studded Special Issue Icons from Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon to Michael J. Fox and Dwayne Johnson — and many more — look back at their journeys with PEOPLE and forward to the future in the special issue By Lindsay Kimble Lindsay Kimble Lindsay Kimble is the Executive Editor, News at PEOPLE. She have been working at PEOPLE for seven years. Her work has previously appeared in POPSUGAR, Us Weekly and Entertainment Weekly. People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 10, 2024 08:57AM EDT Close PEOPLE's 50th anniversary issue cover. Photo: Art Streiber It's been 50 years since an issue of PEOPLE first appeared on newsstands — the start of decades of dynamic storytelling, captivating imagery and news-making moments. We're celebrating PEOPLE's past, present and future through a special 50th anniversary issue, which you can pick up on newsstands everywhere as well as read online. In it, you'll find interviews with some of PEOPLE's most iconic cover stars, including Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Michael J. Fox, Dwayne Johnson, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, Viola Davis, Serena Williams, John Legend and Drew Barrymore. On the cover of the 50th anniversary issue, superstars toast to PEOPLE's big moment and reflect on their own memories of appearing in our pages. PEOPLE's 50th anniversary issue cover. Art Streiber "I have been a lifelong lover of this magazine. At every interval that’s been symbolic in my life, there is a PEOPLE cover to show for it," Barrymore, one of the 50th cover stars, says. As Editor in Chief Wendy Naugle highlights in her editor's letter, PEOPLE's coverage expands far beyond the entertainment realm: "Every day at PEOPLE, we try to chronicle what’s happening — the stories that touch our hearts, delight us, surprise us." Editor in Chief Wendy Naugle. Art Streiber Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "Our goal is to take our readers up close to our subjects so that we can all understand what motivates them and to find the commonality of the human experience, the ups and downs, the tragedies and the triumphs." As part of that, we revisit survivors of unimaginable circumstances to see how things have changed since sharing their harrowing stories with PEOPLE, like baby Jessica McClure, who was rescued after falling in a well in 1987, and the late AIDs activist Ryan White's mother, Jeanne White-Ginder. The entire issue was a tireless effort by the PEOPLE staff — and is available now. For more on our 50th Anniversary, check out our special digital issue, and pick up the latest copy of PEOPLE, on newsstands April 12.