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Bob Mackie, who dressed stars from Cher to Whoopi Goldberg and Pink, dies at 87

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Associated Press. (2026, September 14). Bob Mackie, who dressed stars from Cher to Whoopi Goldberg and Pink, dies at 87. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3367510/bob-mackie-who-dressed-stars-cher-whoopi-goldberg-and-pink-dies-87?utm_source=rss_feed

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

South China Morning Post · collected 2026-09-14 · by Associated Press

Quick Summary

Bob Mackie, a renowned fashion designer who created iconic outfits for celebrities like Cher, Whoopi Goldberg, and Pink, passed away at 87 in Palm Springs, California, from pneumonia. Known as the "Designer to the Stars," Mackie won nine Emmys, a Tony Award, and was nominated for three Oscars, including one for Barbra Streisand's film "Funny Lady." He designed theatrical costumes and gowns that became synonymous with Hollywood glamour during the 1970s, working on projects for stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, and Elton John.
Written by AI on 2026-09-15, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Bob Mackie, the renowned costume designer known as the "Sultan of Sequins," died at age 87 in Palm Springs, California, due to pneumonia on September 14, 2026. Mackie's career spanned five decades and earned him numerous accolades, including nine Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and three Oscar nominations.

Mackie was celebrated for his theatrical designs that graced stars such as Cher, Elton John, Diana Ross, and Madonna. Notable works include the sheer beaded gown he designed for Cher at the 1986 Oscars and costumes for The Carol Burnett Show, one of which now resides in the Smithsonian’s American History Museum.

Fellow celebrities paid tribute to Mackie on social media, highlighting his unique ability to blend glamour with humor. His influence extended beyond Hollywood to include collaborations with brands like Mattel for Barbie doll clothing collections. Elton John remarked that wearing Mackie's creations made him feel "very special," and likened them to works of art.

Mackie’s designs are celebrated not only for their extravagance but also for their historical significance, making a lasting impact on the fashion industry and entertainment world alike. His legacy continues as his team stated, “His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world.”

Written for “Bob Mackie Designer Dies At 87” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 9 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Bob Mackie Designer Dies At 87
Entertainment · 10 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
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Hedges 4 of 32 claims Outlet record 60/100
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Hedges 0 of 27 claims Outlet record 68/100
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Hedges 1 of 9 claims Outlet record 60/100
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Hedges 0 of 22 claims Outlet record 65/100
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Hedges 1 of 58 claims Outlet record 60/100
Iconic designer Bob Mackie dies at 87. See photos of legendary stars he dressed. Same event
CBS News
Hedges 1 of 41 claims Outlet record 66/100
Bob Mackie, costume designer for Cher and Diana Ross, dies aged 87 Same event
Evening Standard
Hedges 0 of 24 claims Outlet record 65/100
Legendary costume designer Bob Mackie dies aged 87 Same event
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Hedges 1 of 28 claims Outlet record 68/100
From 2013: Cher on Bob Mackie, clothes and fashion statements Different event
CBS News
Hedges 0 of 2 claims Outlet record 66/100
“Article A reports Bob Mackie's death in 2026, while Article B includes a retrospective interview from 2013 about Mackie.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
8
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
0%
0 of 8 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
64/100
South China Morning Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
10
Entertainment
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-15 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

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Running correction rate · 6 correction(s)
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Who wrote this

Associated Press
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Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
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Topics

California Hall of Fame Hollywood Palm Springs the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’

Subjects

Mackie PERSON · 4× Bob Mackie PERSON · 2× Cher PERSON · 2× Diana Ross PERSON · 2× Marilyn Monroe PERSON · 2× Pink PERSON · 2× Whoopi Goldberg PERSON · 2× Elton John PERSON · 1× Hollywood GPE · 1× Tina Turner PERSON · 1×

Narrative

Famous for theatrical outfits, the Oscar-winning designer also created outfits for Marilyn Monroe, Tina Turner, Diana Ross and Elton John Bob Mackie, the fashion designer whose visually provocative Hollywood style defined glamour for the 1970s – including putting Carol Burnett in some of her kookiest get-ups and Cher in her raciest ones – died on Monday.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-15
2026-09-15 · South China Morning Post
Bob Mackie, who dressed stars from Cher to Whoopi Goldberg and Pink, dies at 87 · assertive framing

Claims (8 extracted, 0 hedged)

Bob Mackie, who dressed stars from Cher to Whoopi Goldberg and Pink, dies at 87 asserted
who → dress → 87
Famous for theatrical outfits, the Oscar-winning designer also created outfits for Marilyn Monroe, Tina Turner, Diana Ross and Elton John Bob Mackie, the fashion designer whose visually provocative Hollywood style defined glamour for the 1970s – including putting Carol Burnett in some of her kookiest get-ups and Cher in her raciest ones – died on Monday. asserted
style → win → Monday
“He lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of being a Fashion and Costume Designer, which is all he ever wanted to do,” read a statement on his social media accounts. asserted
statement → live → accounts
Mackie died in Palm Springs, California, from pneumonia, his publicist said. asserted
publicist → die → pneumonia
Dubbed the “Designer to the Stars”, Mackie won nine Emmys, a Tony and was nominated for three Oscars, including one for Barbra Streisand’s 1975 film Funny Lady, in which she wore a sheer batwing gown. asserted
she → dub → gown
He was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Hall of Fame in 2002. asserted
He → induct → 2002
Mackie designed gowns for Madonna, Streisand, Sharon Stone, Diana Ross, Whoopi Goldberg and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and concert costumes for Pink. asserted
Mackie → design → Pink
When Marilyn Monroe delivered a breathy, seductive take on “Happy Birthday” at a fundraiser for President John F. Kennedy and the Democratic National Committee, she did it in a sheer, beaded gown that Mackie dreamed up in a sketch. asserted
Mackie → deliver → sketch
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