Age, in many ways, is being rewritten before our very eyes. Patti LaBelle, still dazzling audiences with her golden voice and unstoppable charisma at 81, shows no signs of slowing down. Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi, at 85, remains one of the most influential figures in American politics, commanding attention with the same sharp wit and determination that defined her speakership.

What links these two women is more than age — it is the spirit of resilience, sass, and unapologetic boldness that has fueled their journeys. LaBelle carved out a path in music with a voice that could pierce through heartbreak and lift spirits, embodying the raw soul of a generation. Pelosi, on the other hand, fought her way through the male-dominated halls of Congress, redefining what leadership looks like for women at the highest level.

Both demonstrate that vitality is not a matter of youth but of purpose. Patti sings, laughs, and struts across stages in glittering gowns, radiating an energy that inspires even those decades younger. Pelosi continues to navigate political storms, her sharp tongue and steady hand reminding the country that experience and firepower make for a potent mix.

There is also a cultural lesson here — sass and spirit are not frivolous, but essential to longevity. Scientists may debate diet, exercise, and genes, but the evidence in Patti and Pelosi suggests something more intangible: attitude. To embrace life fully, to fight for your place, and to scream when necessary, is to add years not just to one’s life but to the life within those years.

The admiration they command is not only for what they have achieved, but for how they have aged on their own terms. They have refused to shrink, to fade, or to apologize for being loud, visible, and unyielding. In doing so, they have expanded the possibilities for what aging women in public life can look like.

So yes, Patti LaBelle is 81 and Nancy Pelosi is 85. They are proof that aging with sass, spirit, and a little scream is not simply survival — it is triumph. The world would do well to take note, for the benefits of their example should never be ignored.