The Pretty Reckless frontwoman Taylor Momsen recently shared an emotional message remembering actress Michelle Trachtenberg, her former co-star from Gossip Girl, a year after Trachtenberg’s death. Momsen posted the tribute on Instagram while on tour, describing how grief can surface without warning and noting she realised the date only after waking up.
Taylor Momsen pays tribute
In her note, Momsen recalled sitting alone in a hotel room in São Paulo when she was “hit with an overwhelming sadness,” adding that the following morning she recognised it had been a year since Trachtenberg died.
“It’s weird how the body clock remembers,” Momsen said. “Last night I was sitting in my hotel room alone in São Paulo, I didn’t know what the date was (they all blend together on tour) and I was hit with an overwhelming sadness over Michelle…then I wake up and realize it’s been a year without her.”
The singer continued to express her ongoing struggle with the loss.
“Life is hard,” she said. “I wish…I miss…I wish…”
Momsen also wrote about how difficult the loss has remained, sharing fragments of thought that underscored the ongoing nature of mourning. Trachtenberg, who played Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl, became closely associated with the character during the show’s run and later reprised the role for the franchise’s revival.
Momsen has previously spoken publicly about grief and survival in her own life, including how she credited Chris Cornell with helping her through a difficult period while navigating the transition from child actor to touring rock singer.
Momsen’s post lands as a reminder of the way tour life can intensify personal emotions, with long stretches of travel and isolation often colliding with anniversaries and memories. For fans of both Gossip Girl and The Pretty Reckless, the tribute highlighted the lasting bond between castmates even years after a show ends.
