Andrea Gibson Biography: Net Worth, Books, Height, Age, Death, Wife, Awards, Ethnicity
Andrea Faye Gibson, professionally known as Andrea Gibson, was an American poet, spoken-word performer, writer and activist born on August 13, 1975, in Calais, Maine.
Gibson used they/them pronouns and built a major career in spoken-word poetry, writing about identity, love, gender, social justice, spirituality, mortality and LGBTQ+ experiences.
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They moved to Colorado in 1999, began performing at open-mic events in Denver, and eventually became one of the most prominent voices in contemporary spoken-word poetry.
Gibson won the inaugural Women of the World Poetry Slam in 2008, became Colorado’s ninth Poet Laureate in 2023, and received an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship in 2024.
Their books include Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns, The Madness Vase, Pansy, Take Me with You, Lord of the Butterflies and You Better Be Lightning.
Gibson died at their home in Longmont, Colorado, on July 14, 2025, following ovarian cancer.
| Andrea Gibson | |
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| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Real Name: | Andrea Faye Gibson |
| Stage Name: | Andrea Gibson |
| Born: | August 13, 1975 |
| Died: | 49 |
| Place of Birth: | Calais, Maine, USA |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | White |
| Height: | 5 feet 7 inches (1.7 m) |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Parents: | Mark Gibson and Shirley Gibson |
| Siblings: | Laura Gibson |
| Spouse: | Megan Falley |
| Relationship: | Widowed |
| Occupation: | Poet, writer, spoken-word performer and activist |
| Net Worth: | $1 million |
Early Life and Education
Andrea Faye Gibson was born on August 13, 1975, in Calais, Maine, and was raised by their parents, Mark Gibson and Shirley Gibson.
Mark worked for the U.S. Postal Service, while Shirley worked as a secretary at a technical college.
Gibson grew up in a religious household, and their parents were observant Baptists. Gibson later wrote extensively about the complicated relationship between childhood religion, identity and personal freedom.
Gibson grew up in Calais, a small community in eastern Maine. Their childhood included outdoor activities, family life and a strong exposure to the social expectations of a conservative religious environment.
Their later poetry frequently returned to childhood memories and the process of understanding identity, relationships and self-expression.
Gibson had one sister, Laura Gibson. Laura remained part of Gibson‘s close family circle throughout adulthood and was among the relatives identified in the poet’s obituary. Gibson also became an aunt to Alia Rose Lyons.
Their religion during childhood was Christianity, specifically a Baptist upbringing.
Religious imagery remained an important element of Gibson‘s writing even as their personal worldview developed beyond the conservative religious environment of their youth.
Gibson attended Saint Joseph’s College of Maine in Standish, a Catholic college, on a basketball scholarship. They graduated in 1997 after studying English.
Their academic background helped establish the literary foundation that later became central to their career as a poet and writer.
After college, Gibson spent time in New Orleans before moving to Boulder, Colorado, in 1999.
That same year, they attended an open-mic event at the Mercury Cafe in Denver, an experience that helped direct them toward spoken-word performance.
Gibson began entering poetry competitions and gradually transformed poetry from a personal creative pursuit into a profession.
Before becoming a full-time poet, Gibson worked as a Montessori teacher. In 2005, they left teaching and devoted themselves to poetry and performance.
Their transition represented the beginning of a career that would eventually take them across the United States, Canada and Europe.
Career
Andrea Gibson began performing spoken-word poetry at open mics in the late 1990s.
Their emotionally direct delivery and writing about personal identity, relationships, politics, spirituality and social issues quickly established them as a major figure in the American slam-poetry scene.
Their early competitive career included appearances at the National Poetry Slam and the Individual World Poetry Slam.
Gibson placed fourth at the 2004 National Poetry Slam and earned third place at the 2006 and 2007 Individual World Poetry Slams. In 2008, they made history as the first winner of the Women of the World Poetry Slam.
That same period saw the publication of their first poetry collection, Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns, and the release of their spoken-word album Bullets and Windchimes.
Their literary career expanded during the 2010s. Gibson published The Madness Vase, Pansy, Take Me with You and Lord of the Butterflies, while continuing to tour extensively.
Lord of the Butterflies became particularly successful, winning the 2019 Independent Publisher Book Award, the 2019 Midwest Independent Publishing Award and the 2019 Eric Hoffer Book Award, while also becoming a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist.
In 2013, Gibson co-founded Stay Here with Me, an online community focused on suicide prevention.
Their public work increasingly combined poetry, advocacy and conversations about mental health, LGBTQ+ issues and social justice.
In September 2023, Colorado Governor Jared Polis appointed Gibson Colorado’s ninth Poet Laureate.
They held the position from 2023 until their death in 2025, becoming a prominent literary representative for the state. In 2024, Gibson received an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship.
Gibson‘s final major creative period was documented in the feature documentary Come See Me in the Good Light, directed by Ryan White.
The film follows Gibson and Megan Falley during Gibson‘s final period of life and premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it received the Festival Favorite Award.
Gibson lived long enough to attend the Sundance premiere before dying several months later.
Awards and Nominations
- Women of the World Poetry Slam: Winner, 2008 — inaugural champion
- Independent Publisher Book Awards: Gold Medal winner, 2019, for Lord of the Butterflies
- Midwest Independent Publishing Awards: Winner, 2019, for Lord of the Butterflies
- Eric Hoffer Book Awards: Winner, 2019, for Lord of the Butterflies
- Independent Publisher Book Awards: Gold Medal winner, 2022, for You Better Be Lightning
- Feathered Quill Book Awards: Poetry winner, 2023, for You Better Be Lightning
- Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship: Recipient, 2024
Social Media
- Instagram: @andreagibson
- Facebook: @AndreaGibsonPoetry
- X/Twitter: @andreagibson
- TikTok: @andreagibson
Personal Life
Andrea Gibson was 49 at the time of death. Their life became closely connected to their poetry, particularly their long-term relationship and marriage to fellow poet Megan Falley.
The two were both established spoken-word artists and developed a relationship rooted in poetry, touring and creative collaboration. They later married and built their home life in Colorado.
Gibson and Falley collaborated on How Poetry Can Change Your Heart, published in 2019.
Their relationship later became the central human story in Come See Me in the Good Light, which documented their life together during Gibson‘s final illness.
Gibson and Falley did not have children. Gibson‘s surviving family included their parents Mark and Shirley Gibson, sister Laura Gibson, niece Alia Rose Lyons, and their three dogs.
Gibson lived in Colorado for most of their adult professional life after moving there from Maine in 1999.
They became strongly associated with the state’s literary and arts communities, eventually serving as Colorado Poet Laureate.
In 2021, Gibson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The illness later became terminal, and they continued creating poetry and performing when their health allowed.
Their final years were documented in Come See Me in the Good Light, which focused on love, mortality, creativity and the couple’s daily life.
Gibson died on July 14, 2025, at their home in Longmont, Colorado, at the age of 49. Their wife Megan Falley announced the death.
Gibson‘s parents, wife, friends, former partners and three dogs were present at the time of their death. Their height was 5 feet 7 inches (1.7 m).
Net Worth
Andrea Gibson had a net worth of $1 million.
Their income came primarily from poetry book sales, spoken-word performances, touring, recorded poetry, publishing, teaching, appearances and other literary projects.
Their commercial literary success included multiple award-winning books, while their performance career involved international touring and appearances at major poetry venues.
Their recordings also created an additional source of income across Gibson‘s career.
Books
- Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns
- The Madness Vase
- Pansy
- Take Me with You
- Lord of the Butterflies
- How Poetry Can Change Your Heart
- You Better Be Lightning
- Hey Galaxy
Film and Television Appearances
- Philosophy Talk
- The Nutritionist
- Come See Me in the Good Light
What People Ask
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