Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell in ‘Twisters’Universal Pictures
Let’s talk about sex … or the lack thereof. While the movies are still a way to escape the realities of life, it seems there’s no more fantasizing about what it’d be like to spend the night with an A-lister — unless they’re offering OnlyFans content.
Some of the biggest blockbusters from the past few years have made millions at the box office, but they’re missing one major thing: a steamy sex scene. Miles Teller only felt a rush flying an F-18 as far as 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick is concerned, and Tom Cruise didn’t even sleep with love interest Jennifer Connelly in the movie. Similarly, Twisters had audiences up in arms when it premiered in July because nothing romantic happened between leads Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Not even a smooch — unless you count the deleted kiss that was leaked on X.
Listen, Us is fully on board with a slow burn, but sometimes escapism in the form of two hot people getting it on onscreen is what we want — and need. When did the tides turn? And, more importantly, why does it seem like all the sex is gone? Let’s put the blame on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Of course, we’re kidding because who doesn’t love a good superhero movie? (Chris Evans, we miss you!) But there’s a point to be made about the 34 and counting films in the MCU. Mind you, the film franchise has been going on since 2008, and only one of the flicks features a sex scene (2021’s box office bomb The Eternals). Most of them don’t even have a kiss!
Are we really living in a “puritanical age” of Hollywood, as some have called it? Well, a study published last year by The Economist says yes, stating that sexual content in movies has dropped 40 percent since 2000. Previously, 20 percent of movies had no sex at all, and the same study revealed that number has now gone up to 50 percent. It has been argued, however, that the rare intimate scenes of today are more graphic than they once were — but that’s still up for debate.
Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures
An added layer to this discussion is the actors who have taken a stand. A number of stars have been vocal about their distaste for filming (or choreographing, as some will say) intimate scenes. Henry Cavill, for one, bluntly stated that he’s “not a fan of doing them” in scenes “overused” in film. The younger generation, who favor TikTok over AMC Theaters, seems to agree — OnlyFans anyone?
Overall, it seems more fitting to say that technology is the cause for the recent decline in onscreen lovemaking. The internet age has made sex more accessible for Gen Z, thanks to OnlyFans and streaming services galore. The thrill of going to the movie theater and trying to fake-avert your eyes from an intimate moment between two actors doesn’t seem necessary anymore.
While sex scenes might be what the younger generation prefers to stream on their phones, studios are leaning into what audiences can only truly enjoy in a theater. Watching Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal fight it out in the Colosseum during Gladiator IIon an IMAX screen is never an experience we’ll get at home. Maybe movie theaters should make a permanent shift from intimacy to action movies? Because based on the box office receipts, it seems likely that those are the only kind of hot and sweaty scenes we’ll see on the big screen. We’ll take what we can get.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P)
Meghan Markleand Prince Harry have rolled up their sleeves to help out those affected by the wildfires that ravaged parts of Los Angeles.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the World Central Kitchen in Pasadena, California on Friday, January 10.
Us Weekly understands Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, volunteered to hand out food and supplies to people affected by the Eaton Fire.
During their visit, the couple witnessed harrowing stories from victims, but also strong community spirit as they offered their support. The Duke and Duchess also took time to connect with elderly individuals and families affected by the crisis inside the Pasadena Convention Center.
As well as serving meals alongside World Central Kitchen (WCK) volunteers outside the venue, Harry and Meghan donated clothing, children’s items, and other essential supplies to the main donation center, Us understands.
Monetary donations have also been made to relief, recovery and rebuild efforts via their charity organization, the Archwell Foundation.
Harry and Meghan also joined Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California’s First Partner, and Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, in personally thanking first responders, including Fire Chief Marrone and his team from the LA County Fire Department as well as Members of CalFire and the Pasadena Police Force at the Rose Bowl.
As part of their volunteering efforts, Harry and Meghan met with World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés at the charity’s food stations and thanked the teams for the hard work involved in supporting the community in its time of need.
Meghan and Harry live in Montecito with their children Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. Their home is around 80 miles north of the Pacific Palisades area in LA, where the fires first broke out on Tuesday, January 7.
While it is not known which of the couple’s friends have made use of the home, thousands of people had been forced to flee their homes due to the wildfires. Among the celebrities affected by the fires were Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Spencer Pratt and Milo Ventimiglia, whose homes all went up in flames.
The couple has dedicated a page on their official website to the wildfires, sharing information about resources and organizations taking part in the relief effort.
The couple first moved to California from the UK in 2020 during the pandemic. After initially staying on Vancouver Island, Canada, they then spent several months at Tyler Perry’s Los Angeles home before buying their own home in California.
Kate Beckinsale has marked the one-year anniversary of her stepfather’s death with a candid and emotional post, detailing what it was like to watch him as well as her father die.
The actress shared a photo of her late stepfather, Roy Battersy, via her Instagram account on Friday, January 10. In the image, Roy is seen wearing a novelty shirt that reads, “World’s best farter. I mean father” and is smiling while holding a bouquet of flowers.
“Finding my father‘s dead body alone in the middle of the night at the age of five shaped my entire life. Seeing my beloved stepfather die a year ago today will haunt me forever,” Beckinsale, 51, wrote in the lengthy tribute. “It does seem terribly careless to have managed to be present for both deaths and unable to prevent either, the second time trying with every single thing I had. It was not enough.”
“In the process of losing my beloved Roy I lost family, friendships , at some points my own health, and all the money I had due to how disgusting the American healthcare system is for those who are not insured. I would do it again. No question.I cannot help feeling that I dreadfully failed,” she wrote
Beckinsale went on to explain that she is leaning on what she can to “console” herself, telling herself that Battersy was prepared for the end of his life and was “at peace with it.”
“It does feel like a lie I am telling myself to try and feel better, however. Perhaps I am just unfortunately not enlightened enough to sell that to myself over my sense of loss, guilt and failure,” she admitted.
The one-year anniversary of Battersy’s death was a difficult pill to swallow, according to Beckinsale.
“It is a tough day to talk about our fledgling and precious tragedy,but given that I couldn’t save him, I’ll be damned if I’m not going to honour him in some small way,” she continued. “He taught me how to be brave. He taught me that it doesn’t matter if people don’t like you as long as you’re doing the right thing, he lost everything fighting for justice for the trade unions, for the Palestinians in the ‘70s,living with them in refugee camps in Lebanon for several years making his 1977 documentary “The Palestinian”, fighting for the miners losing everything in the strikes.”
She concluded, “I am so lucky that I was raised by someone who uncompromisingly knew what was right and lived it. And loved me .Thank you for being my father. I miss you so much.”
Holmes, 47, and Robach, 51, who previously worked with Muir at ABC, gave their perspective on the incident during the Friday, January 10 episode of their podcast, “Does This Make Me Look Fat?”
Muir, 51, came under fire when viewers spotted the clothespin cinching his jacket during a live cross on Wednesday, January 8 and accused him of caring more about how he looked on TV than the natural disaster he was reporting on.
Holmes defended Muir against that accusation, claiming the news anchor may not even have been aware of the existence of the clothespins.
“The perspective might be missing if you’re just reading tweets. The perspective might be missing in that, often times — and I don’t know if he does — travel with a producer or even a wardrobe person whose job is — you might be looking at your phone, getting the latest, looking at notes or doing something, and people are pulling and plugging things onto you, the mic and the IFB [in-ear monitor] and all these things,” Holmes explained. “You don’t even know what’s happening to you, and someone could’ve made the decision of ‘Let me do this with the jacket.’ We don’t know.”
Holmes said that despite the use of clothespins, he believed Muir is incredibly hard-working.
He continued: “But just a little context, the guy works his butt off. You don’t like what he did, fine. It’s just a lot to be piling on.”
However, Holmes conceded it did look bad for a TV journalist to be caught worrying about superficial aspects when reporting on an event where people have lost their lives and homes.
David MuirABC
“The idea that people — even if the midst of a tragedy — about to anchor a main evening broadcast wouldn’t give a damn about how they look is just unreasonable. Now to what degree should they care is the issue and to what degree should they come off like they’re caring is then a separate issue, but of course he has to care and pay attention to how he looks before he goes on TV,” Holmes said. “But if your house was on fire and you see a guy over there with a mirror brushing his hair doing all this before he goes on the air and reports about your tragedy, that’s going to piss you off.”
Meanwhile, Robach admitted that when she was reporting from the road, she usually made a concerted effort to not appear too “glamorous” for this reason by keeping her hair and make up simple.
“I have taken great care as a journalist to not seem as though I’m concerned about how I look in that moment,” she said. “We all look different on the scene of these sorts of tragedies than we do on the set. On the set, we’ve got hair and makeup and nice suits and fitted clothing, but when you’re out there, it’s just a very different environment.”
Robach also defended Muir against the heated backlash he’s been receiving and said she doesn’t believe he deserves it.
“I don’t think he deserves the hate he’s getting… I don’t think that is fair or appropriate in any way — and especially from people who’ve never had to be on television every day where your image, your looks are constantly being critiqued or acknowledged so you might have a hyper-awareness about that,” she said.
Check the LAFD website for local wildfire alerts and click here for resources on how to help those affected.
Hader and Wong were both married to other people before they were first linked in 2022. Hader wed director Maggie Carey in 2006 and welcomed three daughters: Hayley, Hannah and Harper. News broke in 2017 that the pair had split after more than a decade of marriage. They finalized their divorce in 2018.
Wong, meanwhile, wedJustin Hakuta at City Hall November 2014, and the two welcomed their daughters, Mari and Nikki, in 2015 and 2017, respectively.
After eight years of marriage, Wong’s rep confirmed in April 2022 that she and Hakuta had gone their separate ways.
One year later, Hader’s love life raised eyebrows when he spoke about his “girlfriend” in an interview with Collider.
“My girlfriend and I were just figuring out that I haven’t had a vacation in 10 years. I went with her to San Francisco, but that doesn’t really count,” he said in April 2023.
Hader’s rep subsequently confirmed to Us Weekly that he’s seeing Wong. “Bill Hader and Ali Wong are dating again,” a statement read.
Scroll through for more on Hader and Wong’s timeline:
The duo were photographed taking a hike on Wong’s 41st birthday. Hader gave the actress a kiss in one snap and wrapped his arm around Wong in another, according to photos obtained by Page Six.
An insider later told Us that the duo were taking things slowly after rekindling their romance. “It’s an official romance, but there’s no talk about moving in together or anything like that,” the source explained. “While they seem to be serious, they’re both on the same page about taking it one day at a time. At this point it’s all about having a connection, which they do, and having some fun.”
The insider added that the pair decided to give their relationship "another shot" because the timing worked out. “Ali and Bill are have known each other for a while from their respective comedy worlds,” the source told Us. “They were friends first, nothing serious, but once she was single, the idea of dating became a possibility. They were both at a good place in their lives and decided to give it another shot.”
Wong made a rare comment about her love life during an interview with Variety, reflecting on the "weird" level of attention on her relationship. "It's quite an adjustment," she confessed.
She went on to explain how not being single impacted her stand-up routine as she prepared to tour. "When practicing, I was in the habit of talking as if I was still single," she said. "What's strange is now [my romantic life] is public information. For me, stand-up is still an abstraction of truth — it does not represent the whole me. Out of respect for my relationship, I have to practice putting them in the past tense."
Wong and Hader shared a sweet moment at the 2024 Golden Globes after walking the red carpet separately. After being announced as the winner for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television for Netflix’s Beef, Wong shared a kiss with Hader before walking up to accept her award.
One week later, they packed on the PDA again when Wong won at the Emmy Awards.
While the couple sparked breakup rumors after Wong attended the 2025 Golden Globes sans Hader, the actor’s rep explained why Hader was not present for the occasion.
“Bill was not able to attend the Globes due to a pre-existing eye condition that flared up and he was advised by his doctor to stay home and rest,” Hader’s rep told People at the time. “He and Ali are still together.”
Bill Hader and Ali WongRodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Bill Hader had a very good reason for not being at the 2025 Golden Globes with girlfriend Ali Wong.
“Bill was not able to attend the Globes due to a pre-existing eye condition that flared up and he was advised by his doctor to stay home and rest,” Hader’s rep told People on Friday, January 10. “He and Ali are still together.”
Hader, 46, and Wong, 41, sparked breakup rumors after the comedian attended the awards show last weekend without Hader by her side. While Wong walked the red carpet solo, she ended up bringing a close friend as her plus-one.
When Wong took home the award for Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television for her Netflix special Ali Wong: Single Lady, she made no mention of Hader in her speech. Instead, she gave her pal a shout-out.
“My best friend is here! Mia, thank you so much for all of your love and support throughout the years,” Wong said during her speech. “This means a lot. Thank you so much.”
At last year’s Golden Globes, Hader was by Wong’s side when she won for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television for her role as Amy Lau on the Netflix show Beef in 2024. While Wong didn’t mention Hader in her speech then either, the couple celebrated her accomplishment by sharing a sweet kiss and multiple hugs.
Ali WongAmy Sussman/Getty Images
Wong and Hader were first linked in 2022 following her separation from Justin Hakuta. Wong and Hader briefly split later that year, but Us Weekly confirmed in April 2023 that they rekindled their romance.
In her now-award-winning stand-up special, Wong joked about how she and Hader got together.
“Hey, Ali, I just happened to hear the news of your divorce today, and I gotta tell you … I’m excited,” she recalled Hader telling her in a phone call after he got her number from a mutual friend. “I am, Ali, because look, I have had a crush on you forever, and I actually told my best friend years ago that you were my dream girl. And I know this sounds crazy, but, uh, I want you to be my girlfriend.”
Wong shared that while she was on tour in Europe, Hader followed up by sending her flowers in multiple cities. While her female friends thought the gesture was “so sweet,” her male friends warned her that Hader could be a “psychopath.”
“That’s how cheap and lazy men have become,” Wong quipped. “That now when a fellow man commits any act of kindness, any romantic gesture, it must be a symptom of an undiagnosed mental illness.”
The actress, 52, choked up as she told MSNBC on Friday, January 10 that one of her friends died in the wildfires ravaging parts of Los Angeles including the Pacific Palisades area, Malibu, Santa Monica and the Hollywood Hills.
“I did lose a friend, and for our church, it’s really tender so I don’t feel like we should talk about it yet,” Garner told the outlet. “I did lose a friend. She didn’t get out in time.”
The Family Switch actress added that she felt for those who had lost their homes in the devastating fires.
“My heart bleeds for my friends,” Garner said. “I mean, I can think of 100 families, and there are 5,000 homes lost. I can — without even [thinking] — I could just write out a list of 100 friends who lost their homes.”
She added: “I feel almost guilty walking through my house. You know, what can I do? How can I help? What can I offer? What do I have to offer with these hands and these walls and the safety that I have?”
Garner has been rolling up her sleeves to help out amid the wildfire outbreak, volunteering at one of Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen pop-ups in Los Angeles County. These have been set up to help feed evacuees who have been forced to flee their homes due to the fires.
Jennifer Garner.(Photo by Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images)
“I’ve lived in and around the Palisades for 25 years, so I just think all of us, we want to get our hands into working, somehow, to be helpful,” Garner said. “And because of my work with Save the Children, we have a relationship with the Chef, and I was able to just say, ‘Can I be with you for the day? What can I do to help? Put me to work.'”
A string of wind-caused wildfires broke out in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, quickly causing mass devastation. Many residents have left the city limits under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders and thousands are estimated to have lost their homes.
Many celebrities have also been impacted by the wildfires, including Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Spencer Pratt and Milo Ventimiglia,who all lost their residences to the blaze.
Hollywood has also canceled a slew of events over the past few days including premieres for The Last Showgirl, Wolf Man and Jennifer Lopez’sUnstoppable as well as The Critics Choice Awards, among others.
Check the LAFD website for local wildfire alerts and click here for resources on how to help those affected.
Hoda Kotb on NBC’s “Today” at Rockefeller Plaza.Debra L Rothenberg/WireImage
When Hoda Kotb capped off a week Today dubbed “Hoda-bration!” honoring the longtime host’s last day on Friday, January 10, she dressed the part in a familiar Veronica Beard white blazer suit that, sartorially speaking, felt like a full-circle moment that honored her legendary career.
While Kotb, 60, has been part of the fabric at NBC News for nearly 30 years (she announced she would be departing in September 2024), it’s hard to believe that she faced nearly just as many rejections. She was turned down 27 times for a television job before someone finally said “yes,” and she said the big break was all because of a jacket.
On her first day, an anchor got sick so she filled in on the evening newscast. “The litmus test for who anchors the news in Greenville, Mississippi WXVT News Center 15, is who shows up to work with a blazer,” Kotb said in an interview with PR for Anyone.
“I remember [Stan Sandroni, the late news director,] busted in, and he goes, ‘Okay, who has a blazer?’ I go, ‘What?’ ‘A jacket. Who has a jacket?’ I go, ‘A jacket? I have a jacket. It’s hanging on the hanger.’ ‘Oh good, you need to anchor the news, because Ann [Martin] is sick,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘OK!’”
She frequently looks back on that moment and says it only takes one person (and one blazer) to change your life, which made her smart suiting for her farewell feel all the more fitting. A proud wardrobe repeater, Kotb has always kept her work uniform simple and streamlined.
“I’ve worn the same dress I don’t know how many times. I re-wear everything,” Kotb said in a 2020 interview with Glamour. “A lady tweeted to me, ‘I’ve seen that dress 57 times,’ and she was right!”
Kotb continued: “Our staff even put up pictures of the number of times I wore the dress. I thought it was funny … There are people who are much cooler than me, who have a much cooler fashion sense than I’ll ever have. It’s not my thing.”
Her pragmatic sensibility was echoed by Savannah Guthrie in a video shared via YouTube on Friday, January 10. “She’s about what matters,” Guthrie, 53, said. Then, she jokingly held up Kotb’s “red carpet purse” which was a Ziplock bag with lip gloss, a compact, cash and a banana for a snack. Guthrie ended on a more serious note: “I love you deeply whether you’re sitting next to me or not whether we get up at 4 o’clock in the morning together or not, I will always be by your side.”
Indeed, Kotb took a similarly sentimental approach with her accessories: stacks of bracelets, rings and necklaces for her final episode that she said she holds near and dear to her heart.
She pointed out, “This top bracelet that says, ‘With You,’” a gift she received from Guthrie, before showing off a ring that Guthrie gave her which said, “Love.”
For her part, Guthrie chose a black dress for the farewell show, because she was in “mourning” on her beloved colleague’s last day. Talk about wearing your heart on your sleeve — or blazer.
“Josh met someone wonderful in Nashville, and they have been happily dating for some time,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “Josh wasn’t trying to date, but he met someone, and it was a perfect match.”
The source adds that Hall, 44, is “trying to live a more private life” since he “has no desire to be a celebrity” after he and Haack, 41, called it quits in July 2024 following two years of marriage. As Hall has moved on from Haack, he’s been keeping his new romance out of the spotlight.
“He hasn’t made a show of the relationship, but it’s not a secret. Josh is just low-key,” the source adds. “He is very happy with his life and looking forward to 2025 and what’s on the horizon. This is the happiest he’s been in some time.”
According to an additional insider, Hall is dating Stephanie Gabrys, a model based in Nashville. While not much is known about Hall and Gabrys’ relationship, the pair have interacted on social media. Within days of his birthday last September, they both posted separate Instagram photos from Big Sur, California. She also tagged Hall in a Story showing off a stunning bouquet of flowers with the message, “You don’t have to ask him if he loves you.”
On New Year’s Day, Hall reflected on how the previous year was “tough” for him but noted he was grateful for how much he grew as a person.
“Sometimes the tough situations can change you. You end up becoming a different person. A better version of yourself. You learn things about yourself you didn’t know before,” he wrote via Instagram. “It has opened my eyes to many things. Even though it was tough, I know that it taught me many lessons and for that I’m grateful. I always tell myself that God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.”
Gabrys, for her part, took to the comments section to cheer Hall on as the new year began.
Josh Hall and Stephanie GabrysCourtesy of Stephanie Gabrys/Instagram
“Proud of you and the strong, patient, hard working, generous and kind hearted man you are!” she replied. “2025 is going to be the best year yet! .”
Hall “liked” Gabrys’ response.
Currently, Hall and Haack are in the middle of a contentious divorce. Haack hired lawyer to the starsLaura Wasser to assist in finalizing their split as soon as possible. While the pair are no longer together, their relationship is still in the public eye as the premiere of the new HGTV series, The Flip Off, draws closer.
Both Hall and Haack were supposed to star in the show alongside Hall’s ex-husband Tarek El Moussa and his current wife, Heather Rae El Moussa. While filming for the home improvement show began before their split, Hall was subsequently dropped from the project following news of their divorce. Us previously confirmed that The Flip Off was moving forward with Haack, Tarek and Heather.
Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage
Earlier this month, HGTV released a first look at the series that teased Hall and Haack’s relationship ups and downs. After the clip dropped, Hall took to social media to slam the network.
“TFW you can’t get enough ratings with celebrity designers so you manufactured drama with me, a nobody,” he wrote via his Instagram Story on Monday, January 6, seemingly referring to an intense exchange between the exes in the series’ trailer. “@hgtv, you’ve changed.”
“Manufactured?! Pretty sure no one at Hgtv told you to be rude to me …” she responded via her own Instagram Story alongside a screenshot of Hall’s post. “That was all natural.”
As Hall has moved on, Haack is open to the idea of finding love again one day, but she doesn’t plan on walking down the aisle in the near future.
“I’ll always love love,” Haack exclusively revealed in a cover interview with Us Weekly earlier this week. “I probably will [get married again] eventually. But, not anytime soon.”
Emma Kenney as Gracie, Steve Howey as DannyCasey Durkin/NBC (2)
After booking the role of Reba McEntire‘s daughter on Happy’s Place, Emma Kenney received support — and meaningful advice — from none other than her Shameless costar Steve Howey.
“I was very excited to be a part of Happy’s Place and work with Reba. I worked with Steve Howey for a long time, who also worked with Reba for a long time. So going into it, I gave him a call,” Kenney, 25, exclusively told Us Weekly. “He had nothing but amazing things to say about her and he was not wrong.”
Kenney had “such a great time” working with McEntire, 69, who previously shared the screen with Howey, 47, on the Reba sitcom. “She has such a kind and generous and welcoming energy, which is very special when you’re joining an already established cast to feel like that,” Kenney noted. “So I was very fortunate to have that.”
After sharing the screen with McEntire, Howey went on to star alongside Kenney in Showtime’s hit series Shameless. Howey returned to his roots with a guest role on Happy’s Place earlier this season, which set the scene for a potential onscreen reunion between him and Kenney.
“I would love to get back onto a set with Steve. He is one of my favorite people and the funniest person,” the actress gushed to Us. “He’s definitely kind of an uncle figure to me. And I would love to do scenes with him and Reba. That would honestly be so much fun.”
Steve Howey, Emma Kenney, Ethan Cutkosky, Shanola Hampton and Joan Cusack in ‘Shameless’Showtime
For now, Kenney is celebrating the chance to act with McEntire after bringing the role of Gracie to life in the Friday, January 10, episode of NBC’s newest sitcom.
“I definitely felt a lot of responsibility going into this project and playing Reba’s daughter. She’s such an icon and such an established performer,” Kenney continued. “The show had already aired a few episodes when I started shooting. So obviously I watched what I could that was out and tried to prepare in that sense. I definitely wanted to come and try to bring some honor to her daughter’s character.”
“She’s very tough and very no-nonsense. Gracie definitely has a lot of resilience and I’d say determination,” she shared. “But I definitely wanted to bring some heart to her and I wanted the audience to be able to see why she’s got this tough exterior.”
Kenney continued: “I always do a character analysis that I write down. Sometimes I’ll choose a zodiac sign for the character, as kind of strange as that might sound. It gives me a little bit of a point of view for this character. I chose [Gracie] to be a Capricorn. I felt it made sense for her.”
While Kenney would love to reprise her role as Gracie, she would also love the chance to reunite with former costars — including her Shameless family.
“I miss working with them all. It is always a sad and maybe nostalgic feeling when you wrap a show that you’ve done for years because it’s most likely never going to be the exact same casting crew. Although doing The Conners [on ABC] did give me hope,” she admitted. “In the sense that they literally brought back the entire crew from their original show from the ’80s and ’90s. But I’ve been really fortunate to work with such wonderful people that I’ve really formed strong bonds with. I’d love to get on the set with any of them again.”
During a January 2017 interview with Fuse, Baldoni, 40, recalled an awkward moment when he interacted with the pop superstar while she was guest starring on Jane the Virgin.
“I know she was a fan of the show,” he recalled. “We were shooting and then a few of us that weren’t in scenes with her came to watch one of her scenes. Because I had tweeted her and she had tweeted me back, I’d gone up to her [too], so in my mind we were friends, but we weren’t. I went up and I gave her a big hug and I think I scared her.”
After the moment, Baldoni saw his costars laughing, leaving the actor wondering: “Did I just harass Britney Spears?”
“I was a huge Britney Spears fan in high school. What adolescent boy wasn’t?” he asked. “The guest star I was most excited to work with was Britney Spears. And then it turned out, I didn’t get to work with her. And there was zero scenes with Rafael and Britney Spears — probably at her request.”
Baldoni played Rafael Solano in Jane the Virgin for nearly 100 episodes between 2014 and 2019. During season 2, the show welcomed Spears, 43, as a guest star where she played herself.
“I had tweeted her. I was going to bring a poster from her Live [From] Las Vegas tour to set and I didn’t do that because I don’t have one,” Baldoni recalled. “I was joking. But I think she thought I was serious.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Baldoni’s team for comment on the video.
Justin BaldoniBryan Bedder/Getty Images for Vital Voices Global Partnership
The resurfaced clip comes as Baldoni finds himself in a legal battle with his It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively.
In December 2024, Lively, 37, sued Baldoni for sexual harassment. The lawsuit alleges that there was a meeting conducted to address Lively’s claims that there was a “hostile work environment” on set. She also accused the actor of launching a “social manipulation” campaign against her to “destroy” her reputation.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, called Lively’s accusations “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” in a statement to Us, claiming that Lively filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” about the movie’s production.
Baldoni hit back days later with his own lawsuit, where he was listed as one of the 10 plaintiffs suing The New York Times for $250 million after its reporting on Lively’s legal filing. Baldoni’s lawsuit alleged that Lively pursued a “strategic and manipulative” smear campaign against him and “cherry picked” communications while leaving out key details.
A spokesperson for The New York Times said that the publication is standing by the story and plans to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”
As a Los Angeles resident, my heart breaks for those affected by these horrific wildfires. The destruction is devastating and the loss is immeasurable. I am extremely grateful for the firefighters and first responders who have been working tirelessly to protect our community.
While this tragedy is still very much unfolding in real time, I wanted to shine a spotlight on fashion and beauty brands that are supporting wildfire recovery efforts. By purchasing any of the products below, you will be directly aiding in disaster relief. Keep scrolling to find out other ways in which you can help during this crisis.
Little Words Project Resilience Bracelet
Little Words Project
Little Words Project is donating 100% of proceeds from the sale of this Resilience bracelet to the Wildfire Recovery Fund by the California Community Foundation. I love the message of resilience — our community is strong, and we will recover and rebuild in time.
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Pura Vida
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The NFL minimum salary for rookies was $795,000 in 2024, representing the smallest payday of any of the league’s nearly 1,700 active players who stay signed all year. It sounds lucrative, but as the wife of former NFL playerChad Hansen explained, life in the league isn’t always as opulent as it seems.
In a December video posted to TikTok, Bryce Watts Hansen debunked the misconception that everyone in the NFL is a millionaire.
Chad, now 29, spent five years in the NFL, bouncing between the New York Jets New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons.
“He was on eight different NFL teams,” Watts Hansen said in the video. “That means eight different contracts are being signed and broken.”
She acknowledged that even at its worst, players still make considerable money, but it also comes with expenses many don’t consider — including Watts Hansen until she was confronted with the realities of having to constantly relocate.
“I know how to get a flight, move all our stuff. It’s kind of just like a cost that you have to eat.” she continued. “It’s just, like, all these little things that you can like have to play out in your head.”
Courtesy of Bryce Watts Hansen/Instagram
The “NFLadies” podcast host added that at one point, she and her husband were paying rent in three different cities because of the unpredictable nature of his job. And for the month and a half that the wide receiver was a member of the Falcons, they paid $10,000 to move to Atlanta.
Watts Hansen also admitted to previously believing that all players were millionaires, but that’s not the reality for those who are constantly signed and then cut.
“That would have been really great if that was the case, if we were one team and all that stuff,” she explained. “But you know, that’s just not the reality for everybody.”
“[Chad] signed a contract. Then a couple months later you get nothing, especially if you sign at the beginning of the offseason and then you’re cut during the offseason,” she added. “You’re not seeing any of that money because you haven’t played again and again, you haven’t gone to practice.”
Players also must account for the risky nature of their job. Watts Hansen said that the couple had to spend a considerable amount on doctors appointments, just another one of those “weird little things here and there.”
And even for players who have more stable careers, the money doesn’t go as far as some might think. The average NFL player only lasts three to four years in the league before being forced into retirement with no other professional experience. Even a six- or seven-figure salary in those few years won’t last for life.
McMahon confirmed in June 2022 that he was resigning from his post while the company investigated misconduct claims against him.
“I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the Special Committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” he said in a statement at the time. “I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.”
Several hours later, McMahon opened SmackDown Live with great fanfare. “It is a privilege as always to stand before you here tonight, the WWE universe,” he said during the June 17, 2022, broadcast. “I’m here simply to remind you of the four words we just saw in what we call our WWE signature. Those four words are: then, now, forever, and the most important word is together. Welcome to SmackDown!”
Amid McMahon’s exit from the WWE executive suite, federal law enforcement officials have continued investigating the allegations. The former pro athlete has not yet been charged with a crime.
Nearly two years later, McMahon faced a second misconduct scandal when a former WWE employee accused him of sexual assault, trafficking and abuse in a January 2024 lawsuit. He denied all claims before resigning from WWE’s parent company, TKO Group.
Keep reading for a breakdown of McMahon’s misconduct scandal:
What Was Vince McMahon Accused of?
Days before McMahon stepped down from his WWE position, the Wall Street Journalreported that he paid a $3 million settlement to a former employee after an alleged affair. He has not publicly addressed the allegations.
In January 2024, former WWE staffer Janel Grant accused McMahon of sexual assault, trafficking and abuse in a lawsuit.
How Did Vince McMahon React to the Scandal?
Vince McMahonDave Allocca/Starpix/Shutterstock
McMahon left his position as CEO and Chairman of the board in June 2022, pledging in a statement to cooperate with the ongoing investigation and “accept the findings and outcome.” He ultimately returned as a board member six months later in January 2023, agreeing to reimburse WWE for any expenses pertaining to the investigation. According to an SEC statement the following August, McMahon has since paid approximately $17.4 million to cover the costs.
Regarding the 2024 lawsuit, McMahon vehemently denied all claims.
“This lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth. He will vigorously defend himself,” a spokesperson for McMahon told Us Weekly in a statement.
Who Replaced Vince McMahon as the CEO of WWE?
McMahon’s daughter, Stephanie McMahon, was appointed interim CEO and Chairwoman in her father’s absence.
“I love this company and am committed to working with the Independent Directors to strengthen our culture and our Company; it is extremely important to me that we have a safe and collaborative workplace,” Stephanie said in a statement at the time. “I have committed to doing everything in my power to help the Special Committee complete its work, including marshaling the cooperation of the entire company to assist in the completion of the investigation and to implement its findings.”
Is Vince McMahon Still Involved in WWE Operations?
Chief Creative Officer Triple H (real name Paul Levesque), who is married to Stephanie, revealed during an August 2023 press conference for WWE’s Summer Slam that Vince is not currently working with the WWE creative team.
“As far as contributions, I would just say this. The reason WWE is what it is … you could make an argument — a very valid one — that without Vince and his vision for this business, maybe it wouldn’t be here anymore,” Triple H said at the time. “There was some things at that time, back in the day, that were very popular … that just disappeared off the face of the planet. Vision of what he did changed the business, changed all of it for 50 years. Incredible run of success. No greater mind in the business.”
He continued: “In this point in time, if all of us didn’t look at moments in time for counsel from him on thoughts or ideas or if we had a question to go to him and ask, we’d be silly not to. It’s sitting next to somebody that knows more about this, or has forgotten more about this, than you’ll ever know, and to not utilize that in some aspect. But is he day-to-day? No. Is he in it all the time? No. If anybody has, he’s earned that right to be able to do that.”
Vince formally resigned from his position as executive chairman of the TKO Group, which is the parent company of WWE, in January 2024.
“Out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately,” he said in a statement shared with Us. “I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name.”
Has Vince McMahon Cooperated With the Federal Investigation?
Several days before Triple H’s comments about the lack of Vince’s day-to-day involvement in the media brand, the SEC executed a search warrant and issued a subpoena to both Vince and the WWE. According to CNN, U.S. federal agents requested copies of certain documents. Vince has not addressed the warrant or subpoena.
How Did the Hush Money Payments Get Settled?
In January 2024, McMahon agreed to pay a $400,000 civil penalty while reimbursing WWE $1.3 million. McMahon was not forced to admit or deny the SEC’s findings.
McMahon released a statement via X shortly after the settlement was announced.
“The case is closed,” McMahon wrote. “Today ends nearly three years of investigation by different governmental agencies. There has been a great deal of speculation about what exactly the government was investigating and what the outcome would be. As today’s resolution shows, much of that speculation was misguided and misleading.”
He continued, “In the end, there was never anything more to this than minor accounting errors with regard to some personal payments that I made several years ago while I was CEO of WWE. I’m thrilled that I can now put all this behind me.”
McMahon’s statement is a bit of a misnomer, however, as Grant’s civil suit will still move forward in the wake of the settlement.
Rolling in the dough! Reality TV shows can be grueling, awkward and time-consuming, but for many contestants, it’s more than worth it based on the prize money they can win at the end.
Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, who has won seven seasons of MTV’s The Challenge, has taken home more than $1.2 million in winnings over the years. When it comes to an individual season win, The Challenge, has ranged in what the top competitor takes home, with the grand prize totaling $900,000, split between two people for 2021’s TheChallenge: Double Agents. For its milestone 40th season, The Challenge: Battle of the Eras upped the prize to $1 million.
Baking shows also have a wide variety of seed money, with some series only giving a cake stand to the champion and others awarding the top chef a restaurant job and salary. Talent competitions, however, have the most inconsistencies with regard to prizes.
For years, The Voice coaches have been vocal about how the winners of the singing competition don’t appear to get the proper support from the record label that signs them as part of their winner’s compensation package.
“We work with these artists and give them this tremendous workshop and get them to the end of the show, and I think the work that we do on the show is amazing,” former coach Adam Levine told reporters at a press conference for The Voice‘s season finale in December 2017. “We give these guys this incredible platform and this really rare thing, a lot of exposure and airtime. Once we pass the torch, it is the record label that completely destroys that.”
Scroll down to see the reality show prize numbers from worst to best:
The bakers are not compensated for their time on the British series, nor is the winner given any sort of monetary prize. Instead, the winner gets the coveted title, a cake stand, flowers and recognition as they move forward with any baking career moves.
The Netflix competition series’ prize is $100,000. However, the season 4 champion earned an extra $50,000 after Spice Girls Emma Bunton and Mel B successfully completed a mission to help boost the winner’s pot.
The U.K. version of the dating series ends each season with a choice for the winning couple: Do they split the £50,000 prize (roughly $69,000) or do they steal the money and keep it for themselves? The Love Island USA winners have the choice to steal or split the $100,00 prize.
The tattoo-centered show hands out $100,000 to the top artist every season. In 2020, however, the coronavirus pandemic cut filming short resulting in the top three finalists each earning an unknown cash prize.
The singing competition awards each season’s winner $100,000 and a record contract with Universal Music Group, Newsweek reported in March 2021. Some past seasons have also given the winner a new car.
The biggest prize for The Voice winner is the publicity they received following the show and, in some cases, booking tours with their former coaches. Shelton, for example, took season 11 winner Sundance Head on tour with him and later brought contestant RaeLynn along for his performances.
The culinary series initially gave out $100,000 to the winner of each season but beginning with season 6, the prize was increased to $125,000. When it comes to Top Chef: All-Stars and Top Chef: All-Stars LA, the winner earned $200,000 and $250,000, respectively.
The cooking show not only awards the winner a cash prize of $250,000 (as a yearly salary), but the series also ends with the top chef landing a role as head chef at one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants.
According to Newsweek, the singing competition awards winners a total of $250,000 in prize money, in the form of a record deal with Hollywood Records, which is given out in two sums. The winner gets $125,000 when they sign their record contract and the remaining $125,000 when they complete their album. The singers also have a budget of up to $300,000 to record the record, which is given as an advance and must be paid back against future earnings.
According to a leaked contract in 2019 from third-place contestant Madison VanDenburg, the winning artist also receives $1,000 per week as a salary while recording their album. However, the prize money has decreased in recent years, with earlier winners including Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard reportedly being awarded $1 million deals after their respective wins.
The grueling obstacle course has had a variety of prizes awarded throughout the years. According to ScreenRant, season 2 had an award of $250,000, while seasons 4 through 6 gave its winner $500,000. Season 7 through season 11’s winner received $1 million.
When the MTV series debuted its first-ever All Star season in 2021, the competitors battled it out for $500,000. The Challenge: Double Agents winners, on the other hand, took home $900,000, which was split between CT Tamburello and Amber Borzotra.
Season 40 upped the prize to $1 million. Jordan Wiseley came in first for the men and earned $400,000. Jenny West and Rachel Robinson tied for first for the women and took home $237,500 each. Runner-up Derek Chavez received $75,000 while Bananas and Michele Fitzgerald earned $25,000 for third place.
The talent competition, which can include winners from any walks of life, awards a whopping $1 million prize, which can be taken all at once or paid out over 40 years. In addition to winning money, the top competitor lands a Las Vegas residency.
Year after year, fans tune in to see which contestant can survive the great outdoors. The stars of the show themselves are given a cash prize of $1 million if they are able to beat out their fellow castmates. Winners at War, which was the show’s 40th season, gifted its winner $2 million. After season 40, Survivor returned to the original $1 million prize in the new era.
The Weeknd’s sixth album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, may be the last that he releases under his stage name.
The singer, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, said he is considering retiring the persona that has helped define his music and acting career after the album’s January 25 release.
The Weeknd, 34, opened up about the next chapter of his life in a cover story for Variety published on Friday, January 10.
“It’s a headspace I’ve gotta get into that I just don’t have any more desire for. I feel like it comes with so much,” he explained. “You have a persona, but then you have the competition of it all. It becomes this rat race: more accolades, more success, more shows, more albums, more awards and more No. 1s. It never ends until you end it.”
That thinking came in part from an onstage incident at SoFi Stadium during his After Hours Til Dawn tour in 2022. The Weeknd found his voice breaking at the beginning of his show and could not recover. He eventually had to offer the audience refunds and promise a rescheduled date.
“Part of me actually was thinking, ‘You lost your voice because it’s done; you said what you had to say. Don’t overstay at the party — you can end it now and live a happy life,’” he continued. “You know? Put the bow on it: Hurry Up Tomorrow. Now we’re here. When is the right time to leave, if not at your peak? Once you understand who I am too much, then it’s time to pivot.”
That’s not to say The Weeknd is quitting music. Though he has also delved deeper into acting, including in the accompanying Hurry Up Tomorrow film, which also stars Jenna Ortega, he admitted that music will probably always be a part of his life.
“I don’t think I can stop doing that. But everything needs to feel like a challenge,” he said. “And for me right now, The Weeknd, whatever that is, it’s been mastered. No one’s gonna do The Weeknd better than me, and I’m not gonna do it better than what it is right now. I think I’ve overcome every challenge as this persona, and that’s why I’m really excited about this film, because I love this challenge.”
The Weeknd isn’t out to satisfy anyone else. For example, he admitted it was “unfortunate” that his short-lived HBO show, The Idol, was met with so much criticism, but that’s not why he did it. It was about his expression as an artist. It’s why he’s looking forward to his next challenge, whatever it may be.
“I just want to know what comes after,” he said. “I want to know what tomorrow looks like.”
There’s no shortage of doctor shows in Hollywood but HBO’s The Pitt has a fresh take on the traditional hospital drama.
Noah Wyle (of ER fame) returned to the emergency room as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, who is easily the best doctor on shift. As emergency department chief, Robby’s goal is to keep the ER running smoothly, but the first season takes place on a particularly hard day — the five-year death anniversary of former boss Montgomery Adamson who died of COVID-19. (Yes, we said first season. Each episode chronicles one hour of Robby’s 15-hour shift.)
The first two episodes — which premiered via HBO on January 9 — also introduced viewers to some other faces in the ER, including resident Dr. Frank Langdon played by newcomer Patrick Ball.
Not much is known about Dr. Langdon thus far other than the fact that he’s full of sass and recently got a dog for his 4-year-old, much to his coworker’s chagrin. But with each passing episode more will (hopefully) be revealed.
For now, here’s everything Us knows about the cute new star with the glimmering blue eyes. Keep scrolling for five things to know about the actor:
1. He’s an Ivy League Graduate
Ball graduated from the David Geffen School of Drama (a graduate school) at Yale in May 2022, according to his Instagram account. “We out,” he captioned an Instagram post he shared at the time.
Just like every up-and-coming star, Ball appeared on an episode of Law & Order in January 2023. “Officially a member of the Dick Wolf cinematic universe,” he wrote via Instagram at the time.
The episode, titled “Almost Famous,” starred Ball as Jason Wheeler, a social media influencer and manager who ends up taking a plea deal after the death of another character occurs in the episode.
3. He’s Also a Stage Actor
HBO
Other than his onscreen roles, Ball has taken part in multiple stage shows over the years with various theatre companies. His Instagram shows him appearing in Love’s Labor’s Lost, The XIXth, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, In His Hands, All My Sons and more.
Before finding themselves at the epicenter of the college football world, Ryan Day and his wife, Nina, were just two kids playing tee-ball in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Day, 45, is now the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, and Nina, whom he married in June 2005, recently reflected on their time coming of age together in the Northeast.
In an August 2024 interview with Columbus’ WBNS 10TV, Nina said she and Ryan grew up in Manchester “about a mile-and-a-half away from each other.” They went to the same elementary school, middle school and high school and college, with both Ryan and Nina attending the University of New Hampshire, where Ryan was the quarterback on the football team.
“There was a note we saved — I think I was in 7th grade — that I wrote and I said I was going to marry Ryan,” Nina said. “We’ve always been best friends.”
Nina even pulled out a photo from 1985 when they were on the same youth tee-ball team. “This is Ryan, this is my twin sister, Kelly, and that’s me,” she said while pointing out the threesome.
Before Ryan was named head coach at Ohio State in 2018, his coaching career took him and his growing family — he and Nina are parents to son RJ and daughters Grace and Nia — all across the country, from collegiate stops at schools like Boston College and Temple, to NFL coaching jobs with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.
“Within a 15 year span, we moved 11 times,” Nina told WBNS. “In that time, we had 3 children. So, it was a lot. From the year we got married to probably when we got to Ohio State, every year or every two years we were moving. It was very unstable for a long time.”
For a full timeline of Ryan and Nina’s relationship, keep reading.
2005
Courtesy of Ryan Day/Instagram
Ryan and Nina got married while he was working as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida.
“We dated off-and-on and then once we graduated college, we just got back together and the rest is history,” Nina told WBNS.
She added, “There was always a comfort level with him. We’re still best friends. I think that’s the best way a marriage can be. You’re with your best friend every day.”
2009
The couple welcomed their first baby, son Ryan Jr. (RJ, for short), during Ryan’s time as wide receivers coach at Boston College.
Nina admitted that being a coach’s son wasn’t always easy for her son growing up.
“From 1st to 5th grade, he started a school in one state and ended in another school in another state,” she told WBNS. “He was in seven different elementary schools.”
She added, “But it’s made him so much more resilient.”
RJ is busy following in father’s footsteps as a quarterback at DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio.
2011
Courtesy of Ryan Day/Instagram
Ryan and Nina welcomed their first daughter, Grace, while Day was still working at Boston College.
2014
The couple welcomed their third child, daughter Nia, after Day had returned to Boston College as the school’s offensive coordinator following one season as the offensive coordinator at Temple University.
2020
Courtesy of Ryan Day/Instagram
Ryan lived separately from Nina and his three kids for three months during the COVID-impacted college football season to minimize the threat of contagion.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Nina told The Columbus Dispatch in January 2021. “Most of my life I could plan things and look ahead to the next week or the next three or four games. This year we’ve just literally lived hour by hour. I mean, every hour something comes up, and I hold my breath every time I see my husband’s name on my phone because I think, ‘Oh, goodness. Now what?’”
Nina candidly admitted it was even more difficult to have her husband in the house after the Big Ten suspended the start of its season in the wake of the pandemic.
“Those were very difficult weeks,” Nina said. “Even though he was home for the first day of school for the first time ever, and even though he could make the kids’ soccer and football games on the weekends and pick them up from school, it was a huge void. And it was extremely difficult to be around Ryan those weeks.”
2023
Before the start of his fifth full season as the head coach at Ohio State, Ryan shared a photo via Instagram of his family coming home from vacation side-by-side with a picture from the same location, four years prior.
“Time flies,” Ryan wrote. “1st Pic: Winter of 2019 before first season as HC. 2nd Pic: Today on our way back to Columbus. 5th season right around the corner! Stronger than ever. Go Bucks!!”
2025
Harry How/Getty Images
Nina and Grace were photographed celebrating with Ryan on the field after Ohio State defeated the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl.
Kotb and Bush Hager joined NBC’s Today in 2007 and 2009, respectively, and went on to cohost the show’s fourth hour together following Kathie Lee Gifford’s 2019 exit. For over five years, the duo made fans laugh and cry while interviewing some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, trying internet hacks, playing games and opening up about their personal ups and downs.
During a October 2021 episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, Bush Hager credited Kotb with helping her get her big break. “I was here for years doing a lot of different things, and I worked really hard. And I had producers say, ‘Well, you’re a correspondent. That’s where you are,’ and that was good. That was what I wanted to be. I wanted to tell stories,” she tearfully shared. “And you asked me to fill in with you, and I’ll never forget it.”
Bush Hager shed more tears after Kotb announced she was exiting Today after nearly 30 years at NBC in September 2024. “You’re who I come to when I’m feeling joyful, when I’m feeling unsure. You are who I come to. And you believed in me first,” she said at the time.
Kotb, for her part, said that her replacement was “going to have the easiest job in the world ‘cause they’re sitting next to you.”
Kotb bid farewell to the morning show in January 2025, after which Bush Hager continued to cohost the fourth hour, retitled Today With Jenna & Friends, with a lineup of celebrity guest hosts.
Scroll down to see some of Kotb and Bush Hager’s sweetest friendship moments from over the years:
Starting Their Journey
Today/YouTube
The pair kicked off their cohosting journey on an emotional note, as Kotb made Bush Hager tear up with special video messages from her family: dad and former President George W. Bush, mom Laura Bush and mother-in-law Margaret Hager.
“Is this what’s gonna happen? I’m just gonna cry all the time?” Bush Hager asked, unknowingly predicting many more tearful moments in the future. “That was so sweet.”
Support System
Today/YouTube
Bush Hager has stood by Kotb’s side through difficult times, including when Kotb announced she and her ex-fiancé Joel Schiffmanhad split in January 2022. “Watching you sit right here, strong, I can’t think of anybody stronger every day,” Bush Hager said on Hoda & Jenna at the time, praising Kotb for her bravery, courage and ability to “tell the truth.”
Kotb, for her part, comforted Bush Hager when she expressed guilt for not being there more for Kotb when her youngest daughter, Hope, experienced a health scare in early 2023. (Kotb shares daughters Haley and Hope with Schiffman.)
“When Hoda’s daughter wasn’t feeling well, I just wasn’t there for her the way I wanted to be,” Bush Hager explained on Hoda & Jenna in May 2023. “And I didn’t know how to be, and I felt terrible about it, but I didn’t know what to do. So, I just said it. I said, ‘I feel like I haven’t been there for you.’”
Kotb called her cohosts’ comments “one of the most beautiful statements” and said her words “meant everything to her” during her tough time.
Taking the Plunge
Today
Among Kotb and Bush Hager’s many memorable TV moments is their January 2022 polar plunge. While watching the event on air, however, Bush Hager got angry with Kotb after seeing she did not fully submerge herself in the frigid water.
“Wait, what? You didn’t dive? You just put your head [in]?” she said as Kotb laughed. “No wonder you were out so [fast]. You didn’t dive? I thought you said we were gonna dive together.”
Making Music
Nathan Congleton/NBC
Kotb and Bush Hager fulfilled their dreams of releasing a Christmas song together in November 2023 with the help of viral vocal coach Cheryl Porter. One month after debuting the festive track, titled “Carefree Christmas,” they took to the Today Plaza with Porter to perform it live.
“We learned, literally, to go from non-singers to below average singers,” Kotb quipped in a December 2023 video package before their live performance, noting that the song charted on the iTunes Top 10 chart.
Playing Matchmaker
Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images
Two years after Kotb and Schiffman’s split, Bush Hager revealed that she had set her pal up on a date by texting friends to find someone outside of Kotb’s usual social circle.
“I texted three people: my sister [Barbara Bush] who [was] in graduate school; One friend that had just moved to Connecticut, so I had a whole new different world; and another friend that had just moved out of the city too,” she said of a past matching making attempt on a March 2024 episode of Hoda & Jenna. “And guess what? One of the friends had somebody. So, ask outside of your zone.”
Bush Hager also had her sights on setting Kotb up with some of Today’s celebrity guests, including Lenny Kravitz. “I know someone else who meditates — and wears leather,” she said on air in September 2024, referring to how Kotb and Kravitz each wore leather earlier on the show that morning.
Career Milestones
Today/Youtube
Kotb and Bush Hager gushed about working together while celebrating their fifth anniversary as Hoda & Jenna cohosts in April 2024. “It feels like it was yesterday, and it feels so profound to get to sit next to somebody that exudes joy no matter what you have going on,” Bush Hager said on the show. “You greet me with a smile every single day, and I know it’s not always easy. In fact, it’s probably not easy at all. But you’re here and you sit next to me.”
Kotb, meanwhile, noted that he and Bush Hager grew to share a “deep understanding of the other’s soul and purpose” over their five years of hosting together. “Every day, it’s something different, something new, something we’re learning. You’ve led me down a path because of people who you know in your life and people who are, kind of, healers who’ve helped heal me. And, I mean, it’s all meant to be. This is all meant to be,” she added.
They rang in the milestone with several surprises, including lighting up the Empire State Building in the show’s signature pink and purple colors, getting a brand new theme song performed by Meghan Trainor and having New York City mayor Eric Adams declare April 8, 2024, as Today With Hoda & Jenna Day.
Hilarious Nicknames
Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust
On an April 2024 episode of Hoda & Jenna, Bush Hager surprised viewers when she revealed her nickname for Kotb is “Dad.” She explained at the time, “I call her Dad because she’s early to everything, always early, and she just reminds me of my father. I’m like, ‘Dad says we can’t drink too much, Talia [Parkinson-Jones],’ to our boss. ‘Dad says put the vodka down.’”
Bush Hager’s comments were followed up by a clip of the pair partying in New Orleans the night prior, after which she remarked to Kotb: “You weren’t Dad that night. Hoda took a shot. We went into a dive bar, and they were yelling ‘shots,’ and before I even knew it, Hoda was in there pounding something. And then we danced, we had the best [time].”
Birthday Surprises
Today
Bush Hager caused Kotb to burst into tears with the meaningful present she gave her during their “Hoda’s 60th Birthday Bash” episode of Hoda & Jenna in August 2024. “I had my dad, who has started painting, paint your favorite photo of you holding your girls,” Bush Hager said as Kotb cried. Seeing her cohost’s strong reaction, Bush Hager shouted, “Oh no! It’s too much!”
Taking Trips
Today/YouTube
Kotb and Bush Hager took their show on the road multiple times in their years cohosting Today, visiting places such as Québec City, Canada, Bermuda and New Orleans, the latter of which was where Kotb lived while getting her start in local news. For their final trip in October 2024, they visited Austin, Texas, where Bush Hager went to high school and college.
During their visit down south, Bush Hager took Kotb on a tour of her old stomping grounds, including Austin High School, restaurants such as El Arroyo and Joann’s Fine Foods and Donn’s Depot piano bar and saloon.
Family Outings
Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager and kidsCourtesy of Hoda Kotb/Instagram
Just as Kotb and Bush Hager grew close on air over the years, so have their families. In October 2024, the pair and Guthrie traveled with all of their kids to Miami to attend Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. “SWIFTIES!!!” Kotb captioned Instagram pics from the concert.
Halloween Hijinks
John Nacion/Getty Images
Despite several years of memorable Today Halloween costumes, Kotb and Bush Hager didn’t do their first joint costume until their last Halloween celebration in October 2024. Fitting with the year’s “VHS Rewind” theme, the duo dressed as the famous movie couple Jack and Rose from Titanic.
They even poked fun at Kotb’s Today departure while reenacting the film’s infamous door scene on Hoda & Jenna. “It’s been amazing, but I kind of feel like I’m outta here. I’m repotting. I’m gonna repot myself elsewhere,” Kotb joked as she pretended to sink into the sea.
Giving Signals
Today/YouTube
Though Bush Hager never got to cohost a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Kotb, that latter began a tradition of doing a secret signal for Bush Hager during the broadcast. “Last year, Hoda and I came up with this secret symbol, which was Hoda brushing her teeth with a finger,” Bush Hager explained on a November 2024 episode of Hoda & Jenna.
For Kotb’s final parade hosting gig, the pair agreed that her signal to Bush Hager would be a dance move they created in the music in the music video for comedian Matt Rogers’ Christmas song “RockaFellaCenta.”
Bush captured the moment Kotb pulled out the dance move with Guthrie during that year’s parade via Instagram. “So thankful for my most hilarious and LOYAL @hodakotb who always comes through! With assist by my dearest @savannahguthrie!!!” she captioned the clip. “That was a (not so!) secret dance move!”
Saying Goodbye
Today
Bush Hager expressed her sadness over Kotb’s Today departure several times before her final episode in January 2025. “When everybody’s like, ‘Oh, my God! Congratulations,’ it’s like, I feel like I’ve been dumped,” she joked on a December 2024 episode of her “Open Book with Jenna” podcast. “Not really, you know, ‘cause she’s choosing herself. I get that. But my heart is broken a little.”
During Kotb’s final Today episode, she passed her “Hoda’s Morning Boost” segment torch to Bush Hager during the show’s second hour. Later on Hoda & Jenna, Bush Hager thanked Kotb for “everything you have taught me” in a video package, stating, “I will miss you, my friend, but I love you and I’m so proud. Love always and forever, Jenna.”
In a letter of her own, Kotb said that a “new era started” when she began cohosting the show with Bush Hager. “Six unforgettable years, uncontrollable laughter and pure friendship,” she gushed. “I can hardly even say her name without laughing out loud, but that is not the part I fell in love with. I fell in love with her tears, her vulnerable, lovable self.”
Bush Hager squeezed in some final kind words for Kotb before she drove away from 30 Rock with her kids in her minivan. “You are loved. I can’t imagine this place without you, but I don’t have to ‘cause we already have a date on your calendar. Thank you all for believing in us, and Hoda, I love you,” she stated, after which Kotb gave a shout-out to Jenna & Friends, which was beginning the following week.
Going their own way. For some musical artists, they needed to leave their former bands to explore opportunities as a solo act.
Zayn Malik did just that in 2015. He left his longtime One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne to embark upon a solo music career, dropping his debut record the following year. The singer has had success through songs including “Pillowtalk” and “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever,” a song that he performed alongside Taylor Swift for the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack.
While speaking with British Vogue in 2018, he explained the reasoning behind his decision to leave the band. “We went from theaters to arenas to stadiums — there was never any sort of bridge between. Just boom, boom, boom,” he told the magazine at the time. “I guess that kind of progression to any mind — but especially when you’re 17, 18 — it kind of affects you a little bit.”
Malik added, “People take it different ways — especially when there are five different personalities. The relationships had broken apart.”
Despite fan hopes of a 1D reunion, the group did not reunite. Tragically, the remaining four members were next seen all together at Payne’s funeral in November 2024. (Payne died at age 31 one month prior after falling from a third-story hotel balcony in Argentina.)
Scroll down to see the many stars who have left their groups over the years.
The drummer for the group behind "Pumped Up Kicks" announced his departure in October 2021. "I’ve struggled with finding the words to begin this announcement so I guess I’ll just rip off the band-aid and say that I’ve decided to leave the band I helped start 11 years ago," he wrote via Instagram, adding that the coronavirus pandemic gave him a lot of time to think about what's important to him. "Among those things, I became a father to a now 2 year old daughter who has really changed the way I feel about living my life on tour. I find myself drawn to things closer to home. I’ve seen the world (a couple of times) and I really checked everything off my career bucket list."
Halliwell, a.k.a. Ginger Spice, abruptly left the group in May 1998 during the midst of their Spiceworld tour. She confirmed that differences among the ladies and depression led to her exit. Despite parting ways, she has since reunited with the band across multiple tours.
The rapper, born O’Shea Jackson, left N.W.A. in 1989 after facing conflict over royalties. He later launched a successful solo career with AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted in 1990. His departure was depicted in 2015’s Straight Outta Compton, a film where his son O’Shea Jackson Jr. portrayed him.
After announcing her hiatus from Little Mix in November 2020, the X Factor winner confirmed her official exit the following month. In an since-deleted Instagram statement, she said that “being in the band has really taken a toll on my mental health.”
She continued: “I find the constant pressure of being in a girl group and living up to the expectations very hard. There comes a time in life when we need to reinvest in taking care of ourselves rather than focusing on making other people happy, and I feel like now is the time to begin that process. So after much consideration and with a heavy heart, I’m announcing I’m leaving Little Mix.”
Nelson concluded her message by stating she was “ready to embark on a new chapter in my life,” adding, “I’m not sure what it’s going to look like right now, but I hope you’ll still be there to support me.” She went on to release her debut solo single, “Boyz (featuring Nicki Minaj), the following year.
When The Fugees parted ways in 1997 to focus on solo careers, Hill amassed great success through her debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the following year. She has yet to release a follow-up record.
Cabello made headlines after announcing her departure from Fifth Harmony in 2016, leading the band to become a quartet for one last album before taking a hiatus. The former X Factor contestant released her self-titled debut album in 2018. The record garnered hits such as “Havanna” and two Grammy nominations.
Malik shocked fans with his departure from One Direction in 2015, choosing to become a solo act. He released his debut record, Mind of Mine, the following year.
Brown didn’t leave the popular group on his own terms. In December 1985, his now-ex bandmates voted him out over his behavior. As a solo artist, he garnered hits through “My Prerogative” and “Every Little Step.”
Timberlake left the popular boy band in 2002 to embark upon his solo career. He had major success after dropping his debut album, Justified, that same year and became a 10-time Grammy winner. The “Sexyback” singer staged an ‘NSync reunion during his 2013 MTV VMAs performance.
Shortly after reuniting at the 2023 VMAs, the group released their first song in 20 years, “Better Place,” as a part of the Trolls Band Together movie soundtrack.
Fergie was a big part of The Black Eyed Peas before pursuing a solo career in 2006. She returned to the group in 2009, but the group took an indefinite hiatus in 2011. She did not return to the band when they reunited in 2018. Will.i.am told Billboard in 2020 that Fergie is “focusing on being a mom” to her son with estranged husband Josh Duhamel. “That’s a hard job, and that’s what she really wants to do and we’re here for her, and she knows how to contact us for a retreat or a breakaway,” he said.
Paramore members Hayley Williams, Jeremy Davis and Taylor York announced the shocking exit of brothers Josh and Zac Farro in a since-deleted post on the band’s official website in December 2010. After Davis left in 2015, Zac returned to the band in 2016. Williams, for her part, eventually went on to unveil her debut solo album, Petals for Armor, in May 2020. That same month, she teased a sixth Paramore record, This Is Why, released in Frbeuary 2023.
The English musician decided to leave The Police while performing at a concert in August 1983. He then put out his debut solo album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, in 1985. Despite the band members all working on solo projects, they reunited in 2007 for a reunion tour.
The late music legend was a standout talent while a part of The Jackson 5 with his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon Jackson. After releasing his debut album, Got to Be There, in 1972, the rest was history. He has since garnered massive hits through “Thriller,” “Bad” and “Billie Jean.”
Richie left The Commodores in 1982 to pursue a solo music career. Since then, he has produced hits such as “Hello” and “All Night Long.” He is also a judge on ABC’s American Idol reboot.
After leaving The Supremes in 1970, Ross found great success as a solo artist with songs including “Ain't No Mountain High Enough” and “I’m Coming Out.”
The English crooner announced his departure from the iconic band in a press release in April 1970. From there, McCartney went on to have a successful solo career that included songs such as “Live and Let Die” and “Silly Love Songs.”
