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.”
One of Cardi’s most talked about looks came in January 2023. The “I Like It” rapper took to Instagram to show off the bedazzled set she donned for an appearance on the Jason Lee Show. In the carousel of photos, the “Please Me” musician’s nails were elongated with acrylics and filed into a square shape. Manicurist Jenny Bui — who has worked with the New York native for over a decade — topped Cardi’s claws with colorful rhinestones in various shapes and sizes.
Cameron has also slayed with edgy manicures. In May 2022, she took to social media to share a flawless design with her followers. Some of the almond-shaped nails featured a clear coat while her others were covered in show-stopping accessories. To top the look off, Cameron’s fingers were painted silver.
MGK, for his part, turned heads with eye-catching nails at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards. For the soirée, he arrived with a unique set of lengthy nails that reportedly took six hours to create — even though only one of his hands was decorated. Brought to life by celebrity nail artist Brittney Boyce, the manicure featured snakeskin polish, chains, spikes and more. He paired the acrylics with a white and pink suit that was also finished with studs.
Keep scrolling to see these celebrities and more wildest nail designs of all time:
The Wicked actress showed off her intricate nail art featuring green gems, silver stones and more at the Wicked photocall in Australia in November 2024.
The singer flaunted a wild manicure created by Juan Alvear at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. The design featured a pearly bead set in a gold rectangle that cascaded into long silver stiletto nails.
The “Kill Bill” singer showed off a detailed manicure at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards in April 2024, featuring monarch butterfly wings, bees, spiders and more.
Bailey donned dewdrop nails at the 55th annual NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles in March 2024. She paired the look with an emerald green Nicole + Felicia Couture gown.
Brown donned a 3D design featuring a black and white pattern with gold embellishments while being honored as one of Glamour’s Women of the Year in November 2023.
Hudgens celebrated the start of spooky season on Instagram and showed off her manicure which featured long clear nails with a fun gold squiggly design in September 2023.
The “Cold Heart” singer sparkled with rosy colored nails finished with a glimmery star design in November 2022. The set paired perfectly with her fuchsia Patrick Star knit dress.
As wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area, Angelina Jolie and her son Knox are doing what they can to help.
Jolie, 49, and Knox, 16, were spotted at the grocery store while loading up on essentials, including water, according to a story published by the Daily Mail on Friday, January 10.
“We’re having people at our house,” she said while packing up her trunk in a video obtained by the outlet. When asked if she plans to donate toward relief efforts, she replied, “Yeah I will, right now I’m taking care of people close to me and having them at my house.”
Knox is one of six kids that Jolie shares with ex-husband Brad Pitt. The exes are also parents to sons Maddox, 23, and Pax, 21, and daughters Zahara, 20, Shiloh, 18, and Knox’s twin sister, Vivienne.
The wildfire crisis has been raging in the Los Angeles area since Tuesday, January 7, when high winds sparked fast-burning brush fires that have continued to spread in an area that has not had significant rainfall in months.
As of Friday, January 10, 10 people have died, 9,000 structures have been damaged and 150,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders, according to the Los Angeles Times. Jolie’s $25 million Los Feliz home has remained outside of the evacuation zones.
Because of the fires’ locations, a slew of other celebrities have not been as fortunate, with many living in the affluent Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles. Paris Hilton, Anna Faris, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, Billy Crystal,Mel Gibson and Milo Ventimiglia are among the celebrities who have confirmed that they’ve lost their homes.
“Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience,” Hilton wrote via Instagram on Wednesday. “This home was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London.”
Meanwhile, Jolie isn’t the only celebrity to lend a helping hand. Jamie Lee Curtis announced on Thursday that she is donating $1 million to the relief efforts. Sharon Stone is working with LA store The Coop to gather donations for those displaced, and Halle Berry said she is donating her “entire closet.”
Overall, CBS News reports that more than 200,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes with 166,000 more people under evacuation warnings.
From L’Oréal to Laneige, several of beauty’s hottest brands took “New Year, New You” to the next level for 2025. Helping Us upgrade our beauty routines, there’s been several new products dropped for the year already that we can’t stop talking about. And while there’s hundreds of new products circulating the market, we narrowed down 18 of the best ones we think are actually worth adding to your cart.
Whether you’ve been on the hunt for some new makeup to refresh your look for the year or some skincare to keep it in shape during the winter, this roundup has got something for you! Some of the launches we’re most excited about are the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glow Skin Tint, which is a skin tint version of their viral bronzing drops, and the Virtue Scalp Remedy Shampoo, which comes from a Jennifer Garner-loved brand. These are far from the only things we’ll be adding to our shopping bags though, keep scrolling to shop the best in beauty newness for 2025, according to Us!
18 of the Best New Launches of 2025 That are Worth Adding to Your Cart
Stan-Out Skincare
1. Laneige Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser:A gentle moisturizer that smooths and softens while cleaning our pores? Sign Us up! That’s exactly what Laneige’s new gel cleanser does, made with hyaluronic acid and papain.
2. Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer: Peptides, peptides, peptides are all of the rage in the beauty industry right now and Paula’s Choice’s new peptide plumping moisturizer goes the extra mile in that department! It includes 3 times the amount of pro-collagen peptides mixed with non-greasy formula that’s guaranteed to visibly plump and boost skin elasticity.
3. Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Moisture Cream: A new take on Cloudberry from the fruit-based skincare brand is this moisture-boosting brightening cream from Glow Recipe. Like many of their other products, it contains an antioxidant-rich superfruit base — this time with cloudberry seed oil, which provides a rich vitamin C and E base.
Must-Have Makeup:
4. L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glow Skin Tint: Since their viral Lumi glotion was so good, we have no doubt that it’s sister product the Lumi skin tint will be just as good!
6. Stila Liqua-Play Eye Shadow: Artistry brand Stila Cosmetics, which is used at show fashion houses at NYFW, just launched a new longwear liquid eyeshadow — and we’re obsessed!
7. Mac Lip Pencil in Cool Spice: Get ready to channel 90s supermodel vibes with MAC cosmetics’ new collection that features the supermodel-esque shade, Cool Spice!
8. Urban Decay Face Bond Luminizer Waterproof Glow Drops: Make room in your makeup bag for this new multi-use luminizer from Urban Decay that can be used on the face, body, as highlighter, eyeshadow, bronzing drops and more!
9. L’Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil: A fantastic affordable alternative to more expensive brands, L’Oréal just launched a new Hyaluronic acid lip oil that’s made to moisturize for up to 24 hours.
10. L’Oreal Paris Glossing Sulfate Free Shampoo: Though this new sulfate-free glossing shampoo from L’Oreal is newer on the market, it’s already beloved by Amazon shoppers with over 2,000 bottles bought within the last month!
11. Monday Haircare Deep Moisture Hair Mask: Get a luxurious deep hair hydrating for a fraction of the cost with this new damage-reversing hair mask from Monday Haircare that’s just $8!
12. Bumble and Bumble Bond-Building TripleBond Flash Rinse: We’re already obsessed with the smell of Bumble and Bumble’s bond-building collection and now they added a new hair rinse that provides 2x the shine and builds 3 kinds of essential hair bonds.
13. Cecred Nourishing Hair Oil: Made with 13 luxe oils and Cecred’s signature African oil blend, the brand’s new hair will keep your hair nourished and hydrated without weighing it down.
14. Virtue Scalp Remedy Shampoo: A brand beloved by Jennifer Garner,Virtue haircare just launched a new scalp remedy shampoo and conditioner duo that’s made to help balance the microbiome, while cleansing and hydrating as well.
15. John Frieda Frizz Ease Smooth Operator Blowout Spray: Blowout-style hair has always been a sought-after look, but in recent years it’s blown up significantly. John Frieda is helping Us all to get the look without going to the salon with their new blow out spray that’s already gone viral.
Other Can’t-Miss Finds
16. Essie to The Rescue UV Gel Damage Repair: Another new trend as of late is actually taking care of your nails instead of wrecking them at the salon and what better brand to come up with ways to help us than Essie. They just released a new damage repair treatment that’s made to restore UV gel damage within just 5 days. It’s also a nail strengthening formula as well, with a 3 protein complex, keratin building block MSM, and ceramides too.
17. Issey Miyake Men’s Le Sel d’Issey Eau de Toilette: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Issey Miyake dropped a new men’s Eau de Toilette that has a woody, marine fragrance with notes of marine seaweed, oak moss, sand vetiver, cedarwood and ginger.
18. Snif Me Eau de Toilette: If you’re looking for a new everyday fragrance and like something on the floral-meets-musky side, you’re going to want to try Snif’s new ‘Me’ eau de toilette.
Jessica Alba, ZendayaMonica Schipper/Getty Images;Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for Bulgari
If you’re anything like Us, you’ve always wondered what it would be like to experience celebrities’ hair extensions.
Zendaya, Ayo Edebiri, Jessica Alba, Peyton List, Elsa Hosk and Ashley Graham are only a few of the stars who have worn (and loved!) Covet & Mane’s hair extensions. It’s no secret that extensions immediately give you unprecedented volume and instant length, but how comfortable are they really? Us Weekly’s Assistant Editor Grace Riley tried out Covet & Mane’s tape-in extensions and is here to spill all the tea.
I got the extensions installed by celebrity hairstylist Lilybeth Vargas in November 2024 and instantly fell in love with my transformation. I have naturally thick hair, so she used three rows of extensions to make sure they blended in seamlessly. Unlike generic tape-in extensions, which come in small wefts, Covet & Mane has a unique design with a row of hair that is taped to your head, creating a more seamless look.
By the end of my first day wearing the extensions, they definitely felt heavy on my head. I was aware of them while laying down, but they never felt uncomfortable. When I woke up, I had adjusted to the weight and was able to wear them in the same bouncy curls Vargas styled for me.
The next day, I went on a run and followed Vargas’ suggestion of wearing my hair in two braids instead of a ponytail. Splitting my hair in two sections made my workout feel easier, whereas the tension of a ponytail made my mane feel heavier on my neck while jogging.
When it came to washing my hair, I was using more product than I normally would, but the thickness actually didn’t take too much extra time in the shower. I tried to only wash my extensions once a week, as Vargas recommended, but would sometimes section off my crown and wash that hair if it was greasy.
Us Weekly
Styling the extra hair and length was a challenge for me at first because my natural hair only goes to my chest. I learned to style it the night before events to save time in the morning — and even got handier at using a curling iron!
Throughout these past few months, I’ve received more compliments on my hair than ever before. Strangers came up to me to tell me my hair was “so pretty,” and whenever I see my friends, they immediately start playing with my mane and gushing over how amazing it looks. Something about having this much hair on your head makes you feel so glammed up wherever you go. They made me feel like the most confident, baddie version of myself — with really good hair.
If you’re willing to take care of the extensions and dedicate a bit more time to your routine than normal, then I would no doubt recommend extensions to anyone.
Covet & Mane also offers textured extensions, which Zendaya rocked in an On sneaker campaign in November 2024. Edebiri, 29, sported the length at the 2024 Emmys, while Graham, 37, donned the tresses at the 2024 Met Gala. That same month, Hosk, 36, could be seen wearing Covet & Mane’s platinum strands at Cannes Film Festival, and Alba, 43, slayed the voluminous strands on the cover of Marie Claire in August 2024.
With Covet & Mane, you don’t need to be a celebrity to have Hollywood-worthy hair.
Prime Video’s On Call is connected to Dick Wolf‘s TV universe — but there likely won’t be any onscreen crossovers.
During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Creator Tim Walsh explained how his show with fellow creator Elliot Wolf is separate from the One Chicago and Law & Ordershows, which have all been produced by Dick Wolf.
“I do not want to do a crossover with any of the existing shows. I do believe we are in our own universe and they’re in their own universe,” Walsh noted. “However, expanding our universe into other first responders, we’re all very game to doing that. There are paramedics in Long Beach.”
On Call found a way to lean into Walsh’s roots as a producer on Chicago P.D. with a guest appearance from Monica Raymund, who played Gabriela Dawson in NBC’s Chicago Fire. But the intention is for On Call to create its own fictional world instead of connecting itself to an existing one.
“I came up on Chicago P.D. and I have an enormous amount of respect for network TV. It is deceptively difficult to write. However, with that being said, I wanted to take everything I did in that show and do the exact opposite [with On Call],” he explained to Us. “We want to let things breathe. It’s an R-rated show, which obviously network TV is not.”
David Higgs Photography
Walsh continued: “I wanted this to be its own unique kind of animal and probably the lessons I took from other shows I’ve been on were things not to do quite honestly.”
On Call, which premiered on Thursday, January 9, is Wolf Entertainment’s first scripted streaming series. The gritty drama utilizes bodycam, dash-camera and cellphone footage to follow cops in the field and it marks Elliot’s first executive producer credit on a scripted show after he served for years as the head of digital at Wolf Entertainment.
“I have to give a shoutout to my partner, Elliot Wolf. I would not be here without him. He sold the show prior to me coming on and he sold it with the vision of we were going to use the lenses of cell phones and bodycam and dash-cam, so all credit goes to him,” Walsh told Us. “He had the genius of seeing visually how much that could set us apart from other shows.”
Elizabeth Morris/Prime Video
The series also sets itself apart by introducing important conversations without picking sides.
“That was the goal of going into it was it’s not an anti-police or pro-police show. It’s pro-character — and the characters happen to be cops,” Walsh explained. “We started doing a lot of research from the jump including multiple ride-alongs with the Los Angeles Police Department, Sheriff’s Department and Long Beach police. You realize when you get in a car that it’s just another human being next to you.”
On Call’s mission is to “entertain” their audience, Walsh explained. “People are at a point in their lives where they don’t want to be preached at anymore. So we were very aware of that,” he continued. “It’s a complicated subject matter. We’re not ignoring that part of it. But we’re also saying that outside of the complicated subject matter, there’s also an incredibly important job that these people have to do. We wanted to focus on that part.”
Hale, 35, showed off her effortlessly chic street style while strolling through Los Angeles on Thursday, January 9. For her laid-back outing, Hale rocked a gray crewneck and rolled her sleeves up while carrying her phone, a coffee and a green juice.
The piece de resistance was her baggy blue jeans featuring a high-waist and strategic rips. Hale further dressed up her look with a silver ring, layered gold bracelets, a number of hoop earrings and a dainty necklace. Hale tied her low-key look together with a woven leather purse and a blue baseball cap. In true Lucy Hale fashion, she wore her go-to Adidas Sambas.
Matching her chill outfit aesthetic with her glam, Hale donned a fresh face and tied her hair into a bun.
This is hardly the first time Hale has commanded attention for her low-key denim while roaming through Los Angeles. In July 2024, she gave Us major French girl vibes while rocking blue straight jeans that hugged her in all the right places. Hale’s hair, which was cut into a chic bob at the time, was blown out and bounced off her shoulders as she accessorized with gold hoop earrings.
ZZHollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images
Hale again looked timeless in a denim jacket while out and about in March 2024. She styled the cropped piece with a burnt orange hoodie underneath and a white tank. Hale kept her look cozy to walk in with black leggings, white socks and running shoes.
The Pretty Little Liars alum perfectly elevated her look with round brown sunglasses and a leather crossbody bag. Hale completed her look by twisting her hair into a messy bun with her curtain bangs framing her face.
When she’s not showing off her street style, Hale can be seen looking gorgeous on the red carpet. Most recently, she stunned in a little red Markarian dress at the Friendly House Humanitarian Awards in September 2024. The trendy number featured a flowy silhouette and a scarf that she tossed over her shoulders. Hale matched the piece to her pointed-toe leather heels.
Jennifer Aydin is weighing in on Andy Cohen calling her Jersey Mike’s drama a “self-inflicted wound.”
“I did not see it. Somebody told me about it. I did not hear that,” the Real Housewives of New Jersey star, 47, exclusively told Us Weekly on Wednesday, January 8. “But you know what? I would say that’s accurate.”
Aydin made headlines earlier this month for her unexpected feud with multiple Jersey Mike’s employees. The Bravo personality posted a video on her social media page claiming she waited for “what felt like forever” for service from the sandwich shop. An employee who was there subsequently fired back at Aydin via TikTok.
Cohen, 56, later took to his radio show to call the moment an “a self-inflicted wound.”
“She melted down. And you know what, before you hit send on the post, take a beat and say, ‘How is this gonna land?’” Cohen said during the Monday, January 6, episode of his SiriusXM show Radio Andy. “How are you going to cause so much trouble for yourself? … You’re at the airport, you’re getting a sandwich. … It’s just, how is this gonna land?”
Upon further reflection, Aydin acknowledged she should not have posted the video of her interaction with several fast food workers.
“I have to realize that me posting it is, in fact, a self-inflicted wound. I did not think it was going to go down that way,” she explained on Wednesday. “I thought that people would see the video and be like, ‘How rude was this guy to you?’ And he doesn’t even know you, so it’s fine. It’s all good. Lesson learned.”
Jennifer Aydin and Andy CohenGetty Images (2)
While sitting down with Us, Aydin gave us her recollection of what happened. According to the reality star, the incident happened while traveling with husband Bill Aydin, their five kids and additional family members over the holidays.
“[Bill] took all the kids, went to another stand that had a table, ordered food. It was about 5:30 in the morning,” Jennifer said. “Jersey Mike’s did not open until 5:30, and my cousin and I got on the line pretty much around 5:45 a.m. and there were not that many people on the line. Again, it was a little slow-moving, but we weren’t going to complain.”
When Jennifer did place her order, Bill was not with her. When he later joined her, Bill shared that one of their kids ended up wanting a sandwich and Jennifer tried to add the item after already placing her order. The employee allegedly told Jennifer if she wanted another sandwich she would have to get in line again or ask the man who was next in line if it was OK if she went to the counter to order another item.
“In the video, they were still working on my sandwich. It’s not like I had paid. I didn’t check out,” she claimed. “So for them to tell me to wait to the end of the line or that I had to ask this guy’s permission — that just really started an altercation. They shouldn’t have done that and that’s just customer service. I’m realizing now that I can’t say, ‘I’m a celebrity.’ People are very angry. … I will no longer say I’m a celebrity since people are so angry about it. But, obviously, this wouldn’t have gone so viral as it did if I wasn’t a public figure.”
After Jennifer’s social media blow-up went viral, the fallout included her being dropped from an upcoming reality stars cruise. In addition to the firing, the RHONJ cast’s future remains up in the air after the show was put on pause following season 14. While the show’s direction is in limbo, Jennifer has faith that everything will work out and says she has “respect” no matter what Bravo decides.
“I feel like by the time they’ve regrouped to even consider who they’re going to recast or if they’re going to recast, this will be such water under the bridge. So I don’t really think that’s a thing,” she told Us. “Plus, by the time they reconfigure who’s going to be on the staff, I don’t know where I’m going to be at that point in my life. I am a big believer in that God protects me and my blessings are in the proof of my lifestyle in the good that I do. I always constantly pay it forward.”
“I’m divorced. Thank you, God,” Lindsay, 39, said during the Friday, January 10 episode of her “Higher Learning” podcast. “Give me some freedom music. Some freedom music.”
After joking around for a minute, Lindsay became serious explaining to cohost Van Lathan that it’s “a very weird feeling” to actually be divorced.
“From the moment he finally left the house, after being here for seven months post-separation, I felt divorced,” she continued. “I’ll be honest, there’s a lot I want to say.”
Lindsay noted that “from the beginning” she has wanted to share her side of the story — but not quite yet.
“I haven’t talked, but I will and I’m just figuring all that out,” she continued. “There [are] so many things that I want to address.”
Elsewhere in the episode, Lindsay revealed what “bothered” her “the most” about how Abasolo was acting.
“On his end, there were certain things that were said to play into certain stereotypes that really were hurtful or bothered me. … Saying things that particularly play into the stereotype of me being an angry Black female,” she said, claiming that “a narrative” played out in which she “placed a career” over the relationship and kids.
“Those things are emphatically so not true,” Lindsay said. “To see people run with that because it’s the low-hanging fruit and it fits a certain stereotype, were really hurtful.”
Bryan Abasolo and Rachel Lindsay.Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Alzheimer's Association
Lindsay and Abasolo, 44, met and got engaged during season 13 ofThe Bachelorette, which aired in 2017. He filed for divorce from Lindsay in January 2024 after more than four years of marriage. After a messy back and forth, which included details of their finances and the pair continuing to live together, their divorce was finalized on Tuesday, January 7. (They did not have a prenuptial agreement.)
Us confirmed in July 2024 that Lindsay was ordered to pay Abasolo $13,257 a month in temporary spousal support along with $20,000 in attorney’s fees and forensic expert expenses. Their divorce documents, obtained by Us on Tuesday, share that Abasolo “waives, discharges and releases” Lindsay from “any and all” future payments. (She still owes him $460,229.)
Lindsay did not address any specifics of their split during Friday’s podcast episode but did say that there was a point she had to become “the bigger person” in their divorce.
“When someone is fighting you in this way and willing to die on every hill and not willing to compromise at all for whatever reason they have — and [I’ll] talk about that later,” she said. “You have to at one point let go and just be the bigger person and prioritize what is most important to you.”
Lindsay explained that she got to the point where she was “trying to move on” and “had to make concessions that I didn’t necessarily want to do.”
“My peace of mind is priceless at the end of the day, and I really want to start rebuilding, and I want to move forward,” she added. “I’m able to do that now. And that feels really, really good.”
She concluded that she “wouldn’t get married without a prenup again,” adding: “It’s, like, changed my whole perspective on everything. I don’t even know if I would get married again. I can’t even fathom that.”
Let the cameras roll. Chrisley Knows Best is certainly not without drama, but its stars have been at the center of more controversies than a single reality show can handle.
Fans met Todd Chrisley, Julie Chrisley and their kids — Chase, Savannah and Grayson — when the series premiered on USA Network in March 2014. The businessman’s children from his first marriage to Teresa Terry — Lindsie and Kyle — also appeared on early seasons of the show.
However, the former real estate tycoon’s relationships with his older kids broke down as the family became more high-profile. The feuds soon became public knowledge and often played out for the world to see.
When Todd revealed in April 2020 that he was hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19, a social media user sent Lindsie a DM, which she shared via her Instagram Story. “Hi Lindsie!” the note read. “Did you see your Dad has Covid? I guess the good guys really do win in the end.”
The “Coffee Convos” podcast cohost fired back at the negative sentiment. “The audacity of some people blows my mind,” she retorted. “This is disgusting. My inbox is flooding with similar messages & I’m not here for it. Get right or get off my page.”
Lindsie took her reaction one step further, exclusively telling Us Weekly at the time, “I don’t want anything bad to happen to my father.”
Her attorney, meanwhile, added that the reality star “was very saddened to hear that her father was diagnosed with COVID. She does not feel happy he has the virus.” Todd, for his part, eventually recovered.
Although Lindsie wished her father well when he was sick, their relationship was not mended. Kyle, on the other hand, revealed in August 2019 that he and Todd had reconciled after years of tension.
“My mom [Julie] and dad raised me,” Kyle wrote via Instagram. “I haven’t been the best dad to [daughter] Chloe, I’ve had a problem with drugs, I’ve acted completely ridiculously, and through all that, they have stood by my side. Nine months ago, I went to my dad with an apology. His words were ‘I love you always, and you are forgiven’ and just like that, I was welcomed back into his life with open arms. I will be forever grateful for his love [and] graciousness.”
The Chrisleys’ drama only got more intense in June 2022, when Todd and Julie were convicted of tax evasion, bank fraud and conspiracy. Though the Chrisley family patriarch denied the allegations three years prior — claiming that an ex-employee set them up — Todd and Julie were later sentenced to 12 years in prison and seven years in federal prison, respectively.
Scroll through the gallery below to revisit all of the scandals the Chrisleys have been involved in during their time in the spotlight.
The patriarch’s relationship with his eldest child has been strained since she eloped with Will Campbell in January 2012. Although he later forgave his son-in-law for not getting his approval before the wedding, Todd was not happy, telling E! News that Lindsie “should have never condoned that kind of disrespect.”
“I had a problem with the way the marriage started,” he elaborated. “Not just on Will’s side but on my daughter’s side as well. I don’t think that the marriage started out the way that it should have, and certainly not the way that a father would like to see a marriage start.”
Todd’s bond with Lindsie only deteriorated more from there, with her last appearance on Chrisley Knows Best airing in 2017 during season 5. He claimed in August 2021 that her issues with the family actually started because of her animosity toward Savannah.
“There was just some kind of emotional battle that Lindsie has had within herself and jealousy amongst her siblings,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “It started out with Savannah having way more social media followers, and then [she] wasn’t getting enough time on the show.”
Todd’s eldest son struggled with addiction after welcoming daughter Chloe with ex Angela Johnson in November 2012. The “Chrisley Confessions” cohost was awarded shared custody — alongside Johnson — of his granddaughter in 2013 after Kyle was arrested and charged with assault.
Kyle alleged in 2014 that his dad “stole” Chloe from him because her appearance on the reality show “would be good for his demographic.” However, Todd seemingly addressed the accusations via Twitter, writing, “My son Kyle is bipolar, he suffers from mental illness, he will struggle for life.”
Todd gained full custody of Chloe after Johnson was arrested in 2016 for allegedly defrauding Medicaid and food stamps.
Kyle faced more legal troubles in May 2019 when he was arrested and charged with felony possession of methamphetamine after police found drugs in his car in Oklahoma. He also had a warrant in Georgia for death threats he allegedly made against his ex Alexus Whilby.
The district attorney opted to drop the drug charges against Kyle in Oklahoma. As for the case in Georgia, he was booked for terroristic threats and released on his own recognizance.
The couple were charged with tax evasion, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States in August 2019. They surrendered to authorities and posted bond but denied wrongdoing at the time. Todd and Julie went to trial in May 2022 and were found guilty of 12 counts of tax evasion, bank and wire fraud and conspiracy.
Lindsie claimed in a July 2019 police report that Todd and Chase “were going to release [a] sex tape involving her.” Her father subsequently alleged to E! News that the family had “tried to keep Lindsie’s extramarital relationships with Robby Hayes and Josh Murray [during her marriage to Campbell] private for her sake since August of 2016.”
Murray insisted that he and Lindsie had “been friends for years” amid the allegations, while Hayes said he “did not make a sex tape” with her. Instead, he claimed that they “got caught on [a] security camera.”
Lindsie’s attorney alleged that she had “been a constant target of lies, harassment and threats from her family and, as a result, has been distancing herself from the Chrisley family since 2017.”
Lindsie announced her split from Campbell in July 2021 after nine years of marriage. Todd posted a message of support for her, although he had her blocked on social media. “I truly was shocked when I saw something so personal shared as we do have each other’s numbers,” she said on her “Coffee Convos” podcast.
Todd told E! News in August 2021 that he was “not reaching out” to Lindsie about her divorce because it was not his place. “It’s not my business, I was not a party to it, I don’t know what happened,” he added.
Two years after the couple were charged with several counts of bank and wire fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy, Todd and Julie’s trial began in May 2022 in Atlanta. During the court hearing, the duo were accused of exaggerating their earnings to banks to allegedly borrow more than $30 million. The Chrisleys, however, claimed that their former employee Mark Braddock committed the crimes behind their backs and was therefore fired back in 2012. In June 2022, a jury ruled that the twosome were guilty on all counts, which included five counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of tax fraud. Julie, for her part, was previously accused of creating a fake credit report and false bank statements to rent a home, which led to an additional charge of one count of wire fraud and one count of obstruction of justice, according to The Tennessean.
Todd and Julie, who now face up to 30 years in prison, are planning to appeal the conviction, per a statement from their attorney. Their sentencing hearing is scheduled for a later date. Beverly Hills-based legal expert Jeffrey W. Steinberger, who is not affiliated with the case, told Us that the duo could be looking at "enormous jail time."
Todd and Julie were convicted on tax evasion, bank fraud and conspiracy charges in June 2022. Though the couple didn't agree with the ruling, the "Chrisley Confessions" podcast host said he was "praying" for the prosecutors and the judge.
Five months after their conviction, the twosome were sentenced to several years in prison in November 2022. Todd received a 12-year sentence and Julie received a seven-year sentence. In January 2023, the pair reported to their respective prisons, with Todd surrendering at FPC Pensacola in Florida and Julie reporting to the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
Two months after his dad and stepmom reported to prison, Kyle was arrested in March 2023, Us confirmed at the time. Kyle was booked on March 14 for "felony aggravated assault," a representative for Tennessee’s Rutherford County Jail told TMZ, noting he was released after posting a $3,000 bond.
Per a state warrant obtained by Us the following day, the person Kyle assaulted was his boss, Deven Campbell. The document stated that Kyle allegedly attacked the victim "by striking him multiple times in the face and upper body." The warrant also noted, "The victim stated that the defendant also displayed a fixed blade knife and threatened to kill/stab him."
Derrick Levasseur, Wes BergmannWil R/Star Max/GC Images; Art Streiber/E! Entertainment
Fans of The Traitors were shocked on Thursday, January 9, when the first three episodes of the show’s third season were released and two unexpected players dropped in — literally.
The announced cast, which Peacock shared last June, arrived at their second mission to find three new players suspended above them in cages. One was Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano, who they elected not to invite into the game during the premiere episode.
Those who recognized Wes and Derrick, both 40, reacted with a predictable mix of excitement and apprehension at unleashing two masterminds into the game, while others clearly had no idea what either was capable of.
Both new players will begin as faithfuls, while Boston Rob will try to exact his revenge on those who didn’t invite him to enter the game by joining the traitors’ side.
Learn more about Wes and Derrick below.
Wes Bergmann
Trae Patton/E! Entertainment
Not many people have more reality TV experience than Wes, who first appeared on The Real World: Austin in 2005. Since then, he’s played 14 seasons of The Challenge, two seasons of The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars, one season of The Challenge: All-Stars, one season of The Challenge: USA and played in The Challenge: World Championship. He was also runner-up on House of Villains season 2.
Known as a master strategist and relentless competitor, Wes’ scheming has been both a blessing and a curse in his reality history. On The Challenge, It landed him in hot water and forced him into plenty of eliminations. But he also owns the franchise’s record for consecutive elimination wins with eight.
Wes has combined his physical prowess with a fearlessness that has continued to help him land roles across the reality competition universe. Two Challenge alumni (Chris “CT” Tamburello and Trishelle Cannatella) won season 2 of The Traitors and Wes can match up with either of them.
Derrick Levasseur
Euan Cherry/Peacock
Widely considered one of the greatest Big Brother players of all-time, the Big Brother 16 winner has the social ability to be a mastermind without ever appearing to be a threat. On Big Brother, he is both credited for his strategy and derided by some for “ruining” the game by showing future players how to dominate from start to finish.
On his season of Big Brother, Derrick formed a majority alliance early on with big competition threats, ensuring his side was almost always in power. As a result, he was never up for eviction and coasted to victory. Some argue Derrick had an easy path to his win because of the relatively low skill level of his competitors, but the season also included two future winners — former The Traitors contestant Cody Califiore and Nicole Franzel — as well as Frankie Grande, who some consider one of the most underrated players ever.
Another key for Derrick, both on Big Brother and The Traitors: He is a former undercover police officer. He kept this from his housemates on BB16, but with him already knowing several players on The Traitors, it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the cast catches wind of his ability to deceive, read and react.
Mel Gibson opened up about his life and career in a wide-ranging two-hour interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, including how he creates his film roles.
“Sure, I’ve planned a lot of murders in my life — we all have,” Gibson, 69, said on the Thursday, January 9, episode of the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, while discussing his upcoming project The Resurrection Of The Christ and how he develops story lines and characters. “In your head, you plan them and you think, ‘Well, that’s not a very good idea, but I think I can get away with it.’”
“I actually spent a long time in my animal brain, which is a very horrible place to be,” Gibson said. “[Where] you’re in ‘fight or flight’ all the time, you don’t even sleep. It’s really not a good place to be and if anybody looks at you the wrong way, you want to bite ‘em — and sometimes you say and do things that are socially unacceptable.”
The actor revealed that he even underwent a “brain scan” to understand his perspective.
“[The neurologist] looked at my brain and he was like, he opens the file … and he goes, ‘Are you OK?’” Gibson recalled. “He sat next to me, but very slowly and cautiously, and said, ‘No, you’re not. You’ve got the worst case of PTSD I have ever seen.’”
Gibson then “started to well up” over the doctor’s admission.
“He had a very miraculous and great remedy for it, which was to eat a bunch of fish oil, vitamin B complex and get into a hyperbaric chamber for 40 sessions — but make sure you do at least two or three a week,” he said. “It fixed my head, really. It got me out of that wacky place.”
After working with the doctor, Gibson found that he was less irritable — his brain trauma was the result of past injuries while playing rugby growing up — and eventually came to the realization that he didn’t want to follow through on any of his apparent murder plots.
“When I kill somebody, you know, it’s terrible and it’s not socially acceptable,” Gibson said. “Plus, I don’t want to go to prison.”
Gibson is now focused on his acting career, asserting to Rogan, 57, that he wants to tell a story about “good and evil.”
“It’s the resurrection story, but it’s not linear because it’s hard to understand,” he explained. “It’s got be put in a framework where you answer a few other questions as well and you have to juxtapose the event itself against everything itself so that it makes some kind of sense in a bigger picture, which is a hard thing to do.”
Hoda Kotb officially closed her Today show chapter on Friday, January 10. The longtime anchor wrapped up her nearly 30 years on NBC with an emotional farewell to the iconic morning show, and there were a few special guests on hand to send her off. Kotb, 60, got emotional throughout the broadcast as she was honored by fellow Today hosts past and present — from Savannah Guthrie to Kathie Lee Gifford. “She’s sunshine in a bottle,” Gifford, 71, gushed over her former cohost before sharing a toast to Kotb. “May you walk into the most joyful, prosperous, purposeful time in your life with those precious daughters that I watched come into your life. What a blessing that was. I’ll never forget it.” Kotb previously announced in September 2024 that she would be leaving the Today show, and Friday’s episode marked the end of a week-long “Hoda-bration” in her honor. Scroll below for more of Us Weekly’s top stories:
Tom Holland’s father confirmed the actor’s engagement to Zendaya in a recent blog post, revealing that Holland was “very well-prepared” to propose.
Mandy Moore explained why she shared a GoFundMe launched to help her brother-in-law and his pregnant wife, who “lost their home and everything they own” in the Los Angeles wildfires.
HGTV star Christina Haack exclusively opened up to Us about whether she wants to get married again following her divorce from third husband Joshua Hall.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are lending a helping hand amid the devastation in L.A. by opening their California home to friends and donating essential items.
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If you’re anything like Us, the new year is off to a busy start. Along with returning to work, we’re tackling our resolutions right along with it. In some cases that means running from leading a business meeting to running to an afternoon workout class and heading right back to the office. No matter how your calendar looks this 2025, you should put your best foot forward with stylish footwear. Right now, Zappos is hosting a winter clearance sale, offering up to 70% off!
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Kelly Stafford came through in the clutch for Los Angeles Rams fans trying to see their team in the playoffs.
After the Rams home playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings scheduled for Monday, January 13 was relocated to Glendale, Arizona due to the wildfires in southern California, fans called on the organization to provide transportation for season ticket holders who had been left stranded.
That’s when one of them received a DM via Instagram from Stafford, the wife of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
“I will gladly rent a charter bus for fans! There and back! Lemme know!” Kelly messaged a Rams superfan named Robert.
Robert responded, “Omg no way?! We would appreciate that so much! We just want to be there!!!!! Praying for your safety .”
Courtesy of Robert Balderrama/Instagram
The plan was quickly set in motion, with Kelly offering to charter a second bus after demand was so high.
“We all love and appreciate the Staffords for everything they do for the Ramily,” Robert posted via his Instagram Story.
Kelly indicated she’d be in attendance at the game in Arizona with her four daughters, as well. Via her Instagram Story, she shared an old video of her girls — twins Sawyer and Chandler, 7, Hunter, 6, and Tyler, 4 — cheering on Matthew at the Rams game in Glendale against the Arizona Cardinals last year.
“Heading back there soon with these cuties ,” Kelly posted.
Kelly Stafford and Matthew Stafford with their daughters.Harry How/Getty Images
During a press conference on Thursday, January 9, before the game against the Vikings had officially been relocated, Matthew — who noted the wildfires had briefly knocked out the power at his family’s home — addressed the devastation impacting his community.
“It’s a tough thing to watch on the news, to be around, to see,” Matthew told reporters. “Driving around seeing all that, it’s just really sad to see what’s going on. Obviously, a bunch of people doing everything they possibly can to try and get things under control and get people back to normal as quickly as possible.”
Matthew added, “Every time we suit up, we’re the Los Angeles Rams. We play for the people in this community. The people in this community support us. This week will be another example of that, obviously. Hopefully a great escape for people who have been going through a lot of tough times.”
The Rams-Vikings Wild Card playoff game kicks off from Glendale, Arizona’s State Farm Stadium on Monday, January 13 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Check the LAFD website for local wildfire alerts and click here for resources on how to help those affected.
“This last Sunday, my father passed away,” Katie, 37, wrote via Instagram on Friday, January 10. “Since I have been met with a variety of emotions, numbness, peace, complete udder sadness and even at times guilt. My dad was everyone’s favorite, he was so charming, made everyone feel welcome and comfortable. We shared the love of dad jokes and he had an endless supply.”
While paying tribute to her beloved family member, Katie shared photos from recent vacations including a snowy trip to Salt Lake City, Utah.
“He was always so supportive of my brothers and I growing up and as adults championed our endeavors,” she wrote. “I cannot smell Irish spring without immediately thinking about him, how the scent almost covered up the smell of wheel grease from his job. It’s a core memory that I have always held and hold closer now.”
Soon after sharing her personal news, the “Disrespectfully” podcast host received well wishes from her Bravo family.
“Sending you love ,” The Valley’s Janet Caperna wrote in the comments section. Summer House’s Amanda Batula added, “So sorry for your loss Katie .”
Earlier in the week, Katie’s brother, Rocky Maloney, also paid tribute to his father via Instagram, calling him “such an amazing person, dad and friend.”
Katie MaloneyGreg Doherty/Getty Images for DIRECTV
“Dad, I will think about you everyday,” he wrote. “I will always look at my phone waiting for our daily phone call to talk sports.”
As the Maloney family continues their grieving process, Katie is focused on all the positive memories she made with her father away from any camera crews.
“Dad, I love you forever, thank you for the million laughs, for the father-daughter dances throughout life and for the love you gave us,” she said. “I feel like I am a stranger to grief. As much as it has touched my life and so many I love. It’s not something I have become comfortable or well acquainted with.”
Katie is an original cast member of Vanderpump Rules and documented her life in West Hollywood for 11 seasons.
Although Bravo announced in November 2024 that the show would be revamping for season 12 with a brand-new cast, the reality star has her hands full with a variety of projects including her Something About Her sandwich shop with costar Ariana Madix.
“It’s a mixed bag. But I wouldn’t change a thing,” Katie shared via her Instagram Story after the news was announced. “Thank you for the memories and the love the last 11 years.”
Matt Lauer, Hoda Kotb, Ann Curry.Noam Galai/WireImage ; Nathan Congleton/NBC ; George Lange
Several Today show hosts have come and gone from the NBC morning show over the years — both on good and bad terms.
Hoda Kotb, for her part, surprised fans in September 2024 with news that she would be leaving Today after nearly 30 years at NBC. “I just turned 60, and it was such a monumental moment for me when I turned 60 years old because I started thinking about that decade, like, what does that decade mean? What does it hold? What’s it gonna have for me?” she tearfully announced at the time. “And I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60 and to try something new.”
Kotb recalled how celebrating her 60th birthday on the show the month prior helped her realize it was time to step back from Today. “I remembered standing outside, looking at this beautiful bunch of people with all these gorgeous signs, and I thought, ‘This is what the top of the wave feels like for me,’ and I thought, ‘It can’t get better,’” she explained. “And [I] decided this is the right time for me to, kind of, move on.
Additionally, Kotb said wanting to spend more time with her daughters, Haley and Hope, whom she shares with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman, played a big role in her decision. “I was thinking they deserve a bigger piece of my time, the pie that I have. I feel like we only have a finite amount of time,” she stated. “And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world.”
Kotb officially bid farewell to Today on January 10, 2025.
Scroll down to see more of the Today show’s most dramatic host exits:
Deborah Norville
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Norville replaced longtime host Jane Pauley on Today in 1990. After one year on the series, she exited the show while on maternity leave due to criticism and a decline in ratings.
“I was pushed out while on maternity leave, having just given birth to my first child. It was personally devastating to, in less than two years, go from ‘NBC’s fastest-rising star’ to a pariah in television. It was awful,” she recalled in a June 2012 column for The Hollywood Reporter. “But, just as an earthquake forces you to check the foundation of your home, having my career shatter forced me to reevaluate everything.”
She continued: “The depression I battled pushed me to investigate the power of the mind and led to my writing a number of books grounded in positive psychology, as I rebuilt my career first at ABC Radio, then CBS News and Inside Edition.”
Norville has served as the anchor of Inside Edition since 1995.
Katie Couric
James Devaney/WireImage
Couric took over Norville’s hosting spot in 1991 and remained on Today through 2006. She recalled her decision to leave the show in her 2021 memoir, Going There, writing, “By 2005, I was at a crossroads. I loved the Today show, but after 15 years, I was getting restless. I longed to be respected for my journalistic chops, and although I’d done many serious interviews in the morning, the fun stuff, which I had a blast doing … [that] was what people remembered. I felt like the show was getting softer, the hard news interviews getting shorter, the segments getting more sensational.”
Couric went on to anchor CBS Evening News, becoming the first solo woman to anchor a nightly news broadcast. She left the role after five years, telling Today in October 2021 that she didn’t think “the country was ready for a female anchor.” She added: “Maybe they weren’t just ready for me as a female anchor because of their perceptions of me. But I really went there to say a woman can do this job with confidence and competence, and that’s really what motivated my decision.”
Ann Curry
William D. Bird/Getty Images
Curry, who served as Matt Lauer’s coanchor for one year, unexpectedly announced on-air in 2012 that she was leaving the show. At the time, rumors spread that the network was not pleased with her lack of chemistry with Lauer, resulting in lower ratings.
“I still don’t really understand,” Curry told Elle of her Today exit in a September 2020 interview. “I know I did nothing wrong. I know I was good at my job. They say where there’s smoke, there’s fire. You can read the tea leaves. But you know, I’m a fact-based reporter, so it’s hard for me to go out there, with something so close to the vest. I don’t know. I don’t know.”
She continued: “The bottom line is that it still hurts. It honestly hurts really deeply, because I really think I did nothing wrong. But in spite of the pain of it, which still lingers, I know that I contributed to some people suffering less.”
Billy Bush
Roger Wong/INFphoto.com
Us Weekly confirmed in October 2016 that Bush had been suspended from his role as a cohost of the third hour of Today after a video was leaked that showed him making lewd comments during a conversation with Donald Trump. He officially exited the series later that month after reaching a settlement with NBC.
“I am deeply grateful for the conversations I’ve had with my daughters, and for all of the support from family, friends and colleagues,” Bush told Us in a statement at the time. “I look forward to what lies ahead.” Bush has served as the host of Extra since 2019.
Tamron Hall
Noam Galai/WireImage
News broke in February 2017 that Hall would be leaving NBC News and MSNBC. The announcement came shortly after it revealed that Megyn Kelly would be taking over the third hour of Today, which Hall cohosted with Al Roker.
“Tamron is an exceptional journalist, we valued and enjoyed her work at Today and MSNBC and hoped that she would decide to stay. We are disappointed that she has chosen to leave, but we wish her all the best,” NBCUniversal said in a statement at the time.
A source exclusively told Us that the network wasn’t “fighting that hard” to keep Hall ahead of Kelly’s Today entrance, noting that Kelly was seen as “more valuable.” A second insider later told Us that Hall was blindsided by the switch-up and was only told “minutes before going on-air” that Kelly was taking over her and Roker’s time slot.
Hall moved on from Today with her eponymous talk show in 2019.
Matt Lauer
Noam Galai/FilmMagic
Savannah Guthrie and Kotb shocked Today viewers in November 2017 by announcing Lauer had been fired from NBC as a result of sexual misconduct allegations. At the time, Variety published a report accusing the longtime anchor of sexually harassing multiple women. The allegations included sending a woman a sex toy, dropping his pants in front of another and becoming angry with a woman for not engaging in sexual relations with him, among other claims.
Lauer broke his silence on the scandal shortly after his firing. “There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry,” Guthrie read on-air in a statement on Lauer’s behalf.
His statement continued: “Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul-searching and I’m committed to beginning that effort. It is now my full-time job.”
Kotb was named as Lauer’s replacement in 2018. NBCUniversal released their findings from a monthslong investigation into Lauer’s actions that May, revealing that network executives did not receive any complaints about his behavior prior to November 2017 when a woman, later revealed as Brooke Nevils, filed a complaint against Lauer. Per the report, Lauer admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the woman one day later.
In Ronan Farrow’s 2019 book, Catch and Kill, Nevils accused Lauer of anally raping her in his hotel room during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Nevils claimed that she confided in former Today host Meredith Vieira about the incident and was encouraged to report it to human resources.
Lauer slammed the rape accusations in an October 2019 statement to Us, calling Nevils’ claims “categorically false” and stating that their encounter was consensual. “But within a year she was reportedly out trying to sell a book. And it appears that she also sought a monetary payment from NBC,” he added. “Now she is making outrageous and false accusations to help sell a different book and stepping into the spotlight to cause as much damage as she can.”
Hoda Kotb
Nathan Congleton/NBC
During her September 2024 departure announcement, Kotb shared that she would remain on the show until early 2025 and would not be completely parting ways with NBC. “She’s the person that everybody loves,” an NBC insider exclusively told Us at the time. “She’s the same off-camera as she is on-camera, and I think that’s what’s the hardest thing because that can’t be said for everybody.”
Calling Kotb’s exit a “huge blow” for the series, the source noted that the TV personality was “very focused” on wellness for her next career steps.
“I am starting a wellness app and company that will involve retreats and a podcast and all kinds of things that we can get together, do things that I love,” she shared on a January 2025 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. “It’s not like going to Mexico with your girls, which is fun, but this is something that when you leave, you’ll go like, ‘Oh my gosh, I feel transformed. I feel different.’”
At the time, she noted that the app was still “in the building process” but was expected to launch in that spring.
Kotb rang in her final week of Today with a “Hoda-bration” full of surprise guests, emotional reunions and heartfelt tributes. “I’ve become who I am on this hour of this show, and you were there with me every step of the way,” she read from a “love letter” she wrote to fans on her final episode of Hoda & Jenna. “So, as I sit here today in my final moments on this final day in this chapter of my career, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my very full heart for the ride of a lifetime. I love you.”
For the past five years, I’ve participated in Dry January. Well, actually, I took Dry January one step further in 2024 and decided to quit drinking altogether. I can confidently say that it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made — the benefits are truly life-changing.
While I don’t expect anyone to completely ditch alcohol (it’s a very personal decision), I do get giddy when January rolls around because of how popular Dry January has become. The thought of other people experiencing the mental clarity that comes with swapping a gin and tonic for a mocktail makes me giddy! That said, choosing not to drink isn’t easy by any means. Everyone will go through different trials on their journey, but there are things that can make the process easier.
The below items are what helped me through my first year of sobriety. Keep reading to discover informative books, relaxing mocktails and more. You’ve got this!
Whether you plan on doing a dry month or want to go longer without imbibing, it’s really valuable to find your why. Figuring out your goals when it comes to alcohol is easier said than done, but this book can help. Filled with thought-provoking prompts, this workbook forces you to get real about your relationship with alcohol and what you hope to change, while also offering tips and tricks for staying on track. You’re also more likely to follow through with your goals and aspirations if you write them down, and this book gives you designated space to do so.
My favorite beverage before I stopped drinking was rosé, and I hated the thought of cheersing with a soda on special occasions. This N/A rosé is the closest thing I’ve tasted to the real deal. It’s not too sugary sweet nor does it remind me of grape juice. Pouring myself a glass feels like a little treat, and I’m able to enjoy it even more knowing I won’t wake up in the morning with a dreaded hangover.
Once I ditched the booze, my new vice became coffee. While I enjoy espresso or a fancy latte every once in a while, I prefer to drink this mushroom alternative to coffee. It enhances my energy and focus while also improving digestion — and it actually tastes great, unlike some other options that remind me of dirt. Plus, I like that all I need to do is stir it into water or milk. I even like adding it to my pre-workout shake for an extra boost before the gym.
When I go to parties, I like having these mocktail cans on hand for a few reasons: 1. They’re pretty. 2. They taste good. 3. With the included adaptogens, I feel more at ease in social settings — sans alcohol. Sometimes I’ll sip on one before bed for better sleep, too.
When I was debating what I wanted my relationship with alcohol to be, this book opened a whole new world of possibilities. I discovered what the sober curious movement entailed, began learning about the positive changes I’d experience once I ditched the booze and ultimately realized that I could live a full life without alcohol. I consider it a must-read for anyone wanting to cut back.
Author Sarah Levy beautifully described so many of my own feelings surrounding alcohol in her memoir. Reading this book made me feel like I was reading my own story, helping me recognize that my drinking patterns weren’t the healthiest and were harming my relationships. It can feel scary cutting out something that is so ingrained in our culture, but Sarah’s vulnerability proves that it’s possible and that there’s a full technicolored life waiting for you once you put down the glass.
Hoda Kotb has shared many life milestones — both triumphant and difficult — with TV audiences for years.
Kotb notably missed several episodes of the Today show in early 2023. Her cohosts Craig Melvin and Sheinelle Jones announced that March that her absence was due to a “family health matter,” which Kotb later revealed involved her youngest daughter, Hope.
“[Hope] was in the ICU for a few days and in the hospital for a little more than a week,” Kotb shared during a March 2023 episode of Today. “I’m so grateful she’s home. … I was waiting for that day to come. And we are watching her closely. I’m just so happy.”
Kotb, who left Today in January 2025, coparents Hope and her eldest daughter, Haley, with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman, They called it quits after eight years together in January 2022. At the time of Hope’s health scare, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that Schiffman had “been by their side.”
The insider added: “Hoda has dropped everything and focused on being there for her youngest — by her hospital bed — and taking care of anything she could need. Hope is better now and recovering at home.”
Keep scrolling to see Kotb’s ups and downs through the years:
Kotb was secretly married to Burzis Kanga for three years before things went public amid their divorce in 2008. Her former Today cohost Kathie Lee Gifford later outed Kotb’s split during a Valentine’s Day episode of the morning show — much to Kotb’s chagrin.
"I was telling her that I was married once before and I met my husband on Valentine's Day, and I got the divorce papers on Valentine's Day and it was Valentine's Day," Kotb said on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in 2018.
"We go out to the set. It's all decorated with flowers and hearts, and I go, 'Good morning! Happy Valentine's Day!' And [Kathie Lee] looks at me and she goes, 'Not for you!'" Kotb was shocked at her costar’s gall. “I go, 'What are you doing?' But I remember that grenade fell right on the table. I didn't know what to do. I was so new, I didn't know what to say. I said, 'That was makeup room talk. That wasn't for out here, because we're happy out here.’”
One year before her divorce from her ex-husband, Kotb began her Today show reign by cohosting Kathie Lee and Hodawith Gifford. The former Regis and Kathie Lee cohost was replaced by Jenna Bush Hager in 2019.
Kotb revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. Cancer and the specific types of treatment she underwent meant that freezing her eggs was “pretty close to a dead-end,” Kotb recalled to Good Housekeeping in 2022. She was devastated by the fertility news.
“I was in my room, and I just sobbed. I thought, ‘Well, that’s that, isn’t it?’ Like, you almost blame yourself. ‘Why didn’t I do this? Why didn’t I do that?’” she shared. “So I just pushed it away, because the reality seemed impossible to bear. How do you survive knowing you can’t have what you desire and what you feel like you actually physically need?”
The couple got engaged after six years together, with Kotb excitedly sharing the news via Instagram at the time. She posted Schiffman’s beachside proposal with a photo of her showing off her engagement ring while at dinner and another snap of rose petals scattered in the sand.
The parents of two called off their engagement, Kotb announced on the Today show at the time, revealing her romance with Schiffman was over after more than eight years together.
"Joel and I have had a lot of prayerful and meaningful conversations over the holidays and we decided that we're better as friends and parents than we are as an engaged couple, so we decided we are going to start this new year ... on our new path as loving parents to our adorable, delightful children, and as friends," she shared at the time.
Two months later, Kotb exclusively told Us that coparenting was going well. “He sees the kids,” she shared in April 2022. “He takes them to school some, and he sees them on weekends. We’ve got a really nice, easy situation. … We make sure the kids get plenty of him and plenty of me.”
When asked whether she and Schiffman remained “close friends,” Kotb replied, “Yeah, we are.”
Several months after announcing her split, Kotb told People that she can “see” herself dating someone else in the future.
“I haven’t really thought about who I would see myself with, but I do have to say something. My sister even said and asked me at one point, ‘Are (you) afraid to be by yourself?’” she recalled. “And I said to her, ‘I’m not going to be by myself.’ And I don’t know why I said it so clearly, but I actually knew that my heart is open. I have an open heart.”
Kotb praised Hope on Today upon returning to the series after her daughter’s health scare. “She's vibrant and brilliant,” she told Bush Hager. “I’m over the moon that she’s home.”
In addition to thanking the doctors and nurses who “stood by [Hope] all the way,” Kotb shared a sweet moment she had with Hope amid her recovery. “The other day ... she had in her hand two little confetti stars, and she said, 'I got two, Mom. One for me and one for you,’” Kotb recalled. “And I thought to myself, ‘Even when she's not feeling good, she's still giving everything away.’”
One year later, Kotb looked back on the scary time in an interview with People but did not give specifics about Hope’s condition. “Any parent who’s been through a scary thing with their child understands. It’s like you just can’t believe that your child’s sick,” she said in March 2024. “You can’t believe that there’s nothing you can do. You can’t believe that no matter what you do, you can’t will it away or protect her, or all the things that we’re supposed to be doing as parents. And it’s a position I’ve never found myself in.”
She went on to note that she doesn’t want Hope to be defined by her health issues. “It’s really tricky, because I don’t want Hope to get labeled,” she explained at the time. “She’s a kid who is so vibrant, and most days everything is totally fine. I don’t want people to look at her differently.”
Five months after revealing she went on her first date in two years, Kotb confirmed her relationship with her mystery man was over after three dates. “I did go on the third date, but I did kind of decide in that space — because this person who’s a lovely human being has a lot of … things that are being worked out — that I think I’m looking for more … simplicity,” she explained during an episode of “The Jamie Kern Lima Show” podcast.
She continued: “That has been tabled beautifully, like, nothing funky, all good. He’s very cute, by the way, extremely handsome. I’ll show you a picture after, but [things are] tabled for now.”
Several months after Kotb announced her plans to move out of New York City with her daughters, the family were settled in the suburbs.
“Everything changed like that. I have a whole new town and a whole new school and all the new things,” Kotb said of the move during a September 2024 episode of Hoda & Jenna. “We went for our first day of school, I carried a coffee and I had sneakers [on], and I walked my kids to school like normal people. It was awesome.”
Kotb surprised Today viewers by announcing her plans to leave the show in January 2025 after working 26 years at NBC. “I just turned 60, and it was such a monumental moment for me when I turned 60 years old because I started thinking about that decade, like, what does that decade mean? What does it hold? What’s it gonna have for me?” she tearfully shared on the morning series. “And I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60 and to try something new.”
Kotb noted that she came to the decision shortly after celebrating with special 60th birthday episodes one month prior. “I remembered standing outside, looking at this beautiful bunch of people with all these gorgeous signs, and I thought, ‘This is what the top of the wave feels like for me,’ and I thought, ‘It can’t get better.’ And [I] decided this is [the] right time for me to, kind of, move on,” she said.
Her kids also played a big role in her decision to step down from the show. “I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking they deserve a bigger piece of my time, the pie that I have. I feel like we only have a finite amount of time,” she noted. “And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world.”
Despite leaving Today, Kotb assured fans she would remain a part of the NBC family in the future.
Kotb’s final week at Today was filled with celebrity guests, emotional tributes and reunions with past guests whose lives Kotb touched over the years. Her last episode, which aired on January 10, featured appearances from Gifford, Jimmy Fallon, Gayle King, Simone Biles, Maria Shriver and Walker Hayes.
“16 years ago, I sat next to Kathie Lee and she changed my life. She chose me. And truth be told, I was scared. I’d never done anything like this before,” Kotb reflected in a “love letter” she wrote to fans during her last Hoda & Jenna episode. “I ripped off that news corset, we poured ourselves a glass of wine, and so it began.”
She recalled how cohosting with Bush Hger felt like a “new era started,” adding, “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.”
Kotb concluded her message on a heartfelt note, stating: “I’ve become who I am on this hour of this show, and you were there with me every step of the way. So, as I sit here today in my final moments on this final day in this chapter of my career, I want to say thank you, from the bottom of my very full heart, for the ride of a lifetime. I love you.”
Her grand finale on Today ended with a clip of her and her kids riding away from the Today Plaza in her minivan.
The former reality star’s sprawling 6,788 square-foot mansion was first listed at $9.95 million through Tim Thompson of Tim Thompson Premier Realtors in August 2024. The original listing was taken down on Wednesday, January 8, and relisted that same day at a lower price point. (It was originally listed for $11 million in June 2024.)
Following a $1 million price cut, the four-bedroom, five-bathroom house is now listed at $8.9 million. The home, which she purchased for $3 million in 2020, sits on 28 private acres of land and features a barn, guest house and pool.
Cavallari revealed in October 2024 that she had moved into a new Tennessee home with her three kids, son Camden, 12, son Jaxon, 10, and daughter Saylor, 9. (The Laguna Beach alum shares her children with ex-husband Jay Cutler.)
“I am currently sitting in my half-empty kitchen, but actually there’s just boxes stacked everywhere,” she shared on her “Let’s Be Honest” podcast at the time amidst massive floor-to-ceiling windows and a lengthy wooden dining table. “Just moved into my new house a couple days ago.”
While Cavallari hasn’t shared too many details into her new abode, keep scrolling for a look inside the Nashville mansion that’s on the market:
