Hoda Kotb is starting to understand why fans have some questions about her connection to Kevin Costner.

“Isn’t it sort of weird that he always ends up where I am?” Kotb, 60, exclusively told Us Weekly at Runway for Recovery’s inaugural New York City fashion show on Thursday, February 27. “I mean, I’m just living my life, and there he is. It just keeps happening.”

She went on to question, “When is it not a coincidence anymore? That’s what I was wondering.”

The romance rumors began shortly after Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager interviewed the actor, 70, on a June 2024 episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna. Her chemistry with Costner quickly caught fans’ attention, prompting many to suggest the single stars should date.

Kevin Costner, Hollywood's Hottest Guy at 70, 'Wants to Meet Someone'

“How do you feel about viewers shipping you and Kevin Costner after he appeared on Today last month, and have the two of you connected since?” a fan asked Kotb on a July 2024 episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. The question came as a surprise to Kotb at the time, who said she had “never, ever heard” of the rumors.

“Well, if the viewers want it …” she teased while looking into the camera.

Kotb called the fan reaction to her and Costner “unbelievable” on an episode of Hoda & Jenna that same month. Bush Hager, 43, told her then-cohost that “people were coming up to me on the streets” about the two. “I’m telling you, people were like, ‘You should set up Hoda and Kevin Costner.’ And I was like, ‘Wow, I didn’t realize they were flirting behind my back,’” she quipped.

Bush Hager proceeded to play Kotb a montage of her and Costner’s interview moments set to sexy jazz music. Regardless of the romance rumors, Kotb said she appreciated Costner’s down-to-earth nature on the Today set.

“I did love when he had his people, who were here, and they were just talking about him, they were like, ‘He is so funny,’” she shared at the time. “And they were describing, like, he likes to eat baked beans out of the can. Like, he’s just a regular person.”

Last month, Kotb poked fun at the speculation by snapping a photo with Costner while attending Super Bowl LIX. “Oh what funnnnn!!! #superbowl #nolastrong,” she captioned Instagram pics from the big game.

Hoda Kotb Says It's 'Unbelievable' Fans Ship Her With Kevin Costner

Noticing the Costner photo, Today’s Savannah Guthrie tagged Bush Hager in the post’s comments, writing, “New couple alert cc @jennabhager .” Bush Hager, for her part, replied, “@savannahguthrie we have been waiting for this moment!”

Kotb was previously married to Burzis Kanga from 2005 to 2008. She moved on with Joel Schiffman shortly after and the two were together for eight years before announcing the end of their engagement in January 2022. (The exes share daughters Haley, 8, and Hope, 5.)

Costner finalized his messy split from Christine Baumgartner in September 2023, four months after she filed for divorce. The exes, who were married for nearly 19 years, share kids Cayden, 17, Hayes, 16, and Grace, 14. Costner also shares his eldest three children — Annie, 40, Lily, 38, and Joe, 37 — with his ex-wife Cindy Silva, as well as his son Liam, 28, with ex Bridget Rooney.

Romance rumors aside, Kotb told Us she was excited to be a part of Thursday’s Runway for Recovery fashion show event, which served as a fundraiser for local women and families impacted by metastatic breast cancer.

“A lot of people who are outside the Today show window for many, many years asked me about one thing and they asked me about breast cancer. … So, you realize how many people have it and they just need to see somebody on the other side,” Kotb, who left her Today hosting gig in January, told Us. “So, when they told me about this event, which has obviously been done in several places, I kind of ran to it because it’s something I care a lot about and I hope that they raise a lot of money.”

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi

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It’s been nearly 15 years since The Social Network hit theaters, but Andrew Garfield and Jesse Eisenberg’s bromance is just as strong as ever.

The former costars reunited on the red carpet at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday, March 2. The pair were all smiles as they grabbed each other by the shoulder and waist while posing for photos together.

After rocking a dark brown suit for the Oscars ceremony, Garfield, 41, changed into a monochrome grey look for the afterparty, which was held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. While Garfield switched up his look, Eisenberg, also 41, stayed with the same classic black tux, white dress shirt and black tie he wore earlier in the night.

Eisenberg was nominated for Best Original Screenplay on Sunday for his 2024 film A Real Pain. His writing nod was one of the film’s two nominations, including Best Supporting Actor for his costar Kieran Culkin, who won. Garfield, meanwhile, presented an award with Goldie Hawn. (His rumored girlfriend, Monica Barbaro, was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for A Complete Unknown.)

‘The Social Network’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Eisenberg and Garfield starred as Facebook cocreators Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin, respectively, in The Social Network, which premiered in October 2010. The film, directed by David Fincher, documents how the pair’s friendship deteriorates as Facebook’s popularity grows, turning Zuckerberg into one of the youngest billionaires ever.

Eisenberg scored a Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination for his performance, while Fincher, 62, earned a nod for Best Director. The Social Network was nominated in a total of eight categories at the 2011 Academy Awards, taking home wins for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score and Best Film Editing.

Eisenberg and Garfield formed a close friendship while playing the now-estranged besties on the big screen. “He’s pretty brilliant,” Eisenberg said of his costar in an interview with Hits Radio last month. “He would sometimes do something pretty unexpected and I would ask him about it after, and he would have a great rationale for it, and I took that with me. … I wish I had that knowledge earlier in my career.

Eisenberg continued, “He’s inventive and he also invests emotionally in a way that made me feel more comfortable investing emotionally. That was really helpful.”

Emma Stone Has Sweet Reaction to Jesse Eisenberg’s Surprise Shout-Out

Garfield, for his part, gushed about Eisenberg’s performance in The Social Network during an October 2024 interview with GQ. “I don’t think Jesse plays [Mark Zuckerberg] as a sociopath. I think Jesse plays him as someone, actually, full of longing, someone full of insecurity, someone full of fallibility and ego,” he shared. “A young, egotistical guy who is driven by things that are self-serving, ultimately.”

The Social Network also stars Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Brenda Song, Rashida Jones, Rooney Mara, Joseph Mazzello and Dakota Johnson.

Mikey Madison has come a long way from starring in short films to becoming an Oscar-winning actress at just 25 years old.

Madison’s performance in the 2024 film Anora earned her the Best Actress in a Leading Role win at the 2025 Oscars on Sunday, March 2. “This is very surreal,” she began her acceptance speech. “Thank you so much to the Academy. I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me. So, to be here standing in this room today is really incredible.”

In addition to thanking her family, the film’s cast and crew and her fellow nominees, Madison gave a shout-out to the “sex worker community,” stating, “I will continue to support and be an ally,” she stated. “All of the incredible people, the women that I’ve had the privilege of meeting from that community has been one of the highlights of this entire incredible experience.”

Anora follows the whirlwind love story between Ani (Madison), a stripper, and Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch. Her fairytale romance implodes as Vanya’s strict family threatens to end their marriage.

Actress Mikey Madison Thinks People Get 'Everything' Wrong About Strippers

Prior to Anora, Madison got her Hollywood start acting in short films in 2013 and 2014. After booking her first film role in 2017, the L.A. native continued to appear in projects such as Imposters, Nostalgia, Monsters and The Addams Family before booking her breakout film role in the 2019 Quentin Tarantino film Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.

Scroll down to take a look back at Madison’s biggest roles before her big Oscars win:

‘Liza, Liza, Skies Are Grey’ (2017)

After appearing in a handful of short films, Madison scored her first feature film role in 2015’s Liza, Liza, Skies Are Grey. She stars as the film’s titular character, who sets off on a four-day motorcycle trip across California with her boyfriend, Brett (Sean H. Scully), before he moves to the East Coast.

‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ (2019)

Madison’s character, Sadie, met a gruesome end in the 2019 Tarantino film. Loosely based on the 1969 murder of Sharon Tate, Madison’s Manson Family member is severely injured and bloodied during a fight with Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth before being finished off by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton with a flamethrower.

‘It Takes Three’ (2021)

Madison plays Kat in the 2021 rom-com, which puts a modern spin on the classic story of Cyrano de Bergerac. The film follows popular jock Chris (David Gridley) as he recruits the help of outcast Cy (Jared Gilman) to help him win over his crush, Roxy (Aurora Perrineau).

‘Scream’ (2022)

Madison cemented her place in horror movie history as one of the two killers in the fifth Scream installment. Much like her Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood character, Madison’s murderous Amber Freeman met a fiery demise at the hands of Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers — only to be finished off by Jenna Ortega’s Tara Carpenter.

‘Better Things’ (2016-2022)

The FX family drama, which ran for five seasons from 2016 to 2022, marked one of Madison’s most prominent roles to date. The series followed the ups and downs of Sam Fox (played by series creator Pamela Adlon), a divorced actress juggling her career while raising her three kids — played by Madison, Hannah Alligood and Olivia Edward — as a single mother.

‘All Souls’ (2023)

In All Souls, Madison plays a young single mother who is tasked by police to help take down her drug-dealing ex, played by G-Eazy. After her cover is blown, she sets off on a dangerous mission to rescue her kidnapped daughter.

‘Lady in the Lake’ (2024)

Madison starred alongside Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram in the Apple TV+ thriller miniseries. Her character, Judith Weinstein, helps Maddie Schwartz (Portman) in her investigation into the mysterious deaths of Tessie Durst (Bianca Belle) and Cleo Sherwood (Ingram).

Adrien Brody was caught throwing something at his girlfriend, Georgina Chapman before taking home the award for Best Actor in Leading Role at the 2025 Oscars.

Upon being named the category’s winner at the Sunday, March 2, awards show for his role in The Brutalist, Brody, 51, shared a sweet hug and kiss with Chapman, 48, and celebrated with costars Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce and director Brady Corbet. As he started walking up the stage’s steps, Brody notably turned around, took his gum out of his mouth and tossed it to Chapman.

Chapman, for her part, ran closer to the stage in order to catch her boyfriend’s gum while he accepted one of the night’s biggest honors. (Brody previously won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Pianist in 2003.)

“If I may just humbly begin by giving thanks for the tremendous outpouring of love that I have felt from this world and every individual that has treated me with respect and appreciation,” Brody began in his acceptance speech, noting that his second Academy Award brings some “perspective” with it.

Adrien Brody and Georgina Chapman’s Relationship Timeline

“No matter where you are in your career, no matter what you’ve accomplished, it can all go away,” he explained. “And I think what makes this night so special is the awareness of that and the gratitude that I have to still do the work that I love.”

Later in his speech, Brody revealed that Chapman’s children call him “Popsy” while giving them a special shout-out. Chapman shares her daughter India, 14, and son Dashiell, 11, with her ex-husband, disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein.

“I share this with my amazing partner, Georgina, who has not only reinvigorated my own self-worth, but my sense of value and my values,” Brody gushed. “And her beautiful children, Dash and India, I know it’s been a roller coaster but thank you for accepting me into your life. And Popsy’s coming home a winner.”

Brody and Chapman began dating in 2019, two years after Chapman filed for divorce from Weinstein, 72, amid his sexual assault scandal. The exes finalized their divorce in 2021.

Georgina Chapman Supports Boyfriend Adrien Brody at 2025 SAG Awards

Last month, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that Brody and Chapman are “very happy and secure in their relationship,” adding, “She loves supporting him at awards shows. She’s so proud of his talent; his humor and talent were what drew her to him.”

The source went on to tell Us that Brody and Chapman’s friends “love them as a couple” and think they “make each other better people.” The insider also noted that Brody “truly worships Georgina, and she is so in love with him.”

In addition to sharing sweet PDA with Chapman at Sunday’s Oscars, Brody was spotted posing for a pic with his fellow Best Actor in a Leading Role nominees — Timothée Chalamet, Colman Domingo, Ralph Fiennes and Sebastian Stan — inside the awards ceremony.

Us also saw Chapman making her partner laugh at a bar inside the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, helping to ease Brody’s nerves before his big win. While Chapman’s drink of choice was white wine, Brody appeared to be drinking tequila on the rocks.

The cast and crew of Wicked had a magical night at the 97th annual Academy Awards.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were among the many Wicked stars who celebrated the film’s 10 Oscar nominations at the Sunday, March 2, awards ceremony, which was held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Wicked tied with The Brutalist as the second-most nominated film of the year, following behind Emilia Pérez’s 13 total nominations.

The movie musical was up for some of the night’s biggest awards, including Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. In addition to The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez, Wicked went up against Anora, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys and The Substance for Best Picture.

Erivo, 38, earned a Best Actress in a Leading Role nod for her portrayal of Elphaba, a.k.a. the future Wicked Witch of the West. Grande’s performance as Glinda, a.k.a. Glinda the Good Witch, scored her a Best Actress in a Supporting Role nomination.

2025 Oscars Red Carpet Fashion: From Ariana Grande to Halle Berry

After Erivo and Grande kicked off the night with a The Wizard of Oz musical tribute, Wicked took home a total of two Oscars. Paul Tazewell made history as the first Black man to win Best Costume Design, while Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales were awarded Best Production Design.

Erivo and Grande lost in their categories to Mikey Madison and Zoe Saldaña, respectively, while Anora took home the win for Best Picture.

Wicked is based on the Broadway musical of the same name, which was in turn inspired by Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. It serves as a prequel to L. Frank Baum’s Oz books and the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Wicked has gone on to become one of Broadway’s longest-running shows since its premiere in 2003.

Wicked, which hit theaters in November 2024, follows the events of the musical’s first act, as Elphaba and Glinda’s rivalry at Shiz University blooms into a friendship. Things take a serious — and gravity-defying — turn after Elphaba discovers that the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) hoped to use her magical abilities for his own nefarious purposes. The film ends with the two women choosing separate paths, as Glinda decides to stay in the Emerald City while Elphaba flees to continue helping the animals of Oz.

The upcoming sequel, Wicked: For Good, will follow the events of act two. Marissa Bode, who plays Elphaba’s younger sister, Nessarose, previously told Us Weekly that fans can expect the story’s second half to be “darker in a lot of ways.”

'Wicked: For Good': Everything to Know About Part 2 of the Movie Musical

“There’s a time jump for sure, and I’m excited to see visually — because I haven’t really seen any of the footage yet — how the characters have changed for good or maybe not for good,” she exclusively shared earlier this year.

Wicked: For Good will also feature a few new songs, including one cowritten by Erivo and original Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz.

“I collaborated on one of the new songs, and it’s so special to me,” Erivo told Variety in December 2024. “When we filmed it, the entire crew was in tears. I hope audiences are ready — it’s a song that speaks to the heart of who Elphaba is.”

Teasing the musical adaptation’s second half, Erivo added, “We’re diving deeper into the consequences of the characters’ choices. The story is richer, and the stakes are higher. It’s not just a continuation; it’s a transformation.”

Wicked will begin streaming on Peacock Friday, March 21. Wicked: For Good hits theaters Friday, November 21.

© Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Wicked: For Good may be months away from hitting theaters, but Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s 2025 Oscars performance will hold Us over until then.

The Wicked leading ladies took to the 97th annual Academy Awards stage on Sunday, March 2, to perform a medley of songs from The Wizard of Oz movie adaptations over the years. The Academy announced that Grande, 31, and Erivo, 38, would be performing during the ceremony earlier this month, confirming online rumors that the pair would treat fans to a spellbinding performance.

Grande kicked things off singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in a ruby red dress, a nod to Judy Garland‘s iconic role of Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz. Erivo took to the stage to pay tribute to the musical The Wiz by singing Dorothy’s notable song “Home.”

Grande joined her costar to sing Wicked‘s “Defying Gravity.” Grande kissed Erivo’s hand before taking a step back as the stage lifted Erivo up to sing the song’s epic climax. The performance served as part of a tribute to Los Angeles in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires earlier this year.

2025 Oscars Red Carpet Fashion: From Ariana Grande to Halle Berry

Prior to taking the Oscars stage, Erivo and Grande continued their Wicked press tour trend of sporting green and pink looks on the red carpet. Grande looked etherial in a blush structured and strapless gown, while Erivo’s dark green velvet dress was a tribute to Hattie McDaniel, the first Black actress to be nominated for and win an Oscar.

Wicked, based on the long-running Broadway musical of the same name, is up for a total of 10 awards at this year’s Oscars, tied in second place for the most nominations with The Brutalist. Emilia Pérez, meanwhile, leads the pack with a total of 13 nods. The three films are all up for Best Picture alongside Anora, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys and The Substance.

In addition to Best Picture, Wicked is also up for wins in categories such as Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. Erivo and Grande received recognition, as well, scoring nominations in the Best Actress in a Leading Role and Supporting Role categories, respectively. The nods mark Erivo’s second Oscar acting nomination and Grande’s first.

“I cannot stop crying, to no one’s surprise,” Grande wrote in reaction to her nomination via Instagram last month. “I’m humbled and deeply honored to be in such brilliant company and sharing this with tiny ari who sat and studied Judy Garland singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow just before the big, beautiful bubble entered. i’m so proud of you, tiny.”

Cynthia Erivo Teases New 'Wicked: For Good' Song She Cowrote: 'So Special'

Erivo wrote that she was “grateful” to The Academy for the nomination in an Instagram post of her own, adding, “[I’m] grateful to be a part of something that makes people feel seen, grateful to be a cog in the wheel of a piece that makes us believe in magic, grateful to have experienced a dream come true, and deeply, deeply grateful for this unbelievable recognition.”

Wicked, which hits theaters in November 2024, tells the story of the witches of Oz prior to the events of L. Frank Baum’s Oz books and the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Starting off as rival roommates, Elphaba and Glinda form an unlikely friendship during their time at Shiz University.

The upcoming sequel, Wicked: For Good, will follow the events of the original musical’s second act. The movie will see Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship be put to the test as they embrace their respective roles as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

“Wicked 2 is definitely a lot darker in a lot of ways,” Marissa Bode, who plays Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose, exclusively told Us Weekly earlier this year. “So, I’m excited for that aspect of it.”

She went on to tease, “There’s a time jump for sure, and I’m excited to see visually — because I haven’t really seen any of the footage yet — how the characters have changed for good or maybe not for good.”

Wicked will begin streaming on Peacock Friday, March 21. Wicked: For Good hits theaters Friday, November 21.

Josh Duhamel may be 52, but he’s feeling as young as ever.

“I gotta say, things are, things are probably better than they’ve ever been,” Duhamel says of being in his 50s in the latest edition of Us Weekly. “[I’ve got] two healthy boys, brand new, 1-year-old. [I’ve] got an amazing 11-year-old. [I’m] married, working. You know, everything is good.”

Duhamel tells Us he’s “trying to stay as young and youthful as I can” not only so he can “work as long as possible,” but also “to stay as healthy and useful to chase my 1-year-old.” (The actor shares his eldest son, Axl, with his ex-wife, Fergie, and son Shepherd with wife Audra Mari.)

“That’s as much of a reason behind this whole thing as anything is to stay as vibrant as I can for as long as I can for them,” he adds, referring to his men’s wellness brand, Gatlan Health, which focuses on testosterone replacement and weight loss.

Josh Duhamel and Audra Mari’s Relationship Timeline

“I’ve been, you know, doing this stuff for almost five years. Completely changed my world,” Duhamel — who stars in the upcoming Netflix western series Ransom Canyon — shares. “And I figured, what’s the shame in it?”

Keep scrolling to see what Duhamel told Us about his personal life, upcoming projects and more:

What are you currently directing in London?

It’s a movie called Preschool. It is a movie about these two dads who have preschool-aged kids who are fighting to get in the last spot in this over the top pretentious preschool, and they sabotage and undermine each other no end. And it’s really funny. We’re having such a blast. We just had a scene today [with] this group called The Wild and Crazies. It’s a kids’ group that’s all the rage, and so we shot this slightly inappropriate children’s band, and it just went off the rails. I can’t wait. It’s [through] Paramount. [They] will decide what they’re gonna do with it. You know, we’ll see. So yeah, we’re finishing day seven today [and] start day eight tomorrow.

How would you describe Gatlan Health?

It’s a men’s health, wellness, longevity company. We do all the things that Hammond [does], but also TRT replacement. We’ll do GLP-1. We’ll do basically all the other things that they do as well. … There’s so much shame around it, so I figured maybe we can take the stigma off of it, shine a light on it, and that’s really what we’re about, you know, improving the lives of men everywhere.

Why do you think people don’t want to talk about these issues?

I think hormone therapy in general is becoming more accepted and less something to be embarrassed about. It’s actually improving the lives of both men and women. So, that was kind of my reasoning behind it, was like, “There’s an opportunity here to take the stigma off of it, and make it something that’s more widely accepted and talked about.”

When is it going to market?

We’re up-and-running now. We’re just about to start our marketing campaign on it. … [It] took us a couple of years to get to this point, Dr. Robert Lufkin getting on board, one of the foremost longevity doctors in the world. And we just want to be one of those companies that people go to for health and wellness and longevity.”

How is Axl doing? Does he like acting and singing?

These days, we’ve got a giant imagination. No thoughts of being an actor. He’s got an amazing singing voice, but he’d rather just play soccer. He wants to be a professional soccer player, He went from superheroes and Spider-Man costumes to an obsession with soccer overnight.

Everything Josh Duhamel and Fergie Have Said About Coparenting Son Axl

Are you a soccer dad? Are you taking him to all those games?

I sure am whenever I can. … I’m taking him to an Arsenal game next week here in London.

Why should fans be excited about your new show ‘Ransom Canyon’?

I just saw the first episode last night, and I was really happy with it. It’s beautifully shot. It’s really well-directed. I think the story is gonna be something people really get engaged with, and I get a chance to ride a horde and run a ranch, something I’ve never done on screen. But, you know, I live a similar life out in Minnesota [in] a cabin. I don’t have cattle or horses or anything, but I am driving a tractor most of the time.

As far as this character, I really related to him [in] a lot of ways because it’s all about his land, legacy, taking care of family, preserving what his family built over the years. It’s really all the things that I related [to]. I know it’s based on this beloved series, as well.

What do you watch on Netflix?

Honestly not much, mostly sports. I haven’t had a lot of time. I’ve mostly been chasing around that 1-year-old. I haven’t seen a lot of TV. [I’m] in the middle of prepping this movie [and] now we’re in the middle of shooting it. That is pretty much all I’m doing at the moment.

Have you been watching kids’ shows like ‘Bluey’ with Shepherd?

He’s not quite there yet. He’s getting interested. He started walking around nine months earlier than we expected him to, so we had do a crash course in home safety just to make sure the place was child-driven. That was one of the things we really had to focus on.

Which of your movies did you enjoy working on the most?

Every one was so different. I had so much fun on the beaches of North Carolina [while filming] Safe Haven. I had a blast in the Dominican shooting Shotgun Wedding. We were in Canada shooting Bandit, and that was one of the more difficult shoots, also one of the most rewarding. So, each one of them has their own advantages, disadvantages, hardships and triumphs and all those things that you go through on a set. … Every single job feels like a different, new adventure. It’s like you meet a new group of people in the world. You’re all there to do the same thing. You set it up, you do it, and then everybody kind of goes away, and then you go do it again somewhere else. And they’re always different depending on location or story or cast, or a million different variables that can make it amazing or make it really tough.

Josh Duhamel Opens Up About Why He and Fergie Split

Is that why you’re in Minnesota when you’re not filming and directing?

Yeah. I find that we spent more and more time back in North Dakota, at the cabin. I love Los Angeles, but I also loved being out in the woods, away from it all. The older I get, the more I enjoy that. I don’t know if it’s because it’s a simpler way of living. … When we first started building this place, [there] was no running water, no electricity in one of the cabins. We were washing our dishes in the lake. With time, we sort of shaped it and made it into what we wanted it to be. And now, it’s become our happy place. [It’s] the place we’d rather be more than [anywhere].

Part of the reason is because I was able to build it, my own, but also because I’m always busy in Los Angeles. … The simplicity of [it] is what makes me so fond of it, because I’m never bored. I’m up and working all day long, right through, going back to my childhood, in some ways, seeing it through my kids’ [eyes]. But that, to me, has become the place that I run away to whenever I get into things.

What other projects do you have lined up?

There’s a movie called London Calling I did with Allan [Ungar]. I got another one called Off the Grid, another one called The Neglected. There’s a bunch of stuff going on. … Honestly, I need to take some time off.

Sexy Celeb Dads With Their Kids

Do you take Gatlan every day?

[It’s] one of those things that you do once a week depending on what it is that you’re doing and what the doctor describes. So, for me, it’s once a week.

We have amazing doctors. Dr. Lufkin is truly one of the foremost longevity doctors in the world. He’s [written] several books on it, speaks all over the place about it and he’s taught me a ton about this stuff. And I have a fascination with it, because, like I said, I want to be able to stay as useful as I can for as long as I can, not only for work and everything else, but mostly for the kids and my wife. I think a lot of guys feel that way. I want to be the guy that makes it OK.

Hoda Kotb has no regrets about her recent Today show exit.

“I have no FOMO, which is so funny because I knew 100 [percent]. I don’t have an ounce of it,” Kotb, 60, exclusively told Us Weekly at Runway for Recovery’s inaugural New York City fashion show at The Lighthouse, Chelsea Piers, on Thursday, February 27. “[It] doesn’t mean I didn’t love it. At the end when my heart broke, I was like, ‘That’s love.’ But it also is, I feel like my gaze is set forward.”

Kotb announced she would be leaving Today after nearly 20 years on the NBC morning show in September 2024, citing turning 60 and wanting to spend more time with her daughters — Haley, 8, and Hope, 5 — as the main reasons behind her decision.

“I never had a second thought because some things can be hard and right,” she explained to Us. “I think if anyone’s ever gone through any kind of an ending and a beginning, sometimes it’s really difficult, but also 100 percent right. And I knew it in my heart. I know it just like I’m saying it today. I knew it then. … It’s sort of like life speaks to you and whispers, and pretty soon, they turn into screams. But I felt the whisper, I knew it, and I didn’t ignore it. I didn’t push it down. I didn’t say, ‘Not right now.’ I knew it was right.”

Hoda Kotb's Most Memorable and Emotional 'Today' Show Moments

The decision is one Kotb thinks was “exactly right” for the show, as well. “It was perfect timing for me and beautiful timing for Craig [Melvin] and Savannah [Guthrie],” she said. “I feel like life works out. Don’t you feel like it? I feel like we’re in flow. That’s what’s happening.”

Kotb bid farewell to Today on January 10, ending her final episode by driving away from 30 Rockefeller Plaza in her minivan with her kids. Now, she’s enjoying the suburban life with her two daughters, whom she shares with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman.

“I get up at about 5 [a.m.]. I go to a SoulCycle class. I leave at 5:30. I love that class,” she told Us of her new day-to-day routine. “After that, I come home, shower, and then I feel like I’m alert, like, ‘Here we are.’ Then we do breakfast and all the things that come with breakfast.”

As for whether Kotb tunes in to NBC to watch her former colleagues on Today? “Of course,” she stated, adding that she thinks it’s “funny” when people question if she still watches the show.

Hoda Kotb Signs New Deal for Special Interviews, Olympics After 'Today' Exit

“I love watching at 7 [a.m.] to see what’s happening. I love watching Jenna & Friends, ‘cause I’m like, ‘What friend is it gonna be?’” Kotb stated. “I’ve been speaking on the phone to Jenna [Bush Hager] a lot. I’ve been seeing Savannah. It’s been really beautiful and I’m super proud of both of them.”

She continued: “I’m especially proud of Jenna because she’s been having blind dates over and over. And by the way, she’s amazing. What it’s revealing is what I already knew, which is there’s nobody like her.” (Bush Hager, 43, has continued to cohost the show’s fourth hour, Today With Jenna & Friends, with a rotating lineup of guest hosts.)

Following her Today exit, Kotb signed a deal with NBC to remain a special correspondent for the network, making occasional appearances on Today and continuing to cover the next two Olympic Games. She also revealed on The Kelly Clarkson Show last month that she’s in the “building process” of a “wellness app and company.”

Kotb also showed her support for local women and families impacted by metastatic breast cancer at Thursday’s Runway for Recovery fashion show fundraiser. “I had breast cancer several years back, and I know what it feels like and I remember all the feelings as we’re here today,” she told Us. “And I think the funny thing is a lot of people who were outside the Today show window for many, many years asked me about one thing, and they asked me about breast cancer. … You realize how many people have it and they just need to see somebody on the other side.”

Kotb said she “ran” at the chance to be a part of the organization’s fashion show. “It’s something I care a lot about and I hope that they raise a lot of money,” she stated.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi

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Anthony Bourdain’s former assistant is sharing new insight into the final days before his June 2018 death.

Laurie Woolever is opening up about her time working with the late chef and TV personality in her upcoming memoir, Care and Feeding, which hits bookshelves on March 11. In an excerpt shared by People on Friday, February 28, Woolever recalls what would become her final text conversation with Bourdain.

Days before his death, paparazzi photos leaked showing Bourdain’s girlfriend, Asia Argento, allegedly having an affair. The National Enquirer reached out to Woolever at the time for comment. “When I asked Tony what he’d like me to do about the Enquirer, he said, ‘Ignore it, and ignore any similar queries from other pubs. But let me know when the Enquirer piece drops,’” she writes in the book.

Woolever notes that a producer on Bourdain’s show Parts Unknown “had heard that things were apparently tense on set in France,” adding, “Everyone was walking the tightrope, trying to give him both the emotional support he seemed to need and the space to process his pain with a measure of private dignity.”

 

Dominic Sessa in Talks to Star in Anthony Bourdain Biopic 

One day after news of Argento’s alleged affair broke, Woolever says Bourdain “asked me to schedule a number of things for him — a lunch, a haircut, a doctor appointment, a private session with his jiu-jitsu trainer — for the week after his return to New York.”

Sharing their final texts, Woolever writes, “’I hope you’re doing OK,’ I texted to him, and when he responded, ‘I’ll live, and we’ll survive.’”

In the book excerpt, Woolever says she assumed Bourdain was referring to himself and Argento, 49, when he wrote “we.” The next day, Bourdain’s agent, Kim, called Woolever to inform her that he had taken his own life.

“I thought, we can fix this. I’d spent the last nine years, and Kim much longer than that, helping Tony meet his obligations, get where he needed to be,” she says in the book. “We could, we had to, help him un-f— the mess he made when he f—ing hung himself in his hotel room, just like he had glibly threatened to do a million times, in the face of something as minor as a bad hamburger or a delayed flight.”

Bourdain died by suicide at age 61 in June 2018. Argento, for her part, refuted the cheating allegations, telling DailyMailTV that September that she and Bourdain “cheated” on each other. “It wasn’t a problem for us,” she told the outlet. “He was a man who traveled 265 days a year. We took great pleasure in each other’s company when we saw each other. But we are not children. We are grown-ups.”

Biggest Revelations About tWitch in Allison Holker's Memoir

In an interview with People published on Thursday, Woolever revealed that Bourdain’s death came three weeks after she and her ex-husband separated after he learned she was having an affair. “[It was] a one-two punch,” she said.

Woolever also joked that her role as Bourdain’s assistant was more like being his one-person “Chief of staff.”

Bourdain became one of the most recognizable figures in the food world through his work as a chef, author and TV host. At the time of his death, Bourdain had been in his fifth year of hosting his CNN series Parts Unknown. The docuseries, which premiered in 2013 and aired 12 seasons, followed Bourdain as he explored culinary culture in lesser-known places.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

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While Juliana Pasquarosa has kept her cool on season 29 of The Bachelor, she said that wasn’t necessarily the case behind the scenes.

“A lot of conversations do tend to happen off camera, and I don’t know if that’s intentional for these reasons or not,” Juliana, 28, said on the Thursday, February 27, episode of the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast. “I don’t want to necessarily play telephone, but there were, from my eyes, some doubts about who [Grant Ellis] was as a person, and the process, which is fine and fair, but you kind of have to accept that going into it. And you can have doubts, but to constantly tear down what we’re all also here to do is hard to hear.”

Juliana went into details with “thinking of you”-gate. (During Week 3, Carolina Quixano revealed that Rose Sombke told her that Grant said he was “thinking” of Rose, 27, while dancing with Carolina on a group date. Upon learning of Rose’s comments, Grant, 31, pulled her aside during a cocktail party to deny her claims.)

Despite the drama, both women made it through to the next week. Rose ultimately self-eliminated during Week 4, while Carolina was sent home ahead of hometown dates during Week 5.

Why Jesse Palmer Applauds Juliana and Carolina’s Talk on ‘The Bachelor’

“To hear negativity about [Grant] when we haven’t had a chance to really get to know him is hard because then you’re maybe more reserved than you already were or you’re not ready to open up or you don’t trust him because of somebody else’s emotions,” Juliana recalled. “It’s hard. And it was just really negative all the time.”

Juliana said it felt like the cast was playing a “game of telephone” trying to piece together what really happened. “I was just like, ‘Oh, s—.’ My initial reaction was the same as, like, ‘Rose, why would you say that? What possibly did you think that could have a positive impact on yourself, him, Carolina or the group by speaking that into existence?’” she shared. “And I said that to her right after the rose ceremony. I lost my composure for a second, and I was like, ‘What are you doing, girl?’”

After getting to know Rose more as a person, Juliana said she doesn’t believe Rose shared her information with Carolina out of “malicious intent.” She explained: “I think that she thought she was being provided with a safe space to have a girl-to-girl conversation in a way that compartmentalized her friendship over the relationship. And ultimately, I think she got burned because of it … she trusted the wrong person or people.”

Grant, for his part, called Rose and Carolina’s drama his “worst nightmare” in his exclusive Us Weekly cover story. “That was my biggest fear. I tried to be really concise. When you’re in the role as a Bachelor, you have to find a line between giving reassurance and not saying things to lead people on,” he stated. “In the bubble that we’re in, things are definitely heightened.”

Though Rose and Carolina’s Bachelor journeys both came to an end, Juliana’s romance with Grant continues to grow. After getting a magical one-on-one date in Scotland, Juliana earned one of Grant’s four hometown roses during the show’s Monday, February 24, episode.

In a teaser for next week’s hometown dates, Juliana’s dad appeared upset after Grant kissed her in front of him. “I’ve never brought a guy home. It’s only happened once in my life. And so, they’ve never really seen me interact with, like ,men that I’m romantically involved with,” Juliana shared on Thursday’s podcast. “I’m the baby of my family. My parents are like, ‘What the hell is happening?’ Even though I’m 28, they’re like, ‘She’s still a baby to [me].’ And so, watching me kiss other people, like, it’s cringy for me. I can’t imagine how god-awful it is for them.”

Juliana went on to joke that she has “begged” her family to close their eyes if a kiss between her and Grant is shown on screen.

The Bachelor airs on ABC Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.

Angelina Jolie’s divorce from Brad Pitt may be finalized, but the actress isn’t interested in jumping into a new relationship anytime soon.

“It’s hard for her to trust men after what she went through with Brad,” a source exclusively shares in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “She hasn’t sworn off men, but she’s not looking for anything serious right now.”

The insider notes that Jolie, 49, “doesn’t think she’ll ever get over the trauma” of her relationship with Pitt, 61. “She’s not looking for love right now,” the source says, adding that Jolie currently feels “fulfilled.”

Jolie, the insider tells Us, is “content with her children and life.” (The Oscar winner shares her six kids — Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, Zahara, 20, Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16, with Pitt.)

Angelina Jolie's Kids Wanted Her to 'Defend Herself' Amid Divorce: Source

For now, Jolie is busy enjoying time with her kids in the Big Apple by attending art exhibits and Broadway shows. “Angie has been spending more time in NYC, working on her fashion brand [Atelier Jolie] and expanding her humanitarian projects,” says the source.

Jolie and Pitt built their large brood after falling in love on the set of 2005’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The two were together for more than a decade before officially tying the knot in August 2014. Two years later, however, Jolie filed for divorce.

“This decision was made for the health of the family,” her rep told Us in a September 2016 statement. “She will not be commenting at this time, and asks that the family be given their privacy during this difficult time.”

Amid their split, Pitt was investigated by the Los Angeles County Department of Children after Jolie claimed he was physically and emotionally abusive toward her and their kids during a 2016 flight from France to California. Pitt, who denied his ex’s allegations, was cleared of any wrongdoing and didn’t face any charges.

Angelina Jolie Calls Liars Her ‘Pet Peeve’ After Brad Pitt Divorce

Though the former spouses were declared legally single in 2019, they were locked in legal drama over custody issues and their French winery, Château Miraval, for several years. After eight years of ups and downs, the two finalized their divorce in December 2024.

“More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt. She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family,” Jolie’s lawyer, James Simon, told Us in a statement. “This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over.” (Pitt’s rep declined to comment at the time.)

Since finalizing their split, Jolie has stepped out at several public events with Zahara, including the Palm Springs International Film Awards and the 2025 Golden Globes last month.

Pitt, meanwhile, has been enjoying life with his girlfriend of two years, Ines de Ramon. “Brad wants to get his life [back] on track and put this behind him,” a separate source exclusively shared in an Us cover story last month. “He can start over again.”

For more on Jolie, watch the video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.

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While an official investigation into Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths is underway, his daughter Leslie Anne Allen has several questions of her own.

“I think I’m very anxious to find out what happened and I just don’t know how long they had been deceased,” Leslie, 58, exclusively told Us Weekly shortly after news of his death broke on Thursday, February 27. “[The authorities] don’t know yet either.”

Leslie is the youngest of Hackman and his ex-wife Faye Maltese’s three children. The pair, who were married from 1956 to 1986, also shared son Christopher, 65, and daughter Elizabeth, 63. Hackman went on to wed Arakawa, in 1991. (Leslie told Us that Arakawa had no children or siblings.)

News broke on Thursday that Hackman and Arakawa and one of their family dogs were found dead in their New Mexico home one day prior at the ages of 95 and 63, respectively. “Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time, however, [the] exact cause of death has not been determined,” the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement to Us, noting that one of their dogs was also found deceased. “This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.”

No Signs of Carbon Monoxide Leak Found at Gene Hackman's House: Report

However, a sheriff’s department search warrant obtained by TMZ on Thursday called the situation “suspicious.” Arakawa was reportedly found lying next to a space heater in a “state of decomposition with bloating in her face and mummification in her hands and feet.” Hackman, meanwhile, was found fully clothed in another room with a pair of sunglasses next to him.

Leslie confirmed a concerned neighbor called police and authorities have questioned if carbon monoxide poisoning was a factor.

“The police did call the fire department to come out to check,” she told Us. “That was one of the things they thought might have happened [was] carbon monoxide because the dog was found dead as well.”

“Someone, the HOA maybe, hadn’t heard from Betsy in a couple weeks so they went over and saw the dogs were loose. There was one dog inside the house [deceased] and one or two loose [dogs] inside the yard, so they called the police to do a welfare check.”

According to Leslie, the circumstances of the couple’s deaths are “very strange,” and to her knowledge there was “no indication of any problem in their house” in the more than 30 years they lived in New Mexico. “There’s never been an issue,” she told Us.

Leslie told Us that the news and subsequent details of the couple’s shocking passing is very “upsetting,” adding, “I much would have rather my dad pass peacefully, but hopefully if it was carbon monoxide poisoning [there was] no suffering with that. That’s my main concern.” (Fire department officials told TMZ on Thursday that there were “no signs” that the deaths were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

She also noted that she and her siblings have been in touch with Santa Fe police as the investigation continues and will “wait to find out what actually happened” before they travel to New Mexico. “The police won’t let us go in when they are still investigating,” she stated. “We will be going out there.”

What to Know About Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy's Death and Investigation

Leslie, Elizabeth and Hackman’s granddaughter, Annie, addressed the actor and Arakawa’s deaths in an official statement to Us on Thursday. “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa,” they wrote. “We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”

Hackman was regarded as one of the world’s most recognized actors over the course of his six-decade career. In addition to scoring two Oscars, he was best known for his iconic roles as Lex Luthor in the original Superman film franchise and as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in the classic 1971 film The French Connection. He famously retired from acting after starring alongside Ray Romano in the 2004 comedy Welcome to Mooseport.

With reporting by Andrea Simpson

The 97th annual Academy Awards are gearing up to be one of the most memorable — and funniest— hosting gigs of Conan O’Brien’s career.

“I’ve hosted many awards shows in my life, but the Oscars, it’s the pinnacle,” O’Brien, 61, said in a sneak peek at the Sunday, March 2, awards ceremony shared exclusively by Us Weekly. “It’s the one you dream about hosting when you’re a child … as long as the pay is good. I’m looking into that.”

As for what fans can expect to see from O’Brien during the show, he hilariously teased, “There’ll be several moments in the Oscars where I’ll be shirtless and oiled, and I think that’s going to hurt the program incredibly.”

O’Brien went on to poke fun at the Oscars’ infamous habit of running over its runtime, joking, “My biggest goal is to enjoy the nine hours of the Oscar telecast. I think it would be a shame to get the chance to host the Oscars and not have a good time, so I’ll be medicated.”

Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and More Announced as Oscars Performers

On a sentimental note, O’Brien noted that the biggest hosting lesson he’s learned over the years is that “mistakes aren’t mistakes.” In fact, he sees mistakes as a positive thing. “I’m someone who hopes that things sometimes go a little off the rails because that’s where the real memorable moments happen, on late-night and on the Oscars,” he explained.

In the clip, Oscars executive producer Katy Mullan called the former late-night host “the real deal,” adding, “He’s got all the skills, all the talent and I think he’s gonna bring a really, really fresh take to the Oscars this year. … He’s got that warmth and wit, but he’s also got that little edge, so he brings the unexpected. So, I think people are really excited to see what that means when he takes the Oscars stage this year.”

Noting that they are “Team Coco all the way,” executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor went on to state, “It’s not only, like, little host segments, but he has this creative vision of how he’s going to bring everybody along throughout the evening.”

O’Brien was announced as the 2025 Oscars host back in November 2024. “America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars,” he joked in a statement at the time.

This year’s ceremony will mark the funnyman’s first time hosting the coveted awards show. “We are thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a November 2024 statement. “He is the perfect person to help lead our global celebration of film with his brilliant humor, his love of movies, and his live TV expertise.”

Oscars 2025 Nominations: See the Complete List

Emilia Pérez leads this year’s nominations list with a total of 13 nods. The Brutalist and Wicked tied in second with 10 each. All three films are nominated for Best Picture alongside Anora, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys and The Substance.

Check out the full Oscars sneak peek clip above.

The Oscars air live on ABC Sunday, March 2, at 7 p.m. ET.

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Sarah Michelle Gellar is remembering her late friend Shannen Doherty while also mourning the death of Michelle Trachtenberg.

Gellar, 47, took to Instagram on Thursday, February 27, to pay tribute to Trachtenberg, who died at age 39 one day prior. Among the many photos of the two she shared via her Instagram Story, Gellar included one of herself and Trachtenberg sitting with Doherty.

The snap was taken in November 2005 at the DKNY Jeans Presents Vanity Fair in Concert, which featured a performance by Alanis Morissette and benefitted the Step Up Women’s Network. Gellar sat in the middle of her two friends as the trio — all three women were former child stars — smiled at the camera for a sweet photo.

Trachtenberg famously played the younger sister of Gellar’s Buffy Summers, Dawn, on the final three seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 2000 to 2003. News broke on Wednesday, February 26, that Trachtenberg had died at age 39 after being found unconscious in her New York City apartment.

Stars React to Michelle Trachtenberg’s Death at Age 39

Police sources confirmed to Us Weekly that her cause of death was “not yet apparent,” but her death was not believed to be suspicious. Other insiders told Us that Trachtenberg had a liver transplant shortly before her death. Her mother, Lana, was reportedly the one to discover her in her NYC residence.

“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” Trachtenberg’s rep said in a Wednesday statement to Us. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”

Gellar included the snap of herself and Trachtenberg with Doherty in her Instagram tribute on Thursday. “’Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you,’” she captioned the photo slideshow using quotes from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. “’The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live… for you’ .”

Michelle Trachtenberg's Final Instagram Posts Were Hollywood Throwbacks

Gellar also took to Instagram when Doherty lost her battle with breast cancer at age 53 in July 2024. “How do you possibly find the right words to sum up 30 years of friendship? I keep reminding myself it only hurts this much because, there was so much love,” she wrote alongside photos of herself and her longtime friend. “Thank you, for all your kind words and support. I love all the messages about how @theshando was important to you. So let’s honor her.”

At the time, she encouraged fans to donate to “animal charities” in honor of Doherty. “Whether that’s donating money, stopping by your local shelter and just offering cuddles and walks to animals housed there or even just tagging them in the comments so other people can learn about their work,” she wrote. “I know that would make our girl happy (and illicit that deep throaty laugh we all loved) .”

Gellar thanked fans for their donations in another Instagram post the following day, which featured funny videos of herself and Doherty from over the years. “The friend that was up for anything no matter how ridiculous,” she captioned the upload. “Shan … @annemkortright and I promise to keep the tradition alive.”

Jenna Bush Hager has seen the speculation about why she hasn’t been wearing her wedding ring on Today.

“I had a bad wedding ring situation. I’m not wearing one now because I broke my finger,” Bush Hager, 43, shared on the Wednesday, February 26, episode of Today With Jenna & Friends before reassuring fans her relationship with her husband, Henry Hager, is as strong as ever. “Don’t worry. I’ve seen some of the comments. Henry and I are still very happily married.”

Bush Hager first revealed she broke her finger back in August 2024, telling Hoda Kotb at the time that she injured herself after losing her “lucky necklace” after losing it in the ocean. “I’ve tripped, I got a black eye, I broke my ring finger,” she said. “Henry claims I just sprained it, but it was blue.”

Bush Hager has had some other bad luck with her ring finger. On Wednesday, she recalled losing a piece of her engagement ring while celebrating her pal and Today colleague Savannah Guthrie’s 50th birthday a few years ago.

Jenna Bush Hager Pays Tribute to Husband Henry Hager on His Birthday

“Sometimes, for my best friends’ birthdays, I feel like I really have to give it my all. I gave it my all, like, [I was] one of the last people standing,” Bush Hager recalled. “And Henry was kind of grumpy. He went to bed a little earlier, sort of like, ‘Aren’t you coming with me?’ And I’m like, ‘No, I’m not coming with you!’”

The next morning, she woke up to discover one of her ring’s gemstones was missing. “I was already a little bit on thin ice for my wild behavior, so I look down and I’m like, ‘Oh no. Do I tell him this now or do I wait?’” she stated. “I went ahead and just said, ‘Honey, I know I lost a little bit of dignity last night. I also lost your grandmother’s sapphire.’”

When asked by guest cohost Heather McMahan how Hager, 46, took the news, Bush Hager said, “He was OK. He’s a tolerant person. My mom [Laura Bush] calls him a ‘saint,’ which is really just saying that I’m difficult to be with. And I never found it again.”

Bush Hager tied the knot with her husband in 2008. The couple have since welcomed three kids — daughters Mila, 11, and Poppy, 9, and son Hal, 5.

In August 2024, Bush Hager exclusively told Us Weekly why she had dialed back on sharing personal stories about her family on the NBC morning show. “I think as my kids get older — and I know Hoda and I talk about this constantly — we try to navigate, like, what’s their story to tell and if we’re ever stepping over something that would make them feel bad later because things exist forever now, which is not in the case of when we were growing up,” she explained at the time.

While she appreciates that Hager “lets me be me” on TV, Bush Hager noted that she also respects “that sort of tug-and-pull where he’s like, ‘Hold on, honey. Don’t share much.’”

In particular, Bush Hager recalled her husband was “annoyed” by a comment she made on Today about wishing she had dated more people before settling down. “That irritated him because I didn’t mean I should have dated more. It was more of what I want my girls to know. I want my girls to know that they are the choosers,” she told Us. “I just mean in college, I felt sort of shy to date people. I had [the] Secret Service following me every day, which is something I’ve sort of dug into. And so, I felt I kept with the same boyfriend because I felt like that was sort of safer and I cared what people thought about me.”

Kenan Thompson is mourning the death of his fellow Nickelodeon child star Michelle Trachtenberg.

“Our first Nick movie star has departed us!!” Thompson, 46, wrote via Instagram shortly after news of Trachtenberg’s death at age 39 broke Wednesday, February 26. “She was my friend and now she rests!! Check on your people!!! .”

Thompson’s post featured a clip of the pair from the 1999 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. Trachtenberg served as a commentator during a “mega mini golf” competition between Thompson and Randy “Macho Man” Savage. Thompson also shared a more recent snap of himself and the actress taken at an event.

Several celebrities offered their condolences in the post’s comments. “Ohhh nooooooo RIP to her my condolences to her family,” Thompson’s former Saturday Night Live castmate Jay Pharoah commented, while Vanessa Bayer left three heart emojis underneath the post.

Stars React to Michelle Trachtenberg’s Death at Age 39

Thompson and Trachtenberg both got their Hollywood starts on Nickelodeon. Thompson famously starred on the sketch comedy series All That from 1994 to 2002 before getting his own series, Kenan & Kel, with Kel Mitchell. He and Mitchell, 46, also starred in the 1997 Nickelodeon original movie Good Burger, which got a 2023 sequel on Paramount+.

Trachtenberg, for her part, appeared in shows such as Clarissa Explains It All and The Adventures of Pete & Pete before booking her breakout film role in the 1996 Nickelodeon movie Harriet the Spy. She also made an appearance on a 1998 episode of the Nickelodeon children’s series Blue’s Clues.

Trachtenberg’s other Nickelodeon credits include a 1996 episode of the series Space Cases and appearing as herself on several episodes of the game show Figure It Out.

On Wednesday, police sources confirmed to Us Weekly that Trachtenberg was found unconscious inside her New York City apartment. Though her cause of death is “not yet apparent,” officials do not believe the circumstances surrounding her death to be suspicious. Sources also told Us that Trachtenberg had a liver transplant shortly before her death. She was reportedly found in her apartment by her mother, Lana.

“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” her rep said in a statement to Us on Wednesday. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”

Michelle Trachtenberg Through the Years: Her Life and Career in Photos

Trachtenberg followed up her time on Nickelodeon with roles in many memorable projects, including Inspector Gadget, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Six Feet Under, Ice Princess, 17 Again, Mercy and Gossip Girl.

Thompson is one of several celebrities to pay tribute to Trachtenberg. Her Harriet the Spy costar Rosie O’Donnell (who also hosted the 1999 Kids’ Choice Awards) called her death “heartbreaking” in a Wednesday statement to Us, adding, “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”

Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick wrote that he was “so sad” about Trachtenberg’s death in a Wednesday Instagram Story post, while Kim Cattrall shared a photo of herself and Trachtenberg from the movie Ice Princess via Instagram. “Rest in peace sweet Michelle ,” she captioned the snap.

Michelle Trachtenberg was in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend, Jay Cohen, at the time of her death in February 2025.

In October 2020, sources exclusively confirmed to Us Weekly that Trachtenberg had been dating her talent agent, Cohen, for “over a year.”

At the time, Trachtenberg sparked engagement rumors by sharing a since-deleted Instagram pic of herself sporting a large diamond ring. “I picked the right one ,” she captioned the October 2020 selfie.

She went on to add, “Now that I have your attention. I know @joebiden @kamalaharris and I will be very happy together. #vote .”

‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘Buffy’ Star Michelle Trachtenberg Dead at Age 39

Trachtenberg and Cohen never publicly addressed whether or not they were engaged, choosing to keep their romance primarily out of the public eye. However, the pair occasionally shared sweet photos of each other via social media.

Trachtenberg posted a Valentine’s Day tribute to Cohen via Instagram days before she died at age 39 on February 26, 2025. Police sources confirmed to Us that she was found unconscious in her New York City apartment. Though her cause of death was not revealed, Trachtenberg had undergone a liver transplant surgery shortly before her death.

Scroll down for a look back at Trachtenberg and Cohen’s biggest relationship moments:

October 2020

Sources confirmed the couple’s relationship status exclusively to Us, noting that Trachtenberg was a client of Cohen’s.

July 2021

Cohen shared his first Instagram post with the Gossip Girl alum while celebrating the 4th of July. He captioned a selfie of the two, “#fireworks are every day with this one!! .”

February 2023

“My valentine,” Cohen captioned an Instagram pic of himself and Trachtenberg. The actress called herself and Cohen “#valentines” in a Valentine’s Day post of her own, which featured another rare photo of the two.

March 2024

“Happy Birthday to the man who puts up with me @jaymcohen ,” Trachtenberg captioned a Instagram photo of herself and Cohen dressed as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for Halloween in honor of his birthday.

February 2025

Trachtenberg reposted the same Halloween costume pic via Instagram for Valentine’s Day, which marked one of her final social media posts before her death. “Happy Valentine’s Day to the man who sits still long enough for me to paint his face. ,” she wrote alongside the photo.

Hoda Kotb thinks Lester Holt should follow in her footsteps after his upcoming exit from NBC Nightly News.

“Lester! Hats off to a great run on @nbcnightlynews!” Kotb, 60, captioned pics of herself and her loved ones with Holt, 65, via Instagram on Tuesday, February 25. “Now all thats [sic] left is a move to the burbs … and a @toyota sienna mini van [sic]! Xx love you @lesterholtnbc. Xo.”

Kotb has been enjoying the suburban life herself since departing her longtime Today hosting gig last month. Kotb announced that she and her daughters Haley, 8, and Hope, 5, were moving outside of New York City back in March 2024. The family were all settled into their new house by the time Kotb took her kids back to school that September. (She cited wanting to spend more time with her girls, whom she shares with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman, as one of the main reasons behind her Today exit.)

“I have a whole new town and a whole new school and all the new things,” Kotb gushed on a September 2024 episode of Today With 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.”

Hoda Kotb Signs New Deal for Special Interviews, Olympics After 'Today' Exit

One month later, Kotb shared how excited she was for her kids to experience Halloween in the suburbs. “We used to go trick-or-treating at CVS and the dry cleaners and [a nail salon],” she said on Hoda & Jenna. “My kids thought trick-or-treating was walking into a store and having the lady behind the counter put some [candy] in your bag. … Everywhere I look in our town, [there’s] those big spiderwebs, all the things.”

Kotb even concluded her final Today episode on January 10 by driving away from 30 Rockefeller Plaza with her kids in her minivan, with a “Just Repotted” sign strapped to the back.

While Craig Melvin took over Kotb’s coanchor role on Today, it has not been announced who will replace Holt on Nightly News. He announced he will be leaving the show after 15 years as host in a note to staffers on Monday, February 24.

“A smile comes to my face when I think that with Nightly News, and Dateline, I have now anchored two of the most successful and iconic television news programs in broadcast history,” his message read, per NBC News. “As a 20-year-old radio reporter on the police beat chasing breaking news around San Francisco, I could never have imagined my career path would unfold in the way it has. What an amazing ride.”

Following his Nightly News departure early this summer, Holt will continue his longtime role as an anchor on Dateline in a full-time capacity. Like Holt, Kotb will also remain in the NBC family as a special correspondent who will continue to make occasional Today appearances and cover the next two Olympics.

“I want to be a supporting character on a team that is already in place so that I’ll come in and just have a role there. And then I’m going to do my ‘Making Space’ podcast, which I enjoy and love so much,” Kotb told Page Six last month. “And for the Today show, I think we talked about doing something every four to six weeks, just a little something.” She also revealed she is in the “building process” of creating a wellness app and company.

The first look at Prime Video’s A Simple Favor sequel is here — and Blake Lively’s Emily Nelson is out for revenge.

As seen in the Wednesday, February 26, trailer, Another Simple Favor picks up with Anna Kendrick’s Stephanie Smothers promoting a book she wrote about the events of the first film titled The Faceless Blonde. Much to her surprise, Emily somehow managed to get out of prison and decided to crash her frenemy’s event. “Boo!” she says upon her arrival.

Turns out, Emily wants Stephanie to be the maid of honor for her upcoming Italian wedding. “Why am I here?” Stephanie asks Emily, who replies, “Do you think I invited you to get revenge for stealing my life and taking my kid away? Do you think I want to make you pay?”

“I don’t know, do you?” Stephanie retorts.

Everything to Know About the Sequel to 'A Simple Favor'

However, the glamorous wedding weekend turns out to be anything but a relaxing getaway. The trailer goes on to tease several shocking moments, from Stephanie seemingly discovering a dead body to an explosion happening at one of Emily’s wedding celebrations to someone falling off a balcony.

“If I do try to murder you, it’ll make an amazing sequel,” Emily quips at the end of the trailer.

In addition to Lively, 37, and Kendrick, 39, Henry Golding will reprise his role as Emily’s now-ex-husband, Sean. Other returning cast members include Andrew Rannells, Aparna Nancherla, Kelly McCormack, Ian Ho and Joshua Satine. The sequel’s trailer also gives a first look at several new cast additions, including Alex Newell, Michele Morrone, Elena Sofia Ricci, Allison Janney and Elizabeth Perkins.

Prior to its Prime Video release this spring, Another Simple Favor is set to premiere at the 2025 SXSW film festival in Austin, Texas, on March 7.

The film marks Lively’s first movie release since her ongoing legal drama with Justin Baldoni. She filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the director, 41, in December 2024, months after reports that the two faced creative differences while making the August 2024 book adaptation It Ends With Us.

Paul Feig Explains Ditching Ryan Reynolds' Gin in 'Another Simple Favor' 

While Lively’s legal filing accused Baldoni of inappropriate on-set behavior and attempting to launch a smear campaign against her, his opposing lawsuits against her, The New York Times, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist, Leslie Sloane, accuse her of attempting to take over creative control of It Ends With Us and alleged she blocked him out of the film’s marketing and premieres.

Both Lively and Baldoni, as well as The New York Times, have denied the other side’s allegations. The pair’s trial is set to begin on March 9, 2026.

Another Simple Favor director Paul Feig vocalized his support for Lively following her initial December 2024 lawsuit. “I’ve now made two movies with Blake and all I can say is she’s one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people I’ve ever worked with,” he wrote via X at the time. “She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think it’s awful she was put through this.”

Feig, 62, has since denied social media rumors that Another Simple Favor was canceled because of Lively and Baldoni’s drama, as well clarified the only cut of Another Simple Favor is his own. (Baldoni claimed that Lively created her own cut of It Ends With Us.)

“It’s my cut. There is no other cut,” Feig responded to a social media comment earlier this month. “Blake has been nothing but supportive and a dream to work with. She is the best and an amazing collaborator and I’m her biggest fan. Just wanted to clear that up.”

How Blake Lively Says She Has Been Affected by Justin Baldoni Lawsuit

A source exclusively told Us Weekly that Lively and Kendrick are disappointed by “hate online” about the upcoming sequel. The insider shared that the costars plan to “be doing press together” and “want fans to focus on the film and not any outside drama.”

Another Simple Favor premieres on Prime Video Thursday, May 1.

© Prime Video

No matter his mood, Travis Kelce is always listening to his girlfriend Taylor Swift’s discography.

“Do you listen to sad music when you’re depressed, or do you listen to happy music?” Travis’ brother, Jason Kelce, asked him on the Wednesday, February 26, episode of their “New Heights” podcast. Noting that “the only way you can find yourself in the light is to find yourself in the dark first,” Travis, 35, replied, “I listen to music that is very telling of my mood.”

Luckily for Travis, Swift’s music covers a variety of emotions. “I just listen to Taylor’s music,” he stated. “She has something for everything.” Jason, 37, agreed, adding, “That’s fair. That’s a good point. No matter what mood, you can find some Taylor music.”

Travis shared his current mood by poking fun at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. “Yeah, and how the Eagles broke my heart,” he joked.

Travis Kelce's Sweetest Shout-Outs to Taylor Swift on 'New Heights'

Previously a fan, Travis became a certified Swiftie when he and the Grammy winner, 35, began dating in 2023. Their relationship actually started through Swift’s music, as they connected after Travis failed to give her a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it at a July 2023 Eras Tour concert in Kansas City. The pair hard-launched their romance when Swift attended her first Chiefs game that September.

Just as Swift continued to support him at his NFL games, Travis attended several of Swift’s Eras Tour concerts, even joining her on stage at London’s Wembley Stadium in June 2024. Fans frequently spotted him singing and dancing along to her biggest hits, including some written about him.

Following the release of Swift’s 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, in April 2024, fans quickly associated the songs “The Alchemy” and “So High School” with Travis for their references to sports, Travis’ dad, Ed Kelce, and Travis’ viral 2016 “Kiss, Marry, Kill” interview — in which he chose to “kiss” Swift out of a group of three celebs — and more.

Swift incorporated TTPD into her Eras Tour setlist in May 2024. Her performance of “So High School” featured several nods to Travis, from the stage screen featuring football stadium lights and the stage steps lighting up to look like bleachers. She and her dancers incorporated some of Travis’ touchdown celebrations and the Chiefs fans’ famous “swag surf” dance into the song’s choreography.

“So High School” is one of Swift’s many songs Travis has declared as his favorite over the past few years. “‘Death By a Thousand Cuts’ is one that I’ve learned to absolutely love,” he shared on a November 2024 episode of the “New Heights” podcast. “I’ve watched Tay’s [2019 NPR] Tiny Desk and she played it on that one and that’s where I think I fell in love with it.”

Other favs include “Blank Space,” “Cruel Summer” and “Shake It Off.” However, “So High School” will always hold a special place in his heart. “I’m not gonna lie, I might be a little biased toward The Tortured Poets Department,” Travis told Access Hollywood in May 2024. “Just a little bit. Just a little biased.”

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