Kelly Ripa celebrated 25 years of co-hosting Live on February 20.
Kelly spoke with Decider on if she has plans to leave the show in the future.
Kelly currently hosts Live alongside her husband of almost 30 years, actor Mark Consuelos.
When Kelly Ripa first started on Live back in 2001, she probably didn’t expect to become a staple in people’s homes every weekday on ABC.
Replacing Kathie Lee Gifford, the All My Children alum starred alongside Regis Philbin. And over the years, Kelly has sat in the hot seat alongside many other hosts, like Michael Strahan, Ryan Seacrest, and, most recently, her husband, Mark Consuelos. On February 20, she celebrated 25 years on Live.
“25 years and 20 pics to celebrate 🎉,” she wrote on Instagram on February 20. “Thank you to this incredible crew of family and friends for going on a fantastic voyage with me! And to all of you, yes YOU for welcoming me into your homes for a quarter century!”
Given how Kelly’s made a name for herself as a daytime TV host, some may be wondering if she ever plans to leave Live. As she explained in an interview with Decider ahead of her career anniversary, she sees a time in her life when she won’t be getting up in the morning to film.
“I don’t intend to work for the rest of my life. I really do not, contrary to what everyone around here thinks!” she shared with the outlet. “I don’t intend on working for the rest of my life. But I think we’ll all make that decision when the time comes. I think there’s a way to sort of get new people on board and have them test cohosts and get the audience used to other people. I think it’s important. I love this show too much to see it sort of ever end with us.”
But that’s not all Kelly had to say about her plans.
When asked what the future of Live would be should she leave, she insisted that there’s no way the show would end with her.
“I always say this job and this place is so special, that I really do believe in this show as a franchise,” she added. “It’s a franchise show. Before me, there was Regis and Kathie Lee. And before Kathie Lee, there was Regis and a myriad of other hosts.”
“I believe this show will continue on for as long as linear television exists,” she concluded. “I believe that there are too many talented people out there that really deserve the opportunity to find their own audience and grow the audience the way they see fit … I think it’s important. I love this show too much to see it sort of ever end with us.”
It seems like Kelly has a plan for what’s next—we’ll have to wait and see what it is!
