After six incredible seasons, Ryan Seacrest has officially bid farewell to Live With Kelly and Ryan. In his final show this morning, both Seacrest and his co-host Kelly Ripa couldn’t hold back their tears. It was an emotional and heartfelt goodbye that touched the hearts of many.
Back in February, the 48-year-old media personality announced his departure from the syndicated morning talk show, describing it as a “bittersweet” decision. Seacrest resides in Los Angeles, where he also hosts American Idol, making it challenging to juggle his commitments in New York for Live. Despite the difficulties, he expressed his gratitude towards Kelly and the incredible team at the show. He acknowledged that the decision to leave was driven by the geographical limitations but credited his co-host for her understanding.
While Seacrest had his reasons, it didn’t make his farewell any less emotional. Throughout the final episode, both co-hosts couldn’t help but shed tears while delivering their heartfelt remarks. It was a touching moment for Seacrest as he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the show’s family.
“It’s hard for me to put into words how deeply I’ve appreciated being here and being with you, being invited into your homes every day,” Seacrest said, his voice filled with emotion. “I’m honored to be part of this family.”
Kelly Ripa, equally emotional, shared her thoughts on saying goodbye to Ryan. She referred to him as a younger brother and an oldest son. Ripa praised his goodness, kindness, charm, brilliance, authenticity, and generosity. Amidst the emotions, she managed to sprinkle some humor and playfully teased about trolling him on social media and how they will always keep their same mailing addresses for potential wedding invitations.
“But seriously, from the bottom of my heart and from the bottom of all our hearts, we just want to thank you for being wonderful, for being an original, authentic addition to this show,” Ripa concluded, her voice filled with love. “You are forever our family. We will never say goodbye to you. We will only say see you soon. I love you.”
The final show featured the incredible guest appearance of US First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. Seacrest’s family, including his parents, sister Meredith, and his girlfriend Aubrey Paige, were also in the audience. The episode included two clip montages, one highlighting the fun and memorable moments of Seacrest’s time on the show, and another capturing the more emotional moments.
As Seacrest bids farewell, Live welcomes a new co-host who is no stranger to Kelly Ripa. Her husband, Mark Consuelos, will be taking on the role. At the end of the show, Consuelos symbolically received Seacrest’s mug, representing the passing of the baton.
Ryan Seacrest took over hosting duties in 2017, succeeding former NFL player Michael Strahan, who left to co-host Good Morning America. Throughout its history, Live has seen several hosts, with Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford being among the most notable. After Gifford’s departure in 2000, Kelly Ripa became Philbin’s full-time co-host in 2001, and the two have been an iconic duo ever since.
What an incredibly heartfelt and memorable final show! Congratulations to Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest on their exceptional six-season journey together. We will truly miss seeing them together, but we wish them both the very best in their future endeavors. Please share this story if you love Kelly and Ryan!
