Decades of love! Al Roker and Deborah Roberts have been together for more than 20 years after initially meeting on the set of the Today show.
“It was funny [because] we were in the ‘friend zone,’” the Today meteorologist recalled of romancing his now-wife, an NBC correspondent, during a February 2021 appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “We were friends and she was like, ‘Let’s not ruin that friendship,’ and, you know, she was covering an event for a couple of weeks and asked me to keep an eye on her apartment. So, I did and I had to snoop around.”
Roker continued: “I was in the kitchen and I opened up the fridge and there’s nothing in there. … I open up the oven expecting to see a mess [and] she still has the cardboard was still on the oven grates. I thought, ‘This woman’s never used this oven.’ So, a day before she got back from her trip, I stocked her pantry, I stocked her refrigerator and left some flowers on the table.”
After Roberts returned, she also found that Roker had left her handwritten note that read, “Welcome home.” One week later, “I got my first date with her,” he gushed to Clarkson.
The weather guru — who shares daughter Courtney, born in 1987, with ex-wife Alice Bell — began dating Roberts in 1992, two years after they first met backstage at Today. Roker eventually proposed on New Year’s Day in January 1994.
“I had already planned a year ahead to do it because I wanted to do it at the Grand Canyon,” the New York native recalled during a February 2022 appearance on the Rachael Ray Show. “So, New Year’s Eve came and went, and we’re having breakfast and she said, ‘So if one were to be expecting a ring, when would one be expecting it?’ I said, ‘Well, no later than Groundhog’s Day.’”
Roker ultimately surprised Roberts several hours later once they made it to the Arizona landmark. As the sun started to set, the Never Goin’ Back author “dropped to [his] knee and started babbling.”
“I thought he fell!” Roberts joked to the celebrity chef, noting she was ready to break up with her beau had he not proposed. “I was trying to help him up. … I started crying [after he asked me to marry him]. It was beautiful.”
The twosome wed nearly one year later in September 1995 before eventually expanding their brood. Daughter Leila and son Nicholas were born in 1998 and 2002, respectively.
“The sumptuous journey began 26 years ago today. It has been a true and delicious adventure. Ups. Downs. Better. Worse. Coasting … Joyriding. And holding on tight along the way,” the ABC journalist captioned a September 2021 Instagram tribute to her husband. “So thrilled to share this full life with you @alroker Happy anniversary dear ❤️. Here’s to so many more!”
Scroll below for the pair’s relationship journey together:
Decades of love! Al Roker and Deborah Roberts have been together for more than 20 years after initially meeting on the set of the Today show.
“It was funny [because] we were in the ‘friend zone,’” the Today meteorologist recalled of romancing his now-wife, an NBC correspondent, during a February 2021 appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “We were friends and she was like, ‘Let’s not ruin that friendship,’ and, you know, she was covering an event for a couple of weeks and asked me to keep an eye on her apartment. So, I did and I had to snoop around.”
Roker continued: “I was in the kitchen and I opened up the fridge and there’s nothing in there. … I open up the oven expecting to see a mess [and] she still has the cardboard was still on the oven grates. I thought, ‘This woman’s never used this oven.’ So, a day before she got back from her trip, I stocked her pantry, I stocked her refrigerator and left some flowers on the table.”
After Roberts returned, she also found that Roker had left her handwritten note that read, “Welcome home.” One week later, “I got my first date with her,” he gushed to Clarkson.
The weather guru — who shares daughter Courtney, born in 1987, with ex-wife Alice Bell — began dating Roberts in 1992, two years after they first met backstage at Today. Roker eventually proposed on New Year’s Day in January 1994.
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“I had already planned a year ahead to do it because I wanted to do it at the Grand Canyon,” the New York native recalled during a February 2022 appearance on the Rachael Ray Show. “So, New Year’s Eve came and went, and we’re having breakfast and she said, ‘So if one were to be expecting a ring, when would one be expecting it?’ I said, ‘Well, no later than Groundhog’s Day.’”
Roker ultimately surprised Roberts several hours later once they made it to the Arizona landmark. As the sun started to set, the Never Goin’ Back author “dropped to [his] knee and started babbling.”
“I thought he fell!” Roberts joked to the celebrity chef, noting she was ready to break up with her beau had he not proposed. “I was trying to help him up. … I started crying [after he asked me to marry him]. It was beautiful.”
The twosome wed nearly one year later in September 1995 before eventually expanding their brood. Daughter Leila and son Nicholas were born in 1998 and 2002, respectively.
“The sumptuous journey began 26 years ago today. It has been a true and delicious adventure. Ups. Downs. Better. Worse. Coasting … Joyriding. And holding on tight along the way,” the ABC journalist captioned a September 2021 Instagram tribute to her husband. “So thrilled to share this full life with you @alroker Happy anniversary dear ❤️. Here’s to so many more!”
Scroll below for the pair’s relationship journey together:
Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
1990
The pair first met in 1990 when Roker joined Today, where Roberts already had a reporting gig. The pair began dating two years later after his separation from Bell.
Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
September 1995
Nearly one year after getting engaged, the pair tied the knot.
Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
November 1998
Roker welcomed his second daughter, his first with the Georgia native, in 1998. Leila graduated from the American University of Paris in May 2021.
Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
July 2002
The couple’s son Nick completed the family in 2002. Nick, who started college in September 2022, is on the autism spectrum, but that hasn’t stopped him from accomplishing his dreams.
“He’s one of those people that doesn’t let anything stand in his way,” the Daytime Emmy Award nominee told Us Weekly in May 2019. “I don’t think he acknowledges whatever issues he’s got. ‘I’m just going to do this.’ [It’s] so great.”
Credit: Courtesy of Al Roker/Instagram
November 2020
Roker announced on November 6 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. After undergoing surgery, he was grateful for Roberts’ assistance with his recovery.
“Relieved to let you all know that my #prostatecancer surgery is done and back home,” he wrote via Instagram, sharing a post-op selfie with his wife. “A big shoutout to everyone at the #josierobertsonsurgerycenter and so appreciate all the thoughts and wishes from our viewers and the wonderful care packages from my co-workers. Hope to see you all soon.”
Credit: Courtesy of Al Roker/Instagram
September 2021
The happy couple spent their 26th wedding anniversary in Paris.
“Today marks 26 years that @debrobertsabc and I started a wonderful adventure that continues to thrill and delight,” he wrote via Instagram. “Thank you for the love, laughter and the children who are truly the gifts that keep giving.
Credit: Courtesy of Al Roker/Instagram
November 2021
Roker and Roberts had a red carpet date night at the White House History Gala, which was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Credit: Courtesy of Al Roker/Instagram
March 2022
They were all smiles during a sweet date night.
Credit: Courtesy of Al Roker/Instagram
August 2022
The proud parents helped Nick pack his belongings for college move-in day.
Credit: Courtesy of Al Roker/Instagram
October 2022
Roberts and Roker enjoyed seeing the Broadway production of The Piano Lesson.
Credit: Courtesy of Instagram/Deborah Roberts
November 2022
The couple celebrated their anniversary amid the weatherman’s hospitalization for ongoing health issues.
“On this Thursday we are beyond thankful for beautiful, caring family and friends and the power of a brilliant medical team,” Roberts wrote via Instagram alongside a throwback snap of the pair. “Looking back at this long ago celebration with @alroker, I cherish the happy moments and look forward to so very many more. What a strong man. Blessed and grateful are the words defining our life today. #recovery #blessed #tbt #thanks #family #friends #caring.”
Miranda Siwak
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