Today star Willie Geist has been a morning staple for almost two decades, having started at the desk with third-hour anchors Al Roker, Tamron Hall and Natalie Morales before clinching a hosting spot on Sunday Today in 2016.
The 50-year-old opened up about his emotional journey following the milestone 10th anniversary of Sunday Today, and shared how a lengthy discussion with his wife, Christina Geist, allowed him to balance his soaring career with his home life.
“The first show, our guest was Leslie Odom Jr. He was Burr in Hamilton at the height of Hamilton hysteria at that point. And we got him to do the show, and that was a huge boost that he would agree to do it,” Willie told People, adding that the team spent time “building” the show when it first aired.
“It takes time. Nothing happens overnight. And I think we’re able now, 10 years [later], to look back and say, ‘It’s been worth it. It’s been a blast.'”
“They’re all seared in some way in my mind,” he said of the 375 interviews he has conducted on the show. “I just feel lucky to be in those rooms. I still do.” Willie was not only hosting Today‘s third hour but also co-hosting MSNBC’s Morning Joe on weekdays, when he was offered a weekend job at Today.
“I couldn’t figure out how to make seven days a week work with young children and a wife and expectations of being around my family, which is fair,” he recalled. “So, I got them down to Sunday.” He shares his kids, Lucie and George, with his wife, Christina, who is an entrepreneur, author and brand strategist.
© Instagram“And even then, I remember sitting with my wife – we were skiing. The kids were in ski school, and I took her to lunch, made sure she ordered a glass of wine. It was over the holidays,” Willie continued.
Learn more about Willie and Christina’s romance below…
“I said, ‘So I’m going to be doing a Sunday Today show.’ And she’s like, ‘Okay, and what about the other shows?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, those are…going to be there too.'”
Thankfully, Christina was supportive of the career move, and Willie went on to cement his spot as a beloved TV personality on Sunday Today.
© GettyWillie’s daughter, Lucie, is following in her parents’ talented footsteps and wrote for her school’s digital news publication in high school. Meanwhile, his son George is a musician and plays both the drums and the keyboard.
© InstagramThe journalist reflected on the wish list of guests he had for Sunday Today, including Tom Hanks, Taylor Swift and Jay-Z, and shared that he loved interviewing stars both young and old.
“We’ve had many of my heroes and many of the people I grew up loving. And then there are going to be new people who come along. It can’t really get old because there’s so many new and interesting people who come down the pike.”
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