ABC News’ Deborah Roberts has opened up about her marriage to Today show’s Al Roker in an exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun.
Deborah, 63, and Al, 69, were honored at the Harlem School of the Arts’ 60th Anniversary Gala on May 20 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City.
Before taking the stage to accept their award, the power couple chatted with The U.S. Sun on the red carpet as they were accompanied by their 21-year-old son, Nick Roker.
When asked what their secret is to a long-lasting marriage, Deborah confessed that “it’s not easy” but they make it work.
“Oh, my gosh. I think the biggest thing is not to tell anybody that you have it figured out, because we don’t.
“We are working at it constantly. We are a work in progress,” she shared.
“We’ve been married 28, almost 29 years. It’s not easy.
“And life is all about growing and evolving and sometimes compromising and sometimes not.”
She continued, “So I don’t know that there’s any secret, but I think I desire to be committed and to work – makes a big difference.”
The couple will be celebrating their 29-year wedding anniversary on September 16, 2024.
Apart from their son Nick, they also have a 25-year-old daughter Leila Ruth, and a 37-year-old daughter Courtney Roker Laga, whom Al shares with his ex-wife Alice Bell.
SUPPORTING EACH OTHER
Deborah, Al, and Nick attended the special event to celebrate the art school‘s anniversary since it opened in 1964.
Al told The U.S. Sun that his wife and son were the main reasons why he left home for a night out.
“Well, I think I’m only here because of Deborah and Nick. I’m just along for the ride. They’re the ones that know what to do.
“I’m just showing up. But I’m happy to support the Harlem School of the Arts because, I mean, 60 years of starting with art and dance and theater, and now pivoting to media and technology – whatever art is, they’re bringing it to these young people,” he said.
When it came time to be honored onstage, Al joked to the audience, “The only reason I’m really here is because of Deborah Roberts because as any of you know, I actually would prefer to be home. I don’t come to these things.”
He went on to say that he “could not be any more prouder” of his son’s accomplishments and gushed, “The greatest masterpieces that I’ve ever seen are the two people standing next to me.”
FAMILY REUNITED
While Al is a co-host on the Today show, Deborah is a co-anchor for ABC News’ 20/20 alongside David Muir.
“It’s been really a lot of fun. It’s been more of the same, but a little more concentrated,” Deborah told The U.S. Sun.
“I’ve been at 20/20 for 20-plus years, and so not a lot has changed, with the exception of feeling a certain amount of responsibility for the show and feeling sort of the humility of stepping into a role that Barbara Walters occupied. And she was a mentor of mine.”
“Working with David Muir is a real kick and just sort of working a little bit more intensely with my team has been fantastic,” she continued.
We are working at [marriage] constantly. We are a work in progress.
Deborah Roberts
The family was joined by Al’s colleague, Sheinelle Jones, who hosted the HSA Gala on May 20 and brought along her daughter Clara Ojeh. The 11-year-old is a student at the school.
The newscasters all dressed up in their best Regency-era outfits to go along with the Bridgerton-themed affair.
“I mean, we all hang out anyway, but it’s fun to be able to give him his due. And this time, listen, Al Roker has every award on the planet, but it’s pretty cool that not only does he get the award today, but he gets it with his lovely wife Deborah and his son Nick. So it’s a family affair for them,” Sheinelle remarked to The U.S. Sun.
She went on to share what it is like getting to work with her colleagues, Al and Hoda Kotb.
“Listen, there are mornings where Al Roker is blasting the theme song to the A-Team. I mean, you know, he loves his music.
“Hoda, whenever she hears a new song that she loves, she’ll crank it up and make it the song of the summer,” Sheinelle spilled.
“I remember when Beyonce’s album first came out for Cowboy Carter. She was playing, ‘Ya, ya, ya,’ so we were singing it in the morning. So it’s a pretty fun time in the morning.”
Others who attended the HSA Gala included President and CEO James C. Horton, Jacqueline Newberry, Gayle King, Nicole Avant and her husband Netflix‘s CEO Ted Sarandos, Fat Joe, and Questlove.
