Three years after their controversial romance led to their exit from GMA3, former co-anchors T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach are officially engaged. The couple shared the news on their podcast, reflecting on their tumultuous journey, the public scrutiny, and the surprising turn of events, including their respective ex-spouses now reportedly dating each other.
In a story that has captured public attention for its dramatic twists, former Good Morning America co-anchors T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach have officially announced their engagement. The couple, whose relationship first made headlines in late 2022, shared the joyous news on the October 14th episode of their podcast, aptly titled Amy & T.J.
“We are sharing with all of you that we are engaged,” Robach, 52, revealed to listeners, adding that they had been engaged for approximately a month. Holmes, 48, emphasized their desire to control the narrative this time, stating, “We wanted to let you all know before anybody else was able to. We’ve learned that lesson, I guess, in the past about our relationship.” This statement alludes to the intense public scrutiny their romance faced when it first surfaced.
The Genesis of a Public Romance and its Fallout
The relationship between Holmes and Robach first became public in November 2022, following reports by the Daily Mail. At the time, both were married to other individuals: Holmes to lawyer Marilee Fiebig, and Robach to actor Andrew Shue. The initial reports sparked widespread speculation of an extramarital affair, quickly becoming a major media scandal.
However, the couple has consistently denied allegations of cheating, asserting that they had both separated from their respective spouses in August 2022, prior to their relationship becoming romantic. A source corroborated this, telling People that they had been “dating in the open” after their separations. Despite these clarifications, the controversy surrounding their relationship led to significant professional repercussions.
ABC News initially did not take immediate action, with president Kim Godwin reportedly noting that their relationship was not in violation of company policy. However, by December 5, 2022, Godwin announced that their romance had become an “internal and external distraction.” This led to their indefinite removal from GMA3, an offshoot of the Good Morning America franchise, and ultimately to their formal exit from ABC News in January 2023. As Holmes reflected on their podcast, “We lost the jobs we love because we love each other.”
A Quiet Engagement, Publicly Worn
Despite the past lessons learned about publicizing their relationship, Robach playfully revealed on their podcast that she had been wearing her engagement ring openly for weeks without anyone noticing. “I was in three massive football stadiums three weekends in a row, wearing my engagement ring very proudly, very excitedly, and kept waiting for somebody to point it out or ask me, ‘Hey, what’s that?’ And it never happened,” she recounted.
Holmes joked about his fiancée “dangling a ring in everybody’s face every chance you could, and nobody said a word.” Robach further explained that she almost posted a picture on social media featuring the ring, but Holmes advised against it, wanting to prevent the photo from being solely about the engagement. The couple intends to share more details about the proposal at a later date, having spent the past month quietly celebrating with family and close friends.
Unforeseen Twists: Exes Finding Love Anew
Adding another layer of intrigue to their story is the remarkable development involving their former spouses. In a stunning twist, Marilee Fiebig and Andrew Shue, Holmes’s and Robach’s respective exes, have reportedly found love with each other. According to Entertainment Weekly, the two are now dating and even reportedly moved in together in February. This unexpected turn of events has garnered considerable media attention, creating a unique parallel narrative to Holmes and Robach’s journey.
Looking Ahead: Wedding Plans and Family Dynamics
With their engagement now confirmed, questions about their future wedding plans naturally arise. Robach, whose divorce from Andrew Shue was finalized in March 2023, has expressed a measured approach to marriage. She previously stated in September 2024 on the “I Do, Part 2” podcast, “There is no urgency in the sense that I’m 51 years old. I don’t need to rush into anything.” While acknowledging she has “rushed into everything in my life up until now,” she confirmed both she and Holmes desire to tie the knot. Holmes’s divorce from Marilee Fiebig was settled in October 2023.
The couple has also openly discussed the possibility of expanding their family. While adoption was a topic they once considered, Robach confirmed on their podcast that they do not plan to pursue it further. Robach is a mother to two daughters, Ava and Annalise, from her previous marriage, while Holmes has children Jaiden and Sabine from past relationships. Robach candidly addressed the biological desire for a child with a new partner, acknowledging her age would likely preclude it.
Their Enduring Partnership
Since their departure from ABC News, T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach have continued to share their lives through their joint podcast, which debuted in December 2023. Their platform has allowed them to openly discuss their relationship, the challenges they’ve faced, and their enduring commitment to each other. The couple has also been noted for their public displays of affection; sources claimed Holmes publicly put his hand down Robach’s shorts at a June 2024 tourism event in Manhattan, with Robach reportedly reciprocating. Such moments underscore the intensity and public nature of their bond, which has now culminated in an engagement, signaling a new chapter for the pair who navigated a whirlwind of controversy together.
