Kelly Ripa will be honored at the Disney Legends Awards on August 11, 2024, with her former live co-star Ryan Seacrest presenting her with the legendary award.
“It’s special that Disney recognizes our interdependence, and I think that makes sense,” Kelly said before the ceremony. “We can only give and receive awards to each other, so this is very special, and of course it gives me the opportunity to harass him on a public stage, which I never tire of doing.”
Ryan and Kelly co-hosted Live on ABC for six years from 2017 to 2023. Ryan stepped away to focus on other projects in California while the show is filmed daily in New York City. The American Idol host originally committed to a three-year deal but extended his time due to his love of the job and working with Kelly.
On his last day, both were very touched as they paid their respects to each other. Ryan humorously promised: “I look forward to being a guest host again in the future, and Kelly, I promise to share my food photos, chicken eggs and olive oil with you forever.”
Kelly’s husband Mark Consuelos took on the role of co-host. The couple met in the 1990s during an appearance on the ABC soap All My Children.
The Disney Legends Award honors artists and visionaries of the Walt Disney Company who “have pushed the boundaries of creativity, challenged conventional wisdom and broken the constraints of the status quo in the pursuit of new possibilities and excellence.”
This year’s honorees include Harrison Ford, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus and others. Kelly described the honor as “surreal,” adding, “I feel like the job is a gift, and I feel like the longevity is a gift. And if I’m honest, the honor on top of the job just feels kind of excessive. But it’s a privilege and a true honor.”
Source: Getty Images, Daytime Emmy Awards
