EvenKelly Ripacan hardly believe she's spent 25 years greeting America each morning on "Live!"
Ripa, 53,celebrated the quarter-century TV milestone alongside co-host and husband of nearly 30 years, Mark Consuelos, during a special "Live with Kelly and Mark" episode on Friday, Feb. 20.
The episode on the nationally syndicated show features appearances from old friends (including frequent co-hostJerry O'Connell), the couple'sson Michael, 28,and voice messages from their other children, Lola, 24, and Joaquin, 22, who couldn't attend.
"The one thing my children, and others, said was, 'Here's to the next 25 years,'" Ripa tells USA TODAY. "I was thinking, 'Next 25 years? If I make it through the next 25 minutes, it'll be incredible.' Listening to people talk about me was torture. Like attending your own funeral."
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Here's what to know about Ripa's milestone:
Ripa recalls the psychic who saw her pregnancy on the first episode
Ripa insists she has very few specific recollections from Feb. 5, 2001, when "All My Children" star succeeded Kathie Lee Gifford as Regis Philbin's permanent co-host and the show became "Live with Regis and Kelly." She does remember psychicChar Margolistelling Ripa on air about her pregnancy with daughter Lola.
"I knew, Mark knew, but no one else knew. Not even our families," says Ripa. "It was too early to tell people. So that's a very cohesive memory."
But many of the other TV moments replayed during the celebration were almost surprises to Ripa, who felt as if she was watching them for the first time.
"I kept saying to Mark, 'I have no memory of that,'" says Ripa. "Then I realized I was either pregnant or nursing for a substantial amount of the time. It's a lot of foggy, grainy memories."
Watching the time on air inspired Ripa to give her younger self one piece of advice:
"It would be, 'Don't wear that,'" Ripa says. "I will say in my defense, maternity clothes in 2026 look very different from those in 2000. The options were very limited in maternity fashion, specifically."
Ripa has passed Regis Philbin in the all-time 'Live!' hosting
Ripa had a complicated relationship with Philbin, whodied in 2020,as she discussed in her 2022 memoir"Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories." Philbin was first paired with Kathie Lee for a morning show in 1985, but "Live!" didn't take its current format until it became nationally syndicated in 1988. Philbin retired in 2011, after 23 hears as the show's headlining host.
Ripa has now been the top host 25 years, taking the chair with co-hosts Michael Strahan (2012–16) and Ryan Seacrest (2017–23), and now Mark.
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"I still think of it as Regis' show, and I'm the interloper," says Ripa. "My producer,Cindy MacDonald,one of my best friends, still calls me 'new girl.' This show is bigger than the host. And then we move on, and other people step into our shoes."
Ripa and Consuelos thought hosting together was 'a terrible idea'
Ripa insists that both she and her husband initially thought permanent joint hosting wouldn't work.
"We thought it was a terrible idea. It's like who wants to see two married people bicker every morning," says Ripa. "It turns out it's very interesting and relatable."
Happy birthday, Kelly Ripa! The beloved TV host turns 55 on Oct. 2, 2025. To celebrate her big day, we've rounded up photos of her life and career through the years." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ripa and Mark Consuelos cohost "Live with Kelly and Mark." Consuelos, Ripa's husband and former "All My Children" costar, joined "Live with Kelly" as her cohost on April 17, 2023." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ripa and Consuelos cohost "Live with Kelly and Mark" for the last time at 7 Lincoln Square on April 1, 2025. Ripa marked 25 years on "Live" in 2025, tying Oprah Winfrey's record as the longest-running female daytime talk show host." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ripa and Consuelos cohost "Live with Kelly and Mark" on Oct. 1, 2024. The couple won, as cohosts, the Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding talk show host in June 2024." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ripa attended the 91st Academy Awards with her husband, Consuelos. The two tied the knot in May 1996 and have three children together: Michael, Lola, and Joaquin. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
From left, Mark Consuelos, Kelly Ripa and former "Live!" cohost Ryan Seacrest attends the 95th annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023, in Hollywood." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
The actress and TV personality officially got her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in October 2015." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Talk about a grand appearance! Ripa came onstage at the 10th annual TV Land Awards in April 2012 in a Catwoman costume. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Aw, throwback! Philbin surprised his "Live with Regis" viewers when revealing that Kelly Ripa would be his permanent cohost in 2001. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Kelly Ripa's career, from soap operas to 'Live!' TV host success with Mark Consuelos
Happy birthday, Kelly Ripa! The beloved TV host turns 55 on Oct. 2, 2025. To celebrate her big day, we've rounded up photos of her life and career through the years.
The two share intimate home details, including Ripa assuring her "All My Children" alum husband this week that he'd score a "gold medal" for farting while discussing a reportabout "smart underwear."
"We like to put our own experience into these news articles," says Ripa, who says there are no-go discussion areas. "I think we reveal just enough, and sometimes we don't go far enough. I'm sure Mark would say that we always go too far. I'll say that for him."
Ripa says there are no post-show recriminations for what's discussed on air, and, even on the well-choreographed show, there is no "safe" word to avoid topics that may get sensitive.
"We know each other so well, we don't need a 'safe' word. But there's a 'safe' glance," says Ripa. "We already know what the other person is thinking."
Ripa will 'tap out' of future physical show feats
Ripa has been game for on-air physical feats, from scaling a 30-ft wall with Cirque de Soleil to hangingupside down on a bungee cordwith magician David Blaine.
In 2012, Ripa and executive producer Michael Gelman consumed copious amounts of alcohol and went night skiing with torches.
"That was definitely dangerous, particularly because we had all consumed alcohol before we did it," says Ripa. "We have this theory that as long as we're doing it on camera, nothing bad can happen."
Ripa admits she'll be cutting back on the TV stunts going forward.
"I'm older and wiser and more afraid of breaking a hip," says Ripa. "Now, I'd probably tap out."
Ripa has no fears of A.I. couple replacement
Ripa does not say how long she'll continue with "Live!," but the co-host does not fear being pushed out by A.I. simulations.
"There are certain things that A.I. cannot recreate," Ripa says. "A.I. could never be as exciting or as boring as we are on anything."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Kelly Ripa hits 25 years on 'Live!', still loves oversharing with Mark
