Kelly Ripa

Kelly Ripa is a talented performer, talk show host, and actress, and pretty much anyone who’s ever watched television in the daytime has seen her on Live! or on All My Children. Now she can add another role to her already impressive resume: ordained minister.

Born and raised in New Jersey to a homemaker and union president, Ripa was the first member of her family to pursue show business, and knew from a young age that was her calling. Ripa began her career as a dancer on Dance Party USA, but had dreams of acting - which she quickly fulfilled. In 1990, she was cast as party girl Hayley Vaughan on the soap opera All My Children, a role which landed her several Daytime Emmy Award nominations. Hayley quickly became one of the most popular characters on the show thanks to Ripa’s charming portrayal, and she stayed with the role until 2002.

In 2000, Ripa auditioned to replace Kathie Lee Gifford on Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee. It was Regis Philbin himself who suggested she audition, remembering her and her “fun-loving sparkle” from a guest appearance years prior. Ripa beat out some very stiff competition and was officially signed in 2001, and almost instantly increased Live!’s viewership amongst young people by an impressive 80%.

Through its many incarnations, she’s been with Live ever since. In 2011, Philbin retired and Ripa replaced him as head of the show, and has shared hosting duties with both Michael Strahan and Ryan Seacrest. From 2012 to 2016 she won five Daytime Emmy Awards for Live!

All that, and she’s an ordained minister too! In 2020, Ripa and Seacrest threw a virtual wedding for a pair of essential workers on Live, whose wedding was canceled due to the pandemic. We are certain that she’ll bring that fun-loving sparkle Regis Philbin recognized so many years ago to many future weddings!

Want to become ordained like Kelly Ripa? Click here!