Robin Roberts has revealed that she and her longtime partner Amber Laign plan on marrying in 2023, a year after the massage therapist’s breast cancer diagnosis.
The Good Morning America anchor made the surprise announcement on Monday’s show while interviewing author Gabby Bernstein about her book ‘Super Attractor: Methods for Manifesting a Life Beyond Your Wildest Dreams.’
Bernstein, 43, was sharing techniques for setting intentions in 2023 when she asked Roberts, 62, what she will ‘say yes’ to this year. The flustered journalist, who has been with Laign for 17 years, admitted she was hesitant to answer because she hasn’t ‘said it out loud yet.’
‘I’m saying yes to marriage. We’re getting married this year,’ Roberts finally shared. ‘It’s something we have talked about, but we had put it off. She became ill, and it is saying yes to that and that next chapter.’
Robin Roberts, 62, announced on Good Morning America on Monday that she plans on marrying her longtime partner Amber Laign, 48, this year
Roberts and Laign have been together for 17 years and endured multiple breast cancer battles together
Laign, 48, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of 2021, and the news of their upcoming marriage comes five months after they celebrated her completing radiation treatment.
Roberts appeared to surprise everyone, including herself, when she divulged their plans to tie the knot in 2023.
‘She said it. We got a yes,’ Bernstein said, prompting the audience to start clapping.
Roberts started fanning herself with her cue cards as the manifestation guru encouraged her to create a wedding vision board leading up to her big day.
Roberts was interviewing author Gabby Bernstein about setting intentions for 2023, when the manifestation guru asked what she will ‘say yes’ to this year
The flustered journalist admitted she was hesitant to answer because she hasn’t ‘said it out loud yet’
The journalist explained that she was more focused on their future together than the details of the ceremony.
‘I want to meditate on the marriage, not the wedding,’ she said.
Roberts and Laign were introduced by mutual friends in 2005, after being set up on a blind date. The former opened up about their meeting in her memoir, ‘Everybody’s Got Something.’
‘I liked the fact that she had no idea who I was. She rarely followed sports, so she never saw me on ESPN, and her office mates at the time watched a different morning show … ouch!’ she wrote.
‘She is extremely laid-back, no drama, no fuss,’ she added. ‘The main thing we have in common is positive energy. She sees the good in everyone.’
‘I’m saying yes to marriage. We’re getting married this year,’ Roberts finally shared
Roberts added that she and Laign had talked about marriage, but they put it off after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2021
Roberts didn’t share any details about their upcoming wedding plans, but she later celebrated the announcement on Instagram
Roberts had Laign’s support when she fought and overcame an early form of breast cancer in 2007. Five years later, she was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a disease in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells.
She underwent several sessions of chemotherapy, and on September 20, 2012, she had a bone marrow transplant from her sister, Sally-Ann Roberts, before returning to Good Morning America in February 2013.
The couple kept their relationship private until 2013, when Roberts came out for the first time in a Facebook post. She shared a list of all the people she was thankful for in honor of the year coming to an end and included her ‘longtime girlfriend, Amber.’
Nearly a decade later, their roles reversed and Roberts became the one caring for Laign as she fought breast cancer.
Roberts revealed that Laign has breast cancer in a video shared on her social media accounts in February, saying she had surgery the month before
Laign’s treatment was temporarily halted in April due to complications with chemotherapy
Roberts revealed Laign’s cancer diagnosis in a video shared on her social media accounts in February, saying she would have to step away from the morning show ‘from time to time’ to be by her partner’s side while she underwent treatment.
‘My sweet Amber wanted me to tell you something that she’s been facing. At the end of [2021], Amber was diagnosed with breast cancer,’ she said.
The GMA star explained Laign had surgery the month before and was starting chemotherapy that day.
‘Thankfully, the prognosis is good. And we’re so grateful to our family and close friends who have known this and have kept it private until Amber was ready to share it with others,’ she continued.
Roberts and Laign celebrated her completing radiation treatment back in April
The Good Morning America co-anchor posted a video of her longtime partner ringing a bell to mark the end of radiation, ‘a very important phase of her treatment’
Roberts beat breast cancer in 2007. Five years later, she was diagnosed with MDS, a disease in which the bone marrow does not make enough blood cells. Footage from her own bone marrow transplant aired on ABC in 2012 (pictured)
‘She and I have been together almost 17 years and have helped each other through our challenges, like my journey with cancer. It’s my turn now, to be there for her as she was for me.’
Laign faced a setback last April when her breast cancer treatment was temporarily suspended due to chemotherapy complications.
‘They’re working it out. We’re gonna figure it out. The prognosis is still very good,’ Roberts told Entertainment Tonight at the time.
The journalist explained that Laign was frustrated by the halt in her treatment, but she understood what she was going through as a cancer survivor.
Roberts returned to Good Morning America in February 2013, five months after her bone marrow transplant
Roberts met Laign in 2005 but kept their relationship private until she came out in a Facebook post in 2013 (pictured)
‘I’m just thankful that her spirits have been lifted,’ she said. ‘Recently it was a little tough there when — because she just wanted to get through it and to have this wrench thrown in our way — but I was able to tell her, as most people [who] have gone through cancer, this happens.’
‘There are peaks and valleys, and we went through a valley,’ she told ET. ‘But it’s more of a peak right now, and I’m just very grateful for all the love and support that she’s receiving.’
Roberts, whose latest book, ‘Brighter by the Day,’ is about instilling optimism, shared that she struggled with Laign’s diagnosis before she started listening to her ‘own words.’
‘It’s human nature to… you know “Why me?” and then I was like, “Why not me? Why not me?”‘ she said. ‘I can handle this. I have the strength. I’ve been through this. I can help Amber. She’s helping me, so I turned “Why me?” into “Why not me?”‘
Roberts, whose latest book, ‘Brighter by the Day’ is about instilling optimism, shared that she struggled with Laign’s diagnosis before she started listening to her ‘own words’
‘I can handle this. I have the strength. I’ve been through this. I can help Amber. She’s helping me, so I turned “Why me?” into “Why not me?”‘ she said
In July, Roberts shared a heartwarming video of Laign ringing a bell to mark the end of her radiation treatment.
‘Sweet Amber completing radiation, a very important phase of her treatment! We both thank you for all your well wishes and prayers,’ she wrote in the caption.
‘Proud of her and all fellow Thrivers for your grit and grace during a challenging time,’ she added. ‘This is indeed my #mondaymotivation.’
Roberts didn’t share any details about their upcoming wedding plans, but she later celebrated the announcement on Instagram.
‘Saying YES to marriage in 2023,’ she captioned footage from her interview with Bernstein.
