Carrie Ann Inaba Officially Replaces Julie Chen on ‘The Talk’
2019 is starting off with a bang for Carrie Ann Inaba!
The Dancing with the Stars judge is joining The Talk as permanent co-host, replacing Julie Chen who quit in September after nine seasons.
Inaba, who has been a judge on DWTS since the first season in 2005, has guest co-hosted The Talk frequently over the past year.
“It’s been such an enriching experience,” she says. “During the process, bonds were formed. It’s really rare in this business to really get along with people. It reminds me of how it is with Len [Goodman] and Bruno [Taglioni] on Dancing.”
The announcement was made official on Wednesday when The Talk hosts Sharon Osbourne, Sara Gilbert, Sheryl Underwood and Eve welcomed the 50-year-old Dancing With the Stars judge to the CBS daytime talk show. Inaba is replacing former host Julie Chen, who left the show in September following her husband, Les Moonves’, exit from CBS, due to multiple women going public with sexual misconduct allegations against him. Moonves has denied the allegations.
Inaba walked out to Pink’s “Raise Your Glass” on Wednesday’s show as the audience cheered.
“I’m so excited,” Inaba said with a huge smile on her face. “I’ve been backstage saying to myself, ‘Oh my god, is this real?'”
It's #2019 let's raise a toast to @carrieanninaba our brand, new host!! #TheTalk pic.twitter.com/GK7xnHZDAZ
— The Talk (@TheTalkCBS) January 2, 2019
Osbourne later praised Inaba after a montage of her on the show was aired.
“You have been so open about personal things and just everything that goes on in the world,” Osbourne said. “You’re fearless and I love that about you.”
“The last two months have been really tough on us but you have pulled us together and I love you for that,” she added.
Meanwhile, Eve echoed, “It feels amazingly right and it’s been so nice to get to know you.”
ET’s Kevin Frazier was on set of The Talk on the big day, and Inaba revealed that she cried when she heard she got the co-hosting gig.
(Excerpt) Read More at: ETOnline.com and People.com
