A beautiful love story. Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts met longtime girlfriend Amber Laign in July 2005, but the pair didn’t publicly acknowledge their relationship for nearly a decade.
While reflecting on her recovery from a September 2012 bone marrow transplant as treatment for her myelodysplastic syndrome, Roberts gave Laign a sweet shout-out.
“At this moment I am at peace and filled with joy and gratitude. I am grateful to God, my doctors and nurses for my restored good health. I am grateful for my sister, Sally-Ann, for being my donor and giving me the gift of life. I am grateful for my entire family, my longtime girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together,” the ABC personality wrote via Facebook in December 2013.
With her relationship out in the open, the Alabama native gushed about her partner during an April 2014 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, revealing that she and the massage therapist met on a blind date. Roberts also shed light on why the duo had kept their romance private for so long.
“She doesn’t really like the spotlight,” she said of Laign. “Not everybody wants to be in the spotlight. She’s very, very supportive and she’s been right there behind me every step of the way.”
The newscaster explained that when she was writing the caption for her post-op Facebook message, it felt strange to not include her girlfriend.
“I had been thanking my doctors and nurses [and] my sister who was a perfect match, and rightfully so, and [then] I asked her — I said, ‘I really wanna say thank you,’” Roberts shared.
The former college basketball star was able to return the favor and provide support for Laign when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2021. Roberts shared the news with her followers via Twitter in February 2022.
“My sweet Amber wanted me to tell you something that she’s been facing. At the end of last year, Amber was diagnosed with breast cancer,” the ESPN alum — who beat breast cancer herself in 2008 — said at the time. “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 like she was for me.”
After enduring their fair share of trials and tribulations together, the twosome decided to take their relationship to the next level.
“I’m saying yes to marriage. We’re getting married this year,” Roberts told motivational speaker Gabrielle Bernstein on Good Morning America in January 2023. The Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer added that she and her future wife had previously “talked” about tying the knot but “put it off” due to Laign’s breast cancer diagnosis. The California native completed radiation treatments in July 2022.
Scroll through for a look back at Roberts and Laign’s love story:
A beautiful love story. Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts met longtime girlfriend Amber Laign in July 2005, but the pair didn’t publicly acknowledge their relationship for nearly a decade.
While reflecting on her recovery from a September 2012 bone marrow transplant as treatment for her myelodysplastic syndrome, Roberts gave Laign a sweet shout-out.
“At this moment I am at peace and filled with joy and gratitude. I am grateful to God, my doctors and nurses for my restored good health. I am grateful for my sister, Sally-Ann, for being my donor and giving me the gift of life. I am grateful for my entire family, my longtime girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together,” the ABC personality wrote via Facebook in December 2013.
With her relationship out in the open, the Alabama native gushed about her partner during an April 2014 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, revealing that she and the massage therapist met on a blind date. Roberts also shed light on why the duo had kept their romance private for so long.
[jwplayer uH51nQOY-zhNYySv2]“She doesn’t really like the spotlight,” she said of Laign. “Not everybody wants to be in the spotlight. She’s very, very supportive and she’s been right there behind me every step of the way.”
The newscaster explained that when she was writing the caption for her post-op Facebook message, it felt strange to not include her girlfriend.
“I had been thanking my doctors and nurses [and] my sister who was a perfect match, and rightfully so, and [then] I asked her — I said, ‘I really wanna say thank you,’” Roberts shared.
The former college basketball star was able to return the favor and provide support for Laign when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2021. Roberts shared the news with her followers via Twitter in February 2022.
“My sweet Amber wanted me to tell you something that she’s been facing. At the end of last year, Amber was diagnosed with breast cancer,” the ESPN alum — who beat breast cancer herself in 2008 — said at the time. “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 like she was for me.”
After enduring their fair share of trials and tribulations together, the twosome decided to take their relationship to the next level.
“I’m saying yes to marriage. We’re getting married this year,” Roberts told motivational speaker Gabrielle Bernstein on Good Morning America in January 2023. The Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer added that she and her future wife had previously “talked” about tying the knot but “put it off” due to Laign’s breast cancer diagnosis. The California native completed radiation treatments in July 2022.
Scroll through for a look back at Roberts and Laign’s love story:
Credit: Greg Allen/Shutterstock
July 2005
The pair met on a blind date. Although they shared their relationship status with loved ones, Roberts and Laign waited years to publicly acknowledge their romance.
Credit: Shutterstock
December 2013
While reflecting on her recovery from a September 2012 bone marrow transplant via Facebook, Roberts thanked her “longtime girlfriend, Amber.” In doing so, she shared her relationship status — and her sexual orientation — with the world for the first time.
Credit: Henry Lamb/Photowire/BEI/Shutterstock
April 2014
Roberts talked about keeping her relationship private during an appearance on Ellen.
“Not everybody wants to be in the spotlight,” she explained, adding that Laign had been “very, very supportive” throughout her battles with breast cancer and myelodysplastic syndrome.
Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock
November 2015
The twosome adopted their dog, Lukas. “Sweet Amber is upset that the dog has more [Instagram] followers than she does,” Roberts quipped during a February 2020 appearance on Ellen.
Credit: Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
July 2020
Laign shared a collage of photos via Instagram in honor of the pair’s 15th anniversary.
“15 years ago, I met you for drinks on a blind date that both you and I tried to cancel … twice. Your grace caught my eye right away and the ease of the evening continued to flow through dinner ? We had a second date soon after and I couldn’t believe how at ease I was with you as we shared each other’s lives sipping lychee and apple martinis ?,” she wrote in the caption.
The Plant Juice Oils cofounder continued: “You left for Tahiti the following day and during that time apart I grew this feeling inside of me that still, is very present today … butterflies. Having you by my side is a gift as we continue to navigate this thing called life. I drive you crazy, I know, which is why I love you even more to this day.”
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February 2022
The former Jeopardy! host revealed that her partner had been diagnosed with breast cancer several months prior.
“My sweet Amber wanted me to tell you something that she’s been facing. At the end of last year, Amber was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Roberts shared in a Twitter video. “She had surgery last month and this morning will begin chemotherapy.”
Laign completed radiation treatments that July.
Credit: Courtesy of Robin Roberts/Instagram
January 2023
Roberts revealed during an episode of Good Morning America that she and Laign were planning their nuptials after more than 17 years together.
“I’m saying yes to marriage. We’re getting married this year,” she shared.