Robin Roberts and Amber Laign's Relationship Timeline

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty

Robin RobertsandAmber Laignare happily married.

The longtime couple, who first met in 2005 on a blind date,tied the knot in September 2023. Roberts and Laign announced theirplans to wedduring a January 2023 taping ofGood Morning America.

“I’m hesitating because I haven’t said it out loud yet … I’m saying ‘yes’ to marriage,” Roberts shared on the air. “We’re getting married this year.” She continued, referencingLaign’s breast cancer diagnosis, “It was something we had talked about but we had put it off, [Laign] became ill but … it is saying yes to that next chapter.”

Although they prefer to keep their relationship private, Roberts and Laign occasionally step out together at public events, including those that support various LGBTQ causes.

From their first blind date to their wedding, here’s a complete timeline of Robin Roberts and Amber Laign’s relationship.

July 26, 2005: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign meet on a blind date

Bryan Bedder/Getty

During a 2014 appearance onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show, Roberts revealed that she and Laign first met on a blind date in July 2005. Roberts shared that Laign “doesn’t really like the spotlight,” but noted that she is “very, very supportive.”

“She’s been right there beside me every step of the way,” Roberts said.

On the couple’s 15th anniversary in July 2020, Roberts reposted Laign’sprivate Instagram post, where Laign shared more details about how they met.

“15 years ago I met you for drinks on a blind date that both you and I tried to cancel … twice,” Laign wrote. “Your grace caught my eye right away and the ease of the evening continued to flow through dinner.”

Laign added that she felt “butterflies” after they went on a second date.

“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 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.”

December 29, 2013: Robin Roberts publicly acknowledges “longtime girlfriend” Amber Laign

In a year-endFacebook post, Roberts celebrated her recovery from alife-saving bone marrow transplantshe underwent to treat myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood disease she was diagnosed with in 2007.

Writing alongside a photo of her and her dog, Roberts thanked her medical team, family, friends and sister Sally-Ann, who also served as her doner, for their support. She then thanked her “longtime girlfriend Amber,” marking the first time she had publicly acknowledged both Laign and her sexuality.

January 6, 2014: Robin Roberts shares a photo of Amber Laign on air

A week later, Roberts returned toGood Morning Americaafter an extended medical leave and shared a photo of Laign during a segment of the show, perABC News.

“The family was all together in Baton Rouge over the weekend and we have a family photo over there,” she said, showing the photo to the audience. “Next to me is my girlfriend, Amber.”

She also addressed her prior Facebook post, noting, “My year-end post was just full of gratitude and just telling everyone all that I’m grateful for, including my girlfriend Amber who really loved me through a very difficult year.”

April 1, 2014: Robin Roberts opens up about her relationship with Amber Laign in her memoir

Amber Laigh and Robin Roberts.Robin Roberts/Instagram

In her 2014 memoir,Everybody’s Got Something,Roberts described how she and Laign met when Laign was still working in the fashion industry.

She also discussed how Laign supported her through hardships in her personal life. “She lovingly stood with me through the death of my beloved dad,Hurricane Katrinadestroying my hometown of Pass Christian, Mississippi, and my battle with breast cancer,” she wrote.

May 19, 2014: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign attend the GLSEN Respect Awards

Robin Marchant/Getty

“I’m delighted to support GLSEN, an incredible organization that is working to end bullying and make schools safer for LGBT students,” Roberts said in a statement. “I’m particularly happy to lift up the leadership of students who fight for respect and dignity for all.”

GLSENtweeted a photoof the couple on the red carpet with some of the students. “Honored to be with courageous students,” Roberts replied.

November 10, 2014: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign celebrate Roberts’GlamourWomen of the Year award

Patricia Schlein/Star Max/GC Images

In November 2014, Roberts was recognized atGlamourmagazine’s Women of the Year awards. “Her warmth and compassion have turned her into one of America’s personalities,” former first ladyMichelle Obamasaid of Roberts.

Roberts and Laign attended the awards ceremony together at Carnegie Hall in N.Y.C. and posed for photos on the red carpet.

April 2015: Robin Roberts says there’s “no fuss” with her and partner Amber Laign

During an interview withAARP The Magazine, Roberts recalled how Laign threw her the perfect 50th birthday party.

“It was my 50th birthday celebration, and she had heard me moaning and groaning about some kind of party,” Roberts said of a photo of the pair from 2010. “I’d told her all I wanted to do was dance on the beach. We were on Turks and Caicos [Islands]. She set the whole thing up — a dance floor on the beach — as a surprise.”

Roberts said she was “thrilled” that Laign “heard” her.

“With Amber and me there’s no fuss. We’re so happy. We’ve been happily in a relationship for 10 years and are looking forward to the next 10 after that,” she added.

October 1, 2016: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign celebrate Roberts' Point Courage Award

Rich Polk/Getty

Roberts was honored with thePoint Courage Awardduring the Point Honors gala, which recognizes leaders in the LGBTQ community.

She and Laign attended the event at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The Point Foundation alsoposted a photo of the coupleat the event on Facebook.

September 20, 2017: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign celebrate the fifth anniversary of Roberts' bone marrow transplant

On a September 2017 broadcast ofGood Morning America, Roberts celebrated five years since she received her life-saving bone marrow transplant, perABC News.

Laign joined Roberts on air to share her experience as Roberts' caretaker during the recovery period. “I learned so much every day just being there and being [there] every step of the way,” she said. “You’re being thrown information and you’re trying to keep it all together.”

She also offered advice to other caretakers, saying, “You have to take care of yourself … in your everyday life. If you exercise, go to the gym, find a yoga studio. Do something so you can just release all of this energy that you have built up from being around and being the giver and giving, giving, giving.”

May 5, 2018: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign attend the GLAAD Media Awards

Rob Kim/WireImage

Roberts and Laign attended the 29th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at The Hilton in N.Y.C. During the event, Roberts presentedJay-Z’s mom,Gloria Carter, with the Special Recognition Award for coming out on her son’s song “Smile.”

GLAAD latertweeted a GIF of the coupleon the red carpet with the caption, “@RobinRoberts and her partner Amber are at the #GLAADawards to help us honor the best of LGBTQ media!”

July 26, 2020: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign celebrate their 15th anniversary

The couplecelebrated 15 years togetherin July 2020. In honor of the milestone, Roberts gifted Laign a collage, which featured a photo of themselves for each year. She also got her partner a celebratory cake and a set of personalized crystal champagne glasses for their “crystal” anniversary. For her part, Laign posted a sweet tribute on her private Instagram account, whichRoberts repostedon her own.

April 1, 2021: Robin Roberts says she and Amber Laign have “never been stronger”

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Roberts told PEOPLE that she used the extra time at home as an opportunity to strengthen her relationship with Laign.

“We’re going on 16 years now,” she said. “We spent more time together this past year than in the previous 15 years combined.We’ve never been stronger.”

September 5, 2021: Robin Roberts shares a sweet birthday tribute to Amber Laign

On Sept. 5, 2021, Roberts shared aseries of photoson Instagram to celebrate Laign’s 47th birthday.

November 25, 2021: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign enjoy Thanksgiving

OnThanksgiving, Robertsshared an Instagram photoof Laign snoozing with the couple’s dog, Lil Man LuKas.

“As you can see Sweet Amber enjoyed our Thanksgiving feast,” Roberts wrote. “@lil_man_lukas knocked out too! I’m gonna get it when she wakes up & see this, but it’s worth it!”

February 24, 2022: Robin Roberts reveals Amber Laign was diagnosed breast cancer

In a video posted on Twitter, Roberts revealed that her “sweet Amber” was diagnosed with breast cancer. “She had surgery last month and this morning will begin chemotherapy. Thankfully, the prognosis is good,” Roberts said.

“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,” she added.

April 8, 2022: Robin Roberts opens up about Amber Laign’s cancer diagnosis

The following month, Robertsdiscussed Laign’s diagnosiswith PEOPLE and shared how she was managing to stay optimistic.

“Lately, if Amber’s having a good day, I’m having a great day,” Roberts said. “If she’s not, then I’m not having such a great day.”

She also discussed allowing herself to be more vulnerable. “I have been more emotional about Amber than I was my two times [facing serious illness],” she explained. “This is so odd for us.”

Roberts continued: “She’s so used to me being the patient, and I’m so used to her being the caregiver. To swap roles like we have, as much as I’m teaching her, she’s teaching me and encouraging me to take care of myself as I encourage her back.”

April 14, 2022: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign celebrate Roberts' 20th anniversary ofGood Morning America

Raymond Hall/GC Images

Robertscelebrated her 20th anniversaryatGood Morning Americaduring a live taping of the show.

Roberts teared up and then brought Laign on camera to celebrate with her, saying, “Sweet Amber is here, who’s been with me 17 of the 20 years.”

April 18, 2022: Robin Roberts shares that Amber Laign paused chemotherapy

During an interview withEntertainment Tonight,Roberts revealedthat Laign’s treatment had been paused “for the time” due to complications, but that the prognosis is still good.

“I’m just thankful that her spirits have been lifted,” Roberts 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 [know], this happens.”

June 8, 2022: Robin Roberts discusses her love for Amber Laign in PEOPLE’s Pride Issue

ForPEOPLE’s Pride Issue, Robertsshared her coming out storywith the hope that everyone can be “accidental, incidental activists.”

Roberts added: “But people got it. ‘Oh, she’s just grateful,’ they said. ‘It’s just love.’ They didn’t make it anything more than me living my life.”

July 18, 2022: Robin Roberts announces that Amber Laign has completed radiation

Robin Roberts Instagram

On July 18, 2022, Roberts posted a video of Laign ringing a bell in the hospital to signifythe end of her cancer treatment.

“Sweet Amber,” theGood Morning Americahost wrote in the caption. “Completing radiation, a very important phase of her treatment! We both thank you for all your well wishes and prayers. Proud of her and all fellow Thrivers for your grit and grace during a challenging time.”

In the video, Laign says, “My treatment is done, the course is run and I’m on my way” before she rings the bell and does a celebratory dance.

January 2, 2023: Robin Roberts shares that she and Amber Laign plan to get married

While discussing New Year’s intentions onGood Morning America, Roberts revealed that she and Laign intend to get married in 2023.

“I’m hesitating because I haven’t said it out loud yet … I’m saying ‘yes’ to marriage,” Roberts said. “We’re getting married this year.”

She continued, “It was something we had talked about but we had put it off, she became ill but … it is saying yes to that, and that next chapter.”

Roberts posted the clip onInstagramand wrote in the caption, “Saying YES to marriage in 2023 💍.”

June 4, 2023: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign return from vacation

“Not sad vacay is over, glad and blessed it happened!” theGood Morning Americahost added.

August 16, 2023: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign reflect on their proposal

Roberts and Laign spoke toGood Morning Americaabout their relationship, recalling the day they got engaged. Roberts previously revealed in her memoir that she and Laigndidn’t live togetherfor the first decade of their relationship. But that changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We had talked about marriage off and on during the course of our relationship, and it didn’t come through for whatever reasons,” Roberts recalled. “But after the lockdown, we were like, yeah, we kind of like being around each other almost 24/7.”

They sealed the deal one night while eating at a restaurant, where they put rings of calamari on each other’s fingers.

“Now looking back, it was pretty fitting for us to not have a down on one knee [proposal] and one person doing it and who was going to propose,” the television host said. “It was just us hanging out in our little hole-in-the-wall Mexican spot and putting calamari rings on each other and saying, ‘Let’s go. Let’s do it.’ "

September 7, 2023: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign obtain their marriage license

robinroberts/Instagram

“Where are you going?” the couple were asked in the clip.

“Getting our license,” Roberts responded.

“Road to the Ring is nearing an end,” Roberts wrote inthe caption. “18 years and totally worth the wait!”

September 8, 2023: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign get married

Just a day after securing their marriage license, Roberts and Laigngot marriedin Farmington, Connecticut. Their dog, Lukas, was among the 250 people in attendance. He even wore a bow tie on the special day.

December 3, 2023: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign enjoy a second wedding celebration

“My thoughtful siblings hosted a festive wedding celebration for us in #NOLA for those unable to attend our ceremony in CT in Sept,” Roberts shared on Instagram. “Family jokes it’s the latest stop on the Amber-Robin gratitude tour! We are extremely grateful for all the love…but just don’t know how much more I can take!”

September 8, 2024: Robin Roberts and Amber Laign celebrate one year of marriage

The couple celebrated theirfirst anniversarywith a special meal. On Instagram, Roberts shared that a friend arranged for the chef from their big day to cook for them “since we never actually got to eat at our wedding.”

Chef Katrina from Farmington Gardens served up a shrimp cocktail, salad and salmon. For dessert, Roberts and Laign indulged in the tradition of eating their wedding cake, which had been in the freezer for 365 days.

source: people.com