Katie Couric is embracing being a first-time grandmother — and she has some thoughts about an important element in this stage of her life.
Back in March 2024, fans of the veteran journalist learned her daughter Ellie (whom she shared with her late husband Jay Monahan, along with Ellie's sister Carrie) welcomed son John "Jay" Albert with her husband Mark Dobrovsky. While Katie has been known to showcase the growing bond she has with her grandson, she is revealing there are some things she is making sure to stay out of when it comes to Jay's life. As she explained to People while attending Stand Up to Cancer’s annual fundraising TV special on August 9, she's happy to sit back and let Ellie parent the way she chooses.
"My only 'grandmother rule' is to not tell my daughter what to do," she told the outlet. "She’s an extraordinary mom. She’s doing an amazing job. And when it comes to parenting, I just keep my trap shut."
We can absolutely respect Katie for choosing to set a boundary with Ellie in regards to how she's raising her son. But that doesn't mean Katie isn't elated about this new phase of her life.
As she wrote on her Katie Couric Media website right after Jay was born, she can't wait to see him grow and develop his own personality in the future.
"I am so excited to watch Baby Jay go through all the stages — smiling, crawling, walking, talking — and to see the world unfold through the eyes of a child. I’m going to try to enjoy every moment," she wrote back in 2024. "It’s so true what they say: The days are long, but the years are short. As a grandparent, I’m hoping the years will be long! The 'grand' in front of 'mother' makes me keenly aware that time is precious."
"I can’t wait to take him to the beach, the library, get an ice cream cone, bring him to his first Broadway show," she added. "I’m going to spoil this kid rotten and not worry about it ... As Joni Mitchell sings, 'The seasons, they go ‘round and ‘round and the painted ponies go up and down.' But the line that really gets me is 'cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town.' No matter what stage you are in, life is full of joy and wonder."
We love this for Katie, and we can't wait to hear about what adventures she and Jay will have!
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
