All the Ways Amanda Kloots Has Honored Her Late Husband Nick Cordero Since His Death

Credit: Courtesy Nick Cordero/Instagram

All the Ways Amanda Kloots Has Honored Her Late Husband Nick Cordero Since His Death

Keeping his memory alive. After Amanda Kloots’ husband, Broadway alum Nick Cordero, died following a lengthy battle with COVID-19 in July 2020, she continued to update her followers about dealing with grief, staying strong for their son, Elvis, and remembering her husband of fewer than three years.

The Talk cohost previously told Us Weekly that navigating the grief of losing her partner is different every day. “A lot of people have said to me, ‘It gets easier [and] time helps,’ and I don’t know if I found that yet. I still pretty much cry every day. It’s growing pains," she said in April 2021.

The fitness instructor added that she’s “doing everything I possibly can to stay healthy and active and happy. And you know, grief is a process … Everybody does it differently.”

The former professional dancer revealed that Elvis’s new milestones make her grief process more difficult. “With Elvis, like, there’s so many things that he does or there’s times in life that you just wish your person was there to celebrate with,” she explained. “And I think that that’s where it’s harder because you miss your person so much.”

Kloots hosted a memorial for her husband in July 2020 for the couple’s family and close friends. The Live Your Life bestselling author shared news of the ceremony on Instagram. In a caption, she wrote, “I said, ‘Nick would have wanted this to be a celebration. Let’s try to laugh, share great stories and sing for him and to his memory.’ He would have loved it. It was beautiful and perfect. His spirit was definitely there.”

During the ceremony, the attendees listened to “I’m Here” from The Color Purple. Kloots revealed that after Cordero’s death, those lyrics held a new meaning for her. She continued, via her Instagram: “Truly, I am scared. Scared of my new normal, of the pain, the loss and being strong enough to get through it. But, I know Nick is up above rooting [sic] for me, believing in me and hoping for me.”

Cordero was first admitted to the hospital in March 2020 after experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. His case had several complications, including a mini-stroke, blood clots and a leg amputation. The former dancer announced that he died on July 5, 2020, at age 41.

“I am in disbelief and hurting everywhere,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “My heart is broken as I cannot imagine our lives without him. Nick was such a bright light. He was everyone’s friend, loved to listen, help and especially talk. He was an incredible actor and musician. He loved his family and loved being a father and husband. Elvis and I will miss him in everything we do, everyday.”

Keep scrolling to see all the different ways that Kloots has honored the Waitress actor after his death:

Credit: Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram

She Started the ‘Wake Up Nick’ Singalong Trend

While Cordero was lying unconscious in the hospital, the trainer yearned for him to wake up and open his eyes. To keep up her faith, she enlisted her Instagram community and friends for an hourlong “Wake Up Nick” dance party. Fans would dance along to his song “Live Your Life,” and share their best moves on Instagram with the hashtag #WakeUpNick.

Credit: Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram

She Finished Writing His Song

The late musician started to write a song about his father’s death titled, “Not Far Away,” before his health crisis. While Cordero was unable to complete the lyrics prior to getting sick, Kloots finished the track and even sang her new words in tandem with a recording the Broadway vet had started. In an Instagram post from September 2020, the single mom explained, “The process of writing, singing and recording ‘Not Far Away’ has been incredibly therapeutic for me. Listening to it [sic] has made me feel closer to him, giving me a lot of comfort these last few days.”

Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

She Shared His Music After His Death

The talk show host mentioned both on her Instagram and in her memoir, Live Your Life, that her late husband had rock star aspirations. After his death, Kloots released an album of songs from one of his last live performances. The concert recording landed at the top of the charts soon after debuting.

Credit: Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram

Her Fitness Class Proceeds Were Donated in His Name

In December 2020, Kloots announced via Instagram that all of the proceeds from one of her upcoming AK! Body fitness classes would be donated to the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles in both Cordero’s honor and name.

Credit: Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram

A Ring From His Ashes Was Made

The former Rockettes performer worked with jewelry designer Stephanie Gottlieb to make a unique ring with some of her late husband’s ashes. The designer previously worked with Cordero to design Kloots' engagement ring. The former professional dancer explained via Instagram that Gottlieb included a sapphire gemstone (Cordero’s birthstone) in the center of the ring and engraved the inside with his initials (NC). In her caption, Kloots revealed her plans to pass this ring onto their son, Elvis.

Credit: Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram

She Lived in the House He Helped Pick Out

After Cordero's death, the former Bullets Over Broadway dancer renovated the Laurel Canyon home she and Cordero had purchased before he got sick. In an Instagram post from February 2021, Kloots revealed she could feel her late husband’s presence in the house he helped pick out.

As of April 2021, Kloots expressed her desire to move from the Laurel Canyon property. According to Hello, the talk show host revealed her intentions in an Instagram Story. She wrote, “Our house is amazing but very small. Elvis and I can’t stay there forever because of that. It was never a home we bought as a 'forever home' but I will never sell it!” The Dirt reported that the single mom had purchased a new cottage in the same neighborhood.

Credit: Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram

Her Heartfelt Instagram Dedications Postmortem

Grief can be difficult, and Kloots has been vocal and vulnerable about all of her emotions since losing her partner. Eleven months after Cordero died, she shared a heartfelt and emotional letter on Instagram. 

She wrote: “Never did I think this would be my last month with Nick. We were all fighting so hard, including Nick. His journey seemed so long and on going while it was happening. Looking back I realize how quickly everything happened and how he held on until he knew everyone he loved would be ok. I miss you more and more everyday baby. We all do ❤️.”

Credit: Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram

Her Book Was Written to Share His Story

Kloots’ memoir, titled Live Your Life: My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero, came out in June 2021 to tell Cordero’s story and provide closure, she explained in an Instagram video. To celebrate the book launch, she organized a “book blessing” where more than 21,000 people virtually joined her and son Elvis at the last stage Cordero performed on at The Bourbon Room. Kloots even wore Cordero’s final costume, which was a giant angel. She wrote on Instagram, “Anna [Kloots, her sister] and I wrote this book so that Nick’s [sic] name would go down in history. Nick Cordero, thank you for being our angel.”

Credit: Courtesy Amanda Kloots/Instagram

She Went to His Broadway Tribute

Kloots revealed in September 2021 that she is returning to the East Coast to see a tribute to her late husband. Cordero played Earl in the original Broadway cast of Waitress. The show was one of the first Broadway musicals to return amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"BROADWAY IS BACK with a 'big ol slice of Live Your Life pie!!!'" Kloots shared via Instagram. "Heading to NYC for a very special opening night that will honor Nick!! Thank you to the whole @waitressmusical cast and crew for this special invite and tribute to the original Earl. I’m pretty confident that I will cry through the entire show but I can’t wait to be there ❤️❤️❤️"

Credit: Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram

Her Wedding Anniversary Tribute

The Talk cohost marked the four-year anniversary of her wedding to Cordero by sharing a throwback snippet from their nuptials. "Hey baby! Happy 4th wedding anniversary to us! Our wedding was one of the best days of my life and I'll never ever forget it," she captioned her September 2021 Instagram post. "I'll never forget our first look, our first kiss as husband and wife and our first dance. You'll always be my husband, my angel now, but always the love of my life. Here's to us ❤️."

One day prior, she attended the premiere of her late husband's former Broadway show Waitress with close pal Zach Braff.

Credit: Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram

Honoring Her Late Husband's 43rd Birthday

The Dancing With the Stars season 30 contestant shared a heartfelt tribute to her late spouse on what would have been his 43rd birthday in September 2021.

“Happy 43rd birthday to you Nick,” the Live Your Life author captioned a slideshow of images of the pair. “It’s really hard to not think about what we would be doing today to celebrate you. I’d probably take you for a really nice steak dinner and have some red velvet cake for dessert with Elvis! I hope you are up in heaven having a big party with your Dad and because I’m wishing the best for you, Prince. I’m hoping you’re singing with Prince today!!! Elvis and I will be missing you today as we sing to you from Earth. If you were here I know what you’d say… ‘I’m the luckiest man on the planet. I live a blessed life.’ I love you forever.”

Credit: Courtesy of ABC

'DWTS' Tribute

Kloots got noticeably emotional as she prepared to dance to Cordero’s "Live Your Life" during a November 2021 episode of DWTS.

“Those packages are tough. I was sort of watching, sort of not watching. Alan [Bersten] and I always have a ritual that we say a prayer before we dance,” Kloots told Us and other reporters after the episode aired. “I kind of just [tried] to take in the moment, to be honest. I felt so grateful and lucky to be able to do this dance tonight to Nick's song. I mean, it truly was an honor.”

Credit: Courtesy Amanda Kloots/Instagram

Learning to Live Again

“This video of Nick and Elvis was taken exactly two years ago today,” the Talk cohost wrote via Instagram in January 2022. “It might be my favorite father/son moment I caught on camera. It used to make me too sad to watch, but now I watch it and smile.”

She continued in her post: “I think the most important lesson we learn in losing life is how to live life. …Maybe it’s a stage of grief I’m passing through, I don’t know, but I’m in a phase of throwing caution to the wind! Don’t wait till tomorrow. Say YES. Be a little bit wild, or a lot wild! Be bold, take chances, go on the trip, do all the things I want to try even when I don’t know what I’m doing. Smile. Take control of my life. Create the life I want to live!!! CREATE the life I want to LIVE.”

Credit: Courtesy of Harper Collins

'Live Your Life' Movie

In March 2022, Kloots confirmed that the book she wrote in the wake of Cordero's death will be developed into a feature film. "How do you keep someone you've lost alive? You say their name, you tell their stories, you share their art and music!" she captioned an Instagram announcement, adding that she felt "very grateful" for the "opportunity to share this story in a new way."

Credit: Courtesy Amanda Kloots/Instagram

A Different Kind of Father's Day

"Happy Father’s Day to my dad and the best grandpa I know, to Nick who dreamed of being a father and is now our angel, and to my brother the best dad and uncle I know!" Kloots wrote via Instagram in June 2022, sharing throwback photos of Cordero with the couple's son, Elvis. 

Credit: Instagram/Amanda Kloots

Happy Birthday in Heaven

"How I wish I could spoil you rotten today. Happy 44th Birthday Nick ❤️," Kloots captioned a slideshow for her late husband via Instagram in September 2022. She also donated all proceeds from her exercise class to Our House Grief Support Center in Cordero's name.