But he’s still on the up and up! Michael Strahan is leaving Live with Kelly and Michael, ABC confirmed to Us Weekly on Tuesday, April 19 — and he’s joining Good Morning America full time!
“I look forward to continuing to work with the incredible team at GMA,” Strahan, 44, said in his statement to Us. “It is an exciting opportunity to be able to bring unique stories and voices to the audience.” He will start his new gig at GMA in September.
Strahan, who joined Live back in 2012, got sentimental about leaving his namesake show with co-host Kelly Ripa. “My time with Live with Kelly and Michael has been transformative, and my departure will be bittersweet,” the former NFL player noted in the release. “Kelly has been an unbelievable partner, and I am so thankful to her and the entire team. I am extremely grateful for the amazing support I’ve received from all of the fans.”
ABC News president James Goldston first announced Strahan’s new role in a memo to ABC staffers Tuesday morning.
In the note obtained by Us Weekly, the exec wrote: “Michael has been a stellar addition to the broadcast. Over the past two years on GMA, he’s proven to be a tireless and versatile broadcaster with an incredible ability to connect with people, from veterans to American pop culture icons and newsmakers. He will end a four year run as Kelly Ripa’s co-host on Live!, where he has honed his skills as an interviewer with genuine warmth and a quick wit. At GMA, he’ll now have even more opportunities to tell stories that inspire, inform and empower people.”
Strahan has appeared on GMA twice a week starting 2014. His addition to the crew (Robin Roberts, Lara Spencer, George Stephanopoulos, Ginger Zee and Amy Robach) comes at a pivotal moment in morning television as GMA and NBC’s Today show continue to battle for ratings.
Strahan permanently replaced outgoing Live co-host Regis Philbin in 2012, after a 10-month search. Ripa most recently celebrated her 15-year anniversary on the show.
