Meet Lester Holt’s Wife: 5 Things to Know About Carol Hagen

Date:

Share post:


News anchor Lester Holt’s wife, Carol Hagen, has been his rock for more than four decades.

Holt and Hagen met at the age of 21 when she was a flight attendant and he was a radio reporter. Two years later, the couple tied the knot in 1982. Holt and Hagen welcomed sons Stefan and Cameron in 1987 and 1990, respectively.

Through the years, Hagen has been supportive of Holt’s career. “She understands that when the bell rings, I like to answer it, when the big story’s going on, I want to be there,” the NBC Nightly News anchor told Extra in 2015. “I love her to death, she has been so wonderful, she knows this job is going to bring a lot of late-night phone calls, get on a plane, but she’s there for me and that means an awful lot.”

Holt revealed that the secret to their marriage is “just to laugh,” adding that the couple giggles “a lot.” He added, “I can be silly, she can be sillier and we just laugh through things. We know that everything, even the tough times, will be a story at some point.”

Scroll down to meet Hagen:


Carol Hagen-Holt and Lester Holt
SAUL LOEB/AFP

Hagen Once Joined Holt in Covering a Forest Fire

In the early days of their relationship, Hagen and Holt were together when KCBS asked him to cover a forest fire in Napa Valley. In response, Holt asked Hagen if she wanted to accompany him.

“I thought, ‘Wow, I’ve never been invited to go on a breaking news story before,’” she told Sactown Magazine in 2015. “‘A forest fire—that could be considered a hot date!’ So I said, ‘I’m game.’ I guess I knew what I was getting myself into with Lester and his career.”

Hagen Is a Mother

The couple are parents to sons Stefan and Cameron, with the former following in Holt’s journalism footsteps. Stefan graduated from Pepperdine University in 2009 before working as a news reporter for WPBF-TV in Florida. He now works at NBC 5 Chicago.

Cameron, for his part, graduated from Stanford University in 2012 and received his master’s degree in management science and engineering from the school the following year. He now works as an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley.

When Cameron was hospitalized for a collapsed lung, Hagen recalled Holt being by his son’s side while maintaining his job as a broadcaster.

“We’d have dinner together in hospital chairs eating off paper plates,” Carol told Sactown Magazine. “All of this was going on, and he would just show up to work and be rock steady. Now I don’t mean to be bragging, but he’s just that type of guy. He’s a calm guy under pressure.”

Hagen Is a Grandmother

Holt and Hagen have three grandchildren, who call the news anchor “grand dude.” He shared during an interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2021 that he wanted the family’s new generation to refer to him by the nickname because “grand bows to the fact that I’m older, but dude says I still got a little bit.”

Hagen Is a Real Estate Agent

Hagen is a real estate agent in New York City with over a decade of experience. Per her bio on Realtor.com, “Carol’s ability to listen and engage has been described as ‘reassuring,’ and ‘calming’ by her clients, while her commitment to professionalism and discretion makes her a highly sought-after representative.”

Hagen Doesn’t Care If Holt is On TV

Hagen shared during an interview with Sactown Magazine that her love for Holt didn’t revolve around him being on the TV screen. “I met him when he did radio, [and] I thought that was an interesting job,” she said. “The TV job is an interesting job, but at some point you retire, and you’re not the TV guy anymore. And I fell in love with the guy who wasn’t the TV guy. I fell in love with Lester Holt with the scanner in his car, running around and covering stories. He could stop doing TV right now, and it wouldn’t matter to me.”



Source link

Lisa Holden
Lisa Holden
Lisa Holden is a news writer for LinkDaddy News. She writes health, sport, tech, and more. Some of her favorite topics include the latest trends in fitness and wellness, the best ways to use technology to improve your life, and the latest developments in medical research.

Recent posts

Related articles

Kris Jenner Reveals Her 'Go-To Gift' Is 'Cozy Earth's Bestselling Sheet Set'

Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a...

Zach Bryan Skips CMAs Amid Messy Brianna Chickenfry Breakup

Morgan Wallen wasn’t the only star who missed country music’s biggest night. Zach Bryan, 28, was also conspicuous...

Lindsay Lohan and Lacey Chabert Recreate Iconic ‘Mean Girls’ Scene: Watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y7xIavWbS4 So fetch! Twenty years after they first played Cady Heron and Gretchen Wieners, Mean Girls stars Lindsay Lohan...

Hoda Kotb Hilariously Admits to Hiding in Her Minivan to Avoid Her Kids

Hoda Kotb Nathan Congleton/NBC Hoda Kotb admits that she hides in her minivan to avoid home responsibilities. Kotb smiled...

RHOP's Ashley Darby Files for Divorce From Estranged Husband Michael Darby

Michael and Ashley Darby in 2019. Brian Stukes/Getty Images The Real Housewives of Potomac star Ashley Darby...

Travis Kelce Jokes About Having a Baby to 'Become Brilliant' on New Show

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. TheStewartofNY/GC Images Travis Kelce seemingly has fatherhood on his mind. Kelce, who has...

Billy Ray Cyrus Say’s He’s ‘Surprised’ by Beyonce’s CMA Awards Snub

Billy Ray Cyrus Amy Sussman/WireImage Billy Ray Cyrus is baffled by the CMA Awards’ snub of Beyoncé’s...

Carrie Underwood Makes Surprise Return to CMA Awards for Cody Johnson Duet

Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood. Theo Wargo/Getty Images Carrie Underwood made a surprising return to the 2024 Country...