Al Roker Shares Peek Into His & Deborah Roberts’ Life as Empty Nesters
How Al Roker, Deborah Roberts Are Adjusting to Life as Empty Nesters
Al Roker is sharing what life is like in his neck of the woods.
After the Today anchor shared a photo of his and wife Deborah Roberts' son Nick moving into his college dorm, he shared a glimpse into his new normal as an empty nester.
“I feel good,” Al exclusively told E! News in a joint interview with Deborah at the opening night of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Sept. 19. “I remember I was the first to go to college in my family, and I was the oldest of six. And I know my parents were just kind of thrilled to have one free bed. So, you know, I'm looking forward to his next chapter.”
As for how his wife of 31 years—who also shares daughter Leila, 27, with Al—sees it?
“I feel excited,” she admitted. “It's always hard for me because at my core, I am a mom and a mama bear, and I miss the kids terribly. But you know what? I love seeing them spread their wings and start to fly a little bit.”
Plus, the new chapter has allowed Al and Deborah some alone time to keep their spark alive.
“We’re holding up pretty well,” she added. “Look, we're out here. We're having date night.”
Last month, Al—also dad to daughter Courtney Roker, 39, with late ex-wife Alice Bell—shared a snapshot of the 24-year-old embarking on his latest adventure.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
"Another drop off for my young man," the 72-year-old wrote in the Aug. 29 Instagram post. "Gonna miss him but as Al Roker Sr. always said, #cantmissyouifyoudontleave. So very proud of him."
Indeed, this wasn't Al's first time dropping off Nick at a college campus. After all, Nick previously spent three years studying communications at Vermont's Landmark College before graduating with an associate degree in 2025.
At the time, Al noted on social media that he and Deborah “could not be prouder of how hard he has worked and is determined to get his #bachelorsdegree."
And the accomplishment was that much more special for the weatherman considering the hurdles his son has faced. Indeed, Al previously described Nick as "somewhere on the spectrum and maybe obsessive-compulsive."
Al Roker/Instagram
"But those labels can be frustrating,” Al explained in a 2019 essay for Guideposts magazine, “they don’t begin to describe who Nick really is.”
But thanks to a dedicated team of professionals, including speech, behavioral and occupational therapists, Nick has been able to surpass his parents’ wildest dreams for him.
"I can’t begin to take credit for who Nick is and who he might become," Al added. "All sorts of specialists can tell you about limitations for this and that. Nick never got that message."
Keep reading to see how more celebrity kids marked their first day of school this year…
—Reporting by Stephanie Swaim
Hoda Kotb
The former Today anchor and her ex Joel Schiffman celebrated daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine kicking off their studies.
"It’s here! First day of school," she wrote on Instagram Sept. 8. "4th and 2nd grade! Whaaaatttt?"
Adrian DENNIS / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
Kate Middleton & Prince William
Prince George was escorted by his parents to his first day at Eton College on Sept. 8.
Instagram/Khloe Kardashian
Khloe Kardashian
The Kardashians star kept up with tradition, snapping a photo of son Tatum and daughter True on their first day of school.
“I canNOT believe Tatum started school today! And my True is in THIRD GRADE!” she wrote on Instagram Sept. 2. “Both of my babies are officially in school and I truly don’t know how we got here.”
LeBron James/Instagram
LeBron James
The NBA icon's daughter Zhuri's first day of sixth grade on Sept. 1 was complete with a Herschel Supply backpack full of books and a ride to school.
Al Roker/Instagram
Al Roker
The Today anchor's son Nick returned to college to pursue a bachelor's degree after earning an associate degree in communication in 2025.
"Another drop off for my young man," he wrote on Instagram Aug. 29. "Gonna miss him but as Al Roker Sr. always said, #cantmissyouifyoudontleave. So very proud of him."
Craig Melvin/Instagram
Craig Melvin & Lindsay Czarniak
The morning show host and his sports journalist wife sent their kids Sybil and Delano back to school on Aug. 26.
"So proud of these two," Melvin wrote on Instagram, "and can’t wait to see all they accomplish this year."
Jamie Lynn Spears/Instagram
Jamie Lynn Spears
College 101. The Zoey 101 alum helped her daughter Maddie set up her dorm room at University of Southern Mississippi in mid-August. A few days later, she and her husband Jamie Watson sent their daughter Ivey off to third grade.
As the actress put it in an Aug. 19 Instgram post, "Definitely crying."
Kendra Wilkinson/Instagram
Kendra Wilkinson
On Aug. 19, the Girls Next Door alum shared a dropoff selfie with her daughter Alijah, who she shares with ex-husband Hank Baskett.
"First day of 7th grade and i couldn’t be more proud of Alijah," she captioned the photo. "Made her a chicken quesadilla for lunch lol. Time to fly my love. Good luck my amazing daughter. I love you."
Mia Talerico/Instagram
Mia Talerico
Good luck to the Good Luck Charlie alum, who started her senior year of high school on Aug. 19.
Richard Blais/Instagram
Richard Blais
The Top Chef: All-Stars winner was served a plate of emotions while sending off his daughter Riley to her freshman year at Indiana University Bloomington, writing on Instagram Aug. 18, "Gonna miss you kiddo."
Trista Sutter/Instagram
Trista Sutter & Ryan Sutter
The longtime Bachelor couple dropped their son Maxwell off at the University of Colorado Boulder, with Trista writing on Instagram Aug. 17, "He’s gonna go so far and we’re definitely not angry. Emotional, yes, but so insanely excited and proud - which is a very strange place to be…caught between 2 drastic emotions."
And if that wasn't already a bittersweet moment, the parents of two also saw their daughter Blakesley off to her senior year of high school.
Sheryl Crow/Instagram
Sheryl Crow
The singer made sure to soak up the sun with her son Wyatt before sending him off to his freshman year of college.
"Where does the time go?" whe wrote in an Aug. 17 Instagram post. "For any parent who just went through this, I know how you are feeling! So proud of the young man he has become, and sure am missing him around here!"
Iman Shumpert/Instagram
Teyana Taylor
On Aug. 13, the Oscar nominee and her ex Iman Shumpert celebrated their daughters Junie Shumpert and Rue Shumpert's "first day" while showing there's one resemblance after another between the actress and her kids.
Giada De Laurentiis/Instagram
Giada De Laurentiis
The Food Network star reunited with her ex Todd Thompson on Aug. 8 at a college send-off party for their daughter Jade.
Tristan Thompson/Instagram
Tristan Thompson
The NBA star escorted his son Prince—who he shares with ex Jordan Craig—to his first day of fourth grade, joking in an Aug. 12 Instagram, "Man I’m getting old."
Melissa Joan Hart/Instagram
Melissa Joan Hart
The Sabrina the Teenage Witch alum enchanted to see her and husband Mark Wilkerson's sons Braydon and Tucker head back to school on Aug. 12.
"Last first day of school for our Brady," she wrote on Instagram. "Senior year for him and 7th grade for Tucker. May God bless and protect all the children as they head back to school!"
Kelly Stafford/Instagram
Kelly Stafford
Matthew Stafford's wife snapped this photo of the NFL quarterback sending their twins Chandler and Sawyer off to their first day of fourth grade. As she captioned the photo on Instagram Aug. 12, "New school, same girls."
Lindsay Arnold/Instagram
Lindsay Arnold
The former Dancing With the Stars pro waltzed her and husband Sam Cusick's daughters Sage and June to class on Aug. 12, writing on her Instagram Story, “I can’t believe they are both starting school now.”
Jana Kramer/Instagram
Jana Kramer
Summer is winding down. The Whine Down podcaster sent her kids Jolie and Jace—who she shares with ex Mike Caussin—as well as her and husband Allan Russell's son Roman off to their first day of school on Aug. 10.
"First day of Pre-K3, 5th grade & 2nd grade," she captioned a photo of their blended family. "So proud of these three and excited for all this school year will bring."
Brittany Aldean/Instagram
Brittany Aldean
Jason Aldean's wife shared photos of their kids Navy and Memphis heading back to school on Aug. 11, calling it an "emotional Tuesday."
DeAnna Pappas/Instagram
DeAnna Pappas
She's going to school for all the right reasons. The Bachelorette alum saw her daughter Addison start seventh grade on Aug. 11.
"You are incredible Tiny," she wrote on Instagram. "Praying for a great year in middle school!"
Taylor Selfridge/Instagram
Taylor Selfridge
The Ex on the Beach alum helped her and Cory Wharton's oldest daughter Mila get ready for elementary school. As she wrote on Instagram Aug. 12, "My little first grader."
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