Mod-Moms-Club-logo-whitemod-moms-club-stacked-logo-white
New to Mod Moms Club? Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest parenting news, advice, and resources.
Mod-Moms-Club-logomod-moms-club-stacked-logo
More

Katie Couric opens up about life as a grandma. ‘Makes you feel like you did something right’

Ryan Brennan | September 19, 2025

Katie Couric was never a boy mom — but she’s loving being a grandma to her grandson. 

The 68-year-old former “Today” show co-host became a first-time grandma in March 2024 when her daughter Ellie, 34, welcomed her first son, John Albert, with husband Mark Dobrosky, per Instagram. 

Couric also shares daughter Carrie, 29, with her first husband Jay Monahan, according to People. 

In an interview with People, published Sept. 16, Couric opened up about how exciting being a grandma is — especially to a baby boy — and how proud she is of her two daughters. 

2217563416 Katie Couric opens up about life as a grandma Makes you feel like you did something right
Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images

"He's so, so, so cute," she says of baby Jay. "I've never been a boy mom, but I'm excited to be a boy grandma."

Couric went on to describe her daughters as “good people” who have “excellent values.” 

"For my oldest daughter, I'm really proud of the fact that she's an incredible mom,” she continued. 

“I think it's quite extraordinary when you see your daughter become a parent and become a mother and do it well, which makes you feel like you did something right,” she added. 

READ MORE: Eugene Levy reveals the unexpected word his grandson loves to say. ‘He went through a phase’

Couric announced the birth of her first grandchild in her “Wake-Up Call” newsletter on March 24, 2024. 

In the post, she revealed that the baby boy’s name was inspired by “all the Johns in Ellie’s life,” including her father (whose real name was John Monahan), both grandfathers, uncle and stepfather. 

Monahan died of colon cancer in 1998 — two years after the former couple welcomed Carrie. He was 42. 

Couric is now married to John Molner, whom she tied the knot with in 2014, according to Katie Couric Media. They celebrated their 10-year anniversary three months after the baby boy’s birth.

Katie Couric explains the origin of her grandma name ‘Gogo’

In her March 2024 newsletter, Couric revealed that her grandma name (for now) is Gogo. 

At the time, she said one of her friends used it as her nickname, so she decided to use it too. She said it’s the same name Babe Paley’s grandchildren called her, according to Couric. 

“It seemed fitting, because I’m like the Energizer Bunny, always on the go-go,” she wrote in the newsletter — adding that she had a shirt embroidered with “Gigi” before changing the i’s to o’s. 

2202922376 Katie Couric opens up about life as a grandma Makes you feel like you did something right
Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images

“So for now, Gogo it is. But this boy can call me whatever he wants,” she wrote. 

Fast forward 18 months and Katie Couric’s grandson is still calling her Gogo. 

"Tory Burch gave me the idea for that name," she said in her Sept. 16 interview with People. "She said, 'I'm Gogo.' I said, 'I like that. I'm gonna steal it.' And, it's easy for a little kid to say, so it's been exciting."

According to Chicco USA, the most popular grandma name in every U.S. state was “Grandma.” 

ALSO ON MOD MOMS CLUB: Sheryl Lee Ralph shares the name she plans to go by once her kids make her a grandma

Other grandma names that are popular across the country include Gram, Grammy, Granny, Meemaw, Nanny, Mimi and Gigi.

Related Articles
November 1, 2025
Mom of four receives a letter from her dentist about her kids — and now the internet is divided

“I remember leaving the office and thinking, ‘That was not great.’”

Read More
November 1, 2025
When does Elf on the Shelf start? Everything you need to know for Scout Elf Return Month!

For the first time ever, Scout Elf Return Week is being changed to Scout Elf Return Month!

Read More
October 31, 2025
Harppa 5-in-1 high chairs recalled after reports of deadly entrapment and fall hazards

The high chair recall affects 4,300 units sold only at Walmart.com from August 2024 through July 2025.

Read More
1 2 3 76
Shop Mod Moms Club
all-products Dopple Hubble
All Products
travel-and-transport Bravo Dopple
Travel & Transport
toys-and-activity Dopple
Toys & Activities
Hubble sound machine
Nursery Design
Chicco-Lullaby-Zip-Changer_1_720x
Sleeping
Dopple clothing picture
Clothing
Mod-Moms-Club-logo-white
mod-moms-club-stacked-logo-white
Connect with us
tiktok-logo-icon-white
TheQuietMinute-Logo-White
Catch up on the latest in entertainment and parenting with our weekly newsletter.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Copyright @ 2025 ModMomsClub.com
crosscross-circleplus-circlecircle-minus