Where is barbara walters now 2022

Born in Boston in 1929, Barbara Walters is a pioneering figure in the world of broadcast journalism. In addition to being the first woman to co-host a morning news program (The Today Show in 1974) and an evening news program (ABC Evening news in 1976), she created the wildly popular ABC daytime talk show, The View, on which she appeared for more than 15 years.

She’s also known for her legendary celebrity interviews and her ability to get some of the most famous people in the world to cry. But where is Barbara Walters now in 2022? Here’s a look into her life and health post-retirement.

Retirement Gives Walters More Time to Spend With Family

Although she’s most known for her iconic career, there’s far more to Walters than journalism. She was married four times to three different men. She shares a beloved daughter, Jacqueline Dena Guber, with her second husband. Although none of her marriages lasted, motherhood is extremely important to her. Shortly before her retirement, she told ABC News that one of her greatest regrets was not spending more time with her daughter.

In 2014, when she was 85 years old and still working on The View, Walters finally decided to call it quits and retire after six decades in the industry. Stepping back from her career gives her the freedom to spend more time with her child. We’re sure she’s taking full advantage of that opportunity.

Retirement also allows Walters to get a little more downtime. In her ABC News interview, she said she planned “to lounge in bed until 3 in the afternoon” on her first day of retirement. “I have always had a schedule. I’ve always had deadlines. I’ve always had things to do,” she said. “It will be nice to get up and say, ‘What do I have to do today? Nothing!'” After such a rigorous working life, she’s certainly earned the right to kick back a little and relax.

Retirement Doesn’t Mean She’s Stepping Away From Public Life Entirely

Just because she’s retired doesn’t mean Walters is out of the spotlight permanently. She has continued to take on projects she’s passionate about.

Walters kept her hosting gig for 10 Most Fascinating People series in 2014 and 2015. She also hosted a documentary series, American Scandals, on Investigation Discovery in 2015. 20/20 pulled her out of retirement for special episodes in 2014 and 2015, with special guests including Donald and Melania Trump. Her final on-air interview to date was with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in December 2015.

She’s also taken advantage of her retirement to give back to the community. She donated $15 million to her alma mater, Sarah Lawrence College, to build the Barbara Walters Campus Center. The center opened in 2019, offering space for social and academic gatherings as well as a fine art gallery and a reading room featuring the Barbara Walters archives.

Walters has also received well-deserved accolades in her retirement. The Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School honored her in “A Conversation With Barbara Walters” in October 2014. Hosted by Co-Director of the Center for Public Leadership David Gergen, she discussed her experiences as a woman in journalism and her most notable interviews.

As she enjoys her golden years, however, Walters faces some of the challenges that come with aging. Even before her retirement, health had become a concern for her. In 2010, she underwent open-heart surgery to repair a broken aortic valve. The procedure went well and Walters was back to work on The View not long after making a full recovery.

But since her retirement, Walters has struggled with issues common to advanced age. Some reports have alleged that the 93-year-old was diagnosed with dementia and has experienced a significant cognitive decline in the last few years. However, the claims have not been confirmed by Walters or her representatives.

While we can’t know for sure, it’s likely that Walter’s daughter is by her mom’s side. In a 2014 interview on Oprah’s Master Class, the 20/20 star said:

“My daughter said to me recently, ‘Mom, when you have Alzheimer’s, you can come down and live with me. Not if you have Alzheimer’s, but, Mom, when you have Alzheimer’s.’ I take that as a very loving compliment.”

We’re so glad she has her daughter to lean on, whatever comes her way. We hope they have many more years together!