Katie Couric is officially a grandmother! The former TODAY co-host has announced that her daughter Ellie Monahan and Ellie’s husband Mark Dobrosky have welcomed their first baby. “I am thrilled to have my first grandchild.”
The journalist posted a picture of her daughter and son in law in the hospital holding their newborn baby. The couple welcomed a baby boy on his due date – March 23rd – and named him John Albert Dobrosky. The little one shares a moniker with his late-grandfather, Ellie’s father and Katie’s late husband John Monahan, who went by Jay. He passed away from colon cancer in 1998. In the post, Katie referenced this namesake as well as the origination of John’s middle name. “He will be called Jay in honor of his maternal grandfather. Albert is after Mark’s paternal grandfather.” In an article on Katie Couric Media, the journalist shared that John signifies more than her father but also Katie’s father John Martin Couric, Ellie’s uncle Johnny, and Katie’s current husband John Paul Molner. “The branches of our family are covered in J’s!!”
In addition to sharing an image of her daughter and son-in-law with their newborn, the new grandmother shared a picture of herself holding John. Katie wore a white sweater that was stitched with Gogo, which is what her grandson will call her. In her article, she explained, “My sister’s nickname is Kiki, so I couldn’t choose that. I felt like everyone is Gigi – and while that was going to be my name, I decided on Gogo after a friend told me that was what she used.”
The TV presenter went viral last December when she shared a video of her learning she would become a grandmother. In an announcement inspired by Taylor Swift and the friendship bracelets fans exchange at the singer’s concerts, Katie’s daughter’s Ellie and Carrie made their mom a friendship bracelet of her own. In the video, Carrie passed her mom a bracelet and the journalist struggled to read what it said, “Brand, brandy, brandy, B, granny.” She figured it out and read, “Granny to be” and laughed she was struck with realization, her face freezing. Ellie confirmed, “I’m pregnant.” A stunned Katie replied, “You are? Wow!” The mom-to-be at the time asked her mom, “Are you freaked out?” to which a laughing Katie emphatically replied, “No!”
Congratulations to Katie, Ellie, Mark, and the entire family on their newest arrival!
Kate Fann (she/her) is the BabyNames.com celebrity blogger, as well as an established content writer, aspiring author, and social media expert. She has been featured in online publications such as Bolde, ManoByte, Medium, The Social Observer, and more. Kate has ghostwritten numerous romance novels and is currently working on publishing her own works in the Young Adult genre.
Kate lives in East Tennessee with her husband Casey and her two sons, Quinn and Noah. When she's not writing or scrolling Instagram, Kate can be found tasting delicious wines, playing with make-up, baking yummy treats, or hiking the beautiful Smoky Mountains.
