Anderson Cooper is confirmed to return as the host of CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live for 2026, continuing a tradition he has enjoyed for nine consecutive years alongside his close friend Andy Cohen. As he prepares for the live broadcast, fans are curious about Cooper’s personal life, particularly his relationship status.
As of now, Cooper is not married. The acclaimed journalist and television personality came out as gay in 2012 and has kept his love life relatively private since his breakup with longtime partner Benjamin Maisani in 2018. During a recent September interview on Howard Stern’s radio show, Cooper expressed his current single status, stating, “I’m happy. I’ve got a great love affair with my kids right now. It’s the best thing ever.” He reiterated that dating is not a priority for him at this time.
Cooper and Maisani first met in 2009 and publicly acknowledged their relationship in 2015. However, by 2018, Cooper announced their separation, expressing that they remain close friends and family. The pair has openly discussed co-parenting their two sons, Wyatt and Sebastian, whom Cooper welcomed via surrogate. Their co-parenting arrangement includes living together, allowing both to play active roles in their children’s lives. “It’s awesome. It’s probably an unusual setup, but I knew he would be a great dad, and he is,” Cooper shared about their relationship post-split.
Although there have been ongoing speculations about Cooper’s friendships, particularly with Andy Cohen, it is clear that their relationship is strictly platonic. They first connected in the 1990s, but a potential romantic involvement never materialized. Now, decades later, both men enjoy a robust friendship and have even taken family vacations together with their children.
As Cooper prepares to ring in the New Year live on CNN, his life continues to reflect a blend of personal fulfillment through his family and a professional commitment to his career in journalism. The warmth in his remarks about parenting reveals a hopeful and content phase in his life, emphasizing familial love and support.