Lara Spencer has spent nearly three decades as one of the most recognizable faces on “Good Morning America,” but 2026 has been unusually eventful even by her standards — a new television series, a fresh multi-year deal with ABC News, and, in the middle of it all, the death of her mother. Here’s her full story, from a Penn State diving scholarship to her current life as a GMA anchor, HGTV personality, and now, Freeform host.
From Springboard Diver to National Correspondent
Spencer is a Penn State alum where she competed as an All-American springboard diver, and she remains active at her alma mater to this day. Her broadcasting career runs even deeper: she first joined “Good Morning America” as a national correspondent in 1999, left in 2003 to host “The Insider,” and returned to ABC in 2011 as the network’s lifestyle anchor, tasked with covering family, health, entertainment, and celebrity news, along with occasional appearances on “Nightline.” She’s remained with the network ever since, making 2026 roughly her 15th consecutive year back at GMA and close to 30 years affiliated with ABC overall.
Outside the anchor desk, Spencer has built a substantial career around a personal passion for treasure hunting: she created and hosted HGTV’s Emmy-winning “Flea Market Flip” and served as creator, executive producer, and host of “Everything But the House,” also on HGTV. That interest carried over into print as well — she’s written two New York Times bestselling books, “I Brake for Yard Sales” and “Flea Market Fabulous.”
A New Show and a New Contract
In September 2025, Deadline reported that Spencer had landed a new project: “That Thrifting Show,” a 12-episode unscripted design competition series for Freeform and Hulu, in which vintage design expert Spencer presents two designer duos with identical rooms and challenges them to source vintage and thrift finds on a limited budget and timeline. Alongside the show announcement came another significant piece of news — Spencer had signed a new multi-year deal to remain on “Good Morning America,” extending a relationship with the network that by then stretched back over 25 years.
“It is so meaningful to share my childhood love of thrifting and celebrate this new generation’s passion for sustainable design,” Spencer said of the new series. “That Thrifting Show” premiered on Freeform on March 19, 2026, with its first six episodes streaming on Hulu the following day.
Losing Her Mother
Just days before that premiere, Spencer’s personal life took a difficult turn. She announced via Instagram on February 16, 2026, that her mother, Carolyn von Seelen, had died at age 85, surrounded by her children and, as Spencer noted, her mother’s own beloved rescue dog. “One of her favorite [sayings] was ‘don’t be sad it’s over honey — be grateful it happened,'” Spencer wrote, adding that while there was no way around the sadness, she remained grateful for her mother’s warmth and humor.
Spencer stepped away from GMA for several weeks following the loss. She briefly returned to the show in late February specifically to premiere the trailer for “That Thrifting Show,” without directly addressing her mother’s death on air that day, before fully resuming her role on the program the following week, on March 2. When she did return in full, she thanked her GMA colleagues and fans for their outpouring of support during her absence.
Family Life: Two Marriages, Two Kids, and a Blended Household
Spencer has been married twice. Her first marriage, to former CNN reporter and later real estate broker David Haffenreffer, began in September 2000 with a ceremony in Southampton and produced two children — son Duff, born in 2002, and daughter Katharine (“Kate”), born in 2004. The couple relocated to Los Angeles in 2009 while Spencer hosted “The Insider,” but announced an amicable split in March 2015 after 15 years of marriage, saying in a joint statement that the decision had not come easily given their mutual respect and love for each other and their children.
Spencer met her second husband, Richard “Rick” McVey, on a blind date in 2016, arranged by a mutual friend. The two got engaged in January 2018 and married that September in Vail, Colorado, with Spencer’s son, Duff, walking her down the aisle. McVey, the founder of electronic trading platform MarketAxess, was previously married as well and has three adult daughters of his own from that marriage, making the Spencer-McVey household a blended one. McVey served as MarketAxess’s chairman and CEO until April 2023 and retired from his role as executive chairman in December 2024.
What’s Next
Between a new competition series, a freshly extended GMA contract, and hosting duties at 2026’s CMA Fest broadcast alongside country artist Riley Green, Spencer’s professional calendar shows no signs of slowing down — even as she’s navigated one of the more personally difficult stretches of her time in the public eye this year.
Quick Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Lara Spencer |
| Occupation | Anchor and lifestyle correspondent, “Good Morning America” |
| Other TV credits | “Flea Market Flip,” “Everything But the House,” “That Thrifting Show” |
| Education | Penn State University (All-American springboard diver) |
| Books | “I Brake for Yard Sales,” “Flea Market Fabulous” (both NYT bestsellers) |
| Years with ABC | Since 1999 (with a break from 2003–2011) |
| First husband | David Haffenreffer (m. 2000–2015) |
| Current husband | Richard “Rick” McVey (m. 2018) |
| Children | Son, Duff (b. 2002); daughter, Katharine “Kate” (b. 2004) |
| 2026 milestone | New multi-year GMA deal; launched “That Thrifting Show” |
FAQ
Is Lara Spencer still on “Good Morning America”? Yes. She signed a new multi-year deal with ABC News in 2025 and continues as the show’s lifestyle anchor.
What is “That Thrifting Show”? It’s a 12-episode design competition series on Freeform and Hulu, hosted and executive produced by Spencer, in which teams thrift and source vintage finds to redesign identical rooms.
Who is Lara Spencer’s husband? She’s married to Richard “Rick” McVey, founder of MarketAxess, whom she wed in 2018. She was previously married to journalist-turned-broker David Haffenreffer from 2000 to 2015.
Did Lara Spencer’s mother pass away? Yes. Her mother, Carolyn von Seelen, died in February 2026 at age 85; Spencer took time away from GMA before returning to the show in early March.
A Full-Circle Year
Few years in Lara Spencer’s long ABC tenure have packed in as much as 2026 — a brand-new show built around a lifelong personal passion, a contract that locks in her future at the network she’s called home on and off for over 25 years, and a profound personal loss she’s navigated largely in public view. Taken together, it’s a year that’s tested her as much as it’s rewarded her, and one that seems likely to define this stretch of her career.
Lara Spencer Height
Spencer stands at approximately 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) tall.
Lara Spencer Net Worth
Spencer has an estimated net worth of around $20 million as of 2025. Her income is mainly attributed to her successful career.
Lara Spencer’s Salary
Spencer’s salary is reportedly around $3 million per year.
