- 2005
Makeup and Revelations
DeGeneres lands on the cover of fashion magazine Allure with the headline, "The Comedy and the Tears." She publicly reveals her stepfather's sexual abuse for the first time: "It's important for teenage girls out there to hear that there are different ways to say no. And if it ever happens to them, they should tell someone right away."
A Gracious Host
DeGeneres hosts the 57th Annual Emmy Awards a few weeks after Hurricane Katrina. She keeps the evening respectful but light, starting with her opening monologue: "This is the second time I've hosted the Emmys after a national tragedy, and I just want to say that I'm honored, because it's times like this that we really, really need laughter. And be sure to look for me next month when I host the North Korean People's Choice Awards."
- 2007
Oscar Calls
DeGeneres is tapped to emcee the 79th Annual Academy Awards at Kodak Theatre, the second woman (Whoopi Goldberg was first) ever to host the show solo – and the first to do so in pants. Her performance gets mixed reviews.
She Does Menswear Right
DeGeneres appears on the cover of W, but refuses to wear a dress. "I don't want to apologize for who I am," she says. "I usually wear Jil Sander, or I wear Marc Jacobs, or I wear Viktor & Rolf...I love clothes...You know, I'm not wearing Kmart."
More Emmys for Ellen
At the Daytime Emmys, DeGeneres' show wins six trophies, including her fourth straight win for Outstanding Talk Show and third for Outstanding Talk Show Host, beating Rosie O'Donnell and The View. In 2008, she wins her fourth consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host.
- 2008
Ellen Marries Portia
DeGeneres, 50, and girlfriend Portia de Rossi, 35, marry at their L.A. home. Their intimate ceremony comes after a judicial ruling that struck down California's laws against gay marriage. "What can I say? I'm the luckiest girl in the world," says DeGeneres. In November, Californians vote to ban same-sex marriage, setting the stage for a court battle over the legitimacy of marriages like DeGeneres. "I was saddened beyond belief," she says of the ban.
Ellen Named Latest CoverGirl
On an episode of her talk show, DeGeneres announces that she is the "new face of CoverGirl." While striking an exaggerated model-like pose, she then explains, "That's the first thing they teach you when you're a CoverGirl." The 50-year-old host, who appears in ads in January, admits, "It's a very cool thing, I'm honored and the photo shoot was 'easy, breezy, beautiful ... CoverGirl.'"
- 2009
Ellen Replaces Paula on Idol
When judge Paula Abdul decides to leave American Idol, DeGeneres steps onto the judges' panel with Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi. "Hopefully I'm the people's point of view because I'm just like you," she says. "I'm looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person."
- 2010
Another Idol Farewell
Months after Simon Cowell announces his departure from American Idol, DeGeneres follows suit after just one season on the judges' panel, citing that the show "didn’t feel like the right fit for me." "I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings," she says.
Photo Credits
BIOGRAPHY (top to bottom): Mathew Imaging/FilmMagic; ANDREW ECCLES/ABC; Courtesy W Magazine; Courtesy of EW; Michael Becker/FOX
- Name
- Ellen DeGeneres
- Date of Birth
- January 26, 1958
- Birth Place
- Metairie, La.
- Relationships
-
Portia de Rossi, wife (Dec. 2004 to present)
Alexandra Hedison, ex-girlfriend (Oct. 2000 to Dec. 2004)
Anne Heche, ex-girlfriend (March 1997 to Aug. 2000)
Kathy Perkoff, girlfriend (1970s to 1980)
