If you turned on Good Morning America today and felt like Lara Spencer hasn’t changed since the early 2000s, you aren't alone. It’s kinda wild. We see her every morning with that same high energy and athleticism, making it easy to forget she’s been a staple on our screens for nearly three decades.
So, let’s get the numbers out of the way. Lara Spencer is 56 years old. She was born on June 19, 1969. In just a few months, come June 2026, she’ll be hitting the 57-mark.
Honestly, the "age of Lara Spencer" is one of those things people Google constantly because there’s a massive disconnect between her birth year and her vibe. She’s out there doing segments in swimsuits or jumping into competitive challenges with people half her age, and she doesn't just keep up—she usually wins.
The Reality of Aging in the Morning News Spotlight
Staying relevant in morning television is brutal. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. To understand why her age matters, you have to look at the timeline. She didn't just pop up overnight.
Lara grew up in Garden City, New York, and by the time she was graduating high school in 1987, she was already a powerhouse. She went to Penn State on an athletic scholarship for springboard and platform diving. Think about that for a second. That level of discipline—being an All-American diver—doesn't just disappear. It sets a foundation for how you handle your body for the rest of your life.
She started her career in local news, hitting spots like Chattanooga and Long Island before landing at WABC-TV. By the time she joined GMA as a national correspondent in 1999, she was 30.
Why the 50s Look Different on Her
A lot of people think there's some secret "fountain of youth" involved with celebs. With Lara, it’s actually pretty documented, and it isn't always pretty. She’s been incredibly open about the physical toll of her lifestyle.
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- The Hip Replacement: In 2016, at age 47, Lara underwent a total hip replacement. For a former athlete, that’s a huge deal. Most people would use that as an excuse to slow down. She used it as a reason to get into yoga and "pre-hab."
- The 3:45 AM Wake-up Call: She’s been doing this for years. Getting up before 4 AM is basically a form of jet lag you live in forever. She has often said that sleep is her biggest "beauty secret," even if she doesn't get enough of it.
- Sport-Based Fitness: You won’t usually find her grinding on a treadmill. She’s a tennis nut. She plays year-round. She swims laps. She’s into paddleboarding. Basically, if it’s a sport, she’s doing it.
That Thrifting Show and Her 2026 Evolution
What’s interesting about Lara Spencer right now, in 2026, isn’t just that she’s "defying age" or whatever cliché people use. It’s that she’s pivoting.
Late last year, she signed a huge multi-year deal with ABC News to keep her on GMA, but she’s also leaning hard into her production company, DuffKat Media. If you haven't seen the buzz about That Thrifting Show on Hulu and Freeform, you're missing out. It’s essentially the spiritual successor to Flea Market Flip, which she hosted for years.
She’s basically turned her "hobby" of digging through yard sales into a massive media empire. That’s the real "age" story here—the fact that she’s more influential in her mid-50s than she was in her 30s.
Is It Just Good Genes?
Probably some. Her mom and dad, Richard and Carolyn von Seelen, clearly passed on some solid DNA. But if you watch her, it’s more about the mindset. She’s the person who says "the glass is half full" and actually means it.
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She’s also a mom. Her kids, Duff and Katharine, are both college-aged now. Being an empty nester has seemingly given her a second wind. Instead of "retiring" into the background, she’s executive producing and hosting more than ever.
Common Misconceptions
- She’s younger than she looks: People often guess she’s in her mid-40s. Nope. She’s a Gen Xer through and through.
- She’s just a "lifestyle" person: She’s a trained journalist who covered the TWA Flight 800 crash and the death of Princess Diana. She has range.
- The fitness is effortless: It isn't. Between the hip surgery and the chronic early mornings, she’s mentioned in interviews that staying in shape requires way more stretching and "maintenance" than it did ten years ago.
Keeping Up With Lara
If you’re looking to channel that same energy, her approach is actually pretty simple to follow. She’s big on "everything in moderation." She loves a cupcake, she drinks a ton of water, and she protects her skin.
More importantly, she advocates for "living an authentic life." It sounds a bit "influencer-y," but for her, it means leaning into her weird love for junk and antiques even when people told her to stay in the "hard news" lane.
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What you can do next: Check out her latest project, That Thrifting Show, to see how she’s modernizing the sustainability movement in 2026. If you're looking for fitness inspiration that isn't just "hit the gym," look into low-impact sports like tennis or swimming—Lara’s go-to methods for staying mobile after a major surgery.
Most importantly, remember that the number 56 is just a data point. The way she’s navigating her 50s shows that professional peak and physical vitality don't have to have an expiration date.