10 Things You Might Not Know About Lara Spencer

She hosted a few famous TV shows before coming to HGTV.

Lara Spencer’s name is once again the topic of conversation thanks to her new HGTV show, Everything But the House, which premieres on Friday, March 19. The show focuses on families decluttering their homes and cashing in on their diamonds-in-the-rough. With a background in antiques, yard sales, production and award-winning performances, Lara Spencer is the host so many of us hope for when turning to new shows—she’s smart, savvy, witty and genuinely fun to watch. But, don’t just take our word for it! Ahead, discover 10 things that will help you get to know Lara just a little bit better.

She went to Penn State on a diving scholarship.

Before becoming a famous broadcast journalist and host, Lara got her education at Penn State University. While she’s undeniably whip-smart, it wasn’t just her brains that got her into the school—she got a diving scholarship! While Lara doesn’t share as much about diving these days, she remains a loyal supporter of her alma mater, regularly posting to her Instagram feed to show off her devotion to her college colors.

She’s a Good Morning America co-host.

Prior to becoming an HGTV phenom, Lara gained fame as a Good Morning America co-host. Lara was named a co-anchor in 2011. In 2018, she took a step back from her coveted position to focus more on her own media company, DuffKat Media. Since then, Lara has worked a few days a week for GMA, primarily shooting from home when doing so.

She’s won an Emmy for her anchoring.

Thanks to putting her all into GMA, Lara won an Emmy Award for her work as an anchor on the show.

She hosted Antiques Roadshow.

GMA isn’t the only show Lara was on prior to her HGTV debut, though. In 2005, she made her debut as the host of Antiques Roadshow and Antiques Roadshow FYI. Which is ultimately to say that Lara has always had a thing for both hosting and antiques, which only further proves why she’s a stellar host for HGTV.

She worked on A Very Brady Renovation.

While folks often focus on Lara’s work on Flea Market Flip, she also had a role in A Very Brady Renovation.

“It is a dream project,” she told House Beautiful. “I grew up watching The Brady Bunch and I love all of that vintage design, so when they asked me to be a part of it, and specifically to be in charge of creating the vibe in the rooms with all the vintage accessories, I just thought it was a perfect fit.”

She’s an author.

In addition to hosting and producing television shows, Lara also writes books. In fact, she’s authored two New York Times bestselling books, I Brake For Yard Sales and Flea Market Fabulous: Designing Gorgeous Rooms with Vintage Treasures. Again, she proved her prowess in the antique and secondhand space.

She has two children.

Lara might spend a lot of time working, but she also spends a lot of time focusing on her two kids, Duff and Katharine (Kate)—after whom her media company is named.

She has three rescue dogs.

Lara is a big advocate for pet adoption. But she’s not just all talk—she has three rescue pups of her own. Her dogs are a big part of her family and regularly make appearances on her Instagram, not to mention GMA.

Espresso martinis are her favorite.

When you’re as busy as Lara is, you need all the help you can get to stay awake. Presumably, that’s why trendy espresso martinis are among her absolute favorite beverages. And hey, we don’t blame her!

She likes to golf and play tennis.

When Lara isn’t working, she enjoys getting on the court or the green. She likes to play tennis with her kids and, while she admits to not being the most skilled putter, she dabbles in 18-hole rounds every now and again with friends and family.

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