What Exactly is a Gray Divorce? The Phrase Kelly Ripa Used to Tease Split With Mark Consuelos

Single-person households have increased by over 30 million in the last 60 years. One explanation for this phenomenon? Gray divorces—something morning show host Kelly Ripa claimed, on air, to want with her husband of nearly 30 years. Keep scrolling to learn what a gray divorce is and which celebrity couples famously split in their golden years.

Kelly Ripa jokes about wanting a gray divorce after 30 years with her husband

On last week’s Friday morning episode of Live With Kelly and Mark, Kelly Ripa joked about wanting a “ gray divorce ,” with her husband and co-host Mark Consuelos.

She was inspired to pursue the topic by an article from Vox that she was reading to pass the time while waiting for a flight.

Ripa was struck by the claim that the percentage of couples getting divorced over the age of 50 has nearly quadrupled in the last few decades.

Ripa, 54, and Consuelos, 53, have been married since 1996. So, what motivated Ripa to jokingly broach the topic of divorce in an otherwise happy marriage on air?

“Like, it sounds like something amazing, and then you realize, ‘Oh, this is very dark subject matter.’ But the voice of the narrator is so soothing,” Ripa said on air .

What is a gray divorce?

Referred to in an AARP article as “ the most divorced generation ,” gray divorce means the separation of couples over the age of 50—often after many years of marriage.

It’s become particularly popular among baby boomers—folks born between 1946 and 1964. In fact, in 2019, couples over the age of 65 accounted for a quarter of divorces in the U.S.

Since 1990, the divorce rate among 50-plus couples has increased nearly threefold and this startling statistic remains: for every 1,000 married women over 50 there are 11 divorces.

Why have gray divorces increased in recent times?

Among the top reasons for couples to separate at any age, gray divorcees point to feeling that they are growing apart from their significant other as their reason for divorcing several years into a marriage.

As we age, our interests, priorities and beliefs change to reflect our life experiences. These changes are not always made in tandem with our partners, often to the detriment of our closest relationships.

Another cited reason for increased gray divorce rates is the result of “ empty nest syndrome .” Once children leave home for school and families of their own, some couples struggle to connect on anything other than their parenting roles.

Older couples may also experience a strain in their relationship due to developing chronic health conditions that can put distance between partners both physically and mentally. A 2014 study reported that 31 percent of marriages involving an ill spouse end in divorce.

Which celebrity couples have had a gray divorce?

Meryl Streep and Don Gummer

After 45 years of marriage, the actress and sculptor separated in 2017 at age 74 and 76 respectively. The couple had four children together and “while they will always care for each other, they have chosen lives apart,” Streep’s representative said in a statement to PEOPLE .

Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus

The film producer, 55 at the time, and the singer-songwriter, 61, split in 2022 after 29 years of marriage. They had three children together, including pop sensations Miley and Noah Cyrus, and cited " irreconcilable differences ," as their reason for divorce.

Rhea Pearlman and Danny DeVito

Though not formally divorced, the pair split on two separate occasions, in 2012 and 2017. Despite their separation, the actors, aged 76 and 79, are still close friends who occasionally attend award receptions in each other’s company.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver

Married for 25 years, Schwarzenegger and Shriver called it quits in 2021. After Schwarzenegger admitted to having a child with the family housekeeper in the 90s, the couple separated in 2011 before their formal divorce 10 years later.

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