If you were a betting person in 1984, you probably wouldn't have put your money on Maury Povich and Connie Chung. At the time, they were the ultimate media "odd couple." She was the poised, serious news anchor breaking glass ceilings at CBS; he was the guy who eventually became the face of tabloid television, famously shouting about paternity tests.
But here we are in 2026, and they’re still together. Over 40 years. In Hollywood years, that’s basically several centuries.
How does a high-stakes news pioneer and the king of daytime drama make it work? Honestly, it wasn't a fairy tale start. It was more like a slow burn with a lot of "maybe later."
How Maury Povich and Connie Chung Actually Met
It didn't start with a glamorous gala or a red carpet. It started with a copy girl and a news director's secretary. In 1969, Connie was just starting out at WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C. Maury was already a bit of a local star, co-hosting a midday show called Panorama.
Connie has been pretty open about those early days in her 2024 memoir, Connie. She basically says she was "the help," and he was the big shot. He didn't really notice her in a romantic way back then. Or if he did, it wasn't the right time.
They went their separate ways. Career stuff happened. Then, in 1977, their paths crossed again in Los Angeles. Maury had just been fired—a recurring theme in the volatile world of TV news—and Connie was a rising star at a CBS affiliate.
There's this great story Maury tells where he says the way to Connie’s heart is through pity. She felt bad for him because he’d lost his job, and that pity eventually turned into something else. They dated non-exclusively for seven years. Seven years! Most people today won't wait seven minutes for a text back, but they played the long game.
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The Long-Distance Marriage and the "Odd Couple" Label
When they finally tied the knot in 1984, they didn't do the traditional house-with-a-picket-fence thing. For a long time, they lived in different cities. She was in New York for her high-profile CBS gig; he was in D.C.
They’ve called this the "perfect arrangement." Think about it. You get to focus on your high-pressure career all week, and then you meet up for a nice dinner and some scotch on the weekends. No arguing over who left the milk out or whose turn it is to do the laundry.
"We've always respected each other's space and values," Maury told People a few years back. "Maybe that's the reason why we're still married."
It’s a refreshing take, sort of. In an industry where egos often collide, they decided to just... let each other be. Connie was becoming a household name, the first Asian American to co-anchor a national evening news program. Maury was building a different kind of empire with A Current Affair and later his eponymous talk show.
They were essentially two different brands under one roof. Well, two roofs, for a while.
The Heartbreak and the "Serendipity" of Matthew
Behind the scenes, things weren't always as smooth as their TV personas. They struggled with infertility for years. Connie famously took a "breather" from her grueling schedule at CBS in the early 90s to try and get pregnant.
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It was a huge news story at the time. Can you imagine the pressure? Trying to start a family while the entire country is watching and speculating.
It didn't happen biologically. But then came 1995.
1995 was a wild year for Connie Chung. She was abruptly let go from the CBS Evening News after a very public and messy fallout with Dan Rather. The media was hounding her. It could have been the lowest point of her life.
But the very next day, they got the call. Their son, Matthew Jay Povich, was ready for adoption.
Connie calls it "serendipity." It’s like the universe decided to clear her schedule so she could finally be a mom. She’s admitted she was "self-absorbed" with her career until Matthew arrived. Suddenly, the woman who had interviewed world leaders was focused on a baby.
Matthew is now 30. He’s stayed out of the spotlight for the most part, though Connie recently shared that he’s engaged to his long-time girlfriend. It seems the "long game" runs in the family.
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Why Do They Still Matter in 2026?
You might wonder why we’re still talking about them. Maury is retired (he finally ended his show in 2022 after 31 seasons), and Connie is mostly doing the book circuit and the occasional interview.
They matter because they represent a type of longevity that’s rare. They survived the "Big Three" era of news, the tabloid wars of the 90s, and the transition to the digital age.
Also, they’re just funny together. If you watch their joint interviews, they bicker like a couple that’s been together since the invention of the wheel. She picks lint off his sweater; he calls her "Mr. Chung" because of her fame.
What We Can Learn From Them
If you're looking for relationship advice from the Povich-Chung playbook, it basically boils down to these points:
- Space is good. You don't have to be joined at the hip 24/7.
- Respect the hustle. They never tried to dim each other's light, even when their career paths were wildly different.
- Humor is the only way through. If you can't laugh at the "You are NOT the father" jokes or the "Dan Rather drama," you won't survive.
- Timing is everything. They met in '69, but didn't marry until '84. Sometimes you have to wait for the "you" of right now to be ready for the "them" of right now.
Today, they split their time between New York, Florida, and Montana. They even started a local newspaper in Montana called the Flathead Beacon. It’s a bit of a full-circle moment—two old-school journalists still caring about the news, even in their 80s.
It’s not a perfect story. There were miscarriages, career firings, and tabloid scandals. But Maury Povich and Connie Chung proved that "staying power" isn't just about your TV ratings. It’s about who’s still there when the cameras finally stop rolling.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re interested in the deeper, "unfiltered" version of this story, here is how you can engage with their legacy:
- Read Connie’s Memoir: Pick up Connie (released late 2024). It’s surprisingly blunt about the sexism she faced and her genuine thoughts on Maury’s "trashy" TV career.
- Watch the 1993-1995 Clips: Go back and watch Connie and Dan Rather on YouTube. It’s a masterclass in awkward workplace tension that puts The Morning Show to shame.
- Check out the Flathead Beacon: If you want to see what they’re doing now, look up their Montana newspaper. It’s actually a really well-respected piece of local journalism.