You’ve seen the name. You know the faces. One is a comedy titan who basically redefined the R-rated female-led movie. The other is a 90s icon who transitioned from modeling to talk shows and eventually to the wild world of The Masked Singer.
But here’s the thing: people still get a little weirded out when they realize Melissa McCarthy and Jenny McCarthy are actually first cousins.
It feels like two different timelines crossing. One is the grounded, Oscar-nominated powerhouse from Bridesmaids. The other is the high-energy, often controversial pop-culture fixture. They grew up in the same big Irish-Catholic family in Illinois, yet their paths to Hollywood could not have been more different.
Honestly, the Melissa McCarthy and cousin dynamic is one of the most misunderstood relationships in entertainment. It’s not just a "fun fact" for a trivia night; it’s a story about how fame, different career philosophies, and family loyalty (or the lack thereof) play out when the cameras are constantly rolling.
The Start: A Favored Hand Up?
Let’s go back to 1997. Jenny was already a household name. She was the MTV "it-girl." Melissa? She was still figuring it out.
Most people don't realize that Jenny actually gave Melissa her very first television job. It was a guest spot on the short-lived NBC sketch comedy series simply titled Jenny. Melissa played a character named "Melissa" (creative, right?).
It was a small role, but it was the break she needed.
"I was fortunate enough to be in a position to get her a job on a show I was doing, to learn the ropes," Jenny said years later. It’s a classic family move. You’re at the top, you reach down, and you pull your cousin up.
But as Melissa’s star began to eclipse almost everyone else’s in the family, the narrative shifted.
Living in "Opposite Worlds"
By the time Bridesmaids hit theaters in 2011, Melissa McCarthy wasn't just "the cousin" anymore. She was a force. She was winning Emmys for Mike & Molly and getting Academy Award nods.
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Meanwhile, Jenny had moved into a different lane—hosting, activism, and eventually The View.
The distance between them grew. Not necessarily because of a "feud," but because their lives just stopped intersecting. When Howard Stern asked Melissa about it, she was incredibly blunt. She said they live in "opposite worlds."
It wasn't a jab. It was just a fact.
One lives in the world of high-concept film production and serious industry respect; the other thrives in the fast-paced, tabloid-heavy world of reality TV and hosting.
The Wedding Drama That Wasn't
The internet loves a fight. So, when Melissa didn't show up for Jenny’s 2014 wedding to Donnie Wahlberg, the rumor mill went into overdrive.
Are they fighting?
Did Melissa snub her?
The truth is much more boring. Jenny explained that the guest list was tiny. They wanted a small, intimate ceremony. "We didn't invite any cousins," she clarified. It turns out, when you have a massive family like theirs, inviting one cousin means inviting thirty.
Sometimes a "snub" is just a seating chart problem.
Defending the Family Name
Despite the distance, blood is still thick. In 2013, a critic wrote a particularly nasty review of Identity Thief, attacking Melissa’s weight in a way that was, frankly, disgusting.
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Jenny didn't stay quiet.
She publicly blasted the critic, telling him to "go to hell." She made it clear that while they might not be grabbing brunch every Sunday, nobody talks trash about her family.
It showed a side of the Melissa McCarthy and cousin relationship that the public rarely sees: the "Midwestern loyalty." They might not be best friends, but they are McCarthys.
Meet the "Other" Cousin: Jenna Perusich
If you really want to talk about Melissa and her cousins, you have to talk about Jenna Perusich.
While Jenny McCarthy is the famous cousin we all know, Jenna is the cousin Melissa actually works with today. They co-hosted the HGTV show The Great Giveback.
Jenna and Melissa are incredibly close.
Their dads are brothers (part of a massive clan of ten kids), but there’s an 18-year age gap between the two women. They didn’t grow up together, but when Jenna moved to L.A. to pursue acting, Melissa became her mentor.
Why the Melissa/Jenna dynamic works:
- Shared Passions: Both are obsessed with interior design and "mood boarding."
- The Groundlings Connection: Jenna followed in Melissa's footsteps by studying at the legendary Groundlings Theatre.
- Work Ethic: They both describe themselves as "A+ students" who take the work seriously but don't take themselves seriously.
On their HGTV show, they aren't just playing for the cameras. You can see the genuine affection. They cry in almost every episode. Melissa even joked on Instagram that they are like "an open nerve" because they care so deeply about the families they are helping.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that there is "bad blood" between Melissa and Jenny.
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There’s a persistent rumor that early in Melissa’s career, Jenny told her she had to lose weight to be successful in Hollywood. Jenny has repeatedly and forcefully denied this, calling it "crazy."
Looking at their history, it’s more likely that they just drifted apart as their brands became so vastly different. You have one cousin who is the "everywoman" hero of comedy and another who started as a Playboy model. Those are two very different social circles.
But drifting apart isn't the same thing as hating each other.
In August 2025, for Melissa’s 55th birthday, Jenny shared a sweet childhood throwback photo of them at a zoo in 102-degree heat. Melissa is the only one smiling in the picture. It was a small gesture, but it signaled that the family bond is still there, even if it’s mostly digital these days.
Lessons from the McCarthy Family Tree
What can we actually learn from the Melissa McCarthy and cousin saga?
Success doesn't always bring families together; sometimes it creates silos. In Hollywood, your "brand" is everything. Melissa’s brand is authenticity and grounded humor. Jenny’s is glamour and provocation.
But at the end of the day, they are a massive Irish family from the Midwest. They have cousins who are pro basketball players (Joanne McCarthy) and cousins who are designers.
They show us that you don't have to be best friends with your relatives to respect their hustle.
If you're looking to apply some of this "McCarthy Energy" to your own life or career, consider these moves:
- Acknowledge the hand-up: Melissa never denies that Jenny helped her get that first job. Be honest about who helped you through the door.
- Define your own lane: Melissa didn't try to be "the next Jenny." She found a style that was entirely her own and stuck to it, even when it didn't fit the "Hollywood look."
- Keep the private life private: Notice how little they actually say about each other? That’s intentional. You don’t owe the world an explanation of your family dynamics.
- Support from a distance: You can defend someone's character without needing to be on their speed dial.
The McCarthy family story isn't a Hollywood drama; it's just a normal family story played out on a very large stage. One cousin is the movie star, one is the TV host, and one is the design partner. They’ve all found their way out of Illinois, and they’ve done it on their own terms.
Whether they are at the zoo in the heat or on a red carpet in L.A., they remain one of the most interesting, and surprisingly normal, dynasties in the business.