ABC
The Talk has officially found its replacement for Julie Chen!
On Thursday, December 6 it was confirmed that longtime Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba is set to replace Chen on the popular CBS daytime talk show beginning in January 2019.
The host spot has been empty since Chen departed the show on September 18, 2018 after eight husbands following her husband’s sexual misconduct scandal.
In her taped farewell message, Chen, 48, gave a shout-out to Inaba, saying, “You’d look awfully good sitting in that chair, my Asian sister.”
Inaba had been one of several guests to make her rounds on the co-host panel alongside regulars Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Eve and Sara Gilbert. The dancer and choreographer has had previous experiences as a co-host, filling in on The View, Live with Kelly and Access Hollywood Live.
For Dancing With the Stars fans who are worried that the 50-year-old’s new role will change her time on the popular dancing competition series, PEOPLE reports that she is scheduled to continue on as a judge alongside Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli, who have been the three original judges since Dancing With the Stars premiered in 2005.
Following Chen’s exit, she left an emotional message for fans while CBS also honored her with a farewell. “For eight seasons, Julie Chen has co-hosted THE TALK with incredible energy, grace and professionalism,” CBS said in a statement. “Her talents played a big role in our successful launch of CBS’ first network daytime talk show, and in the series growth into an Emmy Award-winning broadcast. All of us here have tremendous appreciation for the dedication and passion she brought to the show every day and for her generous role as an ambassador for CBS Daytime. We are grateful for her many other contributions, respect her decision wish Julie all the best in everything she does.”