John Tesh has reflected on his brief romance with Oprah Winfrey, recalling the challenges they faced as an interracial couple in the 1970s.
The 73-year-old former Entertainment Tonight host dated Winfrey, 72, while they both worked at rival local TV stations in Nashville, Tennessee. In a recent interview with Page Six, Tesh described their relationship as “very uncomfortable back then for an African-American woman and a very, very white guy,” noting that it was considered unusual in the South.
“My whole family grew up in the South, so I was obviously aware of that,” he said, but added that they refused to let societal pressures define their relationship. “It became a joke between us… we’d work all day and really only saw each other once a week, and one of us would ask, ‘Which restaurant do you want to empty tonight?’”
Their romance was brief, lasting as they were building their careers in local news before going their separate ways. Looking back, Tesh said it was clear from the start that Winfrey was destined for greatness. “We all knew that she was something special,” he said, recalling the fun they had covering the same stories.
Winfrey would go on to become a global media icon, while Tesh achieved national recognition as a television personality and musician. He has been married to actress and author Connie Sellecca since 1992, with whom he has a daughter, Prima. Winfrey has been with longtime partner Stedman Graham since 1986.
In 2020, Winfrey reflected on their “spiritual partnership” in her O, The Oprah Magazine column, sharing that when she first met Graham, she assumed he was “a player” and “too handsome” to be interested in her. She initially paid little attention to him, noting he was always with the same girlfriend until 1986, when a chance visit to a sick friend led to their first meaningful interaction.
Despite an eventual broken engagement in 1993, Winfrey credits their strong foundation for the longevity of their relationship. She explained that she never truly wanted marriage, prioritizing her career instead, but valued Graham’s commitment and mutual respect. She said their partnership thrives because he cultivated an identity beyond being “Oprah’s man,” shares her core values, and supports each other in pursuing their respective destinies.
