In an excerpt from the upcoming Hulu documentary “Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything,” the star spoke about her struggles.

“I would walk into that studio, and Harry would be sitting with the stagehands, and they’d all crack jokes and ignore me. No one would talk to me. There was not a woman on the staff,” Walters recalled.

She also called it “the most painful period in my life,” per PEOPLE.

Irrespective of the sexism she faced, Walters pushed hard, and was given her own specials on the network in 1976.

Oprah Winfrey Says Barbara Walters Was ‘One of the Reasons’ Why She Chose Not to Have Kids

Winfrey shared the news while appearing in the late journalist’s new documentary ‘Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything’

NEED TO KNOW

• Oprah Winfrey is sharing that one of the reasons she chose not to have kids is because of Barbara Walters

• The media mogul spoke about the topic in the new documentary film ‘Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything’

• Walters famously had a fraught relationship with her daughter Jackie, whom she adopted with her second husband

Oprah Winfrey is sharing one of the reasons she decided not to have kids — and it has something to do with Barbara Walters.

The media mogul, 71, appeared in the late journalist’s new documentary Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything and shared that the two once spoke about having kids. Walters, who adopted daughter Jackie with her second husband, Lee Guber, after experiencing several miscarriages, famously had a fraught relationship with her daughter.

“I remember her telling me once that there’s nothing more fulfilling than having children, and ‘You should really think about it,’ ” Winfrey, who has been with partner Stedman Graham since 1986, recalls in the documentary. “And I was like, ‘Okay, but I’m looking at you, so no.'”

Winfrey goes on to describe Walters’ relationship with her daughter as “complex” and “charged,” and noted that it was “one of the reasons why I never had children.”

In the film, Walters can be heard via archival footage saying of motherhood, “My world came together. I mean, I was already on the Today Show. And I’d had three miscarriages, and now I had everything.”

But it proved to be an impossible balancing act. Walters was not only an ABC News anchor, but her Barbara Walters specials, where she sat down with everyone from political figures like Fidel Castro and Ronald Reagan to the biggest stars of the day, including Barbra Streisand and Clint Eastwood, were incredibly well-received.

“Today, people are more accepting. You can bring your kid to the office. In those days, if I had brought Jackie into the studio, it would be as if I had bought a dog who was not housebroken,” Walters herself can be heard saying in the documentary.

As Jackie grew older, she and Barbara butted heads, and as a teen, Jackie became a drug user and a runaway and was eventually sent to a boarding school for troubled kids, which she’s said straightened her out.

But the relationship remained strained. Former NBC correspondent CynthiaMcFadden tells PEOPLE for this week’s cover story on Walters that it was difficult for her to relate to someone who wasn’t as career-driven as she was: “She couldn’t understand someone like Jackie, who wasn’t racing to the top.”

“They were just so dispositionally and physically unlike each other,” she continued. “It was a struggle. That’s not to say they didn’t love each other, but it wasn’t what she’d hoped for, and probably not what Jackie had hoped for either. ”

She added, “I think it’s important to say that Jackie shouldn’t be held accountable for any of this, and Barbara wouldn’t have wanted her to be. I think this [struggle] was really on the adult side of the equation here. Jackie is a delightful person.” (These days, Jackie stays firmly out of the spotlight.)

Why Barbara Walters’ Groundbreaking Career Left Her ‘Regretful’ About Family Life

Barbara Walters was a pioneer in broadcast journalism, shattering glass ceilings for the women who followed in her footsteps, including Oprah Winfrey, Meredith Vieira, Katie Couric, and Connie Chung. Still, her big career also had a dark side on the personal front.

An upcoming Hulu documentary, Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything, premieres on June 23 and explores her strained relationship with daughter Jackie. Parenthood was a difficult journey for Walters, who passed away at the age of 93 in 2022.

“She’d tell everyone, ‘I so admire your relationship with your children,’ ” former NBC correspondent Cynthia McFadden told People. “She was very regretful about her family life. It was something she felt like she couldn’t fix. So that was really tugging at her.”

Walters struggled with fertility with her second husband, Lee Guber, and her dream of motherhood finally came true in 1968 when they adopted Jackie. In the documentary, she proudly said, “My world came together. I mean, I was already on the Today Show. And I’d had three miscarriages, and now I had everything.”

Still, the tug-of-war between her high-flying career, interviewing world leaders, and the daughter she loved so much, often conflicted with each other. Jackie had a very different personality from her high-achieving mother. According to McFadden, Walters was “career-driven,” but Jackie was content “not racing to the top.”

“They were just so dispositionally and physically unlike each other,” McFadden added. “It was a struggle. That’s not to say they didn’t love each other, but it wasn’t what she’d hoped for, and probably not what Jackie had hoped for either.”

Jackie has largely stayed out of the limelight, but she gave a rare interview with her mother in 2002 to then-NBC News reporter Jane Pauley. She spoke about feeling uncomfortable with her mother’s fame.

“I never felt like I fit into her world. Because everybody else around me at that time when I was growing up wanted to get ahead and achieve and get ahead,” Jackie explained. “She loves her work.”

After dealing with Jackie’s rebellious teen years, Walters and Jackie found a way to grow closer — but it was never the ideal mother-daughter relationship. For Walters, it was the heartbreak of her life.

“There is no question of our love for each other. None,” Walters said in 2002. “And it’s one of the reasons that she’s never particularly wanted to find her biological mother. It’s not, ‘Who’s my mother?’ I’m her mother.”

Barbara Walters Had a ‘Very Difficult’ Time Working With Peter Jennings, Documentary Reveals

Barbara Walters had a “very difficult” time working with three male journalists in particular, her new documentary revealed.

“Peter Jennings always put me down,” Barbara said in Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival in New York City on Thursday, June 12. “I had a very difficult time working with Peter. Very difficult.”

After a clip of him brushing her hand away and another of him interrupting one of her interviews played, Walters detailed how she was treated by Jennings.

“He would interrupt without any regard to what I said, and he never took me seriously. Once in a while, he said to me, ‘That was a good report.’ Like, ‘Oh, what a nice surprise.’ I was used to working with bullies,” she continued. “When I stopped to think of it, as we talk, he was the third bully that I’d worked with: Frank McGee, Harry Reasoner, Peter Jennings. It’s the way [they thought about] the so-called ‘hard news.’ A woman couldn’t do it. The audience wouldn’t accept her voice. She couldn’t ask the tough questions. She couldn’t go into the war zones.”

Directed by Jackie Jesko for Imagine Documentaries and ABC News Studios, Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything follows the life of Walters, giving viewers an “intimate and raw look” at her career, personal life and the challenges she faced along the way as a trailblazing woman in a male-dominated industry. After an illustrious career, Walters died in 2022 at age 93.

Marcella Steingart,Jesko, Sara Bernstein and Meredith Kaulfers all serve as producers on the documentary, while Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Justin Wilkes, Betsy West, Muriel Pearson and David Sloan serve as executive producers.

Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything is slated to premiere on Hulu this summer.

Barbara Walters Had a ‘Very Difficult’ Time Working With Peter Jennings, Documentary Reveals first appeared on Parade on Jun 13, 2025

Taylor Swift Allegedly Done With Blake Lively For Good As ‘Dragon’ Texts Did ‘Lasting’ Damage To Their Friendship

Taylor Swift has severed ties with her former pal, Blake Lively, after being dragged into her ongoing court battle with Justin Baldoni.

According to a new report, Swift and Lively may never mend their relationship as the “Blank Space” singer is said to “hate” that Lively wrote “the things she did” in her text to Baldoni.

It comes as Blake Lively scored a legal win in her ongoing battle with Justin Baldoni after a judge threw out the actor’s $400 million countersuit against her.

Taylor Swift ‘Will Forever Be Furious With’ Blake Lively

Swift has seemingly abandoned her once-vibrant friendship with Lively due to the legal drama surrounding the “Gossip Girl” star.

The pair have long been considered to have had one of Hollywood’s most prominent and supportive celebrity friendships, often going out on dates and fun activities together.

However, their relationship suffered a strain when Baldoni alleged in his filing against Lively that she had referred to Swift, and her husband Ryan Reynolds, as her “dragons,” comparing herself to the character Khaleesi from “Game of Thrones.”

“Taylor buries hatchets but keeps maps of where she put them, remember?” a source told Page Six, referencing the lyrics to Swift’s 2017 track “End Game.”

“She will forever be furious at how Blake quite clearly was using her for clout and leverage in her dealings with Justin. She really hates that Blake would even think like that, let alone write the things she did in that text,” the source said.

Why The ‘Damage’ Done To Their Friendship Is ‘Lasting’

Swift and Lively are no longer on speaking terms, and things may stay that way, at least for a while. The source notes that the “damage” done to their friendship is “lasting.”

“The damage Justin did by revealing those texts— the ‘dragons’ text most especially, and by his initial subpoena, even though he dropped it— is lasting and probably permanent,” the source close to Swift said.

They continued, “The truth is, the text wasn’t even accurate. That’s not the kind of friendship they ever had— Taylor would never think of herself as Blake’s ‘dragon,’ or protector, or someone who would interfere on her behalf.”

“For starters, Blake is a grown woman who doesn’t need anyone to do that for her. Secondly, she’s married to one of the most powerful men in Hollywood. It was never a matter of Taylor believing she’d ever have to fight any battles for Blake. For her to see Blake use her name in that context was really hurtful,” the source added.

Taylor Swift And Blake Lively Weren’t Day Ones

Meanwhile, the exact nature of the friendship Swift shared with Lively has been revealed.

According to Page Six, the source shared that the pair was grounded in leisurely activities and the bond they shared due to their mega-wealth, rather than their professional engagements.

“They were baking pals, travel pals, home decor pals… and to be totally honest, billionaire pals. They got along because they each lived their lives with the sort of trappings and access and privilege that tons of money brings,” the source said.

They continued, “It was nice to be with someone else who ‘gets it’ and who absolutely didn’t seem to need a thing from Taylor, since she had her own millions.”

“[Swift] was deeply wounded and, even if that heals, the scar will remain,” they added.

The insider then noted how Swift didn’t put out a statement in support of Lively, despite allowing her song “My Tears Ricochet” to be used in “It Ends With Us.”

“Taylor didn’t even promote ‘It Ends With Us’ when the movie first came out before any of this drama was revealed,” the source said.

Blake Lively Scores Major Win Against Justin Baldoni

Lively and Baldoni have been embroiled in a legal standoff after the actress accused him of sexually harassing her on the set of “It Ends With Us.”

The actor filed a $400 million countersuit against her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, as well as their publicist, Leslie Sloane, accusing the power couple of attempting to wrest control of the film from him.

While her friendship with Swift might be strained, the “A Simple Favor” actress had reason to celebrate as she scored a win in court after a judge dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit.

In his ruling to throw out Baldoni’s countersuit, Judge Lewis Liman explained that all Lively’s allegations were made within privileged court papers.

The Actress ‘Cried With Relief’ Over The Win

According to the Daily Mail, a source close to Lively revealed that she “cried with relief” upon learning about the bombshell ruling.

“Complete elation from Blake’s world and a monkey off her back,” the insider said. “Blake is breathing a sigh of relief right now, and all tears are happy tears.”

All is not lost for Baldoni, though, as Judge Liman stated that the “Wayfarer Parties” can file a second amended complaint by June 23, 2025. However, they can only amend the allegations “relevant to the claims of tortious interference with contract and breach of implied covenant.”

Trisha Yearwood Makes Clear Political Statement That Has Fans Saying ‘Amen’

Trisha Yearwood had a special Pride Month message to share with her social media followers this week.

In a new Instagram post shared on Friday, June 13, the country music queen expressed her support for the LGBTQ+ community by uploading a photo of the pride flag along with the message, “Love one another.”

In the caption, Yearwood, 60, made an unmistakable statement about her stance on Pride Month, writing under the post, “Love and kindness, always.” She also included the hashtag “#pride

” as well as a pride flag ” 🏳️‍🌈” emoji.

Tons of Yearwood’s followers were grateful to the “Georgia Rain” songstress for voicing her support of the LGBTQ+ community, with one user declaring, “Amen!! 🙌🙌🙌🏳️‍🌈” in response to the post.

“Thank you for being an advocate! Happy pride month!!!❤️🧡💛💚💙💜” another gan gushed, while someone else called Yearwood “a role model and inspiration” for sharing the positive message.

“LOVE to see one of my most favorite and enduring country queens (and her man) on the right side of history! 🌈” someone else commented, referring to Yearwood’s husband, fellow country mega-star Garth Brooks.

“You never disappoint,” another fan wrote to Yearwood, while another said her “song choice” in the post—which was set to the tune of her track “The Wall or the Way Over”—was “on point.”

Trisha Yearwood Makes Clear Political Statement That Has Fans Saying ‘Amen’ first appeared on Parade on Jun 13, 2025

Barbara Walters sits on the set of NBC’s “Today” show in New York on April 23, 1976.

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Her shows, some of which she produced, were some of the highest-rated of their type and spawned a number of imitators. Indeed, “The View” – which debuted in 1997 – paved the way for American talk shows “The Talk” and “The Chew,” as well as such entries as Britain’s “Loose Women” and Norway’s “Studio5.”

Walters left “The View” in 2014, but remained a part-time contributor to ABC News for two years.

“I knew it was time,” Walters told CNN’s Chris Cuomo at the time. “I like all the celebration, that’s great, but in my heart, I thought, ‘I want to walk away while I’m still doing good work.’ So I will.”

Looking upon the numerous women who had looked up to her throughout her career, Walters said they were her legacy.

“How do you say goodbye to something like 50 years in television?” she said in conclusion. “How proud when I see all the young women who are making and reporting the news. If I did anything to help make that happen, that is my legacy. From the bottom of my heart, to all of you with whom I have worked and who have watched and been by my side, I can say: ‘Thank you.’ “

Walters was married four times, to business executive Robert Katz, producer Lee Guber and twice to entertainment mogul Merv Adelson. The second marriage to Adelson ended in 1992. She is survived by her daughter, Jackie, whom she and Guber adopted in 1968.

Walters’ big ‘get’ interviews

Walters was born September 25, 1929, in Boston. Her father, Lou, was a nightclub owner and theatrical impresario, and young Barbara grew up around celebrities – one reason she never appeared fazed by interviewing them.

Walters earned her college degree from Sarah Lawrence College in 1953.

Barbara Walters is seen at a news conference on September 30, 1976, in New York.

Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Notoriously competitive, Walters was dogged in her pursuit of big “get” interviews, so much so that there were long-standing reports of rivalry between her and another of ABC’s news stars, such as Diane Sawyer, who joined the network in 1989. That included, most recently, jockeying to land the first interview with Caitlyn Jenner, which Sawyer conducted in 2015.

Walters, though, was no slacker in terms of landing major interviews, including presidents, world leaders and almost every imaginable celebrity, with a well-earned reputation for bringing her subjects to tears. Highlights included her 1999 interview with Monica Lewinsky – which was watched by an average of 48.5 million viewers – and a historic 1977 joint sit-down with Egypt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Menachem Begin.

Walter’s first job on air was on NBC’s “Today” show in the 1960s, where she reported what were then perceived as “women’s stories.” In 1974, she was officially named co-anchor of the show. Two years later she became, for a time, the best-known person in television when she left “Today” to join ABC as the first woman to co-anchor a network evening newscast, signing for a then-startling $1 million a year.

Though her term in that position was short-lived – co-anchor Harry Reasoner never warmed to her – she had the last laugh, staying at the network for almost four decades and co-hosting the magazine show “20/20” (with her old “Today” colleague, Hugh Downs), “The View” and countless specials.

She was both mercilessly parodied – on the early “Saturday Night Live,” Gilda Radner mocked her as the sometimes mush-mouthed “BabaWawa” – and richly honored, with multiple Emmys, a Peabody and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Sometimes seen as brash, usually by men questioning her forthright demeanor, she could only shrug at the criticism.

“If it’s a woman, it’s caustic; if it’s a man, it’s authoritative. If it’s a woman it’s too pushy, if it’s a man it’s aggressive in the best sense of the word,” she once observed.