Rosie O’Donnell Ex-Wives: Marriage, Relationship History

Comedian Rosie O’Donnell has been very open about her love life with the public over the years. The talk show host was married twice and became a parent to five kids after rising to fame. She’s also had some high profile romances.

Rosie married her first wife, Kelli Carpenter, in 2004. The League of Their Own actress adopted three children with the R Family Vacations founder before they tied the knot. The former couple adopted their eldest son, Parker O’Donnell, in 1995. Their eldest daughter, Chelsea O’Donnell, was adopted in 1997, followed by son Blake O’Donnell two years later.

The pair also welcomed daughter Vivienne O’Donnell in 2002 via artificial insemination. Rosie and Kelli split in 2007. The former host of The View moved on with her second wife, Michelle Rounds, in 2011. They announced their engagement in December of that year. Soon after, Michelle received a desmoid tumor diagnosis that required surgery. They married in a private ceremony in June 2012 before her surgery.

Rosie also had a health scare that same year, suffering a heart attack in August 2012. In the months that followed, the duo were both on the path to recovery. In January 2013, they announced that they adopted their daughter, Dakota. The television personality and her spouse split in 2014 and were officially divorced one year later.

Michelle died by suicide on September 11, 2017, at the age of 46. Rosie spoke out in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter after her ex-wife’s death.

“I am saddened to hear about this terrible tragedy. Mental illness is a very serious issue affecting many families. My thoughts and prayers go out to Michelle’s family, her wife, Krista and their child,” the statement read.

The Emmy winner went public with her relationship with Elizabeth Rooney in November 2017. The couple announced their engagement in October 2018. Rosie split from the police officer in 2019 but did not rule out a reconciliation when speaking to Us Weekly that year.

“We’re trying to work out what’s going on,” the Star Search alum said at the time. “She’s a police officer and she’s young and there’s a lot of attention on [us]. We’re just taking it slow.”

In May 2022, Rosie posted a photo holding hands with a mystery woman but did not show her face. It marked the first time the mom of five posted a photo with a partner since her split from Elizabeth. A month later, the comedian went Instagram official with TikTok star Aimee Hauer with a selfie. The pair made their red carpet debut in July of that year at the Stand Up for Friendly House comedy benefit at the Fonda Theatre, and Aimee got an “R” tattoo in Rosie’s honor.

“I watched her TikToks and every time I saw her, I would smile and [be] like, ‘This woman is, like, perfect. Look at her, she’s so happy and enthusiastic and beautiful and bright and she has a light coming from her,’” Rosie said during a September 2022 appearance on The Howard Stern Show. Sadly, the romance didn’t last long after that. The couple’s sudden split was reported on October 26, 2022, and by then, Rosie had erased all photos of Aimee from her Instagram page.

After their split, Rosie candidly shared whether she was still open to the idea of walking down the aisle again in the future.

“I wish I had been able to have a relationship that lasted forever, but I think I didn’t have the capability for a lot of reasons. I’ve seen longevity in other people’s relationships, and it’s always been something that I admired,” Rosie told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2023. “Relationships are hard; I would never get married again. I kind of like being a single parent. I like being able to make the decisions for her and not have to negotiate with someone else about what they think is right. Coparenting is hard. Mind you, I have help and I’m a wealthy person, so this has to be filtered through that lens.”

Keep scrolling to learn more about Rosie’s two ex-wives.

Kelli Carpenter

After her marriage to Rosie ended, Kelli continued to focus on her travel company, R Family Vacations. She began dating singer Anna Steele in 2010 after years of being friends. The performer later moved in with the businesswoman in Chestnut Ridge, New York. The couple got married in 2013. Parker walked his mom down the aisle during their fairytale wedding.

“Every morning when she comes down the stairs for her coffee, I feel like she’s grinning and I want to hug her every second,” Kelli told the New York Times about her wife in June 2013. “That’s what she has brought into our lives — not just mine but into the kids’ lives. A level of joy that was not there before. I think she has a completely open heart and gave to me and the kids without holding back at all. It’s scary to open yourself up to the kids and fall in love with them and think that somehow it’s not going to go away.”

Kelli and Anna host their own podcast called “I Love My Wife.” The pair also have a love for traveling and write blogs about some of the places they have visited. Their blended family expanded when Rosie and Kelli’s eldest daughter, Chelsea, gave birth to her first child with boyfriend Jacob Bourassa in 2018. Rosie and Kelli have since become grandparents twice more with the arrival of Chelsea’s two younger daughters, Riley and Avery Lynn.

Michelle Rounds

Rosie and Michelle first met at Starbucks in 2011 and their romance blossomed quickly. After they wed and experienced their health scares, the IT recruiter appeared on an episode of the Dr. Oz Show where she discussed how she was supporting Rosie during the difficult time.

“I’ve been working with [Rosie] for about a year on thinking of better, healthier habits, and I think she’s come a long way,” Michelle said. “She tends to put others first. She has a very big heart, but I think we’ve come a long way. We’re on the right track.”

After her 2015 divorce from the radio host, Michelle moved on with her second wife, Krista Monteleone. The couple got married in December 2016 and shared one daughter together.

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).