Rosie O’Donnell returns to 'Late Night Spotlight With Jimmy Kimmel Live!' hosting gig
The comedian is among several stars filling in for Jimmy Kimmel during his two-month voluntary hiatus
Rosie O’Donnell is heading to the Jimmy Kimmel Live! stage.
The 64-year-old comedian will guest-host one week of episodes of the ABC late-night talk show starting Monday, August 17, while Jimmy Kimmel takes a two-month break from hosting duties.
Kimmel revealed the upcoming guest host lineup during his Thursday, June 18 episode, announcing that several celebrities would step in during his absence, including Tiffany Haddish, Colman Domingo, Ike Barinholtz, Anthony Anderson, and Jelly Roll.
The late-night host also revealed that O’Donnell would join the rotation, jokingly referring to her as one of Donald Trump’s “all-time favourites.”
The comment was made sarcastically, referencing the longtime public feud between O’Donnell and the former president, which began in 2006.
After the announcement, O’Donnell shared her excitement on Instagram by posting a screenshot of an article about her upcoming hosting role and writing, “And I can’t wait !!! #jimmykimmellive.”
Kimmel’s upcoming break comes after he previously addressed the show’s brief suspension in September 2025, when ABC temporarily removed Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the schedule following comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s death.
This time, Kimmel clarified that he would be taking time away voluntarily.
O’Donnell is no stranger to television hosting, having previously served as a co-host on The View and hosting her own daytime talk show, The Rosie O’Donnell Show.
The comedian has remained a familiar figure in entertainment while also making headlines for her outspoken public exchanges with Trump over the years.
After relocating to Ireland in January 2025, O’Donnell returned to the United States in June for the Tony Awards and is also set to return soon for her one-woman Broadway show, Common Knowledge.
Her week-long run on Jimmy Kimmel Live! will begin August 17.
