Nancy O’Dell Hopes to Set An Example For Ashby
Ben Dome/Pacific Coast News |
When Nancy O’Dell headed back to her co-hosting responsibilities on Access Hollywood after a three-month maternity leave, she did so with her daughter Ashby Grace in mind. “I’ve always wanted Ashby to have an example of a working mom,” she tells Working Mother.
And Nancy did just that, often bringing along baby girl for the ride. In fact, she notes, the mother-daughter duo have never been separated for more than three days — turning Ashby into quite the worldly traveler! “She starts taking off her shoes and putting [them in] the bin to place on the security belt,” Nancy laughs.
Last year, when she approached her husband Keith Zubchevich about taking her career in a new direction, she was told to follow her heart. With her family in mind, she realized it was time to search for greener pastures.
“[He said,] ‘You need to live in the moment — regardless of whatever decision you make,’” she recalls. “Otherwise you’re not enjoying anything you do and you’re always worrying about what you didn’t do.’”
Publicly announcing her exit from Access Hollywood in December after a 13-year run with the show, Nancy calls the move the “toughest decision” she has had to make. “I had been at the show since day one and it was time to graduate,” she explains.
As she considers future endeavors in TV and entertainment journalism — and manages her new outdoor furniture line, appropriately titled Red Carpet by Nancy O’Dell — the hands-on mom is soaking up time with her “hilarious” 2 ½-year-old as she relives her childhood vicariously through Ashby.
“Everything is fun again — the Disney princess movies and all,” she notes.
Click below to read about Ashby’s relationship with her brothers and Nancy’s with her own mom.
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