Kelly Ripa absent from Live after gum graft surgery

Kelly Ripa, the longtime cohost of the daytime talk show "Live with Kelly and Mark," was absent from the program on Monday, July 27, 2026, as she recovers from gum graft surgery. Her husband and cohost, Mark Consuelos, explained her absence to guest cohost Kevin Jonas, detailing a strict recovery regimen that includes no talking and a diet of soft foods.

Consuelos said Ripa sends her love to the audience and is doing well, but must adhere to a list of post-operative restrictions. He specifically noted she is not allowed to talk, eat hard foods, use a straw, or examine the surgical site by pulling down her lip. He recounted a recent instance where Ripa asked him to look at her gums, but he refused to touch her lip, instead getting into a position to view it without contact.

The surgery, which treats thinning or receding gums to reduce the risk of severe gum disease, was recommended to Ripa approximately five years ago. Consuelos recalled that when her dentist suggested she could have the procedure in about five years, Ripa joked that she did not think she would still be on the air by then. Despite her normally high pain tolerance-Consuelos noted she famously forgoes novocaine...