Rachel Maddow, born on April 1, 1973, is a multiple Emmy award-winning T.V. host and political commentator, best known as the host of MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” and the Air America Radio show by the same name. Boasting a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Stanford University, alongside a doctorate in philosophy in politics from Oxford University, Maddow has publicly stated that her views are liberal. She is also the United States’ first openly lesbian host of a major prime-time news program and is in a committed relationship with artist and photographer Susan Mikula.
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Rachel Anne Maddow
Birth date:
April 01, 1973
Age:
51 years
Zodiac Sign:
Aries
Height:
5' 11"
Relationship Status:
In a relationship
Net Worth:
$25.0 million
Background
Born in Castro Valley, California, on April 1, 1973, Maddow grew up in a conservative Catholic family and community. After graduating from Castro Valley High School, she achieved her bachelor’s degree in public policy from Stanford University. She was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and went to the University of Oxford, where she earned her doctorate in philosophy in politics.In 1999, Maddow accepted a job as a radio host at WRNX in Massachusetts before joining WRSI as the host of “Big Breakfast.” After two years, she left WRSI in 2004, joining the brand-new Air America Radio to host “Unfiltered” alongside hip hop legend Chuck D and “The Daily Show” co-creator Lizz Winstead.In January 2008, she joined MSNBC as a political analyst. Later she hosted “The Rachel Maddow Show,” the first openly lesbian prime-time news host in the United States. The show became the highest-rated show on the network. In 2012, Maddow published her first book “Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power,” which hit number one on The New York Times Best Seller List for hardcover nonfiction. September 2019 saw Maddow fall into a spot of controversy after she described the One American News Network (OAN) as “paid Russian propaganda.”OAN decided to sue Maddow for $10 million, but the case was dismissed in 2020 as opinion rather than defamation. Her second book, published in October 2019, was titled “Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth;” the self-narrated audiobook version won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album. In December 2020, Maddow’s third book was published: “Bag Man: The Wild Crimes, Audacious Cover-Up, and Spectacular Downfall of a Brazen Crook,” which she co-wrote with Michael Yarvitz and which is due to be adapted into a movie directed by Ben Stiller.
Career timeline
She hosts her first radio show with WRNX in what would be the first of many roles hosting radio and T.V. shows.
Filling in for Keith Olbermann, Maddow guest hosts “Countdown with Keith Olbermann,” earning significant attention and kicking off a career on T.V.
The show is extremely well received, and she is still hosting it today on MSNBC.
Maddow graduates with a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Stanford University, earning herself the Rhodes Scholarship.
Maddow’s “Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power” hits the shelves and reaches #1 on ‘The New York Times Best Seller’ list for hardcover nonfiction.
Based on her 2018 podcast “Bag Man” and her third book “Bag Man: The Wild Crimes, Audacious Cover-Up, and Spectacular Downfall of a Brazen Crook,” a movie directed by Ben Stiller is slated to start production in 2022.
Rachel Maddow FAQs
Who is Rachel Maddow’s partner?
Maddow is in a committed relationship with artist and photographer Susan Mikula.
Why is she taking a break from “The Rachel Maddow Show?”
She will be pursuing other podcast projects, and executive producing the movie based on her book and directed by Ben Stiller.
How long has “The Rachel Maddow Show” been on the air?
Since 2008, so around 14 years as of 2022. The show is set to change the format from daily to weekly in 2022, and is expected to run until 2024.
5 Surprising Facts
-
Maddow describes herself as antisocial
Despite her overwhelming success as a T.V., radio, and podcast host, she describes herself as a cross between a jock and an antisocial girl.
-
A college newspaper outed her
An interview was published in which she was described as a lesbian, and she hadn’t come out to her parents yet.
-
She was raised in a conservative community
Her parents were devout Catholics, and she has described the community she was raised in as “very, very conservative.”
-
Her partner is a photographer
Her partner, Susan Mikula, uses antiquated photography methods such as pinhole and Polaroid cameras to explore the movement of light in her artworks.
-
She appeared in “The Simpsons”
In November of 2013, she played a cartoon version of herself.
Why We Love Rachel Maddow
-
She is a prominent lesbian icon
Along with being the first openly lesbian to host a prime-time news show, she has appeared in various queer publications. Her success is an inspiration to many.
-
She is never afraid to speak her mind
Maddow is passionate about what she perceives as the truth. She never shies away from vocalizing her well-informed opinions.
-
Parodies slide off her like water off a duck’s back
As a notable public figure, Maddow has been parodied on “Saturday Night Live.” However, she has never voiced any irritation about how she is portrayed.
Rachel Maddow’s birthday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 1 | Saturday |
| 2024 | April 1 | Monday |
| 2025 | April 1 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | April 1 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | April 1 | Thursday |
