Jon Stewart Took A Chance On A Blind Date 20 Years Ago & Met His Wife Tracey McShane

Feb 09, 2022

Falling in love is a magical experience that everyone hopes to feel one day. We all want to find our special someone, and getting to hear stories about how two people fell in love is extremely heartwarming. For Jon Stewart and his wife Tracy McShane, their love story was very unexpected but thankfully has a very sweet and happy ending.

Stewart was born on Nov. 28, 1962, in New York City. He is best known for being the previous host of “The Daily Show” from 1999 to 2015, and currently hosts “The Problem with Jon Stewart.” He also has talents as a comedian, writer, producer, director and actor, although he is most famous for his political commentary in a satirical setting. Stewart’s talents have earned him more than 20 awards, and he has also received a handful of other nominations for his work in news and journalism.

Since leaving “The Daily Show,” Stewart maintained a pretty private life aside from his current hosting job. He also spends a lot of time with his wife. McShane was born on Aug. 6, 1967, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She has had a few minor television appearances where she spoke out about animal rights and activism.

Stewart and McShane are very devoted to one another to great causes, and even have an animal sanctuary together. Their love story is one that seems to be about fate, unexpectedness and overall true love. They first met on a blind date that did not go exactly the way they wanted. However, the pair ultimately engaged in a relationship, and are now celebrating 22 years of marriage.

Stewart and McShane have a lot to celebrate together. They have a loving and long-lasting marriage and are using their resources to help others. According to the Plantstrong Podcast, Stewart advocates for first responders and their struggles for protection and health care. Still, he is the one constantly amazed by his wife and her kind heart.

Back in 2015, Stewart spoke with the Washington Post about how talented McShane is. He said, “I’m so proud of her. Listen, I’ve always known my wife is a kinder and nicer person than I am. But to know that she is funnier and a better writer – I’m not going to lie to you – stings a little bit.”

The couple run the Hockhockson Farm Foundation, an animal sanctuary in New Jersey. During an interview with CBS, the couple talked about life on a farm with four dogs, two pigs, three rabbits, two guinea pigs, one bird and two fish. McShane also has a book called “Do Unto Animals” that shares more insight about animal welfare, with proceeds from the book going to Farm Sanctuary. The interview also highlighted how animals have helped McShane navigate a tough past relationship, and also how Stewart helped her embrace her enthusiasm for animals by becoming a veterinary technician.

According to Showbiz CheatSheet, McShane first attended the California College of Arts and Crafts before enrolling in Drexel University for graphic design. Afterward, she obtained a degree in veterinary science and worked at the Bronx Zoo in New York, before leading her to her current position as a Farm Sanctuary affiliate.

For McShane, she had hoped that one day she would date someone similar to Stewart, according to Showbiz CheatSheet. Fortunately for her, she got the real deal. Her roommate at the time ended up setting her up on a blind date with none other than the comedian himself. However, the night did not go exactly as planned. Stewart was actually not thrilled about the blind date, as he hadn’t met McShane prior and barely knew the person who set him up on the date. 

Back in 2002, Stewart spoke with Larry King about the blind date with McShane. He explained, “I was shooting something in lower Manhattan, and a woman that was working on the set said, ‘I know this girl who I think you would very much like.’ And the way she described her was in such glowing terms.”

The pair’s first date ended up not going super well, as Stewart kept talking on and on out of nervousness, while McShane was too nervous to really say much. At first, the comedian figured that McShane wasn’t very interested in him, leading to doubts about the possibility for the future ahead, but they fortunately had a connection and gave their relationship a shot.

Thankfully, everything worked out in the long run, as Stewart and McShane have now been happily married for more than two decades, having tied the knot in 2000. They both legally changed their surname to Stewart later that year. Stewart and McShane also have two children together – Maggie and Nathan – who are both teenagers.

What do you think about Jon Stewart’s marriage to Tracy McShane? Were you surprised to hear about their first date? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your loved ones, too.