Al Roker Was Moved To Tears By His Daughter Leila Meeting Her ‘Dear Niece’ Sky Clara For The First Time

Jul 28, 2023 by apost team

Since 1996, Al Roker has been delivering the weather news to every American household on NBC's morning show, "TODAY." He has established himself as a prominent figure in American television. 

Born in 1954 in Queens, New York, Al kickstarted his career in journalism as a weather presenter on various local television stations across the United States. He earned national recognition for his magnetic on-air presence and became a beloved figure among people of all ages. Starting out as a weekend weathercaster, he soon began hosting the weather forecast on a nightly basis. From the '90s onwards, he began filling in for "TODAY" show regulars such as Willard Scott, Bryant Gumbel and Matt Lauer in their absence. By 1996, Al was regularly handling the weather report, alongside other notable appearances that have made him a household name and NBC staple. 

Aside from becoming a part of everyone's daily programming, Al also hosted various television programs like "Roker on the Road," "Wake Up With Al" and "Al Roker's Big Bad BBQ." Al has also authored several books, cookbooks and even memoirs, as well as being a patron and philanthropist of various organizations.

He is also a recipient of various accolades and achievements in his television career, including multiple Emmy Awards for his weather reporting. Among his most significant charge is hosting NBC's annual coverage of New York City's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, something he has done every year since 1995. 

Al has shared a lot of milestones in his life with the American people. Most recently, it was the announcement that his daughter Courtney Roker would be welcoming her first child and Al's first grandchild! Keep on reading to find out how Al has been enjoying his early days as a grandfather!

On March 14, 2023, Courtney, Al's daughter, surprised everyone with the announcement that she and her husband, Wes Laga, were expecting a child together. Taking to Instagram to announce the special news, Courtney brilliantly used the Mariah Carey hit song "Always Be My Baby" to make the announcement filled with more joy. 

"A new adventure is about to begin ❤️🍼," Courtney wrote at the time. She also confirmed the news to "TODAY" subsequently. 

"We are extremely excited to welcome a new member into our family and start this next chapter in our lives," she told the outlet of the announcement. "We feel truly blessed and excited for our little miracle."

Al, who was elated to be a grandfather finally, took to the comments and expressed his excitement for his daughter, even suggesting that he would be using the nickname "Pop-Pop." 

For those who do not know, Courtney is a Culinary Content Manager & Recipe Developer; she and Laga tied the knot in 2021. Al was present on his daughter's wedding day along with his wife, ABC News Senior National Affairs Correspondent Deborah Roberts. 

"A perfect magical evening being there for the marriage of my first princess @ouichefroker and @djweslaga with @debrobertsabc and #maidofhonor @cleilapatra and #groomsman," Al said in the caption of his Instagram photo carousel, which contained photos of them, his dance with Courtney and the bride's maid of honor. 

When Courtney spoke to "TODAY" in March, she did not clarify how long she was due for but assured everyone that she was "feeling great and baby is healthy." 

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The "TODAY" family happily announced that they have officially grown by one as Al's daughter, Courtney, finally gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Born on July 3, 2023, Al's granddaughter, Sky Clara Laga, was born. 

Al said he "couldn't be happier" with the new addition to their family, confirming to "TODAY" that everyone was doing well. 

On her Instagram account, Courtney shared the first two photos of little Sky. 

"Sky Clara Laga made her debut yesterday at 12:41 pm and we are absolutely obsessed with her. Thank you to Dr Shonda Corbett and the labor & delivery team at @holynamemedicalcenter who helped bring her into this world 💕" she said in the caption. 

The photos of Sky were nothing but adorable. In the first photo, Sky was smiling sweetly as her small fingers curled. The second photo saw Sky looking at the camera, holding the fingers of what seemed to be her father, Laga. 

Proud “Pop-Pop” Al himself took to Instagram to show off his family’s newest bundle of joy a few days later. On July 5, 2023, he posted three photos of Sky. The first two showed the newborn swaddled in blankets with a full head of hair, looking innocently at the camera with her doe eyes. The last photo was of Al cradling the baby in his arms as he looked proudly at the camera. The look on his face said it all. He captioned the post:

“And then this little girl came into my life. Welcome to the world, Sky Clara Laga. In love all over again. Thank you, Courtney and Wes for such a perfect blessing. You (sic) baby is beautiful. Already planning the ways to spoil her and then hand her back.”

Fans were thrilled for Al and expressed their delight in the comments section. Many extended their welcome to Al for finally joining grandparenthood.

“Welcome to the Grandparents Club!! It is the best club there is!!” one user wrote.

Meanwhile, some of Al’s famous friends got in on the action. “TODAY” host Savannah Guthrie commented:

“OH MY GOODNESS!! Welcome to the world sweet girl! You have the best grandpa in the universe!!

Another host, Carson Daly, also left a sweet message for Al’s new granddaughter and wrote: “Welcome to the world SCL!!! Can’t wait to meet you ❤️🎆”

After a week of grandfatherly bliss, Al appeared on "TODAY" to share more about his experience with Sky. On July 10, 2023, he described to co-host Hoda Kotb how it felt like becoming a grandpa for the first time.

“It’s magical. It really is. Everybody tells you that it’s going to be this thing and you don’t know — it’s like when they tell you about having your first child. And then, to hold this little girl knowing that 30, almost 35 years ago, I held her mom. And here she is ... and she’s just perfect,” he said.  

Al also revealed that despite what some might think was the obvious connection, the baby’s name had nothing to do with him. 

“It had nothing to do with the fact that I’m a weatherperson,” Al clarified and added, “Clara is the name of Courtney’s godmother.” 

Al went on to say that both Courtney and her husband Wes were doing well, although his daughter was “struggling a little bit” after going through a C-section. As for Wes, Al said, “the gravity of being a dad has kind of hit him but he still has that buoyant personality.”

In the same “TODAY” interview, Al also revealed baby Sky to be a great sleeper, as she “sleeps for four hours, wakes up, goes to the bathroom (then) sleeps for another four. We're on the same schedule!” 

After thanking the staff at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, the "TODAY" family surprised Al with a basket of gifts that included two fitted onesies. One was emblazoned with the words, “I love Pop-Pop,” while the other read, “Al's perfect Sky.”

On July 12, 2023, Al shared another adorable update about Sky Clara. Alongside photos of him holding his granddaughter — including a precious one in which Sky has her entire hand wrapped around Al's thumb — the proud grandfather wrote:

"Spent the afternoon visiting @ouichefroker @thatteacherwhodjs and my #grandaughter Sky Clara. Held her for about 2 hours and could’nt (sic) stop marveling at that #olddads punim."

On July 20, 2023, Al shared even more photos of the latest addition to the Roker family, this time of Sky Clara meeting her aunt — Al’s daughter Leila Roker — for the first time. He posted photos of the touching union that showed Leila cradling the little bundle of joy in her arms with a huge smile on her face, as well as a shot of her holding a milk bottle to feed the newborn. Al couldn’t help but be overcome with emotion as three generations of the Roker family sat in the same room. He wrote in the caption:

“I had tears in my eyes watching #aunt @cleilapatra meeting her #niece Sky Clara for the first time.”

Leila also posted about the happy meeting on her Instagram, sharing one of the photos with the message “Welcome to the world, my dear niece, Sky 💖”

Isn't little Sky Clara just the cutest? Do you think Al Roker is going to be the kind of "pop-pop" that spoils his grandchild? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends and other Al Roker fans out there!