Tesh frames the relationship as a resilient friendship where they laughed off societal pressure and recognized each other's talent.
Insiders suggest the romance fizzled quickly because both careers were skyrocketing in different cities, not just due to bigotry.
Tesh confirms they dated in the 70s in Nashville. He earns low six-figures annually for the NBA theme song started in 1990.
Tesh's new interview proves that even before the fame, their chemistry was undeniable, though their paths diverged for good reason.
John Tesh is finally spilling the tea on his early days with Oprah Winfrey. In an exclusive tell-all with Page Six, the 73-year-old reveals the couple dated in the 70s while working for rival local TV stations in Nashville, Tennessee. Tesh admits the interracial dynamic was "very uncomfortable back then for an African-American woman and a very, very white guy," especially since his family grew up in the South. Despite the societal tension, they are pictured together in a 1978 photo showing their time as colleagues in the newsroom. Tesh acknowledges that their relationship "was unusual in the South," but they refused to let the bigotry break their bond.
Instead of hiding, they turned the tension into a private joke. Tesh recalls they would work all day and only see each other once a week, quipping about which restaurant they could "empty tonight" to avoid stares. Despite the pressure, Tesh recognized Winfrey's star power immediately. He told the outlet that "we all knew that she was something special," noting he loved covering stories together because "this makes this a lot of fun." When asked if the A-lister was a good kisser, he joked that "is such a Page Six question! I grew up with Page Six," before admitting he doesn't remember. He notes "I don't even remember us kissing! We were really, really close friends."
The romance didn't last, but not because of the hate. The relationship sputtered out due to heavy workloads as their careers exploded in opposite directions. Winfrey moved on to Baltimore and then Chicago, while Tesh eventually made his way to New York and then Los Angeles to become the long-running co-host of Entertainment Tonight. He later married Hotel alum Connie Sellecca in 1992, while Winfrey has been with Stedman Graham since 1986. They are seen together in a 1991 photo holding hands in LA, while Winfrey is pictured with Graham in 2018.
Tesh isn't just reminiscing about the past; he's still cashing in on his legacy. He gave up his Entertainment Tonight job in 1996 to concentrate on his music, which includes writing the now-iconic NBA on NBC basketball theme Roundball Rock. In a good year, he earns low six-figures for the catchy ditty, a decision made by former sports executive Dick Ebersol back in 1990. He recently performed the track at the NBA All-Star Game earlier this month and continues to host the radio show Intelligence for Your Life on 350 stations across the country. He is pictured performing in 1995 and earlier this month.
