Former First Lady Michelle Obama is opening up about life after the White House—and shutting down persistent divorce rumors in the process.
In a revealing interview on the On Purpose podcast with Jay Shetty, Obama, now 61, spoke about her current journey of self-reflection and growth, describing her return to therapy as a proactive move to prepare for what she calls “a whole ‘nother phase in life.”
“At this phase of my life, I’m in therapy right now because I’m transitioning,” she shared. “I’ve finished a really hard thing in my life with my family intact. I’m an empty nester… My girls, they’ve been launched.”
The former first lady, mother to Malia and Sasha, noted that with her children grown and no longer needing her in the same way—and with no political office to maintain—she’s in a season of full autonomy for the first time in decades. And with that freedom, she’s seeking clarity, healing, and forward motion.
“I now don’t have the excuse of, ‘Well, my kids need this,’ or ‘My husband needs that,’ or ‘The country needs that.’ So how do I think about this next phase, and let me get some help,” she said.
Obama described therapy as a “tune-up,” helping her unwind old patterns, examine long-standing guilt, and reflect on how early relationships shaped her thinking. Her openness about mental health continues her long-standing advocacy for therapy and emotional well-being.
Michelle Obama also used her recent media appearances—including an interview with entrepreneur Steven Bartlett—to directly confront speculation that her marriage with former President Barack Obama is on shaky ground.
“If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it,” she said. “I would be problem-solving in public, like, ‘Let me tell you what he did.’”
Her comment, delivered with a familiar blend of humor and candor, served as a clear dismissal of online gossip that flared earlier this year when she skipped several high-profile events, including President Trump’s second inauguration. That absence, combined with her visible independence in interviews and appearances, sparked a flurry of speculation about the couple’s status.
But Obama insists their marriage is solid—if not always easy.
“Marriage is hard,” she admitted. “But I wouldn’t trade it. The beauty of my husband and our partnership is that neither one of us was ever really, ever going to quit at it.”
“That’s not who we are,” she added. “And I know that about him. He knows that about me.”
