KELLY Ripa has returned to work for the first time since undergoing major surgery.
The Live host was all smiles on the season premiere of her daytime talk show opposite husband and co-host Mark Consuelos on Tuesday morning.
Kelly glowed in a black and white-patterened dress, and gushed, “It’s the first day of our 39th season!”
The 55-year-old mom of three clarified that it’s her 26th season on the show, after first hosting alongside original anchor Regis Philbin in 2001.
Mark joined Kelly after Ryan Seacrest’s departure in 2023.
“This is like the last year of my presidential term,” Mark joked. “Am I getting gray?!”
The married couple joked they had to “relearn how to walk in shoes” after a “lazy” summer off from the show.
“We got to see all three of our kids for four days!” Kelly said, referring to kids Lola, Joaquin, and Michael. “Not a single fight erupted!”
But unfortunately, it wasn’t all fun and relaxation for Kelly, who underwent a grueling gum surgery in July.
“She’s not allowed to talk,” Mark announced on the July 27 episode of the show.
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“I’m trying to keep her following the rules, following the directions.
“She has to eat soft foods, you can’t suck out of a straw…It’s painful, but she famously doesn’t feel pain.
“When she goes to the dentist, she doesn’t really use the Novocaine, but this one hurts. So I know it’s bad.”
After her surgery, Mark hosted episodes alongside celebrity guest hosts like Kevin Jonas and Jenna Dewan.
Then, the show aired reruns and pre-recorded episodes so she could recover, and Mark could get his summer break as well.
Kelly also posted episodes of her podcast, Let’s Talk Off Camera, though it’s unclear when the shows were recorded.
On the season premiere, Kelly did not discuss her surgery
Kelly and Mark featured guests Lizzo and Kal Penn, and it was otherwise business as usual for the hardest working couple in showbiz.