She’s received parenting advice from the likes of Maria Shriver and has even swapped recipes with Julia Roberts.
You started in reality TV, you did sportscasting, and now you’re in entertainment news.
Have you always wanted to be on television since you were a kid?
You know what’s interesting?
The goal for me was never about TV or fame or anything like that.
I just always knew I wanted to do something creative.
Back when I did the first “Road Rules” Let’s see.
I’m 51 years old.
I did that when I was 24.
But I didn’t get, because I wasn’t an actress, what it was.
So on a whim, I just joined the Winnebago.
If there was ever something that I could do that, that would be interesting to me."
I sort of took off from there.
I remember meeting with MTV and they said, “Kit, you’d be great in sales.”
You know what I mean?
And I’d already come from sales.
So it’s funny that it’s not like I think people think everything just opens up to you.
You have to hustle and keep grinding and really go for it.
You were a stay-at-home mom before “Access,” right?
The joke there, which is really not a joke, but I had worked.
I did this show “Real Simple.”
I hosted a show for ESPN.
We lost everything we own, and, literally, I was probably 40-something by then.
The phone was not ringing with the jobs coming in.
The joke is that I told my agents to hold all calls.
I was going to take a beat, but nobody was calling.
There [were] no calls to hold.
A lot of my friends don’t have that luxury.
At the time, my husband had a really good job.
I started creating this clothing line that I was going to do.
I started writing this children’s book.
I mean, that’s funny.
I don’t think I’m your typical entertainment-looking reporter from back in the day.
Because you had to relocate across the country to California.
No part of me thought I wanted this job, I was going to get this job.
And I botched the audition.
I was so bad.
They had an earpiece in.
It kept popping out.
I had self-tanned my legs, and they were slippery.
I had this little outfit I put together from TJ Maxx, and just the whole thing.
I wasn’t in that mindset.
Because I am not moving to California."
And then, be careful what you say, because I think six months later, we were moving.
What changed your mind?
You know what’s so funny is mentioning the house burning down.
We had our three children, and, I mean, I was really happy in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Thank you, but no.'"
They were so nice to offer it to me.
You have to try."
He said, “Not now.
I said, “Alright.”
We rented the house in Connecticut out.
My husband stayed in New York.
That’s where his job was.
I came out with the three babies, and we started this boondoggle.
Yeah, and 11 years later, I’m still here.
Because mom guilt is a very real thing.
Lean into it all.
I always say that balance is a four-letter word.
There’s really no such thing.
I’ve got the Golden Globes tonight, kids.
I’ll be home tonight,” or whatever.
You sort of do the best and be grateful for it all, I guess.
What is a typical day for you like shooting both “Access Hollywood” and “Access Daily”?
So I’m an early riser.
I wake up at about 6:30, get the kids breakfast.
My two daughters are home from college, and they’ll go back soon.
My morning starts, actually 6:30, cup of coffee.
I call my mom because she’s east coast.
So we talk every morning.
It’s our routine.
And then, of course, 12 times throughout the day.
Well, live is the best for me.
I grew up in sports, and I went to school on a track scholarship.
For me, it was first call, 1600-meter race.
When you’re doing it, too, you’re only focused about that at the moment.
You’re not thinking about other things.
“What’s for dinner?”
All those things are going through.
But I love the one and done.
When it’s over, clean slate, and you’re on to the next.
It works well for my personality.
I just feel like it’d be such a rush, too, to do live TV.
It’s such a rush.
Yeah, and, “Three, two, go!”
Is that your life?"
I’m like, “Kind of, with the TV stuff.”
Yeah, I feel very grateful for that.
I know there are a lot.
I think it’s the I mean, celebrities.
I’m still fascinated by them, right?
And I still get starstruck and in awe.
So that’s been really interesting.
We really don’t have any problems, any stresses."
Oh, my gosh!
I’m at the Oscars red carpet.
Would that be last year or the year before?
I’m bad with this COVID and time thing.
And it wasBrad Pitt.
I’ve never met him.
I’ve never interviewed him.
I thought Kit Pitt had a great ring.
I don’t get to interview him.
I was interviewing Halle Berry andJulia Robertsat the time.
He comes up, and he goes to Mario [Lopez], my co-host, here.
Then, I’m so bummed.
I’m like, “Ah, I just wanted to interview Brad.”
I say, “Hey Brad.
I’m like, “Oh, my God.
I’m such a liar.”
And I’m like, “Maiden.”
I’m just making it up.
Then I say, “I love architecture.”
I don’t like architecture.
[Laughs] I mean, the whole thing.
My producer was crying.
We were like I got so verklempt and like, “Agh!”
that it was and we have the funniest picture.
He was just as cute in person.
Oh, my gosh.
And well-dressed and tall, and it was great.
I was like, “This is so much fun.”
That was meant to be if you ran into him.
Literally, just bumped in.
It was the whole sea of people going into the award show, and there he was.
Yeah, Kit Pitt.
Who have you not interviewed yet that you would love the opportunity to?
You know who else was wonderful, that I was very excited [about], was Julia Roberts.
I’m from Atlanta.
She’s from Atlanta.
Mine is Hayes, and she was just so normal.
Like, that’s Julia Roberts, and she was awesome.
It’s so fun when you find out that they’re exactly what you see on TV.
What you want them to be.
You’ve hosted a lot of different shows.
You know, one thing I pride myself on [is] this is my home.
My work becomes my home.
I want them to leave here and be like, “That was awesome.
That was a really fun, feel-good moment.”
That’s what I strive for every day, and, I mean, how cool is my job?
Again, I always leave with gratitude and I’m like, “This is so much fun.”
I get to talk to you today.
You have such a fun team, and you all have chemistry on screen.
Is there a co-host that you’re closest with?
Really, all of them.
The daytime show now is Mario Lopez and me, and he is just the best.
We have so much fun together, and he’s got the cutest wife and kids.
Getting to know him and sit beside him.
We’re really close.
What’s funny about him is, first of all, I could have birthed him, right?
I mean, he is like 30.
And then, Sibley [Scoles] andZuri [Hall].
They’re just spectacular.
We really have fun, right?
If you’re not laughing and having fun and working hard, then what’s the point?
I’m like, “I want to be the lonely shop owner.”
I was hoping for a kiss with somebody, but that didn’t happen.
But anyway, I was so nervous.
But Mario and I I mean, I came in hot.
I had a back story.
We had movement going on.
I’m jumping around.
I’m saying stupid s**t Ooh, stupidstuff.
I’m adding all these lines in there.
I’m like, “Oh, good.”
He goes, “Okay, now you have to do it again from all these different angles.”
Well, I don’t remember what I just did, right?
I’m a one hit wonder.
[Laughs] I was 20 takes later from different angles and this.
It was so much fun, but I definitely peaked on the first take.
[Laughs] I’m like, “That’s it.
No one told me there’s multiple takes.
I got one take.”
Would you ever want to act again?
I like pushing myself.
I really don’t get nervous anymore for live TV.
It’s so normal for me.
I get excited, but not nervous.
I was nervous for this, so it was fun to be outside my comfort zone.
And it’s a dippy little scene, but I had a ball.
I’m like, “That’s me!
That’s me!”
[Laughs]
Shout out!
Would Kit Hoover ever want to return for a Road Rules reunion?
There have been a lot of reunions lately.
There was just “The Real World Homecoming.”
First of all, I would 100% do it.
I keep in touch with Clay Newbill who was the executive producer at the time.
Bunim Murray is who produced it.
John Murray’s still doing it.
We lost, unfortunately, his partner.
But I’m so grateful to what they did for me, and it changed my life at 24.
I mean, I think you have to lean into all of it.
It is odd to see yourself come back to you on the screen when you’re just being yourself.
So I would 100% do it.
I keep up with Mark Long.
There was only five of us on our show.
Get us back together, and they were all extraordinary.
I know what Mark’s up to.
He’s doing great.
But I would be so in for that.
I know where my bread was buttered, right?
I know where it all started, and I would do it in a heartbeat.
I’d go in the Winnebago.
I don’t have much time anymore, but I could do a road trip for the weekend.
What is some of the best advice you’ve heard?
Whether it’s about life, about show business, or just something that stuck with you.
Well, it’s funny as I’m drinking my little green tea over here.
Women in this business is interesting.
It’s a very different narrative than what was told even 10, 20 years ago, right?
Tina Turner says it best.
She says to age gratefully, and I think that’s it.
It’s not to age gracefully or this or that.
But to age gratefully and just kick a** is what I want to do.
I want to Tina Turner it.
You know what I mean?
No matter what work you’re in, what line of business, right?
Lean into it all.
Ben [Affleck] and J.Lo.
I love the double back.
I believe in love.
I believe in second chances.
There’s something about where they were then in their matching velour sweatshirts to where they are now.
I think it’s quite beautiful.
I’m rooting for them.
I mean, I seriously am when I see them.
I’m like, “There’s something very cool about that.”
With age comes wisdom.
Who had your favorite celebrity look?
I’m in love with Zendaya.
In my mind, I have her body, her style, her look.
I love her “Spider-Man” boyfriend, who’s half as tall as her.
What was your favorite reality TV show this last year?
I was going to say of all time would have to be mine.
Oh, my gosh.
Then they lost me for a couple of seasons.
So not that one.
Name some of the good ones.
What am I missing now that are some of the good I’ve been binging so much now.
I’m new to the binge, so I haven’t watched as much reality TV shows.
There’s so much.
I mean, “Married at First Sight” just started again.
Are you into other dating shows?
Their success rate is quite something.
No, give me another one, so I haven’t seen that.
“Selling Sunset” is also coming up.
Oh, so “Selling Sunset” is a little bit of a guilty pleasure.
I love Chrishell [Strause].
I remember interviewing her when I was interviewing the cast for “This Is Us.”
And then, of course, all the gorgeous fashion and those houses, I mean, good Lord.
It’s so fun.
you’re free to catch Kit Hoover weekdays on “Access Hollywood” and “Access Daily.”
Check your local listings.
