MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow may dominate primetime with hard-hitting political analysis, but off-camera, she’s been quietly living a love story that’s lasted more than 25 years.
The 52-year-old commentator has been with artist Susan Mikula since the late ’90s, and from the moment they met, Maddow says she was sure it was meant to be.
“It was absolutely love at first sight. Bluebirds and comets and stars,” she once told an interviewer. “It was absolutely a hundred percent clear.”
From Odd Job to Soulmates
Their unexpected love story began in 1999, shortly after Maddow finished her studies at Stanford. Living in a small Massachusetts town at the time, she took on an odd job, and it was Mikula, already an established artist, who hired her.
That brief meeting would blossom into a decades-long partnership that has remained largely out of the public spotlight by choice.
Who Is Susan Mikula?
Susan Mikula, now 67, is a respected artist and photographer who works with a mix of traditional and modern techniques. Known for embracing imperfection in her work, she’s held solo exhibitions in Massachusetts, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami.
Mikula and Maddow split their time between a quiet home in Western Massachusetts and a place in New York City, choosing a life far removed from the usual media frenzy.
A Scare That Brought Them Closer
Like many couples, they faced real challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for Maddow, it was a terrifying time.
“Seeing Susan suffering with it is the scariest thing in my life,” she told Stephen Colbert in a candid interview.
She spoke publicly about the fear of potentially losing her partner, urging others to take the virus seriously, not just for themselves, but for the people they love.
“The Most Important Thing in My Life”
Despite the fame and nightly spotlight, Maddow has never wavered on who comes first.
“She’s the most important thing in my life,” she told Ellen DeGeneres in a heartfelt appearance. “We have the world’s greatest relationship.”
No red carpets. No flashy headlines. Just a quiet, real connection that has endured more than two decades.
Lasting Love Off the Grid
While Maddow commands attention each night on The Rachel Maddow Show, at home she and Mikula have built something far more personal — a peaceful life rooted in love, creativity, and mutual respect.
Two decades in, their story remains one of quiet devotion, a rare kind of romance that doesn’t need the spotlight to shine.
