Discover the inspiring story of June Baranco, Bryant Gumbel’s ex-wife, artist, and entrepreneur. Learn about her biography, marriage, divorce, children, and her journey of creative reinvention through art and resilience.
Quick Facts About June Baranco
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | June Carlyn Baranco |
| Date of Birth | June 22, 1948 |
| Age (2025) | 77 years old |
| Birthplace | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Profession | Visual Artist, Entrepreneur, Former Flight Attendant |
| Education | Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Art Students League, Parsons School of Design |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Ex-Husband | Bryant Gumbel (m. 1973–2001) |
| Children | Bradley Christopher Gumbel, Jillian Beth Gumbel |
| Known For | Former wife of Bryant Gumbel, Visual artist, Millinery designer |
| Business Venture | Geaux Chapeaux (handcrafted hat brand) |
| Art Mediums | Oil painting, watercolor, pastel, woodcut illustration |
| Height | Approximately 5’6″ |
June Baranco Biography: Early Life and Background
June Carlyn Baranco was born on June 22, 1948, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, into a family that valued tradition, strength, and creativity. Raised in the American South during a time of significant cultural change, June grew up in a household shaped by strong values, with her father Joseph serving in the military and her mother Jeannie managing the home.
From an early age, June displayed a natural inclination toward artistic expression and design. Her upbringing in Louisiana, with its rich cultural heritage and vibrant artistic community, helped shape her creative sensibilities. Unlike many who would later know her only as Bryant Gumbel‘s wife, June’s identity was firmly rooted in her own passions and pursuits long before she entered the spotlight.
Growing up in the South during the 1950s and 1960s, June witnessed the civil rights movement and the transformation of American society. These experiences contributed to her quiet strength and resilient character, qualities that would serve her well throughout her life.
Her family emphasized education and personal development, encouraging June to pursue her interests in art and design. This foundation would prove invaluable as she navigated the challenges of life in the public eye and eventually found her way back to her creative roots.
June Baranco Age and Personal Details
As of 2026, June Baranco is 77 years old, having been born on June 22, 1948. Despite being in her late seventies, June continues to maintain a graceful and elegant presence. Those who have encountered her describe a woman of poise and sophistication, with a refined sense of style that reflects her artistic sensibilities.
She stands approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a demeanor that exudes quiet confidence. Throughout her life, June has been known for her natural beauty and understated elegance, preferring substance over superficiality and authenticity over attention.
Her appearance has often been characterized by timeless style choices that reflect her background in fashion and design. Even decades after her divorce, June continues to embody the grace and dignity that defined her throughout her marriage and beyond.
The years have treated June with kindness, and she has aged with the same quiet strength that characterized her response to life’s challenges. Rather than seeking to remain in the public eye, she has chosen a path of private fulfillment, focusing on her art, family, and personal growth.
Education and Artistic Training
June Baranco’s educational journey reflects her deep commitment to artistic expression and creative development. She attended the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan and later pursued studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), following her passion for design.
Her education didn’t stop there. June continued to refine her artistic skills through additional training at prestigious institutions, including the Art Students League and Parsons School of Design. This comprehensive artistic education equipped her with technical proficiency across multiple mediums and a sophisticated understanding of visual composition.
The training she received during these formative years laid the groundwork for her later work as a visual artist. She developed expertise in various artistic techniques, including oil painting, watercolor, pastel work, and woodcut illustration. Her education also fostered an appreciation for both traditional and contemporary artistic approaches.
June’s time at FIT was particularly influential, as it combined her interests in both fine art and practical design. This dual focus would later manifest in her entrepreneurial ventures, particularly her millinery business, which merged artistic creativity with functional design.
The artistic community she engaged with during her education provided not only technical skills but also a network of fellow creatives who understood the importance of authentic self-expression. These connections and this foundation would prove essential when June eventually returned to her artistic pursuits after her divorce.
Meeting Bryant Gumbel: The Beginning of Their Romance
In the early 1970s, June was working as a Delta flight attendant, an adventurous and creative woman seeing the world and meeting people. It was during this period that her path crossed with Bryant Gumbel, a young journalist with ambition and a rapidly rising career.
Bryant Charles Gumbel, born on September 29, 1948, was just beginning to make his mark in the world of broadcast journalism. He wasn’t yet the household name he would become, but his sharp intellect and on-screen presence were already evident to those who knew him.
The connection between June and Bryant was immediate and powerful. She brought color, creativity, and warmth to the relationship, while he brought ambition and momentum. They shared chemistry and timing that seemed perfect for a lasting partnership.
Their courtship spanned several years, during which Bryant’s career continued to gain traction. Despite the demands of his growing professional obligations, the couple maintained their relationship, building a foundation they believed would support a lifetime together.
The early 1970s were a time of change and opportunity in America, and both June and Bryant seemed poised to take advantage of the possibilities before them. For June, the relationship represented not just romantic love but also a partnership with someone whose drive matched her own creative spirit.
June Baranco Bryant Gumbel Wife: Marriage and Family Life
In December 1973, after dating for over a decade, June and Bryant tied the knot in Baton Rouge. June was 25 years old, stepping into a marriage that would last nearly three decades and profoundly shape both their lives.
The early years of their marriage held promise and excitement. As Bryant’s career began to soar, June took on the role of supportive spouse and homemaker. The couple raised two children together in Waccabuc, north of New York City, creating what appeared from the outside to be an ideal family life.
When Bryant became the co-host of NBC’s Today show in 1982, making history as the first Black host of the program, the family’s profile rose significantly. June found herself navigating the challenges of being married to a increasingly prominent public figure while maintaining a stable home environment for their children.
June stepped out of the spotlight before she ever really entered it. As Bryant’s career soared, she focused on home, giving up her own professional ambitions so he could pursue his. This sacrifice, common among women of her generation married to successful men, would later become a source of both pride and pain.
Behind the carefully maintained public facade of success and stability, however, the marriage faced significant challenges. Shortly after exchanging marital vows, June found letters from women she eventually discovered were Bryant’s mistresses. This betrayal cut deep, establishing a pattern of infidelity that would plague their marriage for years.
Despite these difficulties, June remained committed to her family, focusing her energy on creating a nurturing environment for their children. She attended high-profile events with Bryant, presented a united front to the world, and worked tirelessly to maintain the illusion of marital harmony.
The role of a television personality’s wife came with its own pressures. June was expected to look perfect, behave impeccably, and never complain publicly about the challenges she faced privately. She fulfilled these expectations with grace, even as her marriage slowly deteriorated behind closed doors.
June Baranco Children: Bradley and Jillian Gumbel
June and Bryant Gumbel welcomed two children during their marriage, both of whom have largely remained out of the public spotlight. Their first child, Bradley, was born in 1979, and their second, Jillian, joined the family in 1983.
Bradley Christopher Gumbel, now in his mid-forties, has chosen to live his life away from media attention. Unlike his famous father, Bradley has pursued a private career and lifestyle, valuing the kind of normalcy that was often absent during his childhood in the public eye.
Jillian Beth Gumbel, the younger of the two children, now works as a yoga instructor and life coach, following her mother’s gentler energy and quiet strength rather than her father’s media spotlight. She married William Russell Robins in November 2011 and has built a life focused on wellness, mindfulness, and helping others.
Both children have maintained relationships with both parents despite the divorce. Interestingly, when Bryant married his current wife Hilary Quinlan, his son Bradley served as best man, and his daughter was also present, demonstrating the family’s ability to move forward despite past difficulties.
As a mother, June devoted herself completely to raising Bradley and Jillian. Given that Bryant’s popularity was on a steady rise and they already had a family to raise, June left her job and became a full-time stay-at-home mom. This decision reflected both the expectations of the time and June’s commitment to providing stability for her children.
June’s parenting philosophy emphasized presence over performance. She worked to shield her children from the more difficult aspects of their parents’ troubled marriage while instilling in them values of authenticity, kindness, and personal integrity. The fact that both children have chosen careers focused on helping others and living meaningful lives rather than pursuing fame speaks to the success of her approach.
Challenges in the Marriage: Betrayal and Financial Struggles
While the Gumbel family appeared successful from the outside, June’s experience within the marriage was marked by significant emotional and financial challenges. The infidelity she discovered early in the marriage was not an isolated incident but rather an ongoing pattern that continued throughout their relationship.
June once admitted that although Bryant was making about $600,000 a month for co-hosting The Early Show, she had financial troubles and didn’t know if she could put food on the table. This shocking revelation highlighted the power imbalance within their marriage.
Despite her husband’s substantial income, June’s allowance was so low at $250 a month that she had to spend her savings to make ends meet. This financial control represented another form of emotional abuse, leaving June feeling powerless and dependent despite being married to a multimillionaire.
The emotional toll of Bryant’s betrayals was profound. June confessed that her husband had “shot her through the heart,” adding that the man she still loved apparently didn’t care if she ate or not. These statements reveal the depth of pain June experienced while trying to maintain her dignity and protect her children.
June was also devastated by the public nature of Bryant’s relationship with Hilary Quinlan, the woman who would become his second wife. June was particularly hurt that the man she spent half her life with could hurt her and their children so deeply and publicly.
Throughout these challenges, June maintained her composure publicly, refusing to engage in tabloid drama or public mudslinging. Her restraint during this difficult period demonstrated remarkable strength of character and concern for her children’s wellbeing above her own need for vindication.
June Baranco Divorce: The End of an Era
June and Bryant’s romance ended for good in June 1997 when he left her with little-to-no explanation to focus on his new girlfriend and current wife, Hilary Quinlan. The separation was not just the end of a marriage but the conclusion of nearly three decades of shared life.
The divorce proceedings were lengthy and contentious, involving complex negotiations over property, assets, and financial arrangements. After a four-year legal battle, June and Bryant’s divorce became final in August 2001.
One of the most emotionally charged aspects of the divorce was Bryant’s request for equal access to the family’s Westchester home. June couldn’t bear the idea of having Quinlan sleeping in her bed, using her bathtub, or stepping foot into the house that had her soul. She emphasized that an art studio and the last memories of her children and late father were also in that house.
The divorce settlement ultimately awarded June significant assets. She received properties including parts of the Westchester estate and an Upper East Side apartment, providing her with financial security as she rebuilt her life. However, no amount of money could compensate for the emotional devastation of the marriage’s end.
News of the separation seemingly affected the rankings of The Early Show, though executive producer Steve Friedman admitted that most people could separate someone’s personal life from their on-screen performance. Nevertheless, the public nature of the divorce added another layer of difficulty to an already painful process.
Throughout the divorce proceedings, June maintained her dignity and focus on what mattered most: protecting her children and preserving her own sense of self-worth. She emerged from the experience wounded but not broken, ready to reclaim the creative identity she had set aside decades earlier.
June Baranco Artist: Return to Creative Expression
Following her divorce, June returned to the artistic pursuits she had set aside during her marriage. This return to creativity represented not just a hobby or distraction but a fundamental reclamation of her identity and purpose.
Her work spans oil painting, watercolor, pastels, and woodcut illustration, with a focus on realism, portraiture, and expressive emotion. June’s artistic style reflects her life experiences, capturing depth of feeling and human complexity through her chosen mediums.
Her training at prestigious institutions like FIT, the Art Students League, and Parsons School of Design provided the technical foundation for her professional artistic work. However, it was the emotional depth gained through her life experiences that gave her art its distinctive character and resonance.
June’s artistic practice became a form of healing and self-discovery. Through the act of creation, she processed the pain of her divorce, celebrated her resilience, and explored dimensions of herself that had been dormant during her years focused on family.
Her work has been described as emotionally powerful, combining technical skill with authentic feeling. Whether working in oils, watercolors, or pastels, June brings a sensitivity and honesty to her art that reflects her personal journey from heartbreak to renewal.
While June has not sought fame or recognition for her artistic work, those familiar with it recognize her as a talented and serious artist whose work deserves attention on its own merits, independent of her former connection to Bryant Gumbel.
Geaux Chapeaux: Entrepreneurial Venture in Millinery
In addition to her fine art practice, June established an entrepreneurial venture called Geaux Chapeaux, a millinery brand specializing in handcrafted hats. The name itself reflects her Louisiana roots, with “Geaux” being a Cajun-inspired spelling of “go” commonly used in Louisiana culture.
June explored fashion through millinery, handcrafting elegant hats inspired by vintage styles. This business venture allowed her to combine her artistic sensibilities with her background in fashion and design, creating functional art pieces that women could wear and enjoy.
The inspiration for Geaux Chapeaux reportedly came from creating a handmade wedding hat, which sparked June’s passion for millinery design. She approached hat-making with the same attention to detail and creative integrity she brought to her fine art, ensuring each piece was both beautiful and well-crafted.
Her designs drew inspiration from vintage styles while incorporating contemporary elements, creating pieces that felt timeless yet relevant. Each hat was handcrafted with care, reflecting June’s commitment to quality and her respect for traditional craftsmanship.
Through Geaux Chapeaux, June found another avenue for creative expression and financial independence. The business demonstrated that she was not just surviving after her divorce but thriving, building a life based on her own talents and vision rather than reflected glory from someone else’s success.
The venture also connected June to a community of women who appreciated artisanal craftsmanship and supported women-owned businesses. This network provided not just customers but also friendship and mutual encouragement.
June Baranco Today: Life After the Spotlight
Today, June Baranco lives a private life focused on her art, family, and personal fulfillment. She has not remarried and has lived an independent, private life since her divorce in 2001, choosing autonomy and peace over any potential relationship that might compromise her hard-won independence.
At 77, June maintains connections with her children and grandchildren, finding joy in family relationships without the complications that marked her marriage. Her daughter Jillian’s work as a yoga instructor and life coach seems to reflect values June herself embodies: mindfulness, inner strength, and helping others find their own paths.
June has consciously chosen to stay out of the public eye, avoiding social media and declining most opportunities for interviews or public appearances. This decision reflects both her desire for privacy and her understanding that her identity is not defined by her past relationship with Bryant Gumbel.
Her days are spent in creative pursuits, whether painting in her studio, designing hats, or simply enjoying the quiet satisfaction of a life lived on her own terms. She has created a world where she answers to no one but herself, making choices based on what brings her joy and fulfillment rather than what others expect.
Those who know June describe her as gracious, warm, and remarkably free of bitterness despite her painful past. She has processed her experiences through her art and emerged as a woman at peace with herself and her choices.
While Bryant Gumbel continues to be recognized for his broadcasting career, June has built a different kind of legacy—one measured not in fame or public recognition but in personal integrity, creative achievement, and the quiet dignity of a life well-lived.
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June Baranco Photos and Public Appearances
Throughout her marriage to Bryant Gumbel, June appeared at various high-profile events and gatherings, though she never sought the spotlight for herself. Photos from this period show an elegant woman with graceful style, often standing beside her husband at industry functions and social occasions.
Since her divorce, June has maintained an even lower profile, with few recent photographs available to the public. This scarcity of images reflects her deliberate choice to live privately, away from cameras and public scrutiny.
The photos that do exist from her time as Bryant Gumbel’s wife capture a woman of poise and sophistication. She typically dressed in classic, timeless styles that reflected her background in fashion and her artistic sensibilities. Even in photographs where she stands beside her famous husband, there’s a quality of self-possession that suggests her own distinct identity.
June has no public social media presence, meaning there are no Instagram accounts, Facebook profiles, or Twitter feeds offering glimpses into her current life. This absence is intentional, representing her commitment to privacy and her understanding that not everything needs to be shared with the world.
For those seeking to understand June Baranco through images, the most revealing “photographs” may actually be her artwork—pieces that express her inner world far more authentically than any camera could capture.
June Baranco Family: Relationships and Legacy
June’s family extends beyond her immediate children to include grandchildren, creating a multi-generational legacy that has nothing to do with fame or broadcasting and everything to do with love, creativity, and authentic living.
Her daughter Jillian has built a family with her husband, and June has embraced her role as grandmother with the same devotion she brought to motherhood. These relationships provide joy and purpose, connecting her to the future while honoring the past.
June’s own parents, Joseph and Jeannie, instilled in her the values of strength, dignity, and perseverance that served her so well through her life’s challenges. Though her father has passed away, his influence remains evident in her character and choices.
She also has a brother, Darryl Baranco, though details about their relationship and his life remain private, consistent with the family’s overall approach to public exposure.
The family June has created and maintained centers on genuine connection rather than superficial appearances. She has taught her children and grandchildren that true success lies not in fame or wealth but in living authentically, treating others with kindness, and pursuing what brings genuine fulfillment.
Her relationship with her ex-husband Bryant has evolved over the years from the pain of betrayal and divorce to something more neutral—co-parents who share children and grandchildren but have moved on to separate lives. There appears to be no ongoing animosity, just the acceptance of a chapter that has closed.
The Legacy of June Baranco: Strength, Art, and Authenticity
June Baranco’s legacy extends far beyond her identity as Bryant Gumbel’s ex-wife. Her story represents a journey from supporting someone else’s dreams to reclaiming and pursuing her own, from painful betrayal to peaceful independence, from lost identity to authentic self-expression.
She represents a generation of women who sacrificed their own ambitions to support their husbands’ careers, only to discover that such sacrifice did not guarantee loyalty or happiness. Yet rather than remaining bitter, June transformed her pain into art and her disappointment into determination.
Her life demonstrates that it’s never too late to return to your true self, to pick up abandoned dreams, and to build a life of meaning and purpose. At an age when many people feel their best years are behind them, June began a new chapter defined by creative fulfillment and personal freedom.
For women who have lost themselves in relationships or sacrificed their identities for others, June’s story offers hope and inspiration. She proves that you can rebuild, that you can reclaim what was lost, and that you can create beauty and meaning even after heartbreak.
Her artistic work, whether fine art paintings or handcrafted hats, embodies her values: attention to detail, respect for craft, authentic expression, and the belief that beauty matters. Through her creations, she shares parts of herself with the world while maintaining the privacy she values.
June Baranco’s greatest legacy may be showing that true power doesn’t require a spotlight. Strength can be quiet. Success can be private. And a life of dignity, creativity, and authentic self-expression is worth more than all the fame in the world.
Conclusion
June Baranco’s biography is ultimately a story of resilience, creativity, and reclaimed identity. From her early years in Louisiana to her education in art and design, from her marriage to one of television’s most recognizable personalities to her painful divorce and eventual artistic renaissance, June’s journey reflects both the challenges and possibilities of a life fully lived.
She entered the public consciousness as Bryant Gumbel’s wife but exits it as her own person—an artist, entrepreneur, mother, and grandmother who chose authenticity over attention and personal peace over public recognition. Her story reminds us that we are not defined by our relationships, our disappointments, or our past roles, but by how we respond to life’s challenges and what we create from both joy and pain.
Today, at 77, June Baranco continues to live according to her own values, pursuing her art, enjoying her family, and maintaining the quiet dignity that has always characterized her. She stands as a testament to the power of resilience, the importance of creative expression, and the possibility of transformation at any stage of life.
While Bryant Gumbel’s name may appear in television history books, June Baranco’s legacy lives in her artwork, in the lives of her children and grandchildren, and in the example she provides of a woman who reclaimed her power and built a life of authentic purpose. That is a story worth knowing and a legacy worth celebrating.
