Top 10 Most Memorable Ellen DeGeneres Interviews
#10: Adele
This Grammy winning singer-songwriter has made a handful of appearances on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” over the years, but none were more memorable than this one. Adele discussed a number of different subjects with Ellen, including her infamous 2016 Grammy performance – which was derailed by technical difficulties – her penchant for crying after shows, and her continued struggles with stage fright. Known for her candor, Adele didn’t hold back when discussing the pressures of being a world-famous singer. However, she maintained that for better or worse, she’ll never stop being herself. Oh, and let’s not forget that she participated in one of Ellen’s hidden camera pranks. Now that was hilarious!
#9: Kevin Hart
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Kevin Hart has appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” so many times he may as well apply for co-host. And while these appearances are typically lighthearted affairs, the comedian got deep when he visited the show in January of 2019. The interview came just one month after Hart stepped down as host of the 91st Academy Awards – the result of some of the comic's years old homophobic tweets resurfacing. The sit-down with one of TV’s few openly gay hosts gave Hart the opportunity to tell his side of the story; and once you hear it you’ll question whether his decision to step down was the right one.
#8: Amy Schumer
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As one of the funniest ladies in the business, anyone who can make Ellen DeGeneres laugh this much deserves top marks. In this 2015 interview, comedian Amy Schumer had Ellen and her studio audience in stitches from start to finish. The brutally honest and self-deprecating Schumer came locked and loaded with a number of hilarious stories, including her experience sitting courtside at a Lakers game, and the difference between her and fellow actor Dianna Agron. Schumer also spilled the beans about getting older, eating popcorn and the struggles of having resting scowl face. You gotta love her!
#7: Bill Gates
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Genius, billionaire, philanthropist Bill Gates took time out of his presumably busy schedule to sit down for an interview with Ellen DeGeneres in 2018. The two discussed everything from how Gates felt when he became the youngest billionaire in history and some of his early indulgences, to the indoor trampoline room he has in his house. They also talked about the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has donated billions of dollars to social, educational and technological programs since its inception in 2000. Massive charitable donations aside, Gates seems like a pretty down to earth guy, even if he doesn’t know what the average person pays for groceries…
#6: Rihanna
Despite having made numerous appearances on “Ellen” throughout the years, Rihanna’s 2016 visit was actually her first in over four years. The two quickly picked up where they left off, discussing RiRi’s love of karaoke, her penchant for posting incredibly Instagram photos, and her list of “must haves” whenever she performs. Rihanna’s rider includes vodka, red and white wine, regular Cheetos, hot Cheetos, Oreos, and cup-a-noodle. In Rihanna’s words, she “likes to be prepared”. Things only got better once George Clooney joined the fray, with the three engaging in a game of “Never Have I Ever”. Never have we ever been so jealous of a game of “Never Have I Ever”.
#5: Barack Obama
Now this will be hard to top. President Obama and Ellen have shared plenty of incredible moments together. From Obama presenting DeGeneres with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, to the latter’s heartfelt tribute to the Obama family on Barack’s final day in office, there have truly been no shortage of heartwarming moments between the two. However, for this list, we’re going with Obama’s second appearance on the show, which occurred in the lead up to the 2008 election. The then Senator Obama danced, boxed and spoke candidly about his potential to become the first African-American president. A friendship is a difficult thing to fake and it’s clear that DeGeneres and Obama are thick as thieves.
#4: Cardi B
Cardi B’s first and to date only appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” was a doozy. While Ellen was initially confused on how to address the Grammy winning rapper, seeing as how she goes by a multitude of names, the two soon found their rhythm, particularly when discussing Cardi B’s epic “Saturday Night Live” performance. After all, it was during a rendition of her song “Be Careful” that she first revealed to the world that she was pregnant. Later, with a little help from Ellen, Cardi even illustrates how she got pregnant in the first place. Cover your eyes kids. Cardi B brings the laughs wherever she goes, and this “Ellen” interview was no exception.
#3: Kanye West
This interview was memorable for a number of reasons. First and foremost: it’s Kanye-freakin’-West. Second, he was witty, charming and surprisingly funny…at first. Soon the spot became a showcase for Kanye’s rambling, incoherent rant about helping the world with his multitude of ideas – everything from Mark Zuckerberg and his ability to “see sounds”, to the Oscars and Pablo Picasso. There are times in the interview when you could cut the tension in the room with a knife and others where the crowd is simply trying to match Kanye’s overabundance of energy by clapping enthusiastically. Even Ellen seems confused and that’s not an easy thing to pull off.
#2: Taylor Swift
T-Swiz has been on “Ellen” so many times we’ve lost count. Thankfully, Swift’s 2019 appearance came complete with a montage of her greatest hits. These include being scared by Ellen so bad that she fell down; performing a skit about a crazy cat lady talk show; and performing with DeGeneres in front of thousands of screaming fans. The two have a fantastic relationship, which often means DeGeneres can coax information out of the superstar singer in a way that other hosts can only dream of. Swift always gets candid when she’s on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions: Steve Carell Khloé Kardashian Jennifer Lawrence Ryan Gosling Melissa McCarthy
#1: Kristen Bell
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With upwards of 28 million YouTube views and counting, Kristen Bell’s infamous sloth meltdown is far and away one of the show’s most memorable interviews. Kristen Bell loves sloths. Like, really loves them. So much so, that when her then fiancé Dax Shepard brought a sloth home for her birthday, she completely lost her marbles. Before even seeing the creature, Bell broke down in tears, sobbing uncontrollably in happiness. Watching her recount the story is a sight to behold, topped only by the footage of her panic attack, that she brought along for the crowd’s enjoyment. The best part? Watching Bell almost lose it when Ellen pretends to bring out a sloth of her own. Priceless.
