Kelly Ripa wondered where she went wrong when her youngest son, Joaquin, revealed his career plans.
The 55-year-old joked that she and her husband, Mark Consuelos, "failed as parents" when the 23-year-old first told them he wanted to attend drama school.
"To get any job was, like, inconceivable to us," Kelly said on Monday's episode of Live with Kelly and Mark. "I mean, we were just like, 'You're going to have to get a job."
Joaquin, who graduated from the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance in May 2025, has since proven them wrong as he is now starring in Joe Mantello's revival of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.
"And then he books a Broadway show, and it was just, like, remarkable for us to watch," she added, with Mark, 55, noting that it was "pretty wild" to see Joaquin on stage for opening night on April 9.
Joaquin is playing Young Biff in the iconic play, starring alongside Tony Award winners Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf.
The logline for the play reads: "One man and his family are caught up in the pressures and delusions of living the American Dream. Miller's play is the story of a traveling salesman whose illusions of picture-perfect business and family life cave in on him."
© Getty ImagesThe drama was written in 1949 and opened on Broadway that same year, instantly becoming a hit, winning a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award for Best Play. It has since been revived five times on the Broadway stage.
Kelly and Mark are incredibly proud of their son's accomplishment and joined in the celebrations after opening night; however, they were both given "strict parameters" to follow at the afterparty.
© Getty Images"Just be cool," was Joaquin's warning to them, Kelly joked. "We were so cool! I thought we were pretty cool," she added, admitting they left Joaquin "mostly alone" for the night.
"I mean, I did hug him, and I was like, 'I'm so proud of you. Congratulations,'" she continued. "He was like, 'All right. OK.' Meanwhile, everybody else was allowed to hug him and tell him how proud they were all night, and that was fine."
Joaquin's proud parents have been vocal about their admiration, with Kelly previously describing the experience of seeing him perform as "unbelievable."
© InstagramMark was equally emotional after attending an early preview of the show. Encouraged by his own Broadway co-stars not to miss the moment, he made sure to be there for Joaquin's first performance.
"There’s only one first time," he recalled being told – advice he clearly took to heart.
© Getty Images"He’s amazing. He did such a good job," Mark said, revealing he watched the entire three-hour performance without looking away. "I was watching him with a smile on my face – and I cried."
Kelly, meanwhile, honoured her son's wishes by skipping the first preview after he asked her to wait until opening night – a request she respected, despite her excitement.
