died in July 2020. “A lot of people have said to me, ‘It gets easier [and] time helps,’ and I don’t know if I found that yet. I still pretty much cry every day. It’s growing pains,” in April 2021. “[I’m] doing everything I possibly can to stay healthy and active and happy. And you know, grief is a process … Everybody does it differently.” Cordero, a Broadway veteran, is survived by wife Kloots and . You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in
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Apple News Cordero admitted to the hospital in March 2020 after experiencing . His case had several complications, including a mini-stroke, blood clots and a leg amputation. He died on July 5, 2020, at age 41. Keep scrolling to see all the different ways that Kloots has honored the
Actor after his death: Courtesy Nick Cordero/Instagram All the Ways Amanda Kloots Has Honored Her Late Husband Nick Cordero Since His Death died in July 2020. “A lot of people have said to me, ‘It gets easier [and] time helps,’ and I don’t know if I found that yet. I still pretty much cry every day. It’s growing pains," in April 2021. “[I’m] doing everything I possibly can to stay healthy and active and happy. And you know, grief is a process … Everybody does it differently.” Cordero, a Broadway veteran, is survived by wife Kloots and . Cordero admitted to the hospital in March 2020 after experiencing . His case had several complications, including a mini-stroke, blood clots and a leg amputation. He died on July 5, 2020, at age 41. Keep scrolling to see all the different ways that Kloots has honored the actor after his death: Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram She Started the ‘Wake Up Nick’ Singalong Trend While Cordero was lying unconscious in the hospital, the trainer yearned for him to wake up and open his eyes. To keep up her faith, she enlisted her community and
Friends for an hourlong “Wake Up Nick” dance party. Fans would dance along to his song “Live Your Life,” and share their best moves on
Instagram with the hashtag #WakeUpNick. Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram She Finished Writing His Song The late musician started to write a song about his father’s death titled, “Not Far Away,” before his health crisis. While Cordero was unable to complete the lyrics prior to getting sick, Kloots finished the track and even sang her new words in tandem with a recording the Broadway vet had started. In an post from September 2020, the single mom explained, “The process of writing, singing and recording ‘Not Far Away’ has been incredibly therapeutic for me. Listening to it [sic] has made me feel closer to him, giving me a lot of comfort these last few days.” Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock She Shared His
music After His Death The talk show host mentioned both on her Instagram and in her memoir, , that her late husband had . After his death, Kloots released an album of songs from one of his last live performances. The concert recording landed at the soon after debuting. Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram Her Fitness Class Proceeds Were Donated in His Name In December 2020, Kloots announced via that all of the proceeds from one of her upcoming AK! Body fitness classes would be donated to the Children’s Hospital in
Los Angeles in both Cordero’s honor and name. Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram A Ring From His Ashes Was Made The former Rockettes performer worked with jewelry designer Stephanie Gottlieb to make a unique ring with some of her late husband’s ashes. The designer previously worked with Cordero to design Kloots' engagement ring. The former professional dancer explained via that Gottlieb included a sapphire gemstone (Cordero’s birthstone) in the center of the ring and engraved the inside with his initials (NC). In her caption, Kloots revealed her plans to pass this ring onto their son, Elvis. Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram She Lived in the House He Helped Pick Out After Cordero's death, the former dancer renovated the Laurel Canyon home she and Cordero had purchased before he got sick. In an post from February 2021, Kloots revealed she could feel her late husband’s presence in the house he helped pick out. As of April 2021, Kloots expressed her desire to move from the Laurel Canyon property. According to , the talk show host revealed her intentions in an Instagram Story. She wrote, “Our house is amazing but very small. Elvis and I can’t stay there forever because of that. It was never a home we bought as a 'forever home' but I will never sell it!” reported that the single mom had purchased a new cottage in the same neighborhood. Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram Her Heartfelt Instagram Dedications Postmortem Grief can be difficult, and Kloots has been vocal and vulnerable about all of her emotions since losing her partner. Eleven months after Cordero died, she shared a heartfelt and emotional letter on . She wrote: “Never did I think this would be my last month with Nick. We were all fighting so hard, including Nick. His journey seemed so long and on going while it was happening. Looking back I realize how quickly everything happened and how he held on until he knew everyone he loved would be ok. I miss you more and more everyday baby. We all do ❤️.” Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram Her Book Was Written to Share His Story Kloots’ memoir, titled , came out in June 2021 to tell Cordero’s story and provide closure, she explained in an video. To celebrate the book launch, she organized a where more than 21,000 people virtually joined her and son Elvis at the last stage Cordero performed on at The Bourbon Room. Kloots even wore Cordero’s final costume, which was a giant angel. She wrote on Instagram, “Anna [Kloots, her sister] and I wrote this book so that Nick’s [sic] name would go down in history. Nick Cordero, thank you for being our angel.” Courtesy Amanda Kloots/Instagram She Went to His Broadway Tribute Kloots revealed in September 2021 that she is returning to the East Coast to see a tribute to her late husband. Cordero played Earl in the original Broadway cast of . The show was one of the first Broadway musicals to return amid the
Coronavirus pandemic. "BROADWAY IS BACK with a 'big ol slice of Live Your Life pie!!!'" Kloots shared via Instagram. "Heading to NYC for a very special opening night that will honor Nick!! Thank you to the whole @waitressmusical cast and crew for this special invite and tribute to the original Earl. I’m pretty confident that I will cry through the entire show but I can’t wait to be there ❤️❤️❤️" Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram Her Wedding Anniversary Tribute The cohost marked the four-year anniversary of her wedding to Cordero by sharing a throwback snippet from their nuptials. "Hey baby! Happy 4th wedding anniversary to us! Our wedding was one of the best days of my life and I'll never ever forget it," she captioned her September 2021 Instagram post. "I'll never forget our first look, our first kiss as husband and wife and our first dance. You'll always be my husband, my angel now, but always the love of my life. Here's to us ❤️." One day prior, she attended the premiere of her late husband's former Broadway show with close pal Zach Braff. Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram Honoring Her Late Husband's 43rd Birthday The Dancing With the Stars season 30 contestant shared a heartfelt tribute to her late spouse on what would have been his 43rd birthday in September 2021. “Happy 43rd birthday to you Nick,” the Live Your Life author a slideshow of images of the pair. “It’s really hard to not think about what we would be doing today to celebrate you. I’d probably take you for a really nice steak dinner and have some red velvet cake for dessert with Elvis! I hope you are up in heaven having a big party with your Dad and because I’m wishing the best for you, Prince. I’m hoping you’re singing with Prince today!!! Elvis and I will be missing you today as we sing to you from Earth. If you were here I know what you’d say… ‘I’m the luckiest man on the planet. I live a blessed life.’ I love you forever.” Courtesy of ABC 'DWTS' Tribute Kloots got noticeably emotional as she prepared to dance to Cordero’s "Live Your Life" during a November 2021 episode of . “Those packages are tough. I was sort of watching, sort of not watching. and I always have a ritual that we say a prayer before we dance,” Kloots told and other reporters after the episode aired. “I kind of just [tried] to take in the moment, to be honest. I felt so grateful and lucky to be able to do this dance tonight to Nick's song. I mean, it truly was an honor.” Courtesy Amanda Kloots/Instagram Learning to Live Again “This video of Nick and Elvis was taken exactly two years ago today,” the Talk cohost wrote via Instagram in January 2022. “It might be my favorite father/son moment I caught on camera. It used to make me too sad to watch, but now I watch it and smile.” She continued in her post: “I think the most important lesson we learn in losing life is how to live life. …Maybe it’s a stage of grief I’m passing through, I don’t know, but I’m in a phase of throwing caution to the wind! Don’t wait till tomorrow. Say YES. Be a little bit wild, or a lot wild! Be bold, take chances, go on the trip, do all the things I want to try even when I don’t know what I’m doing. Smile. Take control of my life. Create the life I want to live!!! CREATE the life I want to LIVE.” Courtesy of Harper Collins 'Live Your Life' Movie In March 2022, Kloots confirmed that the book she wrote in the wake of Cordero's death will be developed into a feature film. "How do you keep someone you've lost alive? You say their name, you tell their stories, you share their art and music!" she captioned an Instagram announcement, adding that she felt "very grateful" for the "opportunity to share this story in a new way." Courtesy Amanda Kloots/Instagram A Different Kind of Father's Day "Happy Father’s Day to my dad and the best grandpa I know, to Nick who dreamed of being a father and is now our angel, and to my brother the best dad and uncle I know!" Kloots wrote via Instagram in June 2022, sharing throwback photos of Cordero with the couple's son, Elvis. Instagram/Amanda Kloots Happy Birthday in Heaven "How I wish I could spoil you rotten today. Happy 44th Birthday Nick ❤️," Kloots captioned a slideshow for her late husband via in September 2022. She also donated all proceeds from her exercise class to in Cordero's name. Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram She Reflected on His Legacy on the 3rd Anniversary of His Death “Three years ago today Nick passed away. Though he’s not with us anymore I feel, and I know other people that knew him feel, that his spirit lives on in the biggest way. He made such an impact on everyone he met, especially those he loved,” Kloots wrote via Instagram in July 2023. “I was reminded by a dear friend that three years really isn’t a lot of time. I need to allow myself grace. Why is that so hard, allowing grace into our life? But he was right. Is right. I miss Nick more than anything in the entire world.” She added: “What I loved most is how he made me feel safe in his arms, and always loved. That’s a very special thing to gift to give someone. He was a special man with the biggest heart. I love you honey. Always.” Courtesy of Amanda Kloots/Instagram She Repurposed Her Engagement Ring Kloots revealed via Instagram in March 2024, that she enlisted jeweler to transform into a new heart-shaped sparkler. “The healing process is an ongoing journey with my stepping stones along the way,” Kloots wrote in a
Social Media message. “I waited awhile to do this one because I was so unsure about changing something so special. However, I didn’t want my ring to not be worn and it didn’t fit on another finger the way it was.” Kloot’s new design is a “more casual” ring that she can wear every day. In order to view the gallery, please allow