Carrie Ann Inaba Officially Replaces Julie Chen on 'The Talk'

Antoinette Bueno‍ of Entertainment Tonight wrote:

Carrie Ann Inaba is The Talk's newest co-host!

The announcement was made official on Wednesday, when The Talk hosts Sharon Osbourne, Sara Gilbert, Sheryl Underwood and Eve welcomed the 50-year-old Dancing With The Stars judge to the CBS daytime talk show. Inaba is replacing former host Julie Chen, who left the show in September following her husband, Les Moonves', exit from CBS, due to multiple women going public with sexual misconduct allegations against him. Moonves has denied the allegations.

Inaba walked out to Pink's "Raise Your Glass" on Wednesday's show as the audience cheered.

"I'm so excited," Inaba said with a huge smile on her face. "I've been backstage saying to myself, 'Oh my God, is this real?'"

"I feel so fortunate to be able to sit at the table, to be sitting with such beautiful, intelligent  ...dynamic women ... and I look forward to having more deep conversations," she continued.

It's #2019 let's raise a toast to @carrieanninaba our brand, new host!! #TheTalk pic.twitter.com/GK7xnHZDAZ

— The Talk (@TheTalkCBS) January 2, 2019

Osbourne later praised Inaba after a montage of her on the show was aired.

"You have been so open about personal things and just everything that goes on in the world," Osbourne said. "You're fearless and I love that about you."

"The last two months have been really tough on us but you have pulled us together and I love you for that," she added.

Meanwhile, Eve echoed, "It feels amazingly right and it's been so nice to get to know you."

News actually broke last month that Inaba was replacing Chen, who had been routinely filling in for the Big Brother host since her departure. Chen herself made it no secret that she wanted Inaba to make the high-profile gig permanent, giving the dancer a shout-out during her emotional video announcing she was leaving The Talk that aired in September.

“You’d look awful good sitting in that chair, my Asian sister," Chen said. "I’m just saying.”

For more on Chen's emotional departure from The Talk, watch the video below: