Biography of Billy Bush

When Pat O'Brien left the show to host the new television program, The Insider. Bush is known for his light-hearted sense of humor and on-air high jinks with celebrity interviewees. For example, Bush famously brought pizza backstage to the models (including Heidi Klum) at a Victoria's Secret fashion show; he presented Colin Farrell with a post-menopausal stripper for his birthday at the premiere of "Phone Booth"; he asked Penelope Cruz if she was able to spell her boyfriend Matthew McConaughey's last name (she could not); he asked Jennifer Lopez how she really feels about her butt; he asked Britney Spears whether Madonna or Colin Farrell was a better kisser; and he disguised himself as "Richard Broom" and faced Donald Trump at an audition for The Apprentice. However, his attitude has sometimes backfired. For example, he was criticized for beginning a live interview of Naomi Watts at the Academy Awards with "Watts up?"

Bush's "big gets" have sometimes been overlooked. Bush landed the first interview with Britney Spears's first husband, Jason Alexander in Kentwood, Louisiana after bringing a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich to his home as a gift. In March of 2005, Jennifer Aniston granted Bush her very first television interview after the breakup of her marriage to Brad Pitt at the Show West Awards in Las Vegas. In May, 2005, Bush was the first journalist to interview Tom Cruise as he promoted War of the Worlds. It was during that interview that Cruise first attacked Brooke Shields for her use of anti-depressants to combat post partum depression, setting off a firestorm of controversy.

Bush earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies and Government at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. He was captain of the college's mens' lacrosse team.

Bush hosted the radio morning show, Billy Bush and the Bush League Morning Show, on WWZZ-FM (Z104) in Washington, DC until 2001.

He now resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Sydney, and their three daughters, Josephine, Mary Bradley, and Lillie. He is the son of Josephine and Jonathan Bush.

Interestingly, Bush is the first cousin of the 43rd U.S. President, George W. Bush and the nephew of the 41st U.S. President, George H. W. Bush. In the summer of 2004, NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien parodied Michael Moore's controversial Fahrenheit 9/11 by doing a short skit on Bush. Moore himself appeared in it, saying, "I went after the wrong Bush."

As part of his Access Hollywood work, Bush was sent to the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece to do entertainment features.

More recently, Bush concluded his third appearance as co-host of the Miss Universe 2005 pageant in Bangkok, Thailand. He previously co-hosted the pageant in 2003 and 2004 alongside Daisy Fuentes and fellow Access Hollywood co-anchor Nancy O'Dell, respectively. He also hosted the Miss USA pageant in 2003, 2004, and 2005.