Amanda Kloots Gets Candid In Tearful Tribute To Charlie Kirk’s Widow Erika

Amanda Kloots is opening up about moving forward after tragedy in an emotional new interview. The 42-year-old fitness entrepreneur and former "The Talk" co-host reflected on the loss of her husband, Broadway star Nick Cordero, while offering heartfelt advice to another grieving widow, Erika Kirk, the wife of the late Charlie Kirk. Kirk was tragically shot and killed while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.

Through tears, Kloots shared an emotional message for Erika, who recently lost her husband. “My late mother-in-law told me when Nick was in the hospital, Elvis will save you," she said on the recent episode of the "We’re Out of Time" podcast with host Richard Taite. "His smile every day will make you want to get up and live. And it’s true. That’s what I would tell her, 'Your kids, like you, have a purpose.'” Fighting back tears, Kloots admitted, “Sorry, I’m a mess today, but it’s okay… It’s just a tough day.”

Host Richard Taite reassured her, praising her strength as a mother and saying Nick would be “very, very proud” of the way she has honored his memory.

Kloots has also become a strong advocate for reshaping how society views widows. On the podcast, she explained why she now takes grieving spouses on what she calls “widow walks,” to help them connect and heal. “I hate the word widow,” she explained. “It comes from a Greek word meaning sad and lonely, but every widow I meet is strong and resilient. So I changed it to the word renovar, which means powering forward.”

She added that meeting new widows and offering them community has become a key part of her healing. “You gotta help each other,” she said, revealing she was meeting a newly widowed woman the very next day.

The "Live Your Life" author also got real about what it’s like to date after losing a spouse, admitting that it takes “extremely self-secure” partners to step into that dynamic. “When you love somebody the way you loved this man, it’s intimidating to other men,” she said. “Whoever dates us has to be thick-skinned and self-assured. It’s weird, it’s hard, but they have to step up.”

The podcast episode was taped on what would have been Nick Cordero’s birthday, making the conversation especially raw. “It’s an emotional day because it’s his birthday today, so I’m having a tough one,” Kloots admitted. She reflected on resilience as a lesson from both Broadway and her personal life, “You just have to keep going. Nick forces me to keep moving forward. I always think about hi. He would want me to continue living my life.”

Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while speaking at a Turning Point USA event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The bullet struck his neck, and despite being rushed to Timpanogos Regional Hospital, he was pronounced dead. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson, was arrested after a 33-hour manhunt and faces aggravated murder charges.

Just eight days after the tragedy, Turning Point USA’s board unanimously installed Erika Kirk, 36, as its new CEO and chair, entrusting her with the organization her late husband co-founded in 2012.

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Turning Point USA has reported an unprecedented surge of interest from students nationwide. According to the organization, tens of thousands of young people have reached out to either launch new chapters or join existing ones on campuses across the country.

Erika Kirk, stepping into her late husband’s role just days after his death, described the momentum as a continuation of his legacy. Speaking at an emotional gathering two days after the shooting, she declared:

“If you thought my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea what you just have unleashed across this entire country, and this world. The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.”

As Erika Kirk steps into her late husband’s shoes, she faces the dual challenge of raising two young children while leading one of the most influential conservative youth movements in America.

To hear more from Kloots, listen to the “We’re Out of Time” on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.