Carson Kressley Says He Nearly Landed Role Taken by Stanley Tucci
Emmy-winning TV personality and fashion expert Carson Kressley told TODAY hosts Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones that he nearly secured the part that ultimately went to Stanley Tucci in The Devil Wears Prada, a revelation he made during a wide-ranging interview on Feb. 25, 2026. The disclosure landed alongside Kressley’s comments on current reality-TV drama, a celebration of a long-running franchise milestone, and the announcement of a home-furnishings collaboration tied to his equestrian background.
Carson Kressley’s disclosure to Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones
Kressley sat down with TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones for what the conversation is described as a wide-ranging interview on Feb. 25, 2026. In that discussion he revealed that he nearly played a role in The Devil Wears Prada that later went to Stanley Tucci, framing the anecdote as a notable near-miss in his acting trajectory. The exchange occurred alongside talk of other topics that Kressley tied to his professional identity as an Emmy-winning TV personality and fashion expert.
What Carson Kressley said about Stanley Tucci and The Devil Wears Prada
Kressley’s account centered on an almost-casting: he said he almost secured the part that became Stanley Tucci’s in the film. He presented the story as a personal career moment while also using it to reflect on the unpredictable turns of an entertainment career. What makes this notable is that he placed the anecdote in the same session where he discussed contemporary television developments, showing how a single interview can connect past career choices with present cultural conversations.
Comments on Queer Eye’s final season drama
During the same interview, Kressley weighed in on the drama surrounding Queer Eye in its final season. He addressed the subject directly in the wide-ranging conversation, linking the show’s current controversies to broader questions about long-running reality programming. Because Queer Eye is in its final season, Kressley’s observations underscored how cast and production controversies can shape audience perception as a series concludes.
RuPaul’s Drag Race reaching its 18th season
Kressley also celebrated the 18th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, highlighting the longevity of the franchise. He marked the milestone as part of the interview’s mix of topics, placing it alongside reflections about contemporary television culture and his own past roles. The numeric milestone — the 18th season — was presented as evidence of the series’ enduring presence within the reality-television landscape.
Ballard Designs collaboration inspired by Kressley’s equestrian career
Completing the slate of announcements, Kressley revealed he is releasing a new line with Ballard Designs that he said is inspired by his own accomplished career as an equestrian. The collaboration links a personal hobby and professional identity: Kressley framed the Ballard Designs line as drawing directly on his equestrian experience. The timing of the product reveal in the same Feb. 25, 2026 interview highlights how lifestyle projects and media commentary are often announced in tandem.
Across the interview’s topics — from a near-miss casting that involved Stanley Tucci to commentary on Queer Eye, a salute to RuPaul’s Drag Race’s 18th season, and the Ballard Designs partnership grounded in Kressley’s equestrian background — the conversation mapped several threads of Kressley’s public life. He linked past opportunities and current projects in a single conversation with TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones, demonstrating how personal history, television culture, and commerce intersect in an entertainer’s public moments.
