> At a Glance
> – Neither Ellie nor Carrie Monahan pursued broadcasting; Ellie writes TV scripts, Carrie produces.
> – Both daughters are now adults-Ellie, 34, welcomed baby Jay in March 2024; Carrie, 30, works in Brooklyn.
> – Couric raised them to grasp the scrutiny of fame, once warning: “If you rob a 7-11… you’ll be on the cover of National Enquirer.
> – Why it matters: Shows how a famous parent steered kids toward creative, low-profile careers while sharing hard-won lessons.
Katie Couric’s daughters never chased the spotlight she commanded. Instead, Ellie and Carrie Monahan built lives behind the camera, guided by their mother’s mix of candor and caution about public life.
Growing Up Couric
Ellie arrived in 1991, Carrie in 1996, during Couric’s first marriage to Jay Monahan, who died of colon cancer at 42. Couric later wed John Molner in 2014.
- Told her girls fame magnifies mistakes.
- Praised them in 2012 as “incredibly nice girls with good values.”
Creative Paths
Ellie, Yale graduate and Los Angeles screenwriter, counts Mr. Robot and The Boys among credits. She wed Mark Dobrosky on July 4, 2021, wearing her late father’s ring. Baby John Albert “Jay” arrived March 23, 2024.
Carrie, Stanford honors grad and Columbia journalism master’s, produces at RadicalMedia since October 2023 and lives in Brooklyn.
Together they host the podcast All Each Other Has, exploring camp memories and life adjacent to celebrity.
Lessons Shared
Couric’s 2019 advice: “Listen, if you rob a 7-11… you’re gonna be on the cover of National Enquirer.” She balanced praise-adding “you’re so smart” whenever she said “you look pretty”-and wrote memoir Going There as a “gift” of wisdom.
Key Takeaways
- Ellie writes TV hits and became a mom in 2024, honoring her late father’s name.
- Carrie produces documentaries and remains close to her sister, singing at Ellie’s wedding.
- Couric’s parenting blended fame warnings with confidence-building, shaping two off-camera creatives.
The Monahan sisters prove you can thrive outside the family spotlight while carrying forward its hard-earned insights.
