Rick Springfield jokes with host who yawned mid-interview

Rick joined the Today Show for an interview

On July 10, 2025, Rick Springfield appeared on the Today Show’s third hour. He sat down with Al Roker, Craig Melvin, and Jill Martin. Rick was there to promote the I Want My ’80s tour that started on May 28 with John Waite, Wang Chung, Paul Young, and John Cafferty.

During the live interview, Al asked Rick if he ever thought Jessie’s Girl would stay popular for over 40 years. Rick said the song took on a life of its own. Then something unexpected happened while Rick was answering the question on air.

Rick stops mid-answer at Melvin’s yawn

As Rick was speaking, he saw Craig Melvin yawn next to him on the couch. Rick paused mid-answer, smiled, and reached over to shake Craig’s leg. He asked, “Am I boring you?” which made Al and Jill laugh during the live segment on air.

Craig laughed too and quickly said no and apologized. Rick didn’t get upset and replied that it was early and said he’d yawn too. Right after that, Craig started coughing, and Rick continued the interview as the rest of the segment moved on.

Rick shares a group photo after the show

After the interview, Rick posted a picture with the three Today Show hosts. He added a caption that said, “Had a fun time with the gang at @todayshow this morning.” The post showed them all smiling in the Today studio after the segment.

The interview included Rick’s memories of the 1980s and his excitement about touring with artists from that time. The mood on the set remained light. Rick kept things relaxed after the yawn moment and continued promoting his tour and answering questions on live TV.

I Want My ’80s Tour

Rick said he was a fan of all four other artists on the tour. He remembered being part of the same music scene in the 1980s. He talked about how things have changed from then to now while touring across the country this summer.

Rick said instead of partying backstage, they now enjoy proper sleep and good meals. He said he still enjoys being around the other acts. The I Want My ’80s tour featured five artists, with Rick Springfield headlining.

Rick was Dr Noah Drake in 1981

Rick became famous not only for music but also for playing Dr Noah Drake on General Hospital. He started the role in 1981 while releasing his fifth studio album, Working Class Dog. That album included Jessie’s Girl, which became a number-one hit.

He later acted in TV shows like Supernatural and Hot in Cleveland and starred in the series High Tide from 1994 to 1997. He also appeared in the film Hard to Hold and guest-starred in American Horror Story and Ricki and the Flash.

The identity of Jessie’s Girl is unknown

During his Today Show appearance, Rick said the real Jessie’s Girl was still unknown. He said he never knew the girl’s name, even though the song was based on a true experience. Fans have asked about her identity for over four decades.

Jessie’s Girl won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1982. It appeared on the album Working Class Dog, which was released in 1981. The song remains Rick’s most recognized hit and continues to be played across radio stations and shows.

Craig kisses dinosaur Dolores

On June 25, 2025, Craig Melvin had another awkward Today Show moment. Scarlett Johansson appeared on the show to promote the new Jurassic World film. She brought a baby dinosaur named Dolores to the set. Dolores was an animatronic creature carried by a handler.

Craig looked uncomfortable and didn’t want to pet Dolores. Scarlett said Dolores was just a baby. Craig replied by saying, “No, she’s not.” Al Roker and Scarlett then asked Craig to kiss Dolores while the cameras rolled live in the Today Show studio.

Craig warns camera during dino segment

Before he kissed Dolores, Craig warned the handler not to make it a meme. He struggled to find the right angle to kiss the dinosaur and hovered above its head. He said, “Don’t you bite me,” before finally kissing the top of Dolores’ head.

Scarlett called Dolores a morning person. Craig returned to his seat after the awkward kiss and continued the segment. The moment was later shared online and discussed as one of the most uncomfortable videos from the Today Show during that week.

Craig fixes Mistake About His Son

On June 13, 2025, Craig corrected Al Roker during a Today Show episode. Al accidentally called Craig’s son Delano by the name Dylan. Dylan Dreyer was not in the studio that day and had been temporarily replaced by guest host Laura Jarrett.

Craig told Al that Dylan doesn’t live at his house. He then talked about Delano’s recent move-up ceremony. Delano finished elementary school and will start sixth grade. A video of the ceremony was played while Craig spoke about his son growing up.

Rick talks about his fall in Las Vegas

On July 10, 2025, Rick said he had suffered a serious fall 25 years ago. The accident happened during a concert in Las Vegas in 2000. He was performing a stunt using a gravity-fed harness that was supposed to lift him above the stage.

The harness wasn’t tied off, so Rick fell 25 feet. He hit the steel stage. Then the beam hit his head, and his head hit the stage again. At the time, doctors believed he had only broken his wrist and cleared him to continue.

Brain injury confirmed 25 years later

Rick said he only learned about the brain injury in 2025. He went in for a full-body MRI scan that revealed scarring and brain damage from the fall in Las Vegas. He shared the discovery during his July 10 Today Show interview segment.

He said he felt nervous about what the doctors might find before the scan. The brain injury had gone undetected since 2000. He is now being monitored by doctors. The fall occurred during a live performance that involved a failed mid-show stage stunt.

Rick shares his father’s medical story

Rick said his father avoided seeing doctors for years. His father believed he had stomach cancer, but he never got checked. One day, he collapsed at home. Doctors later discovered it was a burst ulcer that caused him to die from blood loss.

Rick said the ulcer could have been treated if his father had gone to a doctor sooner. He said that experience taught him to get medical help even when the news might be bad. He shared this story during interviews in 2025.

Rick follows workout and diet plan

Rick said he exercises daily and considers each concert a two-hour aerobic workout. He said he works out regularly at Planet Fitness. He added that he stays active as part of his routine while preparing for his upcoming tour and other events.

He said he mostly eats a pescatarian diet. He said he sometimes eats meat when he feels weak. He also said he’s focused on foods that reduce inflammation. Rick shared this information about his health habits and daily routine in mid-2025 interviews.

Rick has reduced drinking since 2023

Rick said he started drinking less in 2023. He said he used to drink more but over time it became natural to stop. He said he now drinks a little vodka only while performing on stage and avoids drinking at other times.

He said this change was part of taking better care of his health. Rick shared this in a 2025 interview. He explained that cutting back on alcohol was one of several adjustments he made to support his body and brain during touring.

Rick talks about trying ketamine

Rick said he experimented with ketamine as a treatment for depression. He said it made him feel heavy and machine-like and didn’t improve how he felt. He called it a creative experiment that didn’t work and said he didn’t continue using it.

He also said he tried LSD again after many years and found it more helpful. He said he is not against anything that might make him feel better. He shared this experience openly while discussing mental health during an interview earlier in 2025.

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Jeopardy featured Rick on May 8

On May 8, 2025, Rick was featured in a Jeopardy clue. The question asked which medical drama had Rick playing Dr Noah Drake. Jeopardy posted the clue on its Instagram page. General Hospital’s official account also shared the post that same day.

Fans commented quickly with the correct answer, General Hospital. The clue noted the show had aired more than 15000 episodes. Rick first played the role in 1981 while launching his music career. The show continues to feature trivia questions about past TV stars.

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Rick caught the yawn. Did you catch the moment? Drop your thoughts below!

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.