Willie Geist's daughter thriving in college has turned her family's anxiety into calm

Willie - who cried when he hugged Lucie before she left - told People: "She's good.

"It's funny - the anticipation I found of her leaving was much worse than the actual act of her leaving. She's so happy at school, and she loves it so much that if she's happy, my wife and I are happy."

He noted that Lucie performing well as a college student "kind of relieves all that anxiety".

Willie, 50, added: "It's obviously a huge step in our lives and in her life, but we're so happy for her that all that anxious energy and tension that was building over the summer, and what's it going to be like when she leaves, [has had a positive ending].

"It was sad to say goodbye, but the minute she went, she was thrilled and happy. So we're good."

Lucie - who graduated from St. Luke's School in New Canaan, Connecticut, last year - joins other students with celebrity parents at Vanderbilt University.

This includes actress Gwyneth Paltrow, 53, and her 48-year-old ex-husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin's daughter, Apple, 21, ABC Good Morning America anchor George Stephanopoulos, 64, and his 61-year-old wife, actress-and-comedienne Ali Wentworth's 20-year-old daughter Harper.

Also, Good Morning America journalist Lara Spencer, 56, and her 58-year-old ex-spouse, journalist David Haffenreffer's daughter, Katharine, 22, also attends the college.

Last June, Willie - who also has a 16-year-old son called George with his high school sweetheart, writer Christina - shared how he felt about Lucie going to college.

The broadcaster - who has been married to Christina since 2003 - told journalist Jenna Bush Hager, 44, when they co-hosted Today with Jenna + Friends: "As any parent who has been through this - or maybe you're going through it right now - knows, the excitement at times becomes terror."

In August 2025, Christina shared the moment she and Willie said goodbye to Lucie as she was dropped off at Vanderbilt University.

In an Instagram post, Christina penned: "As we walked away from campus and flew back home, we were proud, we were emotional, we were, of course, weepy. But, I just can't call it sadness. I was honestly so surprised at myself. It was - I guess I'd call it - peace."

And a month later, Willie updated Jenna on how he felt when he dropped off Lucie at college.

Appearing on Today with Jenna + Friends, he said: "[It went] much better than we thought it would.

"And the reason it's gone much better than we thought it would - of course, it was sad in the moment when we said goodbye, but because she is so happy and we realised she is so ready.

"And you realise all that you've poured into this person for 18 years is now paying off, and she can handle herself. And she's happy, and she's good."