While the world knows Shae Cornette as the confident new host steering the lively debates on ESPN’s “First Take,” her most cherished role is the one she plays off-screen. Away from the cameras and the spotlight, Shae’s life is a whirlwind of family, a story that began with a friendship in Chicago and blossomed into a cross-country adventure filled with love, kids, and a puppy named Kobe.
The real-life love story of Shae and her husband, Jordan Cornette, is a modern romance that started not with a single dramatic moment, but from a foundation of friendship. The couple first met while working together in the Chicago media scene. As Shae recalls, they were close friends for years before they ever went on a date, a solid foundation that made their relationship move quickly and naturally. Jordan echoes this, noting that their strong friendship “morphed into a relationship,” and that to this day, Shae is truly his best friend.
Their journey took a dramatic turn just a month before their wedding in June 2019, when Jordan was offered a job with ESPN in Connecticut while he was on his bachelor party. This meant their first few months of marriage were a challenge of long-distance and new beginnings, navigating a new chapter from different states before Shae eventually joined him on the East Coast.
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A Growing Family in Connecticut
Today, the Cornette household is a lively and loving hub. Jordan and Shae Cornette are the proud parents of three children, whose names and personalities fill their home with joy. Their oldest is Carter, Jordan’s son from a previous relationship. Carter is a teenager and a state champion swimmer who lives in Florida but remains an integral part of the family. Jordan speaks with immense pride about the young man Carter is becoming, calling him an impressive kid and a patient, loving big brother to his younger siblings.
The couple’s first child together is their son, Joey Jackson Cornette, who was born in April 2021. Named after Jordan’s late brother, Joel, little Joey is described as a character with a loving soul and a big personality. Jordan loves watching his son discover the world with unrelenting curiosity, and a simple sprinkled donut is all it takes to bring him pure joy.
Completing the family is their youngest daughter, Saylor, whom they affectionately call “Say Say.” Jordan sees his daughter as a “little warrior princess” who is equal parts determined, stubborn, and strong, already able to hold her own with her big brother. And of course, no modern household is complete without a furry member; the Cornettes have an English Cream Golden Retriever puppy named Kobe, who was born the day the legendary Kobe Bryant died.
Building a Life They Love
The Cornettes have wholeheartedly embraced their life in Connecticut, finding joy in both the big moments and the small, daily routines. When they first moved, the pandemic unexpectedly gave them time to explore their new community on walks, where they forged the first bonds of friendship. Now, their life is filled with local rituals. After dropping Joey at school in Westport, a stop at The Granola Bar for breakfast or coffee is a must. They love the restaurants, the shopping, and the beach, which Shae Cornette calls a “game changer” after living in a city.
While they miss their extended family in the Midwest, they have built a supportive circle of friends in Connecticut who have been part of their biggest life moments, including the births of their children. From getting smoothies at GG & Joe to taking Saylor to music class in Westport or enjoying a pizza night at Sophie’s Pizza Bar in Fairfield, the Cornettes have woven themselves into the fabric of their community.
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For Jordan and Shae Cornette, life is a beautiful, busy blend of dream jobs and dirty diapers, of professional debates and toddler negotiations. It’s a magnificent adventure they are building together, one filled with more love—and more walks—than they could have ever imagined.
