Hilarie Burton Is Totally Cool With Moms Crushing on Jeffrey Dean Morgan
The One Tree Hill alum is loving her husband’s new reality TV glow-up—and all the thirsty school mom attention that comes with it.
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July 5 EST: Some celebrities dodge the thirst. Others own it. And then there’s Hilarie Burton, who’s practically handing out cold water bottles to the PTA.
In a hilariously honest chat with PEOPLE, the One Tree Hill alum made it crystal clear: she’s fully aware that her husband, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, is now that dad at school—the one all the moms are not-so-subtly crushing on.
“I thoroughly enjoy all the moms at school having a crush on him,” Burton said, as if narrating the most delicious subplot on Big Little Lies. “They should. He’s great.”
From Negan to Nice Guy
Morgan’s new role as the host of NBC’s Destination X has clearly hit different. The show—part travel challenge, part guessing game, part “why is there a dark bus?”—dropped in May, and with it came a new side of Morgan that most folks hadn’t seen since his Grey’s Anatomy heartthrob days.
Gone is the barbed-wire brutality of Negan. In its place? Dad jokes, tactical jackets, and a surprising amount of eye twinkle.
Morgan wasn’t sure about the gig at first. “I am not like a typical host,” he said. “I’m a bit on the crass side.” Translation: not exactly Ryan Seacrest vibes.
But Burton gave him the gentle push only a partner of 15+ years can pull off. Her pitch? “You’re not getting any younger.” Which, honestly, might be the most loving, backhanded pep talk in recent memory.
Thirsty Texts and Schoolyard Swoon
It didn’t take long for Burton to start getting DMs and texts from old friends—though the messages weren’t about her.
“It’s like, ‘Hey, my wife loves your husband,’ or, ‘My mom can’t stop watching the show,’” she said, clearly entertained.
For the record, Hilarie’s not just okay with it—she’s cheering it on from the sidelines.
It’s a vibe that fans get. Morgan, long tucked into the “hot but haunted” corner of the TV bad boy shelf, is finally getting to show off his less doom-heavy side. And it turns out, people really, really like charming Jeffrey.
Grief, Cameos, and Real-Life Feels
The Morgan-Burton household isn’t all popcorn and prime time, though. Just days after Morgan’s father passed, Burton stepped back into the Walking Dead universe to play Lucille—Negan’s late wife—in Dead City.
The episode, shot while both were still grieving, added emotional depth to their already-complex on-screen dynamic. “There’s a pain there that’s not acting,” Burton said. And fans noticed.
The couple’s ability to toggle between undead drama and dark-bus hosting gigs while parenting two kids and fielding playground crushes? That’s the real multiverse of madness.
Still Messy, Still Married, Still Fun
Burton’s appeal has always been her no-BS warmth. She and Morgan never try to sell perfection. Instead, they lean into the weirdness of fame, grief, love, and having your kid’s school friends ask for selfies.
And if Morgan’s latest turn as “sexy host guy” adds a little sparkle to the school pickup line? That’s just bonus content.
Destination X airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on NBC. Still no official word on Dead City Season 3, but the fandom has its bat ready.
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