In the high-stakes world of morning television, where Carson Daly has anchored millions through the ups and downs of “The Today Show” and “The Voice,” his personal life has always been a beacon of relatable charm. But on a crisp April evening in 2024, amid the cosmic spectacle of a solar eclipse at New York’s American Museum of Natural History, Daly dropped a revelation that turned heads and sparked endless debates: he and his wife, Siri Pinter, have been practicing a “sleep divorce” for years. This unconventional arrangement—sleeping in separate beds several nights a week—started as a desperate bid to survive sleepless nights but evolved into the secret sauce that’s kept their marriage thriving for nearly a decade. As Daly put it with his signature wry humor, “The object is to stay together… by any means necessary.”

The roots of this twist trace back to 2019, a whirlwind year for the couple. Siri, a talented food blogger and cookbook author, was in the grueling third trimester of her pregnancy with their fourth child, daughter Goldie Patricia. Carson, battling sleep apnea that turned his nights into a symphony of snores and CPAP machine whirs, found their shared queen-sized bed—downgraded during a chaotic home renovation—more like a battlefield than a sanctuary. “We’re both pretty good-sized humans,” Daly quipped in a candid chat, recalling the kicks, tosses, and mutual exhaustion that left them both zombies by dawn. One fateful morning, after yet another night of interrupted rest, they shook hands in a lighthearted pact: “I love you, but it’s time to sleep divorce.” What began as a temporary fix quickly became a game-changer.

Fast-forward to today, and the Dalys—parents to Jackson (now 15), Etta (11), London (9), and Goldie (3)—swear by it. Carson’s punishing schedule, commuting between New York for early “Today” calls at 3 a.m. and Los Angeles for “The Voice,” amplified the need. Separate rooms meant undisturbed sleep for Siri and the kids, while Carson could crash without fear of waking the household. But the real magic? It supercharged their connection. “We both secretly love it,” Daly confessed, emphasizing how ditching bedtime battles fostered deeper daytime intimacy. No more resentment over stolen sheets or clashing routines—one prefers the TV glow, the other quiet reading. Instead, they part with a simple “Goodnight, I’ll see you tomorrow,” eliminating the low-level friction that erodes so many relationships.

This isn’t just a celebrity quirk; it’s a growing trend backed by sleep science. Experts like Wendy M. Troxel, a behavioral scientist at RAND Corporation, champion “sleep divorce” as a proactive strategy for long-term marital health. Poor sleep doesn’t just fog the mind—it fuels irritability, weakens communication, and heightens conflict. Studies show couples who prioritize rest report higher satisfaction, with one survey revealing a third of Americans occasionally opt for solo slumber. Celebrities like Cameron Diaz have echoed the call to “normalize” separate bedrooms, arguing it preserves passion by ensuring partners show up refreshed and affectionate.

For the Dalys, the post-lights-out surprise was profound: mornings brimming with energy for family breakfasts, heartfelt talks, and playful affection that felt renewed, not routine. “It takes a lot of attention out, and it works,” Carson says, highly recommending it to anyone navigating similar storms. Fans, initially stunned by the headline-grabbing admission, flooded social media with support, sharing their own stories of unconventional fixes that fortified love amid life’s chaos—pregnancy woes, health hurdles, or just the grind of parenting four under one roof.

As Daly reflects on their journey, it’s clear this “divorce” was the ultimate commitment: choosing rest to reignite romance. In a culture obsessed with fairy-tale togetherness, the Dalys prove that true partnership bends without breaking. Their story isn’t about drifting apart—it’s a testament to how a radical reset can weave couples closer, one peaceful night at a time. Who knew the path to forever started with saying goodnight from afar?