Will Arnett Believes His Ex-Wife Amy Poehler Has a Shot at Winning Best Podcast at the 2026 Golden Globes

Will Arnett, Amy Poehler.
Credit :

Brianna Bryson/WireImage; Good Hang With Amy Poehler/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

• Will Arnett has expressed that he believes ex-wife Amy Poehler could outshine him at the 2026 Golden Globes.
• Both hosts are nominated in the inaugural Best Podcast category.
• The 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards will be aired on CBS and available for streaming on Paramount+ on Sunday, January 11, at 8 p.m. EST.

In an exclusive interview, Will Arnett stated that he thinks his ex-wife, Amy Poehler, could outperform him at the upcoming Golden Globes.

Arnett, 55, and Poehler, 54, are both contenders in the inaugural Best Podcast category for their respective programs, SmartLess and Good Hang.

During a conversation with PEOPLE, alongside his Is This Thing On co-star Laura Dern, Arnett hinted that he believes Poehler might take home the award.

When asked about an acceptance speech, Arnett joked about letting his co-host Sean Hayes handle the speech writing. When Dern teased that Hayes has “actually written all the speeches for all the nominees,” Arnett hinted that he feels his ex-wife could be the chosen one.

“Yeah. He’s written Amy’s acceptance speech already,” the Arrested Development star remarked.

Will Arnett (left) and Amy Poehler (right) in October 2004.

James Devaney/WireImage

Arnett and Poehler’s journey began in the 1990s when they first met during an improv performance in New York. Their romantic relationship blossomed in 2000, after being reintroduced by mutual friends.

The couple married in 2003 and welcomed two sons, Archie in 2008 and Abel in 2010. However, they decided to part ways after nine years of marriage, finalizing their divorce in 2016.

Amy Poehler and Will Arnett at The Comedy Awards in NYC on April 28, 2012.

Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic

Poehler reflected on their split in her 2014 memoir, Yes Please, where she admitted her reluctance to share too much, labeling it “too sad and too personal.” However, she noted, “I am proud of how my ex-husband, Will, and I have been taking care of our children; I am beyond grateful he is their father; and I don’t think a [nearly] ten-year marriage constitutes failure,” adding, “That being said, getting a divorce really sucks.”

In an April appearance on the 250th episode of SmartLess, Arnett expressed gratitude for having Poehler as a friend. “I’m really, really lucky to have her as a partner in this way. There aren’t many people I speak to more than I speak to her,” Arnett shared. “She’s the person I go to, like, ‘Hey, I’m thinking about doing this.’ Whether it’s life or work, I really seek her counsel because I trust her. She’s awesome.”

‘SmartLess’ cohosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett.

Emma McIntyre/Getty

While Arnett has been involved in podcasting since 2020, Poehler recently entered the field with the launch of Good Hang in March. This year’s Golden Globe contenders for Best Podcast also include Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Call Her Daddy, The Mel Robbins Podcast, and NPR’s Up First.

The 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards are set to be held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on January 11 at 8 p.m. EST, broadcast on CBS and available for streaming on Paramount+.