Long before Jimmy Fallon became the playful, family-loving host of The Tonight Show, he and wife Nancy Juvonen faced a deeply personal, emotionally exhausting journey to become parents. In interviews, Fallon has spoken candidly about the five years the couple spent trying to conceive, describing a period filled with hope, heartbreak, and countless doctor appointments. “Every month, you think, ‘Maybe this is it,’ and then it wasn’t,” Fallon told CBS News. “It’s like riding a roller coaster where the drops keep coming, and there’s nothing you can do to stop them.”

The couple explored multiple options, including fertility treatments, hormonal therapies, and consultations with specialists. Fallon admits there were moments of humor, which helped them cope, but the pressure weighed heavily. “I tried to make jokes in the middle of tears,” he said. “Nancy was incredible — calm, strong, and patient through everything. I was just trying to keep up and not freak out.” He has also revealed that certain treatments were particularly taxing, involving long waits and invasive procedures, and at times he and Nancy felt isolated despite being surrounded by friends and family.

After years of struggle, the couple finally welcomed their first daughter, Winnie, via surrogate. Fallon described the moment as life-altering: “Holding her for the first time, it was relief, joy, gratitude, all hitting me at once. I couldn’t believe she was finally here.” The arrival of their second daughter, Frances, added even more joy, filling their home with laughter, chaos, and the small daily rituals that parents treasure — from baking cookies to bedtime stories. “Every single day you realize how lucky you are,” Fallon has said. “Even the messy, chaotic moments — they’re a gift.”

Fallon has reflected on how the journey to parenthood changed him, giving him perspective on life, career, and what truly matters. He has noted that the experience deepened his appreciation for simple moments: the first time a child says “I love you,” a spontaneous hug, or watching them discover the world.