Entertainment TV Robin Roberts on Weathering the Pandemic with Partner Amber Laign: 'We've Never Been Stronger' The Good Morning America anchor has been dating Amber Laign since 2005 By Janine Rubenstein Janine Rubenstein Instagram Twitter Janine Rubenstein is Editor-at-Large at PEOPLE and host of PEOPLE Every Day podcast, a daily dose of breaking news, pop culture and heartwarming human interest stories. Formerly Senior Editor of music content, she's also covered crime, human interest and television news throughout her many years with the brand. Prior to PEOPLE she's written for Essence, The Cape Times newspaper and Los Angeles Magazine among others. On-screen Rubenstein can be found featured on shows like Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight and she routinely hosts PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly's star-studded Red Carpet Live specials. Follow the San Francisco native, Black Barbie collector and proud mom of two on Instagram and Twitter @janinerube People Editorial Guidelines and Dory Jackson Dory Jackson Instagram Twitter Website Dory Jackson is an Associate Editor for PEOPLE's digital TV team. While at the brand, she's had the opportunity to interview a long list of celebrities, from Kate Hudson to Pierce Brosnan to Billy Porter. She also recaps popular TV shows like The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Vanderpump Rules.The New York-based Maryland native graduated from Randolph-Macon College in May 2016 with a focus in Communication Studies and Journalism. She came to PEOPLE in March 2021 after working at a number of major news companies, including Newsweek and Us Weekly. She also previously co-hosted a podcast called "Idol Nation." People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 1, 2021 09:05 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Amber Laigh and Robin Roberts. Photo: Robin Roberts/Instagram The COVID-19 pandemic has been an undeniably challenging time, but Robin Roberts has used the extra time at home as an opportunity to strengthen her relationship with longtime love Amber Laign. "We're going on 16 years now," the Good Morning America anchor, 60, tells PEOPLE in this week's issue of her relationship with Laign, 46. "We spent more time together this past year than in the previous 15 years combined. We've never been stronger." Friends of Roberts and Laign, a massage therapist, set the pair up on a blind date in 2005. They kept their romance private until 2013, when Roberts came out in a Facebook post. And as we've all remained in closer quarters than ever for the past year, the Mississippi native says she's truly learned the value of patience. "I remember when I packed up part of my dressing room here [in New York City] and headed home to Connecticut a year ago [when the pandemic started]. I'm glad I packed a lot of patience," Roberts says. "Didn't pack much clothes, but I packed patience. That's what I really learned this past year — being patient, understanding what is really important, and that I don't have to be on the hamster wheel all the time. I don't have to get on a plane." Roberts continues, "I hate that saying, 'Stay in the moment,' but it forced me to do that. I'm grateful." For more on Robin Roberts, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe here. Heidi Gutman/abc The broadcast journalist is also exceptionally grateful for the Good Morning America staff, who have kept the ABC morning show chugging along. "I was [home in Connecticut] for seven months broadcasting Good Morning America from my basement until September. I came back here, to the studio, in the fall," she recalls. "I have to say, I am just amazed at our entire staff: people who are still at home, the producers, the editors, being so creative in finding a way. People were looking to us even more so for some normalcy. So much around them was changing, and they wanted some things to stay the same." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Roberts has also busied herself with other projects, including executive-producing the upcoming Lifetime biopic about gospel legend and civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson, starring Orange Is the New Black alum Danielle Brooks. "I remember Mahalia always playing in the house [when I was growing up]. … Her voice is so angelic," Roberts says. "I just really wanted people to know the full story about her. We know that she could sing. She is the queen of gospel, but she was a businesswoman, and she was all about civil rights." Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia premieres Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.