Jane Lynch Opens up about Working Alongside Naya Rivera on 'Glee'

This week, actress Jane Lynch had the honor of filling in for Hoda Kotb on “Today with Hoda & Jenna,” where she spoke candidly about her late co-star, Naya Rivera.

Lynch filled in for Kotb on Wednesday alongside co-host, Jenna Bush Hager. While co-hosting remotely, the actress paid tribute to Rivera whom she’d starred alongside on “Glee.”

Lynch recalled how the late actress had been a “force” on the series. She noted how Rivera “just blew everyone away” with her incredible acting talent.

HONORING NAYA’S MEMORY

The guest host confessed how she and Rivera were both given three-page monologues to memorize. Lynch admitted how it took her a week to get the scripts right but Rivera caught on much quicker.

The late star also managed to keep up even when the scripts were changed. Lynch also noted how her niece, Megan Doyle, had been quite close to the late actress.

SHE WAS AN ADVOCATE

Her niece noted how with Rivera, she felt like she had someone who always had her back. Lynch also shared how her former castmate had been an “advocate.”

According to the famous actress, Rivera loved being in a lesbian relationship with Heather Morris on “Glee.” The late star reveled in the way her role touched young people who related to it.

“SHE WAS A FORCE OF NATURE”

She described the late actress as “a force of nature” and concluded her tribute stating how gut-wrenched and heartbroken she was about Rivera’s death. On the show, Lynch played the role of the cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester while Rivera appeared as Santana Lopez.

LYNCH’S NIECE HONORS NAYA

On social media, Lynch shared a post by her niece that honored Rivera’s life after she was found dead. Morris also paid a tearful tribute to her former co-star in a video she shared on social media.

HOW RIVERA WENT MISSING

On July 8, 2020, Rivera went missing in Lake Piru, California. She and her son, Josey Dorsey, 4, had gone on a getaway to the area where they took a boat ride.

WHEN WAS HER BODY FOUND

Her son was found alive sleeping on the boat but she was missing. On July 13, 3030, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office revealed they had sadly found her body after days of searching.