Trisha Yearwood hasn’t recovered her sense of smell or taste after getting covid

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Kelly Clarkson has several of her staff members test positive for coronavirus in November. You would think that incident would teach her to have more distance between herself and her in-person guests, but that’s not happening. Trisha Yearwood was recently on Kelly’s show on stage. She told Kelly that she contracted coronavirus about eight weeks ago and that she still hasn’t recovered her sense of smell or taste. From the segment I saw, it didn’t sound like Tricia had received the vaccine. (You have to wait 14 days after diagnosis to get it). However she’s since gotten her first dose. On Kelly’s show Tricia said that her husband, Garth Brooks, got the shot, and that before that he refused to isolate from her! Garth didn’t catch covid from her though. Kelly, who still constantly interrupts her guests after well over a year of her show, said she knows several couples where one person got coronavirus and the other didn’t catch it. Here’s some of what they said, and you can see that segment below:

“I lost my taste and smell so food is kind of different right now,” Yearwood, 56, said with a laugh, explaining that she first noticed the symptoms “about five days in” when husband Garth Brooks made her coffee one morning.

At the time she recalled saying to her husband, “I love you, but did you put coffee in here?”

“It was just like that,” she said, adding that “it’s been about eight weeks” since then.

“Now it’s all about texture. I can tell if something’s spicy, that’s about it,” she said. “I love to cook so now when I cook I just ask Garth, tell me if it needs more salt and pepper. It’s the weirdest thing.”

Fortunately, even though Brooks took the best care of her throughout her illness, he never got sick himself.

“He was really wonderful. He was really great,” Yearwood said of the country star on The Kelly Clarkson Show, adding that not only did he “never” get COVID-19, but he didn’t have any side effects after getting the vaccine.

“He didn’t even have a sore arm,” she said. “He’s amazing.”

[From People]

I noticed after my first and second Pfizer shot that my appetite went way down, but that could have just been a side effect of the vaccine. Losing your sense of smell and taste is one of umpteen reasons why people should be getting vaccinated! There are so many more serious long term effects of covid of course, but that’s up there for me. Trisha is a cook and I hope she gets her taste and smell back soon. Some people with long haul coronavirus symptoms find that the vaccine helps them feel much better, so maybe once she gets fully vaccinated she’ll recover some of her senses, if they don’t come back gradually.

Also I’ve been looking at the food on her Instagram and now I want to try some of her recipes!

Here’s that segment:

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50 Responses to “Trisha Yearwood hasn’t recovered her sense of smell or taste after getting covid”

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  1. Sumodo1 says:

    Maybe, if she can’t smell or taste, she’ll stop doing that corny cooking show with all the fattening crap that Garth loves. It’s just the worst and she’s so self-congratulatory that it’s nauseating.

    • Watson says:

      She seems like a charming nice person but i don’t understand the appeal. Like Valerie bertenelli …the recipes are just mediocre, and the shows are more personality based than focused on cooking. I also loathe that cooking show with Billy Joel’s ex wife Katie Lee. She has the worst recipes and a terrible voice!! I miss Julia Child and Jacques Pepin.

    • mellie says:

      Trisha is not my favorite either, she makes a lot of junk (which, trust me, I’m not opposed to, but you can find that anywhere).
      But I do like Valerie’s cooking show. I think Valerie uses a great deal of fresh ingredients, and she makes some pretty good cocktails. She made a spicy passionfruit margarita on there this weekend that I want to try.

      • Erin says:

        I like Valerie as well, I don’t think I’ve ever actually made one of her recipes, but she does inspire to try different things!

  2. Merricat says:

    “All that fattening crap” is the heart of Southern cooking.

    • Erin says:

      Yeah. I take a bit of offense to all that “fattening crap” comment. I’m from the south and now live in Canada. I cook and eat healthy, fresh stuff. I definitely had to teach myself and my palate has changed a bunch. However, about once every month or two when I’m missing my grandma and mom who both have passed away, I’ll bust out my grandma’s recipes for chicken and dumplings, chicken tetrazzini, chicken fried steak, fried hand pies, etc. It is the definition of comfort food for me. I’ll always give my neighbors some. One time he said eating it was like getting a warm hug.

      • Merricat says:

        Gravy is my go-to food comfort, and not having it every weekend definitely makes it a treat.

      • Lori says:

        I have no clue what a “fried hand pie” is, but I definitely want one! :-p

      • Watson says:

        Lori: same. Fried hand pies sound amazing.

        I don’t mind fattening food. People just need to eat in moderation and exercise which under covid has been hard as hell.

      • Agreatreckoning says:

        @Erin, Now I want a plate of chicken fried chicken with black pepper gravy, maple braised collard greens and mashed sweet potatoes. The ‘fattening crap’ is only fattening if it’s what you eat all the time. A few times a month is okay (unless you have serious heart/cholesterol issues).

        I feel terrible for people who have lost their sense of smell and taste. Would not like that at all. Interesting article about that.
        https://slate.com/human-interest/2021/01/covid-sense-of-smell-loss-home-treatment.html

        @Watson, Katie Lee used to bug me a lot. When she was on Top Chef I feel like I growled when she spoke. The last couple of years on The Kitchen I’ve kind of warmed up to her.

        Trisha Yearwood seems like a genuine and fun person.

    • Erin says:

      Lori-

      They ARE amazing. Think rolling out pie dough (1/8 amount of reg size) add pie filling in the middle, fold pie dough over , crimp the edges and deep fry. Pick it up and enjoy the deliciousness.

  3. Brittany says:

    I just read the Times story this morning about how we probably can’t reach herd immunity now or eradicate the virus (but can still hopefully defang it and reduce it to a few controlled situations) and I’m so depressed. Vaccine hesitancy / skepticism are killers.

    • Apple Tart says:

      ugh that’s so depressing, I had my heart set on herd immunity by the fall. I am also hoping from what I have read. The virus will eventually box itself into a common cold stage. As it is not mutating to be worse and will be defanged as you eloquently say 😉

    • Anna says:

      Covid is going to be with us in dangerous form for a long time. By the time everyone gets their shots, we’ll have to start with boosters. The vaccines will need to be strengthened, they only keep this level of potency for 6 months (or more, need to research all the articles again) so get ready for that cycle. People running around an partying like this is over meanwhile millions of people are dying in India and vaccine apartheid is real. This is our new reality. Just get used to the mask. It’s the only way.

  4. Christa says:

    For some people it takes about 6 months to recover their taste. Many don’t eat well and get malnutrition during that time. I am super afraid of this symptom because I really enjoy eating.

    • Nikki* says:

      When you really think what life would be with no smell or taste, it’s horrifying. Can’t smell if something’s burning or there’s a gas leak, can’t smell if you’re stinky, and especially can’t taste cinnamon rolls, popcorn, ice cream on a hot day, etc. etc. That’d be a nightmare. I got the vaccine!

      • Jess says:

        I lost my taste and smell in November and I can tell you it is horrifying. Like Trisha, I love to cook, but it is tricky now that I can’t taste anything. My husband always loves what I make though, so I guess I’m doing okay flying blind lol
        There are definitely dangers to not being able to smell (I left a piece of toast in the oven and couldn’t smell it burning, etc), but there are other things that really bother me sometimes. Yeah, I can’t smell food or fragrances, but the worst is I can’t smell the people I love, which is weird to say but its the most devastating consequence. I always loved how my husband smells and now he doesn’t smell like anything. I also was able to meet my sweet little niece and couldn’t smell her little baby smell. Anyway, I hope it comes back soon because it can get pretty depressing.

      • Emm says:

        @Jess, I just have to say I know what you mean. A few years ago I got one of the worst colds I’ve ever gotten in my life, I was so congested for days and days and then I ended up losing my sense of smell and taste. Even after the congestion subsided it took a couple of days for me to get my sense of smell back but I remember being so so upset about not being able to smell my three year old’s forehead and her distinct smell. It was agonizing. I did a ton of searching on the internet about it since it freaked me out so much and there were a lot of people with similar stories and some didn’t get their sense back. I was terrified that the cold had permanently damaged those receptors and the thought of not being able to taste food or smell anything forever was horrible. I would go a smell my daughter’s head every morning to see if my smell can back and thank goodness one day it did and I cried happy tears. This is definitely a terrifying symptom of covid and I don’t understand the people that think it’s no big deal. Meanwhile I ran to target and Kohl’s to return stuff yesterday and both places were crawling with maskless people.

    • Lily says:

      I got Covid 14 months ago. It took me 11 months to start seeing progress in terms of recovery.

      My sense of taste and smell comes and goes. Although I am a million times better than last year, I still have lingering symptoms that are occasionally debilitating. Who knows if they’ll ever go away.

      There’s no real reason why I got so sick. It can happen to anyone regardless of age, fitness and lifestyle.

      Yet there’s still people who think Covid is a hoax and will never get the vaccine unless forced to. They‘ve even tried to convince me that maybe I had some other illness (it’s Covid, I got it from a colleague who returned to work sick from a cruise). It’s no coincidence the deniers are all watchers of Fox/Murdoch media.

      I’m terrified of getting Covid again or a variant. The vaccine is the only solution to this pandemic. I’d rather risk the 1 in over 3 million chance of a vaccine complication than risk getting or accidentally spreading Covid.

      The person who gave me Covid won’t even look or talk to me because of how ashamed they are that I got sicker than they did.

      This virus sucks. Get the damn vaccine.

  5. Sue Denim says:

    I got my second shot 2 weeks ago tomorrow, almost there… And just here to say, neither shot for me was that bad, and now I’m feeling freer and more hopeful maybe than ever. Hoping the same for all of you.

    Also, my ER MD friend is saying she’s not too worried about the variants, tho we’ll prob be getting booster shots like w the flu going forward. She was also marveling at the level of effectiveness of the vaccines — unprecedented and such a tribute to the global scientific community. She did say too tho that covid continues to be incredibly sneaky and surprising in terms of who and how it attacks different people so I personally will still be a bit careful indoors but it sounds like we can relax more outdoors now.

    Good luck everyone, what a journey it’s been…and thank goodness for this site, you all have really kept me going….

    • Nikki* says:

      I was just thinking today how this site was the thing that kept me going throughout Trump’s presidency, when I was pathologically depressed and upset every day. Seriously, this site meant SO MUCH to me. In the pandemic too. AND the Me Too movement and BLM movements especially: everyone’s personal stories and the up-to-date- reporting was a wonderful support system as we were enraged, and shared our pain and hopes. THANKS ALL!!!!!

      • Anna says:

        Same!

      • antipodean says:

        I totally agree, this site has always been a stress reliever valve for me. The balanced, but varied points of view expressed here are nothing short of life saving on occasion! I have laughed, cried, and empathised with all the lovely people who comment here, and it is my go to source of information and opinion every day. It was such a help during the mad reign of HE WHO SHALL NO LONGER BE NAMED, and I believe that Celebitchy, Kaiser, et al should receive a medal for their invaluable service to the sanity of their celebitches! Rock on!

      • Traveler says:

        Agreed.

  6. Apple Tart says:

    I had Pfizer vaccine and no side effects really. I was tired after the 2nd shot for a bit. But I had been up so early that day excited it was actually happening I think I was just over tired by the end of the day.

    I too also fear loss of sense of smell. I love scents and the thought of not smelling or tasting sucks. My work friend is a year recovered from corona virus and still can only smell or taste things slightly. But good news she was just tested again for antibodies and a year out she still had them.

  7. tempest prognosticator says:

    I can’t imagine a life without smell and taste. Of course, if I had to, I’d learn to live with it, but I would miss the joy that both senses gave me.

  8. Ash says:

    I am out six months out and can only taste salt. I get weird tastes of cigarettes from time to time. No smell still. I did get both vaccinations of Pfizer but so far no taste or smell back. It sucks. It is maddening.

    • Betsy says:

      I’m sorry. That’s really awful.

    • StormsMama says:

      I just read on Christopher (if you get caught bt the moon and New York City) Cross’ Instagram that Covid activated Guillane Barre syndrome and paralyzed him. He’s been thru a hellish year trying to get back his ability to walk. Went from a wheelchair to cane. Now he has enough balance to ride a bike. But it’s still a process.

      People need to realize it’s not just getting sick and moving on. There are some serious potential side effects.

      • Lily says:

        I had this problem too. I spent many months having trouble walking. Covid also triggered narcolepsy in me. Heart inflammation. Vasculitis. Loss of hair by the handful. Dermatitis. Rashes. And so many other things. My body was a mess. It was terrifying, and I’m grateful I’m alive and recovering. Covid’s no joke and you never know who you might accidentally give it to or how their body will react to it. Not getting vaccinated is so incredibly selfish 🙁

      • Anna says:

        Love Christopher Cross. One of my favorite musicians ever. If I could create anything in life as beautiful as “Sailing”… <3

      • ennie says:

        Lily, I hope everything is better now! I was scared because I have quite bad varicose veins.

    • Case says:

      I’m so sorry. That must be really frustrating.

  9. Astrid says:

    I enjoyed her cooking shows when they showed up from time to time on my TV services. She seems like a really nice person. Me, husband and two teenage boys share an 1100 square foot home (no place to isolate) and the COVID swept through like wildfire last fall. Luckily, we all made it through OK but it was pretty scary for a few days.

  10. Lola B says:

    I like her recipes. Not everything has to be a production in the kitchen and the stuff she makes is always tasty

    • paranormalgirl says:

      I like her show. I’ve made a few recipes and they were good. I find Tricia’s, Molly Yeh’s, and Valerie Bertinelli’s shows to be relaxing and harmless. I can’t stand Pioneer Woman, though.

  11. Rapunzel says:

    My 64 year old aunt just got diagnosed with Covid days before she was due for her second vaccine shot. Mild, so far, but I’m worried.

    I’m beyond pissed at the “vaccine hesitancy”. It should not even be called that. It should be called “selfish lunacy”

  12. Willow says:

    My mom lost most of her sense of smell after my brother was born. Years later, she was living alone, and when I came to visit and noticed her bathroom smelled like pee. Finally remembered she couldn’t smell it and awkwardly pointed it out. Apparently she was using a new cleaner. Next I came to visit, no more pee smell. So, now added to the polite warning list of, zipper is down, mustard on check, hole in backside of pants, is gross smells. Thanks covid!

  13. ennie says:

    I got it late December and recovered fairly ok, I felt worse in January. I lost y sense of smell only, not so much taste, but my sense of smell almost disappeared.
    I could only smell certain things, and now I can detect some smells but very faintly, and some are so warped. Garlic and onion which are staples in my food, smell almost like ammonia, they distort the taste, not only the smell of many of my meals, but I am determined not to stop preparing food and eating vegetables or some other foods just because of the ugly/inexistent smell. Funny cake and sweets still taste good, mmmmmmh.

    I am sad because it is May already and I hardly can distinguish Lemon scent, my perfume smells bad (to me). I hope it will get better, and I am alive and working, so anything is better.

    • TigerMcQueen says:

      I had covid in early January, lost my sense of smell after about a week. I still cannot smell much, but never lost my sense of taste. Every once in a while, I get a whiff of something and think my sense of smell is back, and then, nothing!

      If I shove something really scented, like an orange peel or perfume, up against my nose, I can faintly smell it…like my sinuses are stopped up. But they’re not, and it’s weird, but overall I really cannot complain. I’ve gotten over the fatigue. And my covid brain improved tremendously once I’d received the vaccine.

  14. Millie says:

    I was born without a sense of smell and my sense of taste is clearly different from other people’s (exactly like what Trisha described). While, for me, living without those senses is normal, it still comes with it’s share of issues I have to deal with (can’t detect fumes but still deal with the after effects, food poisoning risk, can’t smell if there’s smoke/fire, couldn’t smell if my babies had left a surprise in their diaper so would sometimes only clue in from other people’s faces while out on public, etc.)

    My heart absolutely breaks for people going through this and I hope it is just temporary for them. It might sound superficial because people don’t value those senses the same way they value sight for example, but it really is a loss that I consider a disability the same way blindness and deafness are disabilities. I can’t even imagine the difficulty that comes with adjusting to that loss.

    Long term, the loss of smell has been associated with depression so it should be taken seriously from a mental health perspective as well. I hope they’e prepared to deal with that and are on the lookout for signs so that they can seek help when needed.

    • ennie says:

      I feel you. After December, I mistakenly left the gas (a little) open in my stove overnight, but thankfully the kitchen is next to a big open window, I have burned a few things I left for a few minutes while cooking, I have to be very careful with the food in the fridge. I am thinking on writing an inventory with dates and stick it to the front of the fridge door. Things I never thought of before.

  15. sassafras says:

    I know Covid is here for the long haul but our scientists are too. They’ve done truly miraculous work this past year and as they have the opportunity to keep researching this NOVEL virus (remember it had never been seen before – everything we know now has been learned in the past 12-18 months) I truly believe they’ll be able to keep upping our game in therapeutics and prevention. For all the fundamentalist right wingers who refuse to believe in science because God yadda yadda yadda, well, I firmly believe that God is giving us science to help us survive.

  16. Case says:

    I don’t get these in-person, indoor interview situations. I know it’s not as appealing to watch people be interviewed over video, but it seems irresponsible given what we know about the risks of being indoors with unvaccinated people.

  17. Katherine says:

    Why is the syringe at the wrong angle? Not the first time I see this in a vaccination photo. It’s supposed to be at an acute angle, not almost 90 degrees…

  18. IMARA219 says:

    I lost my sense of smell and taste not from Covid but from overusing those strong nasal sprays during a serious bout of nasal congestion. I haven’t been able to properly smell or taste food since December. It’s wild. I get paranoid over not smelling fresh, so I constantly check myself throughout the day. It’s just a weird position to be in. In the beginning, I couldn’t even tell if I was hungry because my sense of taste was totally gone. I would just assume I had to eat because my appetite was gone. That’s when I realized that taste-smell is connected and impacts our appetites. Who knew?

  19. gigic says:

    One year post Covid (March 2020), everything still smells and tastes rotten that isn’t fresh fruit or vegetables. It’s incredibly difficult to explain that to people and sometimes it’s so stressful to find food that I’ve gotten used to drinking Boost.