Amy Robach was waiting to announce her split from estranged husband AndrewShue before her relationship with her GMA3 co-anchor, TJ Holmes, was madepublic.
A source tells PEOPLE that the journalist, 49, and Shue, 55, were “about readyto settle their divorce” prior to breaking news about Robach and Holmes’relationship.
“They were waiting on [the settlement] to tell people,” the source says of thepair, who got married in 2010. “The whole point of why she waited to share thenews that her marriage was over: she went to [divorce] mediation.”
“The woman had cancer for a long time. She was very preoccupied with that,”the source continues. “Stuff with her and Andrew was difficult starting earlysummer this year and they had issues before.”
Shue has not spoken publicly on the matter and has not responded to PEOPLE’snumerous attempts for comment.
RELATED: TJ Holmes Grew Closer to Amy Robach When He ‘Was Very MuchThere’ for Her amid ‘Heartache’: Source
Amy Robach and Andrew Shue Relationship Timeline
The source also notes the connection between Robach and Holmes — who has beenmarried to attorney Marilee Fiebig since 2010 — grew over time, but theypreviously denied any possibility of a romance, even when others noticed it.
“Everyone knew they were close friends and had good chemistry. She was goingthrough a lot. There was a point at which, several years ago, another _GMA_cast member had sort of made a joke with TJ about how close he was with Amyand he was very embarrassed,” the source says. “They had each gone throughdifferent things and people knew it was a friendship.”
“They joked how good their chemistry was, but they shut it down and made itclear they were each going through their own stuff and there was nothingbetween them,” the source adds. “She and TJ just did things together all thetime. Her daughter babysat for his daughter. They were open about it. Theirlives were intertwined because of work and they were best friends, so whentheir marriages ended, he was there for her and it was a very naturaltransition.”
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RELATED: Andrew Shue Deletes Instagram Pics of Amy Robach After News ofHer Relationship with ‘GMA’ Co-Anchor TJ Holmes
Amy Robach and TJ Holmes
Dia Dipasupil/Getty
Robach and Holmes’ relationship was made public on Wednesday after photossurfaced of them holding hands in a car, enjoying a vacation in upstate NewYork and cozying up at a bar in New York City.
Hours later, both journalists shut down their Instagram accounts. Shue alsoremoved all images of Robach on his Instagram Wednesday following the news.
A second source previously told PEOPLE similar sentiments about how Robach andHolmes’ relationship developed over time.
“Amy was going through a heartache and TJ was very much there for her andhelpful, and that is when they started something,” the source said. “They hadno shame going out together and have been publicly doing this for much longerthan a month.”
RELATED: Amy Robach and Husband Andrew Shue Sold NYC Home Weeks BeforeHer Relationship with TJ Holmes Was Revealed
However, the first source previously insisted to PEOPLE that the pair did notbegin dating until after they separated from their respective spouses.
“This was two consenting adults who were each separated. They both broke upwith their spouses in August within weeks of each other,” the source said.”The relationship didn’t start until after that.”
The source said Robach has “got nothing to hide,” adding, “They were bothseparated so they felt very comfortable dating in the open after that. Theirspouses had moved out, even! So they were not hiding anything.”
Amy Robach and Andrew Shue Relationship Timeline
On Thursday, PEOPLE confirmed that Robach and Shue quietly listed theirapartment in the West Village neighborhood of New York City in September 2022and the property entered into contract on Nov. 18, two weeks before Robach’srelationship with Holmes was revealed.
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Robach and Holmes have not publicly commented on their relationship, thoughthey alluded to the news during Friday’s broadcast of GMA3: What You Need ToKnow.
At the beginning of theshowHolmesjoked, “You know it’s too bad it’s Friday, it’s been a great week. I just wantthis to keep going and going and going. Just enjoy it.”
Robach laughed as she told Holmes, “Speak for yourself. I am very excitedabout the weekend, and I’m sure everyone else is too. We all love our Fridaysaround here — some of us do, at least.”