Highly Anticipated 'Grey's Anatomy' Reunion Set for 2023 Emmy Awards

Katherine Heigl, Justin Chambers. Santiago Felipe/Getty Images ; JC Olivera/FilmMagic

Several Grey Sloan Memorial doctors will finally reunite at the 2023 Emmy Awards. Grey's Anatomy alumni Katherine Heigl and Justin Chambers, who portrayed Izzie Stephens and Alex Karev on the ABC series, will appear alongside their former castmates Ellen Pompeo, James Pickens Jr., and Chandra Wilson. They will take the stage during the January 15 ceremony to announce one of the night's major categories.

The 75th annual awards show, to be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, will feature reunions of iconic shows. Notable actors from iconic shows reuniting on stage include Lorraine Bracco and Michael Imperioli from The Sopranos, Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Carl Anthony Payne II and Tichina Arnold from Martin, Calista Flockhart, Greg Germann, Peter MacNicol and Gil Bellows from Ally McBeal, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler from Saturday Night Live, Connie Britton and Dylan McDermott from American Horror Story: Murder House, and Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger and George Wendt from Cheers. Emmys executive producer Jesse Collins explained that the goal was to celebrate 75 years of television differently.

Heigl, who is 45, and Chambers, who is 53, have been longed for by fans to reunite since their characters were love interests on the show. Heigl left abruptly during season six in 2010 after a public feud with series creator Shonda Rhimes. According to Krista Vernoff, who worked on Grey's Anatomy from seasons 1 through 14, there was a plan to conclude Izzie's storyline differently.

Izzie’s storyline was resolved, as planned, but we hit a snag when the actress Katie pulled out at the last minute before filming. It was a challenge to rewrite the script without her character, but it was necessary. Despite the disappointment from fans, it was a decision we had to make given the circumstances. We wish Katie all the best and understand that things happen in life beyond anyone's control.

Heigl's close sources disputed Vernoff’s claims, suggesting that the showrunner was wrong about her departure from the series. "Katherine was waiting to be called to set after returning to L.A. following parental leave when she adopted her daughter," the insider stated at the time. On the other hand, Chambers stayed on the series until season 16, and after his departure, it was revealed that his character left his wife, Jo, to reunite offscreen with Heigl’s Izzie. Heigl later reacted, expressing surprise at the plot twist and calling it "an a--hole move."

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Grey’s Anatomy is preparing for its 20th season premiere in March, and Heigl has expressed that she will "never say never" to returning to the show. She stated to The Washington Times in 2021 that her decision would depend on the team and the story. The 2023 Emmy Awards will be broadcast on Fox on Monday, January 15 at 8 p.m. ET.