Norah O’Donnell is returning to the CBS morning anchor desk, more than seven years after departing the program to helm the CBS Evening News. The veteran broadcast journalist has been named co-host of CBS Mornings and will join Gayle King and Nate Burleson beginning Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
The move represents a homecoming for O’Donnell, who previously spent seven years alongside King on the network’s morning broadcast from 2012 to 2019. She fills the seat vacated by Tony Dokoupil, who left CBS Mornings earlier this year to become anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News.
O’Donnell’s return was announced in an email to staff from CBS Mornings senior producer Jon Tower, who called it a “homecoming” for the Emmy Award-winning journalist. Tower highlighted the chemistry between O’Donnell and King, noting that the pair created “one of the most memorable partnerships in the history of morning news” during their previous run together.
“They have a friendship and chemistry that extends beyond the studio,” Tower wrote. “They know each other, respect each other, and — maybe most importantly — genuinely enjoy each other. To put it simply, I can’t think of a team I’d rather watch navigate the news than Gayle, Nate and Norah.”
O’Donnell’s addition comes as CBS News looks to strengthen its morning lineup and ramp up political coverage heading into the 2026 midterm elections. The network source told PEOPLE that the move “made sense” as CBS aims to bring together three of its most recognizable journalists.
O’Donnell originally joined what was then called CBS This Morning in 2012, co-anchoring alongside King and Charlie Rose. She remained with the program until May 2019, when she departed to become anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News.
Her move to the evening broadcast was part of a broader shakeup at CBS News. O’Donnell held the evening news anchor role for nearly six years before stepping down in January 2025. She remained at CBS News as a senior correspondent, contributing across the network’s programs and platforms.
O’Donnell has built an extensive career at CBS News that spans more than a decade. Prior to her roles as a morning and evening anchor, she served as CBS News’ chief White House correspondent during the Obama administration.
Her journalism credentials are substantial. O’Donnell has covered eight presidential elections and has interviewed every living president of the United States, as well as the late former President Jimmy Carter. In 2024, she conducted an exclusive interview with Pope Francis in Rome, a historic first for an American journalist.
Her work has earned numerous awards. In 2023, O’Donnell and the CBS Evening News received an Edward R. Murrow Award for their report on the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She was honored with the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award and the Scripps Howard Award for Excellence in Broadcast National/International Coverage in 2021 for an exclusive investigation into sexual assault in the U.S. military.
O’Donnell is also the author of the New York Times bestseller We the Women: Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America, a book launched as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The reunion of O’Donnell and King is a significant development for CBS Mornings. The two journalists have been colleagues and friends for 15 years, and a network source told PEOPLE that they “complement each other in every way” and bring different perspectives to the broadcast.
King was reportedly a “full-time partner” in the search for a third co-host and was involved in discussions throughout the process. This contradicts earlier reports suggesting tension between the two, with a network source telling TheWrap that King and O’Donnell are friends who respect each other’s work.
During a network staff call on Thursday, O’Donnell expressed gratitude to her former co-host. “When I first anchored the show, I had three kids in Montessori school, and this past week, I dropped off three kids at college,” O’Donnell said. “So it’s been such an incredible journey. I’m thrilled to work with all of you very closely again, and I’ll see all of you in New York next week.”
Nate Burleson, the former NFL star turned television personality, joined CBS Mornings as a co-host in 2021. He has remained a constant presence on the show alongside King throughout the recent anchor changes.
Tower praised Burleson’s contributions, noting that he brings “curiosity, warmth, spontaneity and a perspective that can take a conversation in a direction none of us expected.” The combination of King’s interviewing prowess, Burleson’s engaging style, and O’Donnell’s hard-news experience is expected to create a balanced and dynamic broadcast.
Tony Dokoupil, who had co-anchored CBS Mornings since 2019, departed the program earlier this year to become anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News. His move was part of CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss’s broader restructuring of the network’s broadcast lineup.
Dokoupil’s departure left a vacancy on the morning show that remained unfilled for several months. King and Burleson anchored alongside a rotating group of guest hosts during that period. O’Donnell’s return now provides a permanent replacement for the third anchor seat.
O’Donnell’s return is expected to bolster the show’s hard-news credentials. With her experience covering major political events, conducting impactful interviews, and anchoring both morning and evening broadcasts, she brings a depth of experience that few journalists can match.
Tower noted that O’Donnell’s “experience and energy makes her a perfect match for Gayle and Nate.” He also pointed to her recent work as a 60 Minutes correspondent and host of “Healthful,” a weekly women’s health podcast, as evidence of her versatility.
CBS News President Tom Cibrowski told Variety that the broadcast will place greater emphasis on live conversations around major news stories while pulling back on some feature segments. O’Donnell’s background in breaking news and political coverage aligns with this strategic shift.
O’Donnell’s journalism career is marked by significant accomplishments. She has been on the front lines of the biggest stories of the past two decades, including eight presidential elections.
Her exclusive interview with Pope Francis in 2024 was a historic moment for American journalism. She has also interviewed every living U.S. president, a testament to her stature as a trusted journalist.
Her investigative work has also been recognized. The exclusive investigation into sexual assault in the U.S. military, which earned her a duPont-Columbia Award, demonstrated her commitment to holding powerful institutions accountable.
The new lineup of King, Burleson, and O’Donnell represents a reset for CBS Mornings, which has faced ratings challenges in recent years. The show has averaged roughly 1.7 million viewers season to date, down about 9% from the same period a year ago.
CBS News is betting that the combination of three experienced and recognizable anchors can reverse this trend. “We believe there is a lot of life left in morning television,” Cibrowski told Variety. “We are putting our best people on the field.”
O’Donnell’s addition also expands the show’s content capabilities. Her reporting across 60 Minutes and her “Healthful” podcast are expected to lend the morning broadcast more content and visibility.
O’Donnell will officially join the CBS Mornings anchor desk on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. She will co-anchor alongside King and Burleson for the regular broadcast.
The timing of her return coincides with the start of the new television season and the ramp-up of political coverage ahead of the midterm elections.
1. When is Norah O’Donnell returning to CBS Mornings?
Norah O’Donnell returns to CBS Mornings on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
2. Why is Norah O’Donnell returning to CBS Mornings?
O’Donnell’s return is part of CBS News’ effort to strengthen its morning lineup and reunite her with Gayle King. The network believes the combination of O’Donnell, King, and Nate Burleson will create a dynamic and successful broadcast.
3. When did Norah O’Donnell leave CBS Mornings?
O’Donnell left the morning show in May 2019 to become anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News.
4. Who are the anchors of CBS Mornings?
The anchors of CBS Mornings are Gayle King, Nate Burleson, and Norah O’Donnell.
5. Will Norah O’Donnell work with Gayle King?
Yes, O’Donnell will reunite with Gayle King at the CBS Mornings anchor desk. The two previously co-anchored together from 2012 to 2019.
6. Will Norah O’Donnell work with Nate Burleson?
Yes, O’Donnell will join Nate Burleson, who has been a co-host on CBS Mornings since 2021.
7. What happened to Tony Dokoupil?
Tony Dokoupil left CBS Mornings earlier this year to become anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News.
8. What is Norah O’Donnell known for?
Norah O’Donnell is known for her work as a journalist covering eight presidential elections, interviewing every living U.S. president, and conducting an exclusive interview with Pope Francis. She has also won numerous awards for her investigative journalism.
In February 2026, a small group of about 15 women gathered at Gloria Steinem's Upper…
Glen Powell is drawing a familiar comparison for fans of television romance. In a recent…
For more than two decades, Rooney Mara and Kate Mara have built distinguished acting careers…
Benny Blanco had a clear vision of his future wife — and he had a…
Julia Stiles is finally trading in her "Save the Last Dance" flats for ballroom shoes.…
Serena Williams is proving that a mother's watchful eye never truly rests — even when…