CBS is bringing back journalist Norah O’Donnell to co-anchor the channel’s morning show, a role she previously held from 2012 to 2019. The move comes amid ratings struggles and broader challenges at the network.
O’Donnell, who was also recently promoted from contributor to full-time correspondent for the rapidly approaching 59th season of 60 Minutes, had left the morning show to take on the role of evening news anchor.
O’Donnell stepped down from the CBS Evening News after the 2024 presidential election, and was replaced by a duo of hosts. The anchor job ultimately fell to morning co-host Tony Dokoupil, which created a spot on CBS Mornings that O’Donnell is now filling.
O’Donnell will return to the show beginning 8 September, co-anchoring along with mainstay Gayle King and former NFL star Nate Burleson.
“This is a homecoming for Norah,” Jon Tower, CBS Morning producer, wrote in an internal memo to staff that was first reported by Variety. “As we all know, for seven years, Norah helped lead CBS This Morning alongside Gayle, creating one of the most memorable partnerships in the history of morning news. They have a friendship and chemistry that extends beyond the studio. 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.”
During the network’s staff call on Thursday, O’Donnell thanked the CBS News editor in chief, Bari Weiss, president Tom Cibrowski, Tower and her former co-host King.
“When I first anchored the show, I had three kids in Montessori school, and this past week, I dropped off three kids at college. So I’m currently in New Hampshire with my youngest, dropping her off. So it’s been such an incredible journey,” O’Donnell said, according to a transcript of her remarks. “I’m thrilled to work with all of you very closely again, and I’ll see all of you in New York next week.”
King, who remains one of the network’s biggest stars, was consulted on the search for a third co-anchor, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
O’Donnell’s return comes at a crucial time for the show, which has struggled to keep up with its more-watched competitors on NBC and ABC.
In July, the show averaged 1.62 million total viewers, compared with 2.77 million for NBC and 2.79 million for ABC. Between 27 and 31 July, CBS Mornings drew its smallest audience in the program’s history: 1.57 million average total viewers.
But, in his memo, Tower expressed optimism in the show’s revamped cast. “We have an extraordinary team behind the cameras, an extraordinary team in front of them, and an opportunity to build the smartest morning show on TV,” he wrote to colleagues. “Please join me in welcoming Norah home.”
The show is expected to feature more live discussions of real-time news developments and hot topics, rather than feature segments.
Over the past few months, the show has tested out a variety of guest co-hosts, including the former Fox and Friends co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck in June.
