The norah o’donnell cbs mornings return is set for Tuesday, September 8, 2026, bringing the veteran CBS News journalist back to the network’s morning desk alongside Gayle King and Nate Burleson. The appointment marks O’Donnell’s return to the program more than seven years after she left the morning broadcast to take over as anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News.
O’Donnell’s comeback is one of the most significant changes to CBS’s morning-news operation in years. It reunites her with King, a longtime colleague and friend, while giving the network an experienced political and international journalist at a time when CBS is looking to strengthen its news coverage and improve the program’s performance.
The new three-person anchor team is expected to begin working together as CBS heads toward the 2026 midterm elections, adding another layer of importance to the timing of the change.
Norah O’Donnell Officially Returns to CBS Mornings
CBS News has confirmed that O’Donnell will become a permanent co-host of CBS Mornings beginning September 8.
She will sit alongside King and Burleson, completing the program’s primary anchor lineup following Tony Dokoupil’s move to CBS Evening News.
For O’Donnell, the announcement represents a return to a familiar environment. She previously spent seven years co-hosting the network’s morning broadcast, which was then known as CBS This Morning. Her time on the program included a long-running partnership with King, giving the two journalists an established on-air relationship that CBS believes can immediately translate to the revamped broadcast.
The decision also gives CBS a recognizable face who already understands the network’s newsroom, production operation and morning audience.
Rather than introducing an entirely new personality, CBS is bringing back a journalist with extensive experience across several of its most important programs.
A Major Reunion With Gayle King
Perhaps the most notable element of O’Donnell’s return is her reunion with Gayle King.
The two previously worked together for years and developed a familiar rhythm on camera. Their relationship extends beyond their time behind the desk, with CBS describing them as longtime colleagues and friends.
That existing connection could be particularly useful as the network attempts to establish a stronger identity for CBS Mornings. Morning television depends heavily on chemistry, conversational ability and the sense that anchors are comfortable with one another.
O’Donnell and King already have that history.
Nate Burleson completes the trio, bringing a very different professional background. The former NFL player has developed a successful television career and has become an established presence on CBS’s morning programming.
The combination gives CBS three distinct personalities: King as the veteran interviewer and conversational anchor, Burleson as the energetic sports and entertainment voice, and O’Donnell as the experienced hard-news journalist.
CBS News executives have indicated that the three anchors will provide different perspectives while giving viewers a broader range of coverage.
Why CBS Chose O’Donnell
The choice of O’Donnell appears closely connected to what CBS wants CBS Mornings to become.
The network is preparing to put more emphasis on live conversations, breaking developments and major news stories rather than relying as heavily on traditional feature segments. That direction plays directly into O’Donnell’s strengths as a journalist.
She has spent much of her career covering politics, national security, foreign affairs and major national events.
Her CBS résumé includes coverage of presidential elections, the White House, military affairs and international crises. She has also conducted high-profile interviews with presidents and other world leaders. CBS says she has covered eight presidential elections and interviewed every living U.S. president, as well as former President Jimmy Carter.
That background could become especially valuable during the 2026 election season.
With congressional races approaching, CBS will need experienced journalists who can quickly explain political developments and conduct substantive interviews with candidates, officials and newsmakers.
O’Donnell’s return gives the morning program an anchor who can handle those responsibilities without requiring a lengthy adjustment period.
O’Donnell’s Journey Away From Morning Television
O’Donnell’s departure from the morning show in 2019 was tied to one of the biggest promotions of her career.
She left CBS This Morning to become anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News. The appointment made her only the third woman to solo anchor a major network evening newscast, according to her CBS biography.
During her tenure on the evening broadcast, she covered a wide range of major domestic and international stories.
Her reporting included presidential politics, military affairs, international conflicts and other major developments. She also continued contributing to 60 Minutes, a program where she had already been reporting since 2013.
O’Donnell eventually stepped down from the evening anchor role in January 2025.
Instead of leaving CBS, she remained with the network as a senior correspondent, continuing to work across its news platforms.
That decision has now positioned her for another major role at the network.
Her Role Has Continued to Grow at CBS
O’Donnell’s return to mornings is happening while her CBS career continues to expand in other directions.
She was recently named a full-time correspondent for 60 Minutes, giving her a prominent platform for longer-form reporting and interviews. She also hosts Healthful with Norah O’Donnell, a weekly CBS News podcast focused on women’s health.
Her work across these different formats gives her experience that extends beyond traditional daily anchoring.
The combination of morning television, investigative reporting and podcasting could allow CBS to use O’Donnell across multiple platforms.
Her journalism career also predates CBS. Before joining the network, she spent more than a decade at NBC News, where she covered Congress, the Pentagon and the White House. She began her career as a print reporter covering Capitol Hill.
That background helps explain why CBS views her as more than simply a familiar television personality.
The Ratings Challenge Facing CBS Mornings
O’Donnell’s return comes against a difficult ratings backdrop.
CBS Mornings has struggled to match the audience numbers of its two major network competitors, NBC’s Today and ABC’s Good Morning America.
Recent Nielsen figures indicate that the CBS program averaged roughly 1.7 million viewers during the season through August 30, down approximately 9% from the comparable period a year earlier. The decline has been even more pronounced among adults ages 25 to 54, an especially important demographic for television advertising.
Other recent reports have highlighted the gap between CBS and its competitors.
In July, CBS Mornings averaged around 1.62 million total viewers, compared with approximately 2.77 million for NBC and 2.79 million for ABC. The program also recorded its lowest weekly average audience in its history during the final week of July, according to reported Nielsen figures.
Those numbers create significant pressure for CBS.
The network needs its morning show to attract viewers consistently, particularly during a period when audiences have numerous alternatives across broadcast television, cable news, streaming services and digital platforms.
What CBS Wants to Change
The anchor change is part of a broader strategy.
CBS News leadership has indicated that CBS Mornings will put greater emphasis on live conversations surrounding major stories and current events.
That could mean more time devoted to breaking news, political developments, interviews and real-time discussions.
The approach is designed to make the program feel more immediate and news-focused.
O’Donnell’s experience is well suited to that direction. Her background allows her to move comfortably between breaking news, political interviews and deeper reporting.
At the same time, King and Burleson provide the conversational and personality-driven elements that are important to morning television.
The challenge will be finding the right balance.
A morning program cannot function exactly like an evening newscast. Viewers expect news, but they also want conversations, lifestyle coverage, entertainment, sports and stories that provide a lighter start to the day.
CBS appears to be betting that its new lineup can combine those elements more effectively.
Tony Dokoupil’s Move Created the Opening
O’Donnell’s return follows another major change inside CBS News.
Tony Dokoupil, who had been part of the CBS Mornings anchor team, moved into the CBS Evening News role. His departure created the opening that O’Donnell will now fill.
The change effectively reshapes both of CBS’s flagship news programs.
For the morning show, the immediate priority is creating stability after a period of rotating personnel.
A permanent third anchor gives King and Burleson a consistent partner and gives viewers a clearly defined team to follow.
CBS has also indicated that other familiar contributors will continue appearing on the program, with additional contributors expected to be introduced during the fall.
The 2026 Midterm Elections Could Be a Major Test
The timing of O’Donnell’s appointment is particularly significant because the 2026 midterm elections are approaching.
Political coverage traditionally becomes a major part of network news programming during election season.
CBS can now place O’Donnell’s experience at the center of that coverage while maintaining King and Burleson’s broader presentation styles.
O’Donnell has extensive experience interviewing political leaders and covering presidential campaigns. Her work at the White House and on Capitol Hill gives her an understanding of the political system that can be useful for explaining complicated developments to a morning audience.
The election season could therefore provide an early opportunity for CBS to demonstrate what its new approach looks like.
O’Donnell’s Reporting Credentials
O’Donnell arrives with one of the more extensive reporting résumés among network television anchors.
Her CBS career has included major interviews and international assignments. She has reported from conflict zones and areas affected by major crises, while also covering American politics and domestic issues.
CBS credits her with several major journalism honors, including recognition for reporting on the military and other major national and international stories.
Her work has also extended beyond daily television.
Her book, We the Women: Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America, became a New York Times bestseller and examines the contributions of women throughout American history.
That broader profile could give CBS additional opportunities to connect morning-show coverage with longer-form projects.
What Viewers Can Expect From September 8
The first broadcast with O’Donnell is likely to attract considerable attention because it represents both a personal reunion and a strategic change for CBS.
Viewers will see O’Donnell return to a format she knows well, this time working with King and Burleson.
The central question will be whether the chemistry between the three anchors can translate into stronger audience engagement.
CBS has clearly identified experience as one of the strengths of the new lineup.
King has spent decades interviewing public figures and connecting with audiences. Burleson brings warmth, spontaneity and a background outside traditional journalism. O’Donnell contributes political expertise, investigative experience and the authority of a veteran network anchor.
Together, they offer CBS a broad range of skills.
What the Return Could Mean for O’Donnell’s Career
The move also gives O’Donnell an opportunity to enter another phase of her career.
Her transition from morning television to evening news was once viewed as a major upward step. After leaving the evening desk, she continued building a career that now includes 60 Minutes, podcasting and major CBS News assignments.
Returning to mornings does not necessarily represent a step backward.
Instead, it places O’Donnell at the center of one of the network’s most important daily broadcasts while allowing her to continue doing longer-form journalism.
For CBS, it also means putting a proven journalist in a position where her experience can influence the tone and substance of the program.
The Bigger Picture for CBS
The network’s decision reflects a broader reality facing traditional television news.
Morning audiences have more choices than ever. Viewers can receive breaking news through social media, streaming platforms, websites and mobile notifications before traditional broadcasts even begin.
That makes personality and live conversation increasingly important.
CBS appears to be responding by emphasizing recognizable anchors and real-time coverage.
O’Donnell’s return gives the network a familiar journalist with strong reporting credentials, while her history with King provides an immediate element of continuity.
Whether that combination can reverse the show’s ratings decline will become clearer after the new lineup has had time to settle.
For now, CBS is sending a clear message: it wants CBS Mornings to become a more competitive and news-focused part of its daily schedule.
When Is Norah O’Donnell Returning to CBS Mornings?
The norah o’donnell cbs mornings return is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
O’Donnell will join Gayle King and Nate Burleson as the program’s permanent three-person anchor team.
Her arrival comes more than seven years after she left the morning broadcast to lead CBS Evening News. It also comes at a pivotal moment for CBS as the network attempts to strengthen its morning audience, expand live news coverage and prepare for the 2026 midterm election cycle.
The new lineup combines familiarity with experience, and CBS will now have the opportunity to see whether that formula can give CBS Mornings the momentum it has been seeking.
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║ – Norah O’Donnell will officially return to CBS Mornings on September 8, 2026. ║
║ – She will co-anchor the program with longtime colleague Gayle King and Nate Burleson. ║
║ – O’Donnell previously spent seven years on the CBS morning broadcast before moving to CBS Evening News. ║
║ – Her return comes as CBS works to improve morning ratings and increase live, hard-news coverage. ║
║ – O’Donnell will continue her wider CBS work, including her role with 60 Minutes and Healthful. ║
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