The Norah O’Donnell CBS Mornings return is official, with the veteran CBS News journalist set to join Gayle King and Nate Burleson as a co-host beginning September 8, 2026. O’Donnell previously co-hosted the network’s morning program with King from 2012 to 2019 before moving to the CBS Evening News anchor chair. Her return brings one of CBS News’ most experienced journalists back to the morning broadcast.
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Introduction
The Norah O’Donnell CBS Mornings return is now official. CBS News announced on September 3, 2026, that O’Donnell will return to the network’s morning program as a co-host alongside Gayle King and Nate Burleson, beginning Tuesday, September 8.
The move marks O’Donnell’s return to the morning-news desk more than seven years after she left the program to become anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News in 2019.
Her return is also a reunion with King, with whom she previously spent seven years co-hosting the network’s morning broadcast. CBS News says the two journalists developed a notable professional partnership during that period.
The new three-person team gives CBS Mornings a combination of veteran journalism experience, interviewing expertise and Burleson’s sports and entertainment background as CBS looks to strengthen the program.
What Happened?
CBS News confirmed Thursday that O’Donnell is returning to CBS Mornings as a permanent co-host.
She will officially join King and Burleson on September 8, 2026. The program is broadcast from New York and airs weekdays on CBS, with streaming available through Paramount+.
O’Donnell’s previous stint on the morning program began in 2012, when the show was known as CBS This Morning. She co-hosted with King and Charlie Rose before later working alongside John Dickerson and other members of the program’s evolving anchor lineup.
In May 2019, CBS announced that O’Donnell would leave the morning show to become anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News. King remained on the morning broadcast, with Anthony Mason and Tony Dokoupil joining her.
Now the network is bringing O’Donnell back to mornings, creating a new King-O’Donnell reunion while keeping Burleson as the third member of the team.
Key Details
Here are the main facts about the Norah O’Donnell CBS Mornings return:
- Return date: September 8, 2026
- Program: CBS Mornings
- New co-host team: Norah O’Donnell, Gayle King and Nate Burleson
- Previous morning-show tenure: 2012-2019
- Previous major CBS role: Anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News
- Current CBS role: 60 Minutes correspondent
- Additional role: Host of the Healthful with Norah O’Donnell podcast
- Location: New York
- Network: CBS News
The announcement effectively ends the uncertainty surrounding who would join King and Burleson as the program’s third regular co-host.
Background: Norah O’Donnell’s CBS Career
O’Donnell has been a major CBS News presence for nearly three decades.
Before becoming a morning-show co-host, she worked in several high-profile reporting positions, including CBS News’ chief White House correspondent. She joined CBS This Morning in 2012 and became part of the show’s central anchor team.
In 2019, CBS elevated O’Donnell to its evening newscast. She became anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News, a role she held for more than five years. CBS News later announced in 2024 that she would leave the evening anchor desk after the presidential election and move into a new position at the network.
That transition did not mean O’Donnell was leaving CBS.
She continued working with the network and was subsequently named a 60 Minutes correspondent. CBS News currently describes her as a multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist and 60 Minutes correspondent.
She also hosts Healthful with Norah O’Donnell, a CBS News podcast focused on women’s health.
Her return to mornings therefore represents a change in assignment rather than a return to the network after an absence.
Norah O’Donnell and Gayle King’s Reunion
One of the biggest talking points surrounding the announcement is O’Donnell’s reunion with King.
The two previously worked together on the morning broadcast for seven years. CBS News senior producer Jon Tower highlighted that history in an email to staff announcing O’Donnell’s return.
Tower described King’s and O’Donnell’s earlier partnership as one of the most memorable partnerships in the history of morning news. He also emphasized their friendship, mutual respect and chemistry.
CBS News’ official announcement presents the relationship positively and says the new team brings together King, O’Donnell and Burleson.
There had previously been media reports suggesting tension between King and O’Donnell. Those reports were not established as fact by CBS News, and the network’s official announcement instead emphasized their history and chemistry.
That distinction matters. The confirmed news is the new lineup; speculation about their private relationship should not be treated as established fact.
Nate Burleson Remains Part of the Team
O’Donnell’s return does not mean Burleson is leaving CBS Mornings.
Burleson remains part of the new three-host lineup alongside King and O’Donnell. His role gives the program a different dimension from the traditional political and hard-news backgrounds of the two veteran journalists.
The combination also continues CBS’ effort to make the morning program broader than a conventional news broadcast, incorporating news, interviews, culture, sports and other topics.
The official CBS News page currently identifies CBS Mornings with King and Burleson while announcing O’Donnell’s return to the program.
What CBS News Said About the Return
CBS News’ internal messaging around the appointment has been notably positive.
Senior producer Jon Tower said O’Donnell and King had created a memorable partnership during their first run together. He said their friendship and chemistry extend beyond the studio and described their relationship as based on respect and enjoyment of working together.
Tower also expressed confidence in the combination of King, O’Donnell and Burleson as a morning-news team.
O’Donnell’s own return also fits the broader trajectory of her career at CBS. Rather than moving away from major journalism assignments, she has continued taking on high-profile reporting responsibilities, including her work with 60 Minutes. CBS’ biography says she has covered eight presidential elections and interviewed every living U.S. president, as well as conducting a historic interview with Pope Francis in 2024.
Why This Matters
The timing of the Norah O’Donnell CBS Mornings return is important for CBS News.
Morning television is an especially competitive part of the news business, with CBS competing against NBC’s Today and ABC’s Good Morning America. Bringing back a familiar and experienced CBS journalist gives the network a recognizable face while also re-establishing a previous partnership with King.
The move also gives CBS Mornings a particularly experienced journalism lineup.
King has long been known for major interviews and her conversational style. O’Donnell brings extensive political and national reporting experience, while Burleson contributes his background in sports broadcasting and entertainment.
That combination could allow the program to move comfortably between breaking news, politics, interviews, lifestyle coverage and lighter morning programming.
CBS’ decision also comes ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, a period when political coverage will become increasingly important across the major broadcast networks. Current reporting describes the move as part of an effort to strengthen the morning program and its coverage.
What Happens Next?
O’Donnell’s first day back as a CBS Mornings co-host is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, 2026. She will sit alongside King and Burleson as part of the show’s new regular lineup.
The immediate focus will be on how the new trio works together on air.
For viewers who remember O’Donnell and King’s previous partnership, the reunion will be one of the most noticeable elements of the new lineup.
For CBS, the larger test will be whether the combination can strengthen the program’s position in a highly competitive morning-news market.
O’Donnell is also expected to continue her work as a 60 Minutes correspondent, meaning her CBS responsibilities will extend beyond the morning broadcast. Her CBS News biography continues to list her as a 60 Minutes correspondent and host of Healthful.
At this point, CBS has confirmed the new hosting arrangement but has not publicly provided a detailed breakdown of every future programming or format change that may accompany the lineup.
Conclusion
The Norah O’Donnell CBS Mornings return represents a significant homecoming for one of CBS News’ best-known journalists.
Beginning September 8, O’Donnell will join Gayle King and Nate Burleson as a co-host, returning to the morning program more than seven years after she left it for the CBS Evening News.
The reunion with King is particularly notable because the pair previously worked together for seven years. CBS News has emphasized their friendship and professional chemistry, while O’Donnell’s continued work with 60 Minutes means she remains closely involved in the network’s major news coverage.
For viewers, the biggest change is simple: O’Donnell is coming back to mornings. For CBS, the appointment represents a potentially important effort to combine familiar talent, experienced journalism and a new three-person dynamic as the network prepares for another major news cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is Norah O’Donnell returning to CBS Mornings?
Norah O’Donnell will return to CBS Mornings on September 8, 2026. She will join Gayle King and Nate Burleson as a co-host.
2. Who will Norah O’Donnell co-host CBS Mornings with?
O’Donnell will co-host the program with Gayle King and Nate Burleson.
3. When did Norah O’Donnell previously host CBS Mornings?
O’Donnell previously co-hosted the network’s morning program, then called CBS This Morning, from 2012 to 2019.
4. Why did Norah O’Donnell leave the morning show?
In 2019, CBS announced that O’Donnell would leave the morning program to become anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News.
5. Is Norah O’Donnell still working for CBS?
Yes. O’Donnell remains with CBS News and is currently identified by the network as a 60 Minutes correspondent. She also hosts the Healthful with Norah O’Donnell podcast.
6. Is Gayle King leaving CBS Mornings?
No. The official CBS News announcement says O’Donnell is joining Gayle King and Nate Burleson, confirming King remains part of the morning-show team.
7. Who is replacing Tony Dokoupil on CBS Mornings?
O’Donnell’s appointment fills the third co-host position following the broader CBS News anchor changes that moved Tony Dokoupil to the CBS Evening News. Current reporting identifies O’Donnell as the new addition alongside King and Burleson.
8. What is Norah O’Donnell doing besides CBS Mornings?
O’Donnell remains a 60 Minutes correspondent and hosts Healthful with Norah O’Donnell, a CBS News podcast focused on women’s health.
Sources
- CBS News — September 3, 2026: Official announcement confirming Norah O’Donnell’s return to CBS Mornings, her September 8 start date, and her new partnership with Gayle King and Nate Burleson.
- CBS News — Norah O’Donnell biography: Official career history, current 60 Minutes role and Healthful podcast information.
- CBS News — May 2019: Announcement of O’Donnell’s move from CBS This Morning to the CBS Evening News.
- CBS News — July 2024: Announcement concerning O’Donnell’s departure from the CBS Evening News anchor desk after the 2024 election and transition to a new network role.
- TheWrap — September 3, 2026: Additional reporting confirming O’Donnell’s September 8 return and the new three-host lineup.
- The Guardian — September 3, 2026: Independent coverage of O’Donnell’s return, her previous morning-show tenure and the network’s broader programming context.
Source of content: Primarily CBS News’ official announcement and Norah O’Donnell’s CBS News biography, cross-checked with current reporting from TheWrap and The Guardian. The article deliberately separates confirmed CBS announcements from previously reported speculation about the relationship between O’Donnell and King.
