Is Norah O'donnell Back On Cbs Mornings? Anchor Returns for Short Book-Promotion Stand-In
is norah o'donnell back on cbs mornings has emerged as a clear answer this week: Norah O'Donnell has rejoined the morning broadcast as a co-host for a limited run while promoting her new book. The brief return lands amid high-profile editorial changes and an ongoing search for a permanent morning co-anchor.
Is Norah O'Donnell Back On Cbs Mornings — Development details
Norah O'Donnell will anchor CBS Mornings for three consecutive broadcasts from Monday, February 23 through Wednesday, February 25, while she is in New York on a book tour for We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America, co-authored with Kate Andersen Brower. She announced the appearances on Instagram, noting she will join Gayle King and Nate Burleson during the week and urging viewers to “tune in bright and early. ”
O'Donnell's return follows the end of her tenure as evening anchor on January 23; she remains employed at the network as a senior correspondent and a contributor to 60 Minutes. The three-day assignment was arranged by the news division’s leadership and was described in a company press release as part of the promotional schedule, with additional appearances planned on the Sunday morning program tied to the book.
Context and escalation
The plug-in hosting role comes while the morning program continues to seek a new permanent co-host after Tony Dokoupil was promoted to anchor of the evening broadcast in January. Executives have been rotating senior correspondents into the slot; O'Donnell, who co-anchored the morning show from 2012 to 2019, is one of several temporary stand-ins being deployed as the network evaluates longer-term options.
Those staffing moves take place against a backdrop of notable leadership changes. David Ellison, chief executive of the parent company, appointed Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief in October of last year, a decision followed by departures, buyouts and layoffs within the newsroom. O'Donnell herself has publicly described a climate of uncertainty inside the organization, saying that numerous leadership shifts in recent years have left colleagues fearful about the network’s future. For perspective, she noted she has worked at the company for almost 14 years.
Immediate impact
The immediate consequence is a restored familiar presence on the morning broadcast for three days: viewers will see O'Donnell alongside Gayle King and Nate Burleson during the late-February broadcasts. Her short-term return gives the morning program a tested anchoring team for the Feb. 23–25 window while the network continues the hunt for a full-time replacement for Dokoupil.
There are ripple effects across other programs: O'Donnell continues to contribute reporting to 60 Minutes, a roster that currently includes correspondents such as Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, Jon Wertheim, Cecilia Vega, Sharyn Alfonsi and Scott Pelley. Separately, Anderson Cooper has announced he will not renew his contract with that program after the current broadcast season, a development observers have linked to recent editorial direction.
Forward outlook
The next confirmed milestones are the three morning broadcasts on February 23–25 featuring O'Donnell and her scheduled appearance on the Sunday morning magazine tied to the book. The network's executive team continues to test rotating anchors while making longer-term staffing decisions for both morning and evening shows; no permanent co-host replacement has been announced for the morning program.
What makes this notable is that a veteran anchor is being deployed for short-term stability during active leadership turnover and while the network sorts through a high-profile talent reshuffle. O'Donnell's return for the brief promotional stint provides an immediate programming fill and a familiar face for viewers, but it does not change the ongoing search for a long-term morning anchor.
