Norah O’Donnell Briefly Returns to ‘CBS Mornings’ to Spotlight ‘We the Women’
American viewers welcomed a familiar face back to their screens this week as veteran anchor Norah O’Donnell concluded a short stint co-hosting “CBS Mornings” on February 25th. Her return was to promote her compelling new book, “We the Women,” a project dedicated to uncovering the often-untold stories of American women as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
A Temporary Return to a Familiar Desk
O’Donnell revisited the anchor chair she held from 2012 to 2019, sharing her experience with fans on Instagram, noting it was her “last day” back with the show. She joined Gayle King and Nate Burleson on February 23rd and 24th, playfully acknowledging the early morning hours. “I just want to say full respect because forgot how hard it is to get up in the morning,” she quipped during a lighthearted exchange with her co-hosts.
‘We the Women’: A Celebration of American Heroines
O’Donnell expressed her gratitude to King and Burleson for helping to amplify the release of “We the Women.” The book, a culmination of extensive research, interviews, and archival exploration, aims to rewrite American history by focusing on the contributions of women who have been historically overlooked. As O’Donnell explained to PBS News, “It’s not that women weren’t doing stuff… They were doing plenty. It’s just we haven’t highlighted their stories.”.
The book quickly gained traction, ranking sixth on Amazon’s Top 100 list on Wednesday. O’Donnell is currently on a nationwide book tour, with a recent appearance in Boston.
A Distinguished Career at CBS News
Currently serving as a senior correspondent for CBS News and a contributing correspondent on “60 Minutes,” O’Donnell has been with the network since 2011. Her impressive resume includes a tenure as CBS News’ chief White House correspondent during the Obama administration. She transitioned to co-host of “CBS This Morning” in 2012, and later became the anchor and managing editor of the “CBS Evening News” in 2019 before assuming her current role in 2025.
Beyond CBS: A Journey Through Journalism
Prior to her time at CBS News, O’Donnell honed her skills at NBC News, covering the Pentagon, Congress, and the White House. Her upbringing in a military family – with roots in San Antonio, Texas; Landstuhl, Germany; Seoul, South Korea, and Washington, D.C. – instilled in her a global perspective.
Awards and Recognition
O’Donnell’s dedication to impactful journalism has been recognized with numerous accolades, including multiple Emmy Awards, an Edward R. Murrow Award, the duPont-Columbia Award, the Scripps Howard Award, and the Sigma Delta Chi Award. She received an Emmy for her reporting on sexual assaults at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2018 and was also honored by the White House Correspondents’ Association.
A Prolific Interviewer and Moderator
Throughout her three-decade career, O’Donnell has interviewed every living U.S. president, alongside a diverse range of influential figures, including Pope Francis, Prince Harry, Malala Yousafzai, and Oprah Winfrey. She has covered eight presidential elections and recently moderated the 2024 vice presidential debate between JD Vance and Kamala Harris.
Personal Life
Norah O’Donnell is married to Geoff Tracy, president of Chef Geoff’s Deluxe Hospitality in Washington, D.C. The couple, who met at Georgetown University, share three children.
Learn more about Norah O’Donnell and her work at CBS News.
