by Andrewa Bossi | Essence
Gayle King is officially staying at CBS and fresh off renewing her contract, cementing her spot.
Rumors have swirled for months that King may be leaving CBS as the media giant undergoes an overhaul under its new owners and leadership (more on that later). But the “CBS Mornings” co-host signed a deal to stay early March, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
“Rumors of my demise were inaccurate and greatly exaggerated,” the 71-year-old said in a statement to news outlets. “CBS News is my longtime home, and I am committed to our mission. I am excited about continuing at ‘CBS Mornings.’ As always, I’m open to new adventures here and ready to go. It took a minute, but we got there. And now that we are here, I am all in.”
King started at CBS in 2012. During the Emmy-winning journalist’s time co-hosting the morning show, she helped usher it into a new, reinvigorated era; masterfully led interviews with guests esteemed guests like the Obamas and Melinda French Gates, as well as disgraced ones like R. Kelly; and became known for her ability to approach stories across topics with empathy and nuance.
“There is only one Gayle King,” CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss said in a statement, hinting at changes ahead for the morning show. “We’re so proud that she’ll continue to call CBS home. We’re thrilled to have her in the morning—and equally excited to work with her on new, enterprising projects that bring her talents to new audiences.”
It makes sense why rumors swirled about King being pushed out in the first place.
When Weiss was appointed as the editor-in-chief of CBS News on Oct. 6, 2025, she executed a hostile takeover. Weiss dissolved CBS News’ Race & Culture Unit, where journalists of color were pushed out en masse. A couple months after her start date, she pulled a 60 Minutes segment laying bare the severity and cruelty of I.C.E. operations in the U.S., which had been approved and fact-checked. She yanked it so last-minute that it briefly aired in Canada.
For now, King’s continued presence on the show will offer more than keeping a sense of familiarity and normalcy on “CBS Mornings.” Her distinct style will keep viewers engaged with the pulse of what’s happening, as she continues working with her “ride or die” crew.