Gayle King, the longtime face of CBS Mornings and a key figure in the network’s morning lineup for over a decade, is reportedly preparing to step away from her anchor position next year, according to multiple insiders familiar with the matter.
While her exact future remains uncertain, King is expected to remain part of CBS News in a different capacity as the division undergoes a significant transformation under the new Paramount Skydance leadership.
King’s current contract expires in May, but sources indicate that CBS is eager to retain her within the company, potentially through a new deal allowing her to produce original content for the network.
This shift mirrors a similar transition made by Norah O’Donnell, who stepped down from anchoring CBS Evening News in January to become a senior correspondent contributing to a variety of CBS News programs and special coverage.
The timing of King’s negotiations comes amid sweeping changes at Paramount, which is cutting staff across CBS News and the larger corporation. Her potential departure would mark another high-profile shift as the company transitions from the Redstone family’s ownership to that of the Ellisons.
The new leadership has made it clear that they intend to move CBS News toward programming with broader national appeal, steering away from what they perceive as an overly liberal tone.
In line with this new direction, digital media entrepreneur Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press, was recently appointed as editor in chief of CBS News. Addressing King’s future is said to be among Weiss’s first priorities.
Responding to inquiries about King’s status, a CBS News spokesperson told, “There have been no discussions with Gayle about her contract that runs through May 2026. She’s a truly valued part of CBS and we look forward to engaging with her about the future.” King’s attorney, Lawrence Shire of Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks, declined to comment.
As Paramount restructures under Skydance, CBS has already made several bold programming decisions. The network recently announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, set to end in May, and confirmed that co-anchor John Dickerson would depart from CBS Evening News.
Additionally, the Saturday edition of CBS Mornings is being overhauled, parting ways with co-anchors Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, as well as executive producer Brian Applegate. Other familiar names, including Lisa Ling and Nikki Battiste, are also leaving.
However, moving King from her post is seen as a high-stakes gamble. Morning television relies heavily on the bond between anchors and their viewers, and disrupting that connection can easily backfire.
Audiences could defect to competitors like NBC’s Today or ABC’s Good Morning America if they perceive King’s exit as forced or unwarranted. History has shown this risk, NBC faced public backlash when viewers felt Jane Pauley was unfairly replaced by Deborah Norville in 1989, and again when Ann Curry’s abrupt exit in 2012 damaged Today’s credibility and ratings.
Despite numerous revamps over the years, CBS’s morning programs continue to trail their rivals in viewership. As of late October, CBS Mornings drew an average of 1.8 million viewers, compared to nearly 2.7 million for both Good Morning America and Today.
Paramount Skydance executives hope that Weiss’s editorial vision and CEO David Ellison’s emphasis on balanced storytelling can attract a broader national audience.
King joined CBS News in 2011 and became co-anchor of CBS This Morning in January 2012. Over 14 years, she helped reshape CBS’s morning identity, co-hosting alongside Charlie Rose, Norah O’Donnell, Anthony Mason, Tony Dokoupil, and Nate Burleson. Following Rose’s 2017 departure amid misconduct allegations, King’s steady leadership helped maintain the show’s integrity and audience trust.
As the media landscape evolves and audiences increasingly shift to streaming and digital platforms, traditional networks are rethinking their structures.
Many veteran anchors have been reassigned or transitioned into less costly, flexible roles, including CBS’s own Norah O’Donnell, NBC’s Hoda Kotb and Andrea Mitchell, and Fox News’s Steve Doocy. Others, such as CNN’s Chris Wallace and Fox’s Neil Cavuto, have exited their longtime networks altogether.
Throughout her tenure, King has created numerous memorable broadcast moments. In 2019, she earned widespread acclaim for her poised handling of an explosive interview with R. Kelly, maintaining composure as the singer erupted in anger while denying sexual abuse allegations. Earlier this year, she joined a groundbreaking Blue Origin spaceflight with an all-female crew, including Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez.
King’s close friendship and professional history with Oprah Winfrey have also strengthened CBS’s cultural reach. Before joining CBS, King worked alongside Winfrey at O, The Oprah Magazine, often splitting her time between the publication and her morning broadcast duties.
Whether King remains at CBS or embarks on a new chapter, her impact on the network, and on morning television as a whole, is undeniable. Her next move will be closely watched as CBS continues its wide-ranging transformation under its new leadership.