Norah O’Donnell is an American television journalist and a senior correspondent for CBS News. She is now co-host of CBS Mornings and a correspondent for 60 Minutes. She is 52 years old, born January 23, 1974. Her husband is restaurateur Geoff Tracy.
She is trending for three reasons: a return to the CBS morning show she left in May 2019, a tense April 2026 interview with President Trump, and her new book. Each of these has produced its own set of search questions, from “where is Norah O’Donnell” to “what happened to Norah O’Donnell.”
This article answers those questions with sourced facts. It also flags where public information is thin or contradictory, especially on height, salary, net worth, illness and weight loss.
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Norah O’Donnell Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Norah Morahan O’Donnell |
| Date of Birth | January 23, 1974 |
| Age (September 2026) | 52 |
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C. |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Television journalist, author |
| Current Roles | CBS Mornings co-host, 60 Minutes correspondent, senior correspondent, CBS News |
| Spouse | Geoff Tracy (“Chef Geoff”), restaurateur |
| Children | Three (not profiled here) |
| Education | Georgetown University |
| Known For | CBS Evening News, CBS This Morning, White House coverage, Trump and Pope Francis interviews |
| Book | We the Women (2026, with Kate Andersen Brower) |
| Current Status | Active at CBS News |
Who Is Norah O’Donnell?
O’Donnell was born in Washington, D.C., to Noreen Bernadette (O’Kane) and Francis Lawrence O’Donnell, a medical doctor and U.S. Army officer. Her parents are both of Irish descent. She grew up in a military family, which she often mentions when discussing her reporting.
Her career has run through Roll Call, NBC News, MSNBC and then CBS. At NBC and MSNBC she worked as a White House correspondent, Chief Washington Correspondent and Weekend Today anchor. She joined CBS in 2011 and later became one of the network’s most recognizable faces.
Why Is Norah O’Donnell Trending?
Three separate stories are driving the searches. They overlap, which is why the trending queries look so mixed.
- CBS Mornings return: She rejoined the show alongside Gayle King and Nate Burleson.
- Trump interviews: Two 60 Minutes sit-downs, one in late 2025 and one in April 2026, drew heavy attention.
- New book: We the Women was published in February 2026.
Is Norah O’Donnell Back on CBS Mornings?
Yes. CBS News, under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, named her co-host of CBS Mornings alongside Gayle King and Nate Burleson. She previously hosted the program from 2012 to 2019 before moving to the Evening News.
Executives framed it as a reunion. EP Jon Tower said in a staff memo that Norah and Gayle share a friendship and chemistry that extends beyond the studio. Trade coverage also tied the move to ratings: Variety reported that the show’s 25–54 audience was down 20% from a year earlier, to about 278,000 viewers.
| Detail | Information |
| Show | CBS Mornings |
| Co-hosts | Gayle King, Nate Burleson |
| Previous run | CBS This Morning, 2012–2019 |
| Additional roles | 60 Minutes correspondent, senior correspondent |
| Announced by | CBS News leadership (staff memo from EP Jon Tower) |
What Happened to Norah O’Donnell? Career Timeline
She anchored the CBS Evening News from 2019. Then in 2024 it was announced she would leave the anchor chair after the election to become a senior correspondent focused on big interviews and deeper reporting. That change was the start of the “what happened to Norah O’Donnell” searches.
It was a role change, not a firing or departure from the network. Wikipedia notes that in October 2025 it was reported Weiss was considering O’Donnell to return as Evening News host, but Tony Dokoupil was ultimately selected. She then moved to mornings.
| Year | Career Stage | Key Development |
| 1990s–2000s | Print and NBC/MSNBC | Roll Call writer, then White House correspondent and MSNBC anchor |
| 2011–2012 | Joins CBS | Chief White House correspondent |
| 2012–2019 | CBS This Morning | Co-host alongside Gayle King |
| 2019–2025 | CBS Evening News | Anchor and managing editor, based in Washington |
| 2024 | Role change | Announced move to senior correspondent |
| 2026 | CBS Mornings | Named co-host; 60 Minutes correspondent |
Note: exact dates for her early career vary by source, so the table gives ranges only where sources agree.
Norah O’Donnell Career Highlights
- She was named anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News in 2019 and led it from Washington, D.C.
- CBS says she has interviewed every living U.S. president.
- She landed a hard-to-get interview with Pope Francis.
- She reported from Tel Aviv immediately after the Hamas attacks and was the first anchor to visit Maui after the wildfires.
- CBS describes her as a multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist.
Norah O’Donnell Trump Interview
There are two Trump interviews, and searches often mix them up. The first was a 60 Minutes sit-down in fall 2025. Deadline reported it was his first 60 Minutes appearance since he sued CBS, and Paramount had settled that suit for $16 million.
The second was in April 2026, after a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The interview was taped on Sunday, April 26, hours after the incident, and O’Donnell read portions of the suspect’s alleged manifesto. Trump told her she shouldn’t be reading that on 60 Minutes and called her a disgrace.
Evidence Check: The April 2026 Exchange
| Item | Detail |
| Confirmed | The exchange happened and aired on 60 Minutes |
| Source | CBS News published the full transcript on April 27, 2026 |
| What It Shows | O’Donnell quoted the suspect’s alleged writings; Trump objected on air |
| What Remains Unclear | The suspect’s motive and the manifesto’s authenticity are matters for the investigation, not this interview |
Note that the manifesto was described as “alleged” in coverage. This article treats its contents as allegations, not established fact.
Norah O’Donnell Husband: Who Is Geoff Tracy?
Her husband is Geoff Tracy, known as Chef Geoff. She met him at Georgetown University, and he owns the DC restaurant Chef Geoff’s. In her own words, he has always been her “No. 1 cheerleader.”
Some secondary sites give a wedding date of June 21, 2001. I could not trace that to a primary source, so treat the exact date as reported, not confirmed. No reliable reporting of divorce, separation or scandal turned up.
| Detail | Information |
| Husband | Geoff Tracy |
| Profession | Restaurateur (Chef Geoff’s, Washington, D.C.) |
| How they met | Georgetown University |
| Marriage | Reported 2001 (exact date not primary-sourced) |
| Children | Three |
| Status | Publicly described as married |
Relationship Timeline
| Date | Event | Evidence |
| College years | Met at Georgetown | Northern Virginia Magazine interview, Feb 2026 |
| 2001 (reported) | Marriage | Secondary biography sites |
| 2026 | Still described as married in publisher biographies | Book listings for We the Women |
Norah O’Donnell Kids
Publisher biographies say she is the mother of three children. She has spoken about them in interviews. This article does not list their names, schools or locations, in line with privacy standards for minors and young adults.
Norah O’Donnell Book: We the Women
We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America is her latest book. It came out February 24 and explores unsung American women who changed the course of history. The book is co-written with Kate Andersen Brower and is billed as a 250th-anniversary project.
The publisher lists it as a New York Times bestseller. She explained the idea in a magazine interview: she did not grow up learning that women organized revolutions and built institutions.
| Book | Year | Role | Notes |
| We the Women | 2026 | Author (with Kate Andersen Brower) | History of American women, 1776 to today |
How Old Is Norah O’Donnell?
She is 52 years old as of September 29, 2026. She was born January 23, 1974, and this date is consistent across Wikipedia and biography listings.
| Detail | Information |
| Date of Birth | January 23, 1974 |
| Current Age | 52 |
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C. |
| Evidence Status | Confirmed (consistent across reliable references) |
How Tall Is Norah O’Donnell?
No official height has been published by CBS or by her. Biography sites disagree: one lists 5 feet 6 inches, another says 5 feet 7 inches. Because no primary source exists, the figure is best read as approximate.
| Detail | Information |
| Height | Roughly 5’6″–5’7″ (reported) |
| Source Type | Secondary biography sites |
| Status | Reported, conflicting |
This article does not list measurements or weight. Those figures appear on low-quality sites and cannot be verified.
Norah O’Donnell Net Worth and Salary
Net worth figures are estimates. Celebrity Net Worth puts it at $22 million and her CBS salary at $8 million a year, though that page dates from 2024. Other sites give lower or higher numbers.
Pay reports also conflict. One secondary page cites a 2022 New York Post report of about $3.8 million a year, down from an earlier $8 million. CBS has not published her pay, so no salary is confirmed.
| Financial Detail | Information |
| Estimated Net Worth | About $22 million (estimate, Celebrity Net Worth) |
| Main Income | Broadcast journalism, book, speaking |
| Reported Salary | $3.8 million to $8 million (conflicting reports) |
| Status | Estimate, not confirmed |
Norah O’Donnell Illness and Weight Loss: What Is Confirmed?
I found no reliable report of a current illness. Some biography sites mention a 2019 appendix surgery and a 2021 mole check. Those claims come from low-tier sources, and I could not trace them to primary reporting, so they are treated as unconfirmed here.
Weight loss is a similar case. No credible interview or statement confirms a weight-loss story. Articles on this topic mostly recycle one another, so this article does not present any of it as fact.
What Is Confirmed
- She continues to appear on air at CBS News.
- She has taken on new roles in 2026.
- No credible source reports a current medical condition.
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Where Is Norah O’Donnell Now?
She works at CBS News, appearing on CBS Mornings and 60 Minutes. She has also launched a podcast centered on women’s health. Her social profile describes her as CBS News, 60 Minutes, wife of Chef Geoff, mom, Army brat, veteran supporter and Georgetown Hoya.
Her return drew some online criticism tied to CBS’s direction under Bari Weiss. Deadline reported she replied to one commenter: “Give us a try.”
Norah O’Donnell FAQs
Who is Norah O’Donnell?
She is an American TV journalist at CBS News. She co-hosts CBS Mornings and reports for 60 Minutes.
How old is Norah O’Donnell?
She is 52. She was born on January 23, 1974.
Who is Norah O’Donnell’s husband?
Her husband is Geoff Tracy, owner of Chef Geoff’s in Washington, D.C. They met at Georgetown.
Is Norah O’Donnell back on CBS Mornings?
Yes. She is co-host alongside Gayle King and Nate Burleson.
What happened to Norah O’Donnell at CBS Evening News?
She stepped back from the anchor chair after the 2024 election and became a senior correspondent. She later moved to mornings and 60 Minutes.
What was the Norah O’Donnell Trump interview about?
There were two. The April 2026 one followed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting and included a heated exchange over the suspect’s alleged manifesto.
What is Norah O’Donnell’s new book?
We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America, published February 24, 2026, with Kate Andersen Brower.
How tall is Norah O’Donnell?
Sites report about 5’6″ to 5’7″. No official figure exists.
What is Norah O’Donnell’s net worth?
Estimates center on $22 million. Her salary has not been officially confirmed.
Conclusion
Norah O’Donnell has moved from the Evening News anchor desk to a wider role across CBS Mornings and 60 Minutes. Her April 2026 Trump interview and her book have kept her in the news this year.
The confirmed facts are clear: she is 52, married to Geoff Tracy, and active at CBS. Height, salary, net worth, illness and weight-loss claims remain unverified, and this article labels them that way.
