Norah O’Donnell Biography
Norah O’Donnell is an award winning journalist currently working as a CBS News’ senior correspondent and a 60 Minutes contributing correspondent. Previously, O’Donnell served as the managing editor and anchor of the CBS Evening News for more than five years, in addition to anchoring CBS News Election Specials. She is also the host of CBS News 24/7’s “Person to Person,” where she brings interviews that go beyond the headlines through thoughtful conversation.
Norah O’Donnell Career
Moreover, O’Donnell is a multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist with nearly three decades of experience covering the biggest stories in the world and conducting impactful, news-making interviews. Furthermore, she has covered eight presidential elections and has interviewed every living president of the United States, including the late former President Jimmy Carter. In 2024, O’Donnell spoke exclusively with Pope Francis in Rome for a historic and first-of-its-kind papal interview for an American journalist.
She was named anchor and managing editor of the “CBS Evening News” in 2019, O’Donnell led CBS News’ flagship broadcast from Washington, D.C., becoming the only network evening news anchor based in the nation’s capital. Previously, O’Donnell was co-host of “CBS This Morning” since 2012. Before that, she served as CBS News’ chief White House correspondent covering the administration of President Barack Obama.
Most recently, O’Donnell has taken CBS News and shows like the “CBS Evening News” across the world to provide viewers with a first-hand look at some of the most important stories of our time. She was also the first American journalist to travel to the Red Sea to report on the rising tensions in the Middle East. Additionally, O’Donnell also reported from Tel Aviv immediately after the Hamas terror attacks and continues to cover the Israeli-Hamas War. She was the first anchor to visit Maui after the deadliest wildfires in the U.S. in over a century. Over the past year, O’Donnell has interviewed major figures shaping politics, culture and foreign affairs, including presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, retired General Mark Milley, media mogul Oprah Winfrey and global icon Dolly Parton, among others.
Norah O’Donnell CBS News
As the anchor of the “CBS Evening News,” O’Donnell has further conducted interviews with newsmakers in Washington and beyond, including President Joe Biden’s first interview since taking office. In addition, she also had an exclusive sit-down with Vice President Mike Pence after the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, the first-ever interview with the four highest-ranking women in the United States military, an exclusive interview with a former staffer for New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo who alleged sexual harassment by the governor, and more.
Moreover, O’Donnell has sat down with some of the world’s most influential leaders. In September 2019, O’Donnell interviewed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his first interview following the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Furthermore, she also interviewed the Crown Prince for 60 Minutes in 2018. O’Donnell is the only western television journalist to have interviewed the Saudi Crown Prince twice. She has also interviewed South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the Duke of Sussex Prince Harry, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, and the Dalai Lama.
In addition, she is committed to profiling the communities and individuals behind the day’s biggest headlines, in what she calls “hard news with heart,” For example, she has reported extensively on the U.S. military, including launching the “CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell”‘s “Profiles in Service,” a series highlighting stories of veterans, members of the military and Americans from coast to coast who are giving back to their communities. O’Donnell also led the development of “Heart of America,” a daily segment in the “CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell” that highlighted the Americans that inspire and provide hope from every corner of the country.
Norah O’Donnell NBC News
O’Donnell has been a recipient of multiple honors and awards. Before joining CBS News, she worked for more than a decade at NBC News and covered the Pentagon, Congress, and the White House. At NBC, O’Donnell reported from the Pentagon on 11 September, 2001, and received a second Sigma Delta Chi Award for Breaking News Coverage for a “Dateline NBC” story titled “D.C. In Crisis.” In the months following the attacks, she traveled extensively with then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, including on his first trip to Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks.
Prior to covering the White House, O’Donnell was NBC News congressional correspondent, reporting on the lead-up to the Iraq War. She began her career in journalism as a print reporter for Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, for which she covered the impeachment of President Bill Clinton and traveled the country covering congressional elections.
O’Donnell is a firm believer in empowering women and sits on the board of directors of the International Women’s Media Foundation. She is currently writing a book on a female-focused retelling of American history that will feature women who have been forgotten from our country’s narrative. The book will be published by Ballantine in the first half of 2026.
Norah O’Donnell Early Life
She was born in a military family in Washington D.C. but raised in several places such as San Antonio, Texas, Landstuhl, Germany and Seoul, Korea. O’Donnell attended Douglas MacArthur High School in San Antonio, Texas and graduated in 1991. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from Georgetown University in 1995 and a also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University graduating in 2003.
O’Donnell resides in Washington D.C. and New York City’s Upper West Side neighborhood with her husband, restaurateur Geoff Tracy (owner of D.C. restaurant Chef Geoff’s). They tied the knot in June 2001 and met while attending Georgetown together.
Norah O’Donnell Age
O’Donnell was born Norah Morahan O’Donnell in Washington D.C. on 23 January, 1974 and is now 51 years old as of 2025.
Norah O’Donnell Height
She stands at an average height of 1.7m tall.
Norah O’Donnell Education
O’Donnell attended Douglas MacArthur High School in San Antonio, Texas and graduated in 1991. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from Georgetown University in 1995 and a also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University graduating in 2003.
Norah O’Donnell Family
She was born in Washington D.C. to her parents Noreen Bernadette (O’Kane) and Francis Lawrence O’Donnell, a medical doctor and U.S. Army officer. Her parents are both of Irish descent, with roots in Derry, Belfast and County Donegal (meaning she is descendant from both sides of the Irish Border). Three of her grandparents were immigrants, and her maternal grandfather lived in the U.S. illegally for 16 years. When O’Donnell was three, her family moved to San Antonio, Texas and when she was 10, the family spent two years in Seoul, Korea, living in Yongsan Garrison as her father was assigned to work there. While an elementary student, O’Donnell started her career in broadcasting by giving videotaped English lessons for the Korean Educational Development Institute .The family moved back to San Antonio, Texas where she graduated high school.
Norah O’Donnell Husband
O’Donnell resides in Washington D.C. and New York City’s Upper West Side neighborhood with her husband, restaurateur Geoff Tracy (owner of D.C. restaurant Chef Geoff’s). They tied the knot in June 2001 and met while attending Georgetown together.
Norah O’Donnell Children
She is a mother of 3 children, twins Grace and Henry born on 20 May, 2007 and another daughter Riley Norah Tracy born on 5 July, 2008. O’Donnell said that her daughter’s first name had been suggested by Tim Russert, who died three weeks prior to Riley’s birth. O’Donnell and her husband, Tracy made a cookbook for parents titled Baby Love: Healthy, Easy, Delicious Meals for Your Baby and Toddler, released on 31 August, 2010.
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