Co-Anchor, “Good Morning America”
Robin Roberts is co-anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Under her leadership, the broadcast has won four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Morning Program.
In 2014, Roberts was honored with the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, and named one of Glamour’s Women of the Year. She has also been on the Hollywood Reporter’s New York Power List multiple times. She was voted the “Most Trusted Person on Television” by a Reader’s Digest poll in 2013.
Roberts launched her new production company, Rock’n Robin Productions in September 2014, which creates original broadcast and digital programming for ABC and other networks, ranging from informational shows and documentaries, to lifestyle reality series and live special events. The company’s website rocknrobin.tv, features behind the scenes footage and photos from all of Roberts’ various projects as well as a new blog, N’Courage, where Roberts and her staff recognize individuals who despite extraordinary odds have the courage to thrive and encourage others to do the same.
When not traveling around the world covering breaking news events, Roberts is at “GMA’s” studio in Times Square conducting interviews with a diverse group of newsmakers. Her headline-making interviews include President Barack Obama on his support of gay marriage, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, First Lady Michelle Obama, Amanda Knox, US women’s soccer star Hope Solo and NBA Superstar LeBron James. Her exclusive interview with Cleveland kidnapping survivors Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus will air in April 2015 and interview with Taya Kyle, wife of American Sniper Chris Kyle, will air in May 2015. She has also conducted interviews with countless musicians, authors, athletes and celebrities.
Roberts has also done extensive reporting around the globe. She has traveled to Brussels with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; to the Middle East with former First Lady Laura Bush, who was on a mission to raise awareness about breast cancer in the Muslim world; to London for the historic wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton; to Africa with former President Bill Clinton for a first-hand look at the AIDS crisis in that part of the world; to Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake; to South Africa to report on the World Cup; and to St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City where she was greeted by Pope Francis.
In ABC News’ coverage of the 2008 presidential race, Roberts played an active role. She reported live from Washington, DC on Inauguration Day and was the first journalist to interview President Barack Obama after he was sworn in as President.
In November 2009, Roberts hosted her first “In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts: All Access Nashville” network primetime special. The annual event takes viewers to Nashville, where Roberts interviews some of country music’s biggest stars. November 2014 marked her fifth year hosting the popular special.
In February 2009, Roberts made her red carpet debut as co-host of the ABC Television Network’s Oscar pre-show, reporting live from the 81st annual Academy Awards. She co-hosted ABC’s Oscar pre-show again in 2011 and reported live from the red carpet for the Academy Awards in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
In 2010, Roberts co-wrote a song, “A Beautiful Day,” with Grammy winning soul artist India.Arie for her album Testimony: Vol. 2, Love& Politics.
Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2007. Five years later, she was faced with another health battle. In June 2012, she was diagnosed with MDS or myelodysplastic syndrome, a disease of the blood and bone marrow once known as pre-leukemia. Roberts underwent a bone marrow transplant in September of that year, her sister Sally-Ann was a perfect match. Roberts story triggered an outpouring of support from across the nation. She joined forces with Be the Match to inform the public about the need for more donors, and since her diagnosis over 56,000 people have joined the registry. Roberts made a triumphant return to the anchor desk on February 20, 2013, five months to the day since she underwent the transplant.
Her courageous and public battle has been recognized with awards and honors from organizations around the country, including The Susan G. Komen Foundation, The Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program, and Gilda’s Club, a non-profit organization founded by the late Joel Siegel. Roberts was also honored with a George Foster Peabody Award, Gracie Award and CINE Award for “Robin’s Journey,” reports on her MDS that inspired hundreds of potential bone marrow donors to register. Additionally, Roberts was recognized with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY’s in July 2013 for the strength and courage she has displayed throughout her life and career. She is also active as a speaker for charity and civic functions.
In 2001, Roberts was named a “Louisiana Legend” by Louisiana Public Broadcasting. She was also named to the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup Advisory Board in January 1998, a board that includes Henry Kissinger, William Simon, Christine Whitman and Lamar Hunt. In 1994 she was inducted in the Women’s Institute on Sport and the Education Foundation’s Hall of Fame.
In August 2005, Roberts found her personal and professional lives collide when Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast – a part of the country Roberts called home for most of her life. In the days following, she traveled to the hurricane zone and reported live amid the devastation of the storm. She also launched “GMA” Gets It Done,” a year-long effort to rebuild her hometown of Pass Christian, Mississippi. She has returned to the Gulf Coast numerous times in the ensuing years to update viewers on how residents and businesses in the region are recovering post-Katrina.
Roberts was named co-anchor of “Good Moring America” in May 2005. She began contributing to the morning program in June 1995 and has worked in broadcasting for more than 20 years.
From 1990 to 2005, Roberts was a contributor to ESPN, where she was one of the network’s most versatile commentators. Her assignments there included hosting “SportsCenter” and contributing to “NFL PrimeTime.” She began hosting “In the Game with Robin Roberts” in May, 2012, an eight episode program with Roberts carrying on intimate conversations with groundbreaking women and men in sports. The program is featured on ESPN’s Sports Center, espnW.com, and ABCNews.com.
Prior to her work at ESPN, Roberts was a sports reporter and anchor at WAGA-TV in Atlanta. She was also a morning personality on WVEE-FM, Atlanta’s top-rated morning show. From 1986 to 1988, she served as sports anchor and reporter for WSMV-TV in Nashville, TN where she won the “Nashville Scene” Sportscaster of the Year Award in 1987. She also worked as a sports anchor and reporter at WLOX-TV in Biloxi, MS from 1984 to 1986 and WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg, MS from 1983 to 1984.
Roberts began her broadcasting career while in college at WHMD/WFPR Radio in Hammond, LA, where she was the sports director. She also served as a special assignment sports reporter for KSLU-FM in 1982.
In 1983 Roberts graduated cum laude from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. She was a standout performer on the women’s basketball team, ending her career as one of the school’s all-time leading scorers (1,446 points) and rebounder (1,034). She is one of only three Lady Lions to score 1,000 career points and grab 1,000 career rebounds. During her senior season, she averaged a career high 15.2 points per game. In fact, to honor Roberts, the University retired her jersey in February 2011 and in 2012, Roberts was named an inductee to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
In March 2007, Roberts’ first book, From the Heart: 7 Rules to Live By, was published by Hyperion. An updated version of the book, including an additional chapter on her battle with breast cancer, was released in 2008. In April 2012, Roberts collaborated with her mother Lucimarian Tolliver Roberts in “My Story, My Song: Mother-Daughter Reflections on Life and Faith” published by Upper Room Books. Co-written with Missy Buchanan, the book features pivotal moments in her mother’s life demonstrating how faith has provided strength and hope to face life’s challenges. In a latest memoir “Everybody’s Got Something,” Roberts tells the amazing story of her courageous battle against a life-threatening illness, the life lessons she continues to learn, and her inspiring return to the GMA anchor desk.
Roberts is a native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and currently resides in New York City. Follow Robin on Twitter: @RobinRoberts.