Gayle King's tenure on CBS Mornings may be nearing its sunset after more than a decade of gracing our mornings with her presence. According to various reports, it is anticipated that once her current contract expires in May 2026, the icon will bid adieu to the morning show's anchor desk, as per Variety. However, this move doesn't necessarily signify a complete departure from CBS; insiders suggest that she could embark on a new role within the CBS News division, potentially even creating her own content. This shift mirrors the trajectory of Norah O’Donnell, who recently exited her anchor chair on CBS Evening News to become a senior correspondent and produce original projects for the network.
CBS, however, is playing coy on any imminent decisions. A spokesperson told Page Six, "There have been no discussions with Gayle about her contract that runs through May 2026. She is a truly valued part of CBS, and we eagerly anticipate engaging with her about the future." Nonetheless, sources also noted that King's next steps are still in the works, with one insider claiming that King has "very different politics" from the newly appointed CBS News editor in chief, Bari Weiss, who has already started reshaping the organization.
In May, King agreed to a one-year contract extension, keeping her in the morning slot through next summer. She reportedly accepted a pay reduction, moving from $13 million to $10 million. Her potential exit coincides with major changes at CBS News following Paramount's $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media.
CBS Saturday Morning is reportedly undergoing a complete overhaul under Weiss and network president Tom Cibrowski, with co-anchors Michelle Miller, Dana Jacobson, and executive producer Brian Applegate already informed that they will not be returning. The shifts extend beyond morning programming; CBS recently cancelled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which will end in May, and confirmed that CBS Evening News anchor John Dickerson will also depart.
For now, King remains on air, but her future at CBS may be headed in a new direction as the network continues to restructure.
