Why Did Norah O’Donnell Leave CBS Evening News? Here’s What She’s Doing Next!

Norah O’Donnell has said goodbye to CBS Evening News.

The longtime news anchor signed off from the show on Thursday night (January 23) and even got a surprise from Oprah Winfrey during the broadcast.

“You have so much to be proud of,” Oprah said in a pre-taped message. “Your work as the anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News has not only won awards, but more importantly, has made such a difference and informed our nation.”

So, why did she leave the show? And what is she doing next?

Norah explained her exit in a statement back in July 2024.

“After this year’s election, I’ve decided I will be leaving my role as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News to take on a new position at the network. We just celebrated an amazing five years together. I love what I do, and I am so fortunate to work with the best journalists and people in the business,” Norah said. “There’s so much work to be proud of! But I have spent 12 years in the anchor chair here at CBS News, connected to a daily broadcast and the rigors of a relentless news cycle. It’s time to do something different. This presidential election will be my seventh as a journalist, and for many of us in this business we tend to look at our careers in terms of these milestone events.”

Norah announced back then that she had committed to staying with CBS News as a contributor to all of the news broadcasts, including Evening News and 60 Minutes.

Norah confirmed her continued presence on CBS while signing off.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for trusting us and welcoming hard news with heart into your homes. I will miss you, too, but I will see you on CBS news programs, including Mornings, 60 Minutes, Sunday Morning and in prime time. So, for the final time, that’s tonight’s CBS Evening News. I owe it all to everybody I work with honestly. Love you, good night,” she said on her final show.