Gayle King Anticipated to Depart CBS Mornings Next Year
Gayle King is reportedly anticipated to leave CBS Mornings in 2026 as the network undergoes a transformation following its recent merger with Skydance Media.
Variety reported on Thursday, October 30, that King, 70, is expected to step down as an anchor next year. Her contract is set to run until May 2026, although there may be opportunities for her to take on a different role within the news division amidst the ongoing changes at CBS.
A CBS News representative informed Us Weekly in a statement, “There have been no discussions with Gayle regarding her contract, which runs through May 2026. She is a highly valued member of CBS, and we look forward to discussing her future with her.”
Us has reached out to King for a statement.
King has served as an anchor on CBS Mornings since joining the program in 2012, prior to which she was a correspondent for Good Morning America.
After the merger with Paramount and Skydance Media earlier this year, CBS has seen numerous staff changes. Skydance Media initially acquired National Amusements Inc., which controlled Paramount Global. The Federal Communications Commission approved the merger in July, with the companies officially merging the following month.
David Ellison was appointed as the Chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance. He subsequently named Bari Weiss as the editor in chief of CBS News.
“We are excited to welcome Bari and The Free Press to Paramount and CBS News. Bari is a proven advocate for independent, principled journalism, and I am confident her entrepreneurial spirit and editorial vision will invigorate CBS News,” Ellison remarked in a statement at that time. “This initiative is part of Paramount’s broader strategy to modernize content and enhance its connection with audiences globally.”
In the past month, significant layoffs have occurred at CBS, impacting thousands of employees. Earlier this week, CBS Evening News anchor John Dickerson announced his departure from the program after nearly two decades, effective at the end of the year.
“Local news: At the end of this year, I will be leaving CBS, sixteen years after I first sat in as Face the Nation anchor,” the journalist, 57, shared via Instagram, accompanied by career photos on Monday, October 27. “I am incredibly thankful for all that CBS has offered me — the work, the audience’s attention, and the honor of being part of the network’s legacy — and I’m grateful to my colleagues who have helped me grow as a journalist and a person. I will miss you all.”
Dickerson did not specify the reasons for his departure or any future plans.
Another significant change CBS implemented this year was the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The long-running late-night program is set to conclude in May 2026.
“It’s not just the end of our show; it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS. I won’t be replaced,” Colbert stated to viewers in July. “This is all just going away. I want to extend my gratitude to the folks at CBS for being fantastic partners, as well as to the audience who have joined us every night, both here and around the world.”
Despite the cancellation announcement, Colbert went on to win an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series.
“You often realize how much you love something only when you sense you might lose it,” he reflected in his acceptance speech. “Ten years later, in September of 2025, I have never cherished my country more profoundly. God bless America. Stay strong, be brave, and if the elevator tries to take you down, go crazy and punch a higher floor!”
