CBS News has officially confirmed that veteran anchor Gayle King will depart her role as co-host of CBS Mornings when her contract expires in May 2026, marking the end of a 15-year run that helped redefine the network’s morning franchise. The announcement, which aligns with reports of a sweeping restructuring at the news division, comes as Paramount Global integrates with Skydance Media, prompting high-profile exits and format shifts across the board.

King, 70, has been the steadfast face of CBS’s morning program since its 2012 relaunch as CBS This Morning – rebranded to CBS Mornings in 2021. Alongside co-hosts Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burleson, she’s helmed segments blending hard-hitting interviews with lifestyle features, drawing an average of 2.3 million viewers daily. Her tenure survived multiple co-anchor changes, including the departures of Charlie Rose in 2017 amid scandal and Norah O’Donnell in January 2025 for the Evening News. Yet, despite her star power, CBS Mornings has lagged behind NBC’s Today and ABC’s Good Morning America in ratings, a gap executives have long sought to close.

The confirmation arrived via a terse CBS statement on October 30, 2025: “There have been no discussions with Gayle about her contract that runs through May 2026. She’s a truly valued part of CBS, and we look forward to engaging with her about the future.” While denying immediate negotiations, the network effectively acknowledged the contract’s end date as King’s last broadcast, fueling speculation she’ll transition to a contributor role or produce original content. Sources close to the matter tell Variety that King is “open to staying in the family” but seeks more flexibility after years of 4 a.m. wake-ups.

King herself addressed the buzz on October 31 outside the CBS Broadcast Center in Manhattan, telling TMZ: “From what I’m being told inside this building… they want me here, they like the job I’m doing, I like the job I’m doing!” Her upbeat tone masked the emotional weight; insiders say she’s “gutted” by the timing but excited for “what’s next.” In a SiriusXM radio spot that afternoon, she quipped: “I’ve got 13 more months of coffee and chaos – let’s make ’em count.”

The exit caps a turbulent year for CBS News. Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance, finalized in August 2025, has ushered in cost-cutting and ideological shifts. New editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, known for her work at The Free Press, is steering the division toward “apolitical” content, per NPR reports. Layoffs hit hard: Norah O’Donnell stepped down from Evening News in January, transitioning to senior correspondent; John Dickerson announced his departure by year’s end; and CBS Saturday Morning co-anchors Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson were let go October 27. A streaming extension of CBS Mornings was axed, and whispers of the flagship show’s overhaul swirl – potentially shorter runtimes or a talent refresh.

For King, the move feels personal. As Oprah Winfrey’s longtime best friend and O, The Oprah Magazine editor-at-large, she’s balanced broadcasting with high-profile gigs: interviewing Michelle Obama, moderating the 2020 Democratic debate, and launching her SiriusXM podcast Gayle King in the House. Her salary – reportedly $12 million annually – made her CBS’s highest-paid anchor, but ratings stagnation (third place with 2.1 million viewers in Q3 2025) likely factored in. “Gayle’s irreplaceable, but mornings aren’t paying off,” a network exec told The Hollywood Reporter anonymously. “She’s primed for primetime specials or a 60 Minutes expansion.”

Fans and colleagues flooded social media with tributes. #ThankYouGayle trended with 1.8 million posts, featuring montages of her iconic moments: the 2019 R. Kelly interview that went viral (18 million YouTube views), her tearful Oprah sit-downs, and lighthearted segments like “What’s Trending” with Burleson. “Gayle didn’t just anchor – she uplifted,” tweeted co-host Dokoupil. Oprah posted a throwback photo: “From book club to broadcast booth, you’ve been my rock. The world needs more Gayle.”

Critics hail her as a trailblazer. Variety’s Cynthia Littleton wrote: “King’s authenticity turned a third-place show into a cultural touchstone.” Yet, some question the network’s strategy. “Dumping talent amid a merger? Bold, but risky,” opined CNN’s Brian Stelter on his podcast. Ratings for CBS Mornings dipped 8% post-layoffs, though King’s solo segments – like her September profile on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour impact – spiked 15%.

Looking ahead, King’s options abound. She’s eyed for a Netflix true-crime docuseries, building on her 60 Minutes investigative chops. A return to O Magazine in digital form? Possible, especially with Oprah’s Harpo Productions eyeing expansions. Or a syndication deal, à la Kelly Ripa’s post-Live pivot. “I’m not retiring – I’m retooling,” King joked on The View appearance October 31, where co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar roasted her “eternal youth” routine.

CBS, meanwhile, scrambles for stability. Interim plans for Mornings include guest hosts like Margaret Brennan, but no permanent replacement is named. The network’s pivot under Skydance – led by David Ellison – emphasizes “engaging, non-divisive” fare, per internal memos. Weiss’s hire signals a right-leaning tilt, drawing fire from progressives who credit King for spotlighting social issues like racial justice post-2020.

As May 2026 approaches, King’s final sign-off looms bittersweet. Will it be a tearful montage, à la O’Donnell’s emotional farewell? Or a star-studded roast with Oprah and Burleson? One thing’s certain: Gayle King’s voice – warm, witty, unwavering – won’t fade quietly. In an era of fleeting fame, she’s the anchor who held steady, reminding us why mornings matter.

From the broadcast center’s bustling halls to living rooms nationwide, her legacy endures: Not just news, but connection. Tune in – while you can.