Gayle King's CBS Future: Rumors Suggest She Is Saying 'Goodbye' to "CBS Mornings"

The Breakdown: Rumors about Gayle King’s alleged exit from CBS News have been swirling for months. But don’t believe everything you read on the internet.

Since striding onto the CBS News scene in 2011, Gayle King has built a legacy. As co-host of CBS Mornings, she’s delivered hard-hitting journalism and heartfelt moments alike, transforming the network’s flagship morning show into a destination for stories that matter. Gayle joined CBS News in October 2011, immediately making waves. She immediately landed high-profile sit-downs—securing exclusive interviews with former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama alongside their matriarch, Marian Robinson.

She didn’t just stop at political heavyweights; she coaxed candid conversations from entertainment icons like Bruce Springsteen, Dave Chappelle, and Bradley Cooper. And when R. Kelly exploded during their 2019 interview, Gayle stayed cool under pressure, turning what could’ve been chaos into one of the year’s most viral news moments.

Gayle’s ability to blend hard news with big personalities helped CBS This Morning climb in the ratings until it rebranded as CBS Mornings in September 2021. She struck a balance between breaking stories and human-interest features—co-anchoring live from trauma sites like the aftermath of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando and the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown.

However, rumors have begun to swirl about Gayle’s time at CBS – as fans worry that she is leaving the network.

Gayle’s exit from CBS News looks like a rumor that won’t be coming true anytime soon. After weeks of whispers that her 13-year run at the network might be ending, the journalist inked a new deal that keeps her front and center on CBS Mornings through summer 2026. “It’s a very useful platform for Gayle,” an insider told Page Six. “[I think] she would certainly want to continue through the midterm [elections in November 2026].”

Sources say she agreed to take a pay cut—from $13 million down to $10 million—so she could stay put while Paramount Global figures out its next moves, including the potential $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media. CBS has been under pressure lately. Ratings for CBS Mornings dipped sharply—down 9% in total viewers and 30% among the coveted 25–54 demo compared to last year—leaving King’s show trailing behind ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today.

At the same time, Paramount faces a $20 billion lawsuit from Donald Trump over a controversial 60 Minutes segment. Internally, Wendy McMahon, the network’s news chief, stepped down over strategic disagreements, fueling speculation that high-profile anchors like Gayle might be next to leave, according to The New York Post.

A Yahoo Entertainment report hinted Gayle might be “set to quit,” though it offered no concrete details beyond noting her one-year deal ends later this year. Despite the drama, Gayle is living her best life.

In February, Gayle grabbed headlines by joining Blue Origin’s all-women spaceflight, making her one of the first female journalists to rocket into orbit. That flight got a ratings bump for CBS Mornings, but it turned out to be fleeting, and her pay package became a target amid ongoing cost-cutting at CBS News.