Anderson Cooper is set to exit “60 Minutes” after nearly two decades with the long-running CBS News program.
“Being a correspondent at ’60 Minutes’ has been one of the highlights of my career,” Cooper said in a statement on Monday. “I got to tell amazing stories, and work with some of the best producers, editors and camera crews in the business.”
The popular journo has appeared on “60 Minutes” since 2007 by way of a deal between Paramount Skydance-owned CBS News and Warner Bros. Discovery’s CNN.
“For nearly twenty years, I’ve been able to balance my jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have little kids now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible, while they want to spend time with me,” Cooper, father to sons Wyatt, 4, and Sebastian, 3, concluded. He added that he will continue his work at CNN, where he anchors “Anderson Cooper 360°” and co-hosts the annual New Year’s Eve special alongside Andy Cohen.
He renewed his CNN contract in December 2025.
Coopers’ departure marks the latest staffing shakeup at CBS since the arrival of the network’s new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss. Her tenure began in October, after Paramount Skydance purchased her news and opinion site, The Free Press, earlier this year. She remains editor of The Free Press while also overseeing CBS News.
In a statement, CBS said it was thankful that Cooper had “taken ’60 Minutes’ viewers on journeys to faraway places, told us unforgettable stories, reported consequential investigations and interviewed many prominent figures.”
“We’re grateful to him for dedicating so much of his life to this broadcast, and understand the importance of spending more time with family.” it continued. “’60 Minutes’ will be here if he ever wants to return.”
While the exact timing of his exit remains unclear, he is expected to finish the current broadcast season, which ends in May.
With New Wire Services
