Robin Roberts

Robin Roberts Headshot

Host • Journalist • Broadcaster

Birth Date: November 23, 1960

Age: 63 years old

Acclaimed television news personality Robin Roberts first broke ground as the first African-American host of ESPN's long-running "SportsCenter" (1979- ) before gaining even higher esteem as the host of ABC's "Wide World of Sports" (ABC, 1961-1998) and later "Good Morning America" (ABC, 1975- ). A former women's basketball star in college, Roberts worked her way up from regional television stations in the South to the overnight host of "SportsCenter" in 1990. The network was immediately impressed by both her professionalism and breadth of knowledge, and advanced her to hosting duties on "NFL PrimeTime Live." In 1996, she took over the anchor desk at "Wide World of Sports," but sought to expand her horizons beyond the sports market. An occasional contributing position at "GMA" blossomed into the anchor chair in 2005, which led to acclaimed coverage of Hurricane Katrina, among other stories. Her rocket rise to the top of her profession was halted briefly when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007; she successfully overcame that hurdle, only to be faced with pre-leukemia in 2012. Throughout her professional triumphs and personal hurdles, Roberts epitomized the intelligence, expertise and poise required for all great television journalists.

Born Robin René Roberts on Nov. 23, 1960 in Pass Christian, MS, she was the youngest of four children by Air Force colonel and Tuskegee Airman Lawrence E. Roberts and his wife, Lucimarian Roberts. An older sister, Sally-Ann, later established her own news career as an anchor for WWL-TV in New Orleans, LA. The product of a strict but supportive upbringing, Roberts excelled at both academics and extra-curricular activities, graduating as the salutatorian of Pass Christian High School's class of 1979 while excelling at basketball and tennis, among other sports. She then graduated cum laude in 1983 with a degree in communication from Southeastern Louisiana University while capturing the titles of the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder as part of the women's basketball team, the Lady Lions. In her senior year, she averaged a career-high 15.2 points per game.

Roberts' broadcasting career began while in college at WHMD radio in Hammond, LA, where she served as the station's sports director. Immediately after graduation, she landed her first professional job as a sports anchor and reporter for WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg, MS. Stints in Biloxi, Mississippi and Nashville, TN, where she won the Nashville Scene Sportscaster of the Year Award in 1987, preceded her tenure in Atlanta, GA, where she worked as a sports anchor for WAGA-TV while also serving as a radio personality for the city's top-rated morning show on WVEE-FM. Roberts had been contacted by ESPN with a signing offer as early as 1987, but declined, citing her need to gain more television experience before joining a major entity like the famed sports network.

In1990, ESPN offered Roberts the opportunity to host its overnight "SportsCenter" broadcasts. In addition to making history at the network as its first African-American anchorwoman, she also proved such an informed commentator that within a month of arriving at ESPN, she was anchoring "NFL Primetime" (ESPN, 1987- ). In 1994, Roberts was given her own ESPN series, "In the SportsLight" (1994), which hosted such guests as Bill Cosby and professional basketball player-turned-U.S. Senator Bill Bradley. Two years later, she achieved what many considered to be the apex of her sports broadcasting profession by becoming the anchor of ABC's long-running "Wide World of Sports," making her the first anchor in television history to host both programs. Roberts covered a diverse array of sports during her six-year tenure with ESPN, including the U.S. Figure Skating Championship, tennis, and short track speed skating. She also became the first woman to host a National Football League pre-game show. Roberts reaped considerable rewards for her efforts, including two Emmys, induction into the Women's Institute on Sports, and the Education Foundation's Hall of Fame. But shortly before her contract with ESPN expired in 2001, she expressed a desire to shift the focus of her career from sports to news coverage.

Two years later, she began reading the news on "Good Morning America," for which she had worked as a contributor since 1995. By 2005, she was sharing anchor duties with Diane Sawyer and Charles Gibson. "GMA" afforded Roberts the opportunity to cover some of the major stories of the decade, from the 2008 presidential race to the H1N1 swine flu outbreak, for which she reported from inside the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. Perhaps her most personal story came in 2005 when she returned to the Gulf Coast to cover the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. After learning of the damage suffered by her hometown, Roberts launched the rebuilding initiative "'GMA' Gets It Done," which aided relief efforts in Pass Christian.

Two years later, she allowed morning viewers to see an even more personal side when she revealed during a live "Good Morning America" broadcast that she had been diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. She returned to the anchor desk after successfully undergoing surgery that same year and had no qualms about being seen bald publicly after her chemo. For her efforts to bring awareness to breast cancer issues, Roberts received numerous awards from related organizations, including the Susan G. Komen Institute. She also published a book, From the Heart: 7 Rules to Live By (2007), which detailed her life and early career. An updated version, which included a chapter on her breast cancer struggle, was released the following year.

In 2009, Roberts expanded her position within ABC's reporting to include co-hosting duties for the red carpet coverage of the network's Oscar pre-show, as well as the first of two primetime specials, one of which featured the first interview with Janet Jackson after the death of her brother, Michael. In 2011, she was announced as an inductee into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame for her role in expanding the visibility of the sport through her news coverage. The flood of positive news was tempered somewhat the following year when Roberts announced on "GMA" that she had developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a blood-related medical condition also known as pre-leukemia which was reportedly a side effect of her cancer treatment. Roberts added that she would undergo an aggressive regimen to beat the disease, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant from her sister, who proved to be an almost exact match. In December 2013, Roberts confirmed what had become something of an open secret, publicly revealing her decade-long relationship with massage therapist Amber Laign on her Facebook page.

By Paul Gaita

Credits

A Conversation With Robin Roberts and Jenifer Lewis

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2024

The Harlem HellfightersStream

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The Year: Countdown to 2024

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The Year: 2023

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Kerry Washington: Thicker Than Water -- A Conversation With Robin Roberts

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The Year: 2022

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Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry -- A Conversation With Robin Roberts

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20/20 Presents Black Panther: In Search of Wakanda

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Impact X NightlineStream

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Special Report

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Sherri

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PRIDE: To Be Seen -- A Soul of a Nation Presentation

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The First Lady of Ukraine: Olena Zelenska, Robin Roberts Reporting

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The Kardashians -- An ABC News Special

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24 Months That Changed the World -- A Special Edition of 20/20

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The Year: 2021

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Voices Magnified: Variety's Salute to Service

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Last Chance Transplant

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9/11 Twenty Years Later: America Remembers

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Women of 9/11: A Special Edition of 20/20 With Robin Roberts

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Turning the Tables with Robin RobertsStream

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Turning the Tables with Robin RobertsStream

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Tuskegee Airmen: Legacy of CourageStream

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Tuskegee Airmen: Legacy of CourageStream

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MahaliaStream

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Breakaway

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The Year: 2020

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Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris One-on-One With Robin Roberts

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Robin Roberts Thrivership Awards

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Robin Roberts Thrivership Awards

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Country Strong 2020: Countdown to the CMA Awards -- An ABC News Special

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American Valor: We Stand Together

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Tell Me More With Kelly Corrigan

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Shark Attack: The Paige Winter Story With Robin Roberts

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Shark Attack: The Paige Winter Story With Robin Roberts

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The Ticket: The First Interview -- A Special Edition of 20/20

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Hamilton: History Has Its Eyes on You

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Variety's Power of Women: Frontline Heroes

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GMA3: What You Need to Know

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America in Pain: What Comes Next? (An ABC News Special)

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After the Dance With Stephen A. Smith

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Born Wild: Earth Day Live

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Kobe Bryant: The Death of a Legend

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Beyond the Headlines: The Kamiyah Mobley Story With Robin Roberts

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Beyond the Headlines: The Kamiyah Mobley Story With Robin Roberts

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Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story

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The Year: 2019

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Dolly Parton: Here She Comes Again!

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Harry & Meghan: An African Journey

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Tamron Hall

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2019

The Lion King: Can You Feel the Love Tonight With Robin Roberts

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2019

The Lion King: Can You Feel the Love Tonight With Robin Roberts

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2019 NFL Draft

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2019

Selma Blair: The Interview

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Als Baby entführt - Die Geschichte von Kamiyah Mobley

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Als Baby entführt - Die Geschichte von Kamiyah Mobley

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The Year: 2018

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2018: In Memoriam

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2018: In Memoriam

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Country Music's Biggest Stars: In the Spotlight With Robin Roberts

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American Valor: A Salute to Our Heroes

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Special Olympics 50 Years of Changing the Game

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The ESPYS: Extras

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The Royal Wedding: A Special Edition of Good Morning America

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For the PeopleStream

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The Year: 2017

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The Year in Memoriam 2017

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Living Every Day: Luke Bryan

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Live with Kelly and Ryan

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Oscars Opening Ceremony: Live From the Red Carpet

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The LEGO NINJAGO Movie

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Game Changers With Robin Roberts

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The Year: 2016

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ABC News Your Voice Your Vote - Election Night 2016

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All Access Nashville: Celebrating the CMA Awards With Robin Roberts

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Harry

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The $100,000 PyramidStream

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Celebrity PageStream

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Oscars Opening Ceremony: Live From the Red Carpet

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Disney Parks Unforgettable Christmas Celebration

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2015

The Year: 2015

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2015

Countdown to the CMA Awards: Country's Greatest Crossover Hits With Robin Roberts

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2015

Katrina: 10 Years After the Storm With Robin Roberts

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2015

Katrina: 10 Years After the Storm With Robin Roberts

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2015

Countdown to the Special Olympics World Games With Robin Roberts

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2015

Oscars Opening Ceremony: Live From the Red Carpet

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Countdown to the Oscars: 15 Movies That Changed American Cinema

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EmpireStream

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Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration

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The Year: 2014

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Thank You, America! With Robin Roberts

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Countdown to the CMA Awards: 15 Songs That Changed Country Music With Robin Roberts

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The Meredith Vieira Show

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Nine for IX Shorts

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Oscars Red Carpet Live!

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Countdown to the Oscars

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The Year

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Nelson Mandela Memorial Service

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In the Spotlight With Robin Roberts: Countdown to the CMA Awards

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Branded

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NashvilleStream

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Katie

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Live! With Kelly and Michael

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Live! With Kelly and Michael

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TV's Most Dynamic Duos: Presented by The Paley Center for Media

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Oscars Red Carpet Live

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In the Spotlight With Robin Roberts: All Access Nashville

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Last Man StandingStream

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The Chew

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Oscars Red Carpet Live

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In the Spotlight With Robin Roberts: All Access Nashville

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Hannah Montana Forever

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In the Spotlight With Robin Roberts: Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville

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30 for 30Stream

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The Joy Behar Show

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2009

The Dr. Oz Show

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The Oscars Red Carpet 2009

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Stand Up to Cancer

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The Wendy Williams Show

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2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee

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Rachael Ray ShowStream

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2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee

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Dancing With the StarsStream

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The African American Experience

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Tavis Smiley

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The Ellen DeGeneres Show

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Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

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Live With Regis and Kelly

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The Daily Show With Jon StewartStream

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In Performance at The White House

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The View

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Access Hollywood

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Extra

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Entertainment Tonight

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News aboutRobin Roberts

Regina King on 'Good Morning America'

Regina King Opens Up About Son’s Death & Grief

Christina Applegate on GMA

Christina Applegate Gives Update on Her Multiple Sclerosis Battle

Michael Strahan, Robin Roberts, and George Stephanopolous hosting 'Good Morning America' on ABC

Who Are TV’s Best Morning Show Co-Anchors? (POLL)

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Happy National Donut Day! See Bethenny Frankel & More TV Stars Celebrate (PHOTOS)

Amber Ruffin, Arsenio Hall, and Oprah Winfrey

8 Black Talk Show Hosts Who Changed The Face Of TV Forever

Robin Roberts attends the TIME 100 Health Summit
Fall Preview

‘Last Chance Transplant’ Highlights ‘Truly Inspiring’ Medical Professionals

Who Is Your Favorite ‘Jeopardy!’ Guest Host So Far? (POLL)

Josie Totah on Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts
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‘Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts’: Josie Totah Opens Up About ‘SBTB’s Trans Representation (VIDEO)

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‘Turning the Tables With Robin Roberts’: First Trailer of Disney+ Show (VIDEO)

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‘Jeopardy!’ Adds LeVar Burton, Robin Roberts & More as Final Season 37 Guest Hosts

Tuskegee Airmen
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Robin Roberts on Her Dad’s Connection to ‘Tuskegee Airmen: Legacy of Courage’ on History

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‘Shark Attack: The Paige Winter Story’ Recounts an Inspiring Rescue & Recovery (VIDEO)

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Sunday TV Ratings: ‘Big Brother’ Goes Head-to-Head With First Biden-Harris Interview

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How Morning News Shows Are Providing Normalcy During the Pandemic

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Celebrate ‘The Lion King’ With Robin Roberts’ ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ Special

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Disney Junior’s Pre-School Hit ‘Doc McStuffins’ Boldly Tackles a Cancer Story

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Robin Roberts to Guest Star on National Cancer Survivors Day Episode of ‘Doc McStuffins’

ALL ACCESS NASHVILLE: CELEBRATING THE CMA AWARDS WITH ROBIN ROBERTS

Reba McEntire Shocks the Crowd in ABC’s CMAs Pre-Show Special

Robin Roberts - Katrina: 10 Years

Robin Roberts Reflects on Hurricane Katrina (and Crying On National TV)