Getty Images (2)
‘Good Morning America’ Hosts Then and Now: See What Anchors of the Past and Present Look Like Today
If you love starting your day by watching Good Morning America, you might remember most of the famous faces who have sat at the news desk over the years, including David Hartman, Joan Lunden, Amy Robach and more. So many popular stars have made names for themselves on ABC, and this is a fascinating look at their lives now.
Getty Images (2)
Robin Roberts
Before GMA, Robin Roberts served as a host on ESPN from 1990 to 2005. She became a reporter on Good Morning America in 1995. In 2005, she officially became a coanchor on the show. The TV presenter, who is married to Amber Laign, has won audiences over with her authentic personality and sharing vulnerable parts of herself, including her breast cancer battle with the world.
“It wasn’t something I had on my whiteboard to be at Good Morning America, and what it says to me is, and I’ll say to you, ‘I wonder how life is going to surprise you – and get ready for your suddenly,’” she reflected on her milestone two decades on the show.
Getty Images (2)
Lara Spencer
Lara Spencer joined GMA as a coanchor in 2011 and is still currently on the show. She is also loved by HGTV viewers as the host of Flea Market Flip. On top of her TV fame, Laura is a published author and a doting mom of kids Duff and Katharine with ex-husband David Haffenreffer. She’s currently married to Rick McVey.
Getty Images (2)
George Stephanopoulos
George first became an analyst on ABC News in 1997 after serving as a political advisor during the Clinton administration. In 2009, he joined GMA as an official cohost, taking over for Diane Sawyer as she became the lead anchor of World News. The political commentator is a dad of two, as he shares daughters Elliott and Harper with wife Ali Wentworth.
Getty Images (2)
Ginger Zee
Meteorologist Ginger Zee has become a favorite among GMA viewers. She assumed the role in 2013 after Sam Champion left the show to join The Weather Channel. The weathercaster competed on Dancing With the Stars in 2016. She shares sons Adrian and Miles with husband Ben Aaron.
Getty Images (2)
Sam Champion
Sam currently serves as a meteorologist and GMA host on a part-time basis. He often fills in for Ginger when she is out or another host is missing. He was the chief meteorologist on GMA in 2006. In 2013, he left the network to take on a new role at The Weather Channel. Three years later, he parted ways with the network, returning to GMA on a fill-in basis. The Dancing With the Stars alum also currently serves as a meteorologist on Eyewitness News. He and his husband, Rubem Robierb, frequently travel back and forth between their homes in New York City and Miami.
Getty Images (2)
Amy Robach
In 2014, Amy became an official coanchor on GMA after serving as a correspondent. In November 2022, she sparked romance rumors with GMA3: What You Need to Know cohost T.J. Holmes after they were spotted getting cozy in NYC. At the time, she was still legally married to Andrew Shue and he was still legally married to Marilee Fiebig. The duo were benched from the program following news of their romance. In January 2023, ABC confirmed that Amy and T.J. would not be returning to the program.
“After several productive conversations with Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes about different options, we all agreed it’s best for everyone that they move on from ABC News. We recognize their talent and commitment over the years and are thankful for their contributions,” an ABC spokesperson said in a statement at the time.
They continued to date as they both finalized their divorces from their spouses and are still together. Amy shares daughters Ava and Annalise with ex-husband Tim McIntosh.
Getty Images (2)
T.J. Holmes
T.J. worked for ABC from 2014 to 2023. The former CNN anchor, who is a dad to kids Sabine, Brianna and Jaiden, currently has a podcast with Amy called “Amy and T.J.”
Getty Images (2)
Diane Sawyer
From 1999 to 2009, Diane Sawyer hosted GMA with Charlie Gibson. She succeeded him as the anchor of ABC World News in 2009. After five years of anchoring the show, she departed in 2014. Diane lost her mother, Jean Sawyer Hayes, at 94 in October 2014 and one month later, her husband, Mike Nichols, died of a heart attack at 83. Currently, she serves as a special contributor to ABC News as well as a producer.
Getty Images (2)
David Hartman
David was the first ever host of GMA from 1975 to 1987, becoming famous for his phrase, “Make it a good day today.” His career actually began as an actor before transitioning into the live TV world. After leaving GMA, the broadcaster, who is married to Mary Clark Putman, made several appearances in various Discovery Channel and PBS documentaries.
Getty Images (2)
Joan Lunden
In 1976, Joan joined GMA, sitting next to David at the news desk. Throughout her time on the show, she traveled to over two dozen countries, covered two royal weddings and several other global events. After 17 years of cohosting, she left the talk show in 1997. She was replaced by Lisa McRee on GMA.
“The executives made a decision that younger was better; they replaced me and Charlie Gibson with 30-something versions of ourselves,” she told Parade in July 2013 of her exit. “I agreed to say I was going on to do other things, and then I did them. I think they lost about 4 million viewers in a week. It was a calculated risk, and it didn’t work.”
Getty Images (2)
Charlie Gibson
Charlie cohosted GMA from 1987 to 1998 after serving as a field correspondent on ABC News. In 1999, he was reinstated as a cohost after a decrease in viewership occurred in his absence. He once again cohosted the show until 2006. In the years that followed, he fronted World News With Charles Gibson before officially retiring from the show in 2009. In 2022, he returned to the public eye to host “The Book Case” podcast with his daughter Kate.
Getty Images (2)
Juju Chang
Juju Chang joined GMA in 2009, notably covering the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. She left the program in 2011 to host the late-night news program Nightline. She has three sons with husband Neal Shapiro.
Getty Images (2)
Paula Faris
Paula Faris began anchoring GMA Weekend in 2014. She shockingly announced her departure from both GMA and The View in 2018.
“I went from a period of seven months where I had a miscarriage, [and] I had a concussion — someone threw something at my head when I was doing a live shot and that knocked me out of work for three weeks,” she said of her departure from both shows during a November 2018 interview with Good Housekeeping. “[Then] the day I got cleared to go to work, I got in a head-on car crash. A couple of months later I got influenza, and influenza turned into pneumonia.”
Currently, she hosts the podcast “The Paula Faris Show.”
