Gayle King facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gayle King
King in 2025
Born	(1954-12-28) December 28, 1954 (age 70) Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.
Education	University of Maryland, College Park
Occupation	Broadcast journalist Magazine editor
Years active	1981–present
Title	Co-anchor of CBS Mornings Editor-at-large of O, The Oprah Magazine
Spouse(s)	William G. Bumpus ​ ​ (m. 1982; div. 1993)​
Children	2

Gayle King (born December 28, 1954) is a famous American television host, author, and journalist. She is a co-host for the morning news show CBS Mornings on CBS News. She is also a main editor for O, The Oprah Magazine.

Gayle is known for her friendly personality and smart interviews. In 2019, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most important and influential people in the world.

Early Life and Education

Gayle King was born in Chevy Chase, Maryland, to her parents, Peggy and Emmett. When she was six, her family moved to Ankara, Turkey, because her father was sent there for his job in the military. She lived there until she was eleven.

In 1966, her family returned to the United States. Her father worked as an electrical engineer. Gayle later went to the University of Maryland, College Park and earned a degree in psychology.

Career in Television and Journalism

King at an event in 2009.

Gayle King has had a long and successful career in media. She started in television news and later became a popular talk show host and magazine editor.

Starting in Local News

King's first job in television was as a production assistant at a TV station in Baltimore. This is where she met Oprah Winfrey, who was a news anchor there at the time. They quickly became good friends.

After that, she worked as a TV reporter in Washington, D.C. and Kansas City, Missouri. In 1981, she became a news anchor in Hartford, Connecticut, where she worked for 18 years.

Hosting Talk Shows

Over the years, Gayle hosted a few different talk shows. She was a special correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show. In 1997, she had her own program called The Gayle King Show.

In 2011, she started hosting a new show with the same name on the OWN network. Later that year, she moved to CBS to become a co-host of the morning show CBS This Morning. The show was a success, and people enjoyed watching her and her co-host, Charlie Rose. They remained friends even after Rose left CBS.

Working for CBS News

King interviews Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on CBS This Morning in 2019.

As a host for CBS, Gayle became known for her calm and professional interview style. She received praise for staying calm during a difficult interview with the singer R. Kelly, who was discussing serious accusations against him.

In 2018, she was honored by being added to the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. In 2022, she signed a new contract to continue co-hosting the CBS morning show, which is now called CBS Mornings.

In 2023, it was announced that Gayle would co-host a new weekly show on CNN with basketball legend Charles Barkley called King Charles. She continues to host CBS Mornings as well.

Personal Life

Gayle King and Oprah Winfrey have been best friends since they met in 1976. Oprah has said that Gayle is like a sister to her and is one of the best people she knows.

From 1982 to 1993, Gayle was married to William Bumpus. They have two children, a daughter named Kirby and a son named William Jr.

Trip to Space

On April 14, 2025, Gayle King traveled to space! She was a passenger on a Blue Origin rocket called New Shepard. She flew alongside singer Katy Perry and four other women.

This historic flight made Gayle one of the first female journalists to go to space. It was also the first spaceflight with an all-female crew since 1963.

Film and TV Appearances

Gayle has appeared as herself in many movies and TV shows.

See also

In Spanish: Gayle King para niños

• New Yorkers in journalism