The spinning red logo of CNN has been a backdrop for some of the most formidable women in journalism. You've seen them deliver breaking news from war zones or grill politicians until they're squirming in their seats. But then, one day, they just... vanish from the lineup.
Where do they actually go?
Honestly, the "post-CNN" life is rarely just a quiet retirement. For many former female CNN anchors, the exit from the network is less of a finale and more of a messy, exciting, or even high-stakes pivot into something entirely different. We aren't just talking about jumping to MSNBC or Fox. We're talking about Netflix deals, Oscar shortlists, and even 2nd-degree black belts.
The Pioneers Who Changed the Game
You can't talk about the legacy of women at CNN without mentioning Lynne Russell. She was a literal trailblazer. Back in 1983, she became the first woman to solo anchor a prime-time network nightly newscast on CNN Headline News.
She wasn't just a "talking head." Lynne was—and is—a total powerhouse. She’s a licensed private investigator and a deputy sheriff. Oh, and she holds two black belts. When she left in 2001, she didn't just fade away; she leaned into her "tough as nails" persona, writing books like How to Win Friends, Kick Ass and Influence People. If you’re looking for the blueprint of the modern female anchor, it started with her.
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Then there’s Soledad O’Brien. If you watched CNN in the 2000s and early 2010s, she was everywhere, especially with her Black in America and Latino in America series.
Soledad’s exit wasn’t the end of her journalism; it was the start of her empire. She founded Soledad O’Brien Productions and, as of early 2026, she’s still crushing it. Her documentaries The Devil is Busy and The Perfect Neighbor were recently shortlisted for the 2026 Oscars. She’s also been named the 2026 Honorary Muse for the Krewe of Muses in New Orleans. Basically, she took the "anchor" title and traded it for "mogul."
Why Former Female CNN Anchors Leave the Desk
Sometimes the exit is a choice. Sometimes it’s a "restructuring."
Brooke Baldwin is a classic example of someone who chose to walk away to find herself. After 13 years at the network, she left in 2021. She was incredibly open about the vulnerability of that move. She told Oprah that her identity was so wrapped up in her job that she had to "come home to herself."
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Since leaving, Brooke hasn't stayed idle. She wrote Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power and even hosted a Netflix reality series called The Trust: A Game of Greed. It’s a wild departure from the anchor desk, but it shows the range these women have.
The Recent Wave: Poppy Harlow and Others
The last couple of years have seen a lot of shuffling at Hudson Yards.
- Poppy Harlow: After nearly 20 years, Poppy left in April 2024. She’d been through the "CNN This Morning" carousel and decided it was time to move on. Her immediate plan? Walking her kids to school and taking a breath.
- Christiane Amanpour: While still technically the Chief International Anchor, her journey has been public and poignant lately. In late 2025, she shared that her ovarian cancer had returned for a third time. She’s been incredibly transparent about her treatment, using her platform to advocate for early detection while continuing to prepare for major appearances like "The World in 2026" talks.
The Reality of the "New" CNN
The landscape is changing fast. If you tune in now, you see Kaitlan Collins pulling double duty as a primetime host and Chief White House Correspondent. You see Pamela Brown co-anchoring The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer as of March 2025.
But for the ones who moved on, the "former" tag isn't a demotion. It’s a badge of honor. They’ve moved into:
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- Independent Production: Creating content that doesn't have to fit a 24-hour news cycle.
- Education and Law: Many, like Poppy Harlow (who studied at Yale Law), are deepening their expertise.
- Advocacy: Using their household names to push for social change or health awareness.
What You Can Learn from Their Transitions
If you're following the careers of former female CNN anchors, the takeaway is pretty clear: Pivot with Purpose.
Whether it was Ashleigh Banfield moving to HLN and then NewsNation, or Brianna Keilar shifting roles within the network, these women prove that a career isn't a straight line. It's a series of huddles, to borrow Brooke Baldwin's term.
If you want to keep up with them, don't just look at the TV guide. Follow their production companies and their newsletters. Most of the real news they're making these days is happening off-camera.
To stay truly informed on where these journalists go next, check out their independent projects on streaming platforms like Netflix or Max, and keep an eye on the Oscar documentary shortlists—you might just see a familiar face from the newsroom taking home a trophy.