Anderson Cooper Leaves '60 Minutes' After Nearly Two Decades

After nearly two decades with "60 Minutes," the veteran broadcaster officially said goodbye to the CBS program, choosing to step away as he focuses more closely on life with his young sons.

For years, Anderson Cooper balanced two of the most demanding jobs in television news. Now, the CNN anchor is leaving one of them behind, ending a long run at "60 Minutes" with an emotional farewell and a clear reason for stepping back.

Anderson Cooper onstage during the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights' 2025 Ripple of Hope Gala on December 9 in New York. | Source: Getty Images

Cooper officially marked his exit from "60 Minutes" on May 17, 2026, three months after announcing that he would not renew his contract with CBS.

The 58-year-old journalist joined the program during the 2006-07 television season while continuing to anchor CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360°." His dual role made him one of the rare broadcasters to hold major positions at both a cable news network and a network newsmagazine.

Anderson Cooper during an appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on April 16, 2026, in New York. | Source: Getty Images

Cooper first announced his decision in February 2026, citing family reasons. In a "60 Minutes Overtime" segment shared on May 17, he said leaving the program would allow him to spend more time with his sons, Wyatt, 6, and Sebastian, 4, whom he shares with his ex, Benjamin Maisani.

Anderson Cooper at the Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2026 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 13 in New York. | Source: Getty Images

"I've got a 4-year-old and a just now 6-year-old, and I want to spend as much time with them as I can while they still want to spend time with me," Cooper said. "And those days, that clock is ticking, I think."

During the segment, Cooper reflected on how much of his time away from CNN had been spent working on "60 Minutes" stories. He said he had long imagined eventually leaving the daily news cycle and focusing only on the kind of long-form reporting the CBS program is known for, but fatherhood changed that plan.

"You know, my vacation time at CNN has been working on 60 Minutes pieces and I've loved it. But it's been tough," he said. Cooper also recalled a moment while filming a segment in South Africa that helped sharpen his decision.

A colleague had told him about the last time his son allowed him to hold his hand while walking to school, a story that affected Cooper while he was far from home. He said:

The journalist appeared emotional as he looked back on his time with the program and offered his final "I'm Anderson Cooper." He noted, "I don't think the reality has really hit me that I'm not gonna be doing this any longer."

CBS News also acknowledged Cooper's long tenure in a statement, praising the range of stories, investigations, interviews, and international reporting he brought to the broadcast.

Although Cooper is leaving CBS, he is not leaving television news. He renewed his CNN contract in December 2025 and will continue anchoring "Anderson Cooper 360°." He also remains part of CNN's annual New Year's Eve special alongside Andy Cohen.

Cooper's departure comes amid other high-profile changes at "60 Minutes," but his own explanation remained personal. After nearly 20 years of balancing breaking news, long-form reporting, and fatherhood, he said the time had come to choose more days at home.