Deborah Norville, U.S. TV’s Longest-Serving Female Anchor, Announces Exit Live on Air After 30 Years – Watch!

Deborah Norville is celebrating a work milestone by making her exit.

The Inside Edition host took a moment during the Wednesday, April 2 broadcast to share that she will be leaving the investigative news show after 30 years serving as the anchor.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to be here at Inside for all these years,” Norville, 66, said. “A milestone like this is a time for reflection and upon reflection, I’ve decided that now is the time for me to move on from Inside Edition.”

Norville, who joined the show in 1995, said that the network tried to get her to stay with a “lovely offer,” but noted, “There are things I’d like to do, places I want to do them that continuing here don’t permit.”

The veteran TV host also added that she wasn’t disappearing right away but at the end of Inside Edition’s current season.

“I’ve got some exciting things in the works, and I’ll talk about that later,” she shared. “But what I want to say right now is what a privilege it has been to be Inside Edition for all of these years, to work with the incredibly talented team here and to be invited into your homes every day. It’s an honor I don’t take lightly.”

Norville posted a similar message to her Instagram account, telling her followers, “When I started this job, Bill Clinton was president, O.J. Simpson was on trial for murder and Forrest Gump was about to win big at the Oscars.”

The longtime host reflected on the moments that meant the most to her throughout her career, specifically referencing the show’s coverage during the COVID pandemic.

“I also want to say to you what an honor it has been for me to front the show for all these years, to report stories that keep you and your family safe, that give context to the day’s events, especially during COVID when we were the only show in first-run syndication to stay in production, to be a calming, reassuring presence in a world that seems topsy turvy,” she added.

Norville admitted that staying at Inside Edition would have been the “easy thing” to do, but said she knew it was the “right decision” for her. “I am so excited for what’s to come.,” she added.

In December, Variety reported that Norville will serve as host of the game show The Perfect Line, which is set to premiere later this year.

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Norville, a former Georgia pageant queen, joined NBC News in 1987 after several years working for local broadcast stations. She first served as the anchor of NBC News at Sunrise. Her success in the role led to her joining the Today show in 1989, replacing then-anchor Jane Pauley.

Norville won an Emmy for her work on the Today show, but after she went on maternity leave following the birth of her first child, she did not return to the show and was later replaced by Katie Couric.