You likely recognize Robin Meade from her tenure as an HLN news anchor.
The popular TV reporter grew up far away from where she eventually made a name for herself.
Her journey from a small-town girl to a multi-talented celebrity makes Meade all the more impressive.
Her father, Linro Meade, grew up in a very large and poor family.
The Meade clan seems to have stayed close to this day.
Still the father we are so grateful to get to enjoy day after day!"
You still put your children and grandchildren first, before you ever think of yourself.
I am grateful for every second we get together."
But, for a time, Meade was less certain.
“And there was no multiple choice,” Meade joked.
“I was like, ‘What?
I don’t know!'”
The answer didn’t come to her until she looked at one of her friend’s sheet.
“And I went, ‘That’s a brilliant idea!'”
So, it seems we have her childhood friends to thank for encouraging Meade’s passion for journalism.
It’s likely part of the reason she became such a charismatic on-air news host.
Throughout high school, Meade participated in cheer, pep band, and show choir.
Through her many extracurriculars, she honed her talents and stage presence as a young girl.
She used those skills to compete in scholarship pageants.
In 1992, she was crowned Miss Ashland, Ohio.
I think I was more ready for this than I have been in the past.
This time, I was just Robin Michelle Meade, and it worked."
Meade describes herself as a “TV geek” while she was in school.
“One of my first professors in this field was Dr. Kim Fitz,” Meade toldConn Jackson.
I think you should try it.'"
That belief helped push Meade even more in her studies and to eventually pursue her career in broadcast.
Meade shared the start of their love story while on"Concept Hosted by Conn Jackson.
“She said that she was surprised when Yeager first approached her.
“He was hugely intimidating to me because he was just Joe jock.
I’m sure that women just fell at his feet.”
But, despite her initial nerves, Meade agreed to go get ice cream for their first date.
They continued seeing each other after that, and the college sweethearts got married in 1993.
Throughout their marriage, the pair have had very different schedules.
Due to Meade’s morning broadcast, she would go to bed before Yeager got home.
I say it makes for a great marriage,” Meade joked toHLN.
But, regardless of how unconventional, their setup has worked for them for decades.
The pair celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in 2018 and are still going strong.
To mark the milestone, Meade shared a photo onInstagramfrom their wedding day.
In the photo, the pair are all smiles, walking down the aisle arm-in-arm.
But success didn’t happen overnight.
She then worked at WJW Cleveland, WSVN in Miami, WCMH in Columbus, and WMAQ in Chicago.
In 2016, Meade sat down withHeart of Ohio Magazineto discuss her life and career.
Looking back at the early days, she said, “Let me count the cities.
From Mansfield to Cleveland, Columbus, Miami and Chicago.
There were more than a few stops before I landed at the CNN Center in Atlanta 12 years ago.
In 2009, she released a book titled “Morning Sunshine!
How to Radiate Confidence and Feel It Too.”
“I started having panic attacks on the air,” Meade recalled.
“And it’s kind of hard to do the live news when you might’t breathe.
“Panic attacksare a common mental health issue that can manifest differently for different people.
I had to learn it then when I thought that I was failing,” Meade said.
She’d started at HLN a few years earlier.
Her first day on air was 9/11, and her most difficult day as a journalist.
The morning show offered a friendly place for viewers to start their mornings and get the news they needed.
The show ran for several years, always with Meade at the center, keeping it fun and approachable.
“She’s so darn good,” CNN executive vice president, Ken Jautz, toldAJC.
“She’s a burst of energy every morning and she can connect with viewers like nobody else.
Her longevity is a result of authenticity and hard work.”
Her first album, “Brand New Day,” was released in 2011, reaching No.
24 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart.
She’s also had the opportunity to work and perform with impressive musicians like Jim Brickman.
“I’m completely grateful for the opportunity.
It’s pretty big for someone who’s a news anchor.”
Morning Express was canceled in 2022
It’s always a sad day whenfavorite shows get canceled.
The show was canceled due to budget cuts at CNN.
Without you, there was never going to be an us,” Meade said during her final segment.
“Doing this show with you has been the joy of my life.”
Meade shared a photo onInstagramholding her award alongside her fellow inductees.
“None of this would have happened without YOU, the viewer,” she wrote in the caption.
“Thank you to the @atlpressclub for putting me into the Hall Of Fame with 4 amazing journalists.
I’m so moved my friend @drsanjaygupta took time to introduce me on stage.”
The post also included photos of friends and colleagues who came to the event to celebrate her.
“I’m humbled they carved time out of their schedules to attend,” Meade wrote.
