Gayle King marked another milestone at CBS Mornings on Friday, Jan. 9, rewearing the now-iconic yellow and white dress she has donned every year since her first day on the show 14 years ago.
The tradition, King, 71, explained on the broadcast, wasn’t part of a long-term plan at first.
“I knew for the first day, I knew I wanted to wear yellow because it’s my happy place,” she said. “And I don’t know why I started doing it, but I said, ‘I’m only going to wear this dress on my anniversary.’ I love it so much.”
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The dress itself is a custom piece with personal history stitched into every seam. “I actually had this made,” King shared, of the Alex Kramer item. “The designer is no longer in business, but I had this made and I still love this dress.”
Looking back at photos from earlier anniversaries, the CBS anchor joked that the garment hasn’t always been camera-ready. “I look at some of the pictures when you can see the seams and the pictures going, ‘Ahh, save me,’ ” she said, laughing.
Still, the memories outweigh any wardrobe mishaps. “But it brings back great memories, it really does. And 2026, we are still here.”
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King’s comments come as rumors swirl that her tenure at CBS Mornings might be coming to an end when her contract ends in May 2026, amid strategic changes happening under CBS News’ new chief Bari Weiss. While nothing has been officially announced, King has said in multiple interviews that “what I’m hearing in the building is not what I’m reading in the press,” adding that she feels valued and appreciated.
That sentiment seemed to be echoed on Friday, too. “I love what we get to do here every day,” she said. “I love that we have a front-row seat to history, I say it all the time. And I love that people wake up with us in the morning, I love it.”
“Plus, I get to leave here and go to the Golden Globes, bathed in yellow,” King said, of the ceremony airs Sunday on CBS from Los Angeles. “Where else do you get to do that?”
Co-anchor Vladimir Duthiers chimed in during the segment, telling King that another added highlight of being at CBS Mornings was working “with the people that you love.”
“Yes!” King replied. “I’m nuts about the crew. Nuts about them. We have a lot of great people in this building who work really hard, every single day. And I never lose sight of that.”
Nate Burleson also used the moment to praise his colleague, acknowledging the recent headlines published about her.
“It seems like these days, everybody has something to say about you,” he said. “And I want to tell you that we love you dearly. We appreciate you. We appreciate your contributions, not just to this show but to this network, because for a long time you have held us down. And I know that there are viewers who are watching who feel the same way, so I want to make sure that you know that and you hear that above all of the noise.”
Well, still alert and available, I’ll say that,” King responded.
CBS
She closed the moment with a laugh while reflecting on how quickly the years have gone. “Time flies when you’re having fun!” King said, recalling a recent comment from a CBS executive who she said told her, “Can’t wait for your 20th, who’s with me!”
“I think there’s crickets in the control room,” King laughed. “But is it fun.”
CBS Mornings airs weekdays beginning at 7 a.m. ET.
