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LOS ANGELES – NOV 14: O’Donnell arrives to The Hollywood Film Awards 2014 on November 14, 2014 in Hollywood, CA, DFree /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Norah Morahan O’Donnell
Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., U.S.
Date of Birth: January 23, 1974
Ethnicity: Irish
Norah O’Donnell is an American television journalist. She anchored the CBS Evening News , from 2019 to 2025, and Person to Person ; and is a correspondent for 60 Minutes and CBS News. Also for CBS, she has been Chief White House Correspondent, an anchor for CBS This Morning , and a substitute host for Face the Nation .
She is the daughter of Noreen Bernadette and Francis Lawrence O’Donnell, who is a medical doctor and U.S. Army officer. Her family lived in Yongsan Garrison, Seoul, South Korea, for two years during her childhood, as well as in San Antonio, Texas. Norah is married to restaurateur Geoff Tracy, with whom she has three children.
Norah’s paternal grandfather was Francis Vincent O’Donnell (the son of John Francis O’Donnell and Sarah Bonar). Norah’s grandfather Francis was born in Uphall, Linlithgow, Scotland. John was born in Dungloe, County Donegal, Ireland. Sarah was born in Bathgate, Linlithgow, to Irish parents.
Norah’s paternal grandmother was named Helen M. Morahan. Helen was born in Avoca, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.
Norah’s maternal grandfather was named Edward O’Kane. Edward was born in Gortmacrane, Tamiaght O’Crilly, County Derry, Ireland. He had entered the U.S. illegally in 1924, through Canada.
Norah’s maternal grandmother was named Mary Teresa Monaghan. Mary Teresa was born in Belfast, Ireland.
A DNA test whose results were displayed on the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2021) stated that Norah’s genetic ancestry consists of:
*100% Ireland and Scotland
*100% Ireland and Scotland
Genetically, she was found to have a common ancestor with host, literary critic, professor, and historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr. , through shared Irish ancestry.