Anderson Cooper officially signed off from CBS’ “60 Minutes” in May 2026 after nearly two decades as a correspondent, saying he wants to spend more time with his two young sons while continuing his work at CNN.
Anderson Cooper didn’t just finish a run on CBS’ “60 Minutes” in May 2026—he marked the end with the kind of goodbye that lingers long after the credits.
During his farewell to viewers, Cooper said, “I hope 60 Minutes remains 60 Minutes.” Then he added what he clearly meant from the heart: “There’s very few things that have been around as long as 60 Minutes has and maintained the quality that it has.”
For years, the program’s audience has associated Cooper with the steady presence of a correspondent who could bring perspective without losing empathy. By the time he officially signed off—after nearly two decades with the series—that familiarity became part of the emotion of the moment.
Cooper joined “60 Minutes” as a correspondent during the 2006–2007 season and remained with the news magazine for nearly 20 years before signing off in May 2026.
The reason for stepping away, he said, wasn’t about the work—at least not in the way viewers might fear. Earlier in 2026, Cooper explained that he wanted to spend more time with his two young sons while continuing his work at CNN.
“For nearly twenty years, I’ve been able to balance my jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have little kids now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible, while they want to spend time with me,” he said in a statement.
When his final appearance aired, it was timed down to the day. On the May 17, 2026 episode marking his last time on the program, Cooper returned to the same core point—time with his children—and made it sound urgent, like something you can feel slipping away.
“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,” he said. “And those days, that clock is ticking, I think.”
He also looked further ahead, tying the decision to a future he wants his family to share. “I hope ‘60 Minutes’ is around for when my kids grow up and have kids of their own, and they can watch it with their kids.”
That’s the shift his audience is watching: Cooper is leaving “60 Minutes,” but he’s not stepping away from television altogether. He is not leaving CNN.
Cooper continues his work at CNN. including hosting “Anderson Cooper 360°. ” his podcast “All There Is. ” and CNN’s annual New Year’s Eve special with Andy Cohen.. The story here isn’t a retreat from the spotlight—it’s a reshuffling of priorities. with family time taking the front seat while his media career keeps moving.
Anderson Cooper 60 Minutes CBS CNN Anderson Cooper 360° All There Is Andy Cohen New Year’s Eve special May 2026 correspondent farewell