Anderson Cooper Is Leaving CBS News’ ’60 Minutes’ After Nearly 20 Years — Details

A major shift is coming to Sunday nights. After nearly 20 years on “60 Minutes,” Anderson Cooper is stepping away, and the real reason unfolds far from the studio lights.

For viewers who have followed his reporting since 2007, the departure marks a turning point for the iconic CBS newsmagazine. Conversations about his future had been underway, hinting that this moment might arrive.

Details of the Journalist Leaving the Show

According to People, Anderson will not renew his contract with CBS, officially ending his tenure as a correspondent. The move closes out nearly two decades with the program.

As Variety reported, he had been in talks about extending his deal. Ultimately, he chose to concentrate more fully on his expanding role at another network.

In a statement, CBS News said it is “grateful” for the years he devoted to the broadcast and added that “’60 Minutes’ will be here if he ever wants to return.”

But the business explanation only tells part of the story.

Why He Is Leaving the CBS Show

The clearest reason came directly from Anderson himself. The acclaimed journalist told People:

“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 still want to spend time with me.”

In the end, the decision wasn’t about negotiations — it was about fatherhood. And while one chapter is closing, another is firmly secured.

What Comes Next in His Career

While Anderson is stepping away from “60 Minutes,” he is not stepping back from television.

In a separate December 2025 report, the same publication revealed that he signed a new deal with CNN, cementing his place at the network as it expands into digital streaming and subscription platforms.

The renewal surprised some industry observers amid declining linear ratings. CNN’s primetime viewership reportedly dropped sharply in the third quarter, yet executives opted to retain Cooper, underscoring how closely his name remains tied to the network’s brand.

He continues to anchor “Anderson Cooper 360,” play a key role in election coverage, and headline major live events.

With his role at CNN secured, his choice to exit “60 Minutes” becomes easier to understand when you look at what’s happening at home.

As previously reported, Anderson is raising two young boys in an arrangement that defies convention but works by design.

Anderson was twelve years old when he realized he was gay. From that moment on, he believed fatherhood was out of reach. “When I was 12 years old and knew I was gay and thought about my life, it always upset me because I thought, ‘I will never be able to have a kid,'” he would later reveal.

It was a conclusion shaped by the time he grew up in, long before surrogacy and same-sex parenting became part of mainstream public life. He publicly came out decades later, in 2012, in an email to journalist Andrew Sullivan, writing, “I’ve always known I was gay from the time I was a little kid.”

Still, the idea of having children never crossed his mind. The change only came in his early fifties, when he decided to pursue fatherhood through surrogacy.

Introducing His Son to the World

On April 30, 2020, Anderson ended his CNN broadcast with personal news: he had become a father. His son, Wyatt Morgan Cooper, had been born three days earlier, on April 27.

Anderson introduced his son to the public on Instagram. Alongside a picture of the infant, he wrote, “This is Wyatt Cooper. He is three days old. He is named after my father, who died when I was ten.”

Wyatt weighed 7.2 pounds at birth. His middle name, Morgan, came from Anderson’s mother’s side — a name his parents once considered for him when he was born.

“I recently found a list they made 52 years ago when they were trying to think of names for me,” he continued.

“I am grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, and watched over him lovingly, and tenderly, and gave birth to him,” he added.

He also acknowledged the surrogate’s husband and children, calling their support an “extraordinary blessing” and adding, “My family is blessed to have this family in our lives.” The post also touched on the family members Anderson wished could have shared the moment.

“I do wish my mom and dad and my brother, Carter, were alive to meet Wyatt,” he wrote. “But I like to believe they can see him. I imagine them all together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing[…] that their love is alive in me and in Wyatt, and that our family continues.”

Fatherhood brought Anderson a sense of connection he hadn’t expected. As Wyatt grew, Anderson began noticing features that reminded him of his late brother. “I’ve started to realize how much Wyatt looks like Carter, who looked [like] my mom,” he said in 2021.

That resemblance sparked something deeper. Anderson described feeling a renewed bond to them. Raising his children has given Anderson what he described as an extraordinary connection to his loved ones who are no longer alive.

He spoke about how the experience stirred memories of his childhood and deepened his awareness of family continuity. One example was when he found a set of wooden blocks he and Carter had played with as boys. Seeing Wyatt now building with those same blocks left an impression on him.

“We drew robots on them and stuff,” Anderson recalled of his childhood. “So now to see Wyatt playing with those and building things, it’s crazy.” For Anderson, it was a tangible moment in which the past and present met inside his own home.

A Modern Family Built on Respect

From the start, Anderson raised Wyatt alongside his friend and former partner, Benjamin Maisani, with whom he had previously been in a long-term relationship. Although the pair had separated in 2018, they remained close.

By the time Wyatt was 16 months old, their arrangement had settled into a rhythm. Anderson described their dynamic as strong. He considered Benjamin a great parent and said they loved each other as family.

He acknowledged that while they occasionally disagreed on minor parenting decisions — such as when Wyatt should attend swimming class or whether he should wear overalls — those were small “all silly, minor things. We get along great,” he said.

Anderson explained that their decision to co-parent was grounded in mutual respect. Benjamin, for his part, noted, “Anderson has changed a lot since Wyatt arrived. He’s happy and relaxed in a way he’s never been before. Wyatt has grounded him.”

Welcoming Another Child

Nearly two years after welcoming Wyatt, Anderson announced the birth of his second son, Sebastian Luke.

The baby was born in February 2022 via surrogate. Anderson introduced him publicly through a photo posted on Instagram with the caption, “Cuddling with Sebastian the day after he was born.”

This time, Anderson made a change to the naming. Sebastian was given the hyphenated last name Maisani-Cooper. While Anderson had previously referred to Benjamin as a co-parent, this marked a more formal recognition of their commitment as a parenting team.

They continued living together, managing the responsibilities of raising two young boys in a structure built on consistency and mutual involvement. With Sebastian’s birth, their family expanded, but their parenting approach remained the same.