Jane Pauley Is Fierce, Fabulous, And Awesome At Her Job

Jane Pauley and Gayle King keep it real

Never one to rest on her laurels—even after 40-plus years at the top of the news-biz game—CBS Sunday Morning host Jane Pauley sat down with CBS This Morning's Gayle King to dish on early fame, unpredictable pitfalls, and what matters most. 

Check out the highlights of their intimate chat-fest, along with exclusive photos from our shoot with these trailblazing journalists featured in the November-December 2017 of Watch.

Photography by Christopher Ross. Styled by Jordan Grossman.

Originally published in Watch Magazine, November-December 2017.

CBS Sunday Morning airs Sundays at 9 a.m. ET/PT on CBS and CBS All Access.

Top of the morning

When, at 24, Pauley began anchoring an evening newscast out of Chicago, critics deemed her "not long for this town."

They were right: A year later she was anchoring Today in New York City.

Photography by Christopher Ross. Styled by Jordan Grossman.

Yes, you can!

"I'm not under any delusions about how especially talented I am. But I always said 'yes.'" — Jane Pauley

Photography by Christopher Ross. Styled by Jordan Grossman.

Dues diligence

Prior to taking over as anchor of CBS Sunday Morning last year, Pauley spent two years there as a contributor.

Photography by Christopher Ross. Styled by Jordan Grossman.

Pick of the crop

Pauley was the first TV interviewer Hilary Clinton sat down with after losing the 2016 election.

Photography by Christopher Ross. Styled by Jordan Grossman.

Where credit is due

Pauley credits her CBS This Morning predecessor Charles Osgood for paving the way to the show's current high ratings.

LISTEN: Gayle King Interviews Jane Pauley For Watch In This CBS This Morning Podcast

​Photography by Christopher Ross. Styled by Jordan Grossman.

Working overtime

​Fun fact: Pauley and her husband, Doonesbury cartoonist Gary Trudeau, have three grown children.

Photography by Christopher Ross. Styled by Jordan Grossman.

Vanity sanity

When she was in her late 30s, a TV exec cautioned Pauley against describing herself as middle-aged.

"I've never been coy about my age," she says. "Why bother?"

Photography by Christopher Ross. Styled by Jordan Grossman.

Daytime drama

"One morning I turn up on the [Today ] sofa and it's Bryant Gumbel and Jane Pauley and Deborah [Norville]; the three of us on the sofa together. I had not been given a heads-up about that." — Jane Pauley

Photography by Christopher Ross. Styled by Jordan Grossman.

Philosophically sound

Of being "squeezed over" after nearly 13 years at Today, Pauley was philosophical. "I never shed a tear. I realized, Gayle, it was never about me." 

Photography by Christopher Ross. Styled by Jordan Grossman.
 

Mentor for the ages?

When she sees "a younger woman of color, a version of myself coming and squeezing at the table," Gayle jokes, she will seek Jane's counsel. 

Photography by Christopher Ross. Styled by Jordan Grossman.

 

Happy medium

"There's a place where a working mother finds a sweet spot between maintaining a career and a family, before they start fighting with each other." — Jane Pauley

Photography by Christopher Ross. Styled by Jordan Grossman.

 

Past perfect-ish

"I look back and say, 'Oh honey, you did fine...' You're made of tougher stuff then you knew." — Jane Pauley

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Photography by Christopher Ross. Styled by Jordan Grossman.

CBS Sunday Morning airs Sundays at 9 a.m. ET/PT on CBS and CBS All Access.