Major CNN Anchor Reveals She Is Leaving During Live Broadcast
A well-known face on CNN’s early morning schedule has officially confirmed her departure during a live segment. Rahel Solomon, the anchor of the 5 a.m. ET program Early Start, informed her audience on Monday, March 23, that she is entering her final week with the organization.
This announcement marks a notable shift for the network’s dawn lineup, which serves as a primary source for overnight breaking news and international headlines. During the broadcast, the journalist shared the update directly with her viewers as the show neared its conclusion.
“Now, to some personal news, I have decided that this will be my last week at CNN,” she stated, adding that her final appearance behind the desk is scheduled for Friday, March 27. While she expressed excitement about her future, she noted that more specific details regarding her next professional steps would be revealed at a later time.
A message from Rahel Solomon: pic.twitter.com/6HMOSZTdsZ
— CNN Early Start with Rahel Solomon (@EarlyStart) March 23, 2026
Solomon joined the network in 2022 after a successful tenure at CNBC, where she established herself as a versatile general news and business reporter. Over the past four years, she has balanced her anchoring duties with her role as a business correspondent, focusing on critical economic trends.
“It has been such an honor, truly, to serve as a business correspondent for CNN. I have covered everything from inflation to the job market and everything in between,” she remarked during her on-air farewell.
The anchor also took a moment to praise the team behind her current program, which was revived under the Early Start branding roughly one year ago. She mentioned being deeply proud of her colleagues and the work they accomplished during some of the most challenging breaking news hours of the day.
A spokesperson for the network later issued a statement supporting her choice and thanking her for her dedicated service to the organization’s reporting efforts. Beyond her recent anchoring work, Solomon’s background includes a degree in finance from St. John’s University and a master’s from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Born in Sudan to parents of Ethiopian origin, she has lived in various international locations, which often informed her global perspective on business news. Before moving to national networks, she began her career in local news, including a stint as a morning anchor in her hometown of Philadelphia.
As of late March, the network has not yet announced who will take over the Early Start anchor chair following her departure on Friday. The time slot remains a vital piece of the morning strategy, often simulcast on CNN International to bridge the gap between global time zones.
Industry analysts suggest her exit comes during a broader period of transition for the network as it continues to refine its morning and daytime programming schedules. While her immediate plans are under wraps, Solomon has remained active in the journalism community, recently participating in various industry panels and workshops.
She has often spoken about the importance of authentic storytelling and the sacrifices required to report on high-stakes global issues. Fans of the morning show will likely see a rotation of substitute anchors in the coming weeks until a permanent successor is officially named.
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