5 Essential Facts About Meredith Vieira In 2025: Career Triumphs, Personal Loss, And Her Ongoing Legacy

Meredith Vieira, one of television's most respected and enduring journalists, continues to shape the media landscape even as she navigates profound personal changes in late 2024 and 2025.

As of December 2025, the veteran broadcaster is receiving a major career honor while simultaneously coping with a significant personal loss, illustrating the duality of life in the public eye. Her ongoing work as a game show host and her unparalleled legacy across news and daytime television keep her firmly in the spotlight, cementing her status as a true industry icon.

Meredith Vieira: Complete Biography and Professional Profile

Meredith Louise Vieira has built a career spanning over four decades, transitioning seamlessly between hard news, talk shows, and game show hosting. Her professional journey is marked by numerous Emmy Awards and a reputation for relatable, intelligent broadcasting.

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• Full Name: Meredith Louise Vieira
• Date of Birth: December 30, 1953
• Place of Birth: Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
• Education: Tufts University (B.A. in English, 1975)
• Husband: Richard M. Cohen (married 1986; deceased December 24, 2024)
• Children: Three—Sons Benjamin and Gabriel, and daughter Lily.
• Key Career Roles:
  • CBS News: Correspondent for *West 57th* (1985–89) and *60 Minutes* (1989–92).
  • ABC: Original moderator of the daytime talk show *The View* (1997–2006).
  • Game Show Host: Host of the syndicated *Who Wants to Be a Millionaire* (2002–2013).
  • NBC News: Co-anchor of the *Today* show (2006–2011).
  • Talk Show: Host and executive producer of *The Meredith Vieira Show* (2014–2016).
  • Current Role: Host of the syndicated game show *25 Words or Less* (2019–Present).
• Awards: 14-time Emmy Award winner.

A Career-Defining Honor: The 2025 Governors' Award

In a major professional highlight for 2025, Meredith Vieira is slated to receive the prestigious Governors' Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Boston/New England Chapter.

This award, set to be presented in May 2025, is a testament to her profound impact on the broadcasting industry, particularly her New England roots and her journey from a radio news announcer to a national icon.

The Governors' Award recognizes a body of work that is truly exceptional and goes beyond the scope of a single Emmy nomination. Vieira’s career perfectly embodies this, having excelled in multiple, high-profile formats.

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From her early days as a correspondent on *60 Minutes* and her nine-year run as the original moderator of *The View* alongside Barbara Walters, her work has consistently defined quality journalism and entertainment.

Her five years as co-anchor of the *Today* show further cemented her as a trusted morning presence. Her ability to pivot from serious news on *Dateline NBC* to lighthearted entertainment on *Who Wants to Be a Millionaire* showcases a versatility rarely seen in television.

The 2025 honor acknowledges not just her time in front of the camera, but also her work behind the scenes, including her role as executive producer on the award-winning documentary *TOWER* and her own production company, Meredith Vieira Productions.

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Navigating Personal Loss and Her Ongoing Role as Host of '25 Words or Less'

The beginning of 2025 brought heartbreaking news for Vieira and her family. Her beloved husband, Richard M. Cohen, a best-selling author and journalist, passed away on December 24, 2024, at the age of 76.

Richard Cohen had lived with multiple sclerosis (MS) for over 50 years, a journey Vieira often spoke about with candor and grace, bringing essential awareness to the disease.

Their enduring 38-year marriage was a cornerstone of Vieira’s life, a partnership she often prioritized over career opportunities, famously scaling back her role at *60 Minutes* to spend more time with her family.

Despite this profound personal loss, Vieira remains active professionally, continuing her successful run as the host of the syndicated game show, *25 Words or Less*.

As of April 2025, the show was kicking off its seventh season, a testament to Vieira’s enduring appeal as a game show host.

Her role on *25 Words or Less* allows her to showcase her quick wit, warmth, and genuine connection with contestants, qualities that made her a fan favorite during her 11-year tenure hosting *Who Wants to Be a Millionaire*.

Vieira's current schedule also includes occasional guest appearances, such as her past roles as a guest co-anchor on *Today with Hoda & Jenna*, demonstrating her continued ties to NBC News.

Meredith Vieira’s 2025 is a chapter of significant contrasts—a major professional recognition of her decades-long career and a quiet period of mourning for her husband. Through it all, her legacy as a versatile, authentic, and empathetic broadcaster remains strong, continuing to resonate with audiences across multiple generations of television viewers.