Longtime CNN correspondent Stephanie Elam is leaving the network after two decades of covering news for the broadcast giant.
Elam, 52, officially announced her departure in an April 18statement shared by Variety.
"For more than 20 years I’ve been in the CNN orbit developing and delivering news stories on everything from the environment and entertainment to business and breaking news of all kinds," she said. "I’m so proud of my CNN career. Live or taped, writing packages or doing a show-and-tell, I’ve done it all — and having a front row seat to document history has been a gift."
She did not share any further information about her future plans.
Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon has been arrested on Jan. 29, 2026, days after being present at a protest inside a Minneapolis Church. Don Lemon (left) speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), following a press conference alongside alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2025.
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Don Lemon attends the 2022 CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
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Former CNN host Don Lemon arrested. See his career in photos
Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon hasbeen arrestedon Jan. 29, 2026, days after being present at a protest inside a Minneapolis Church. Don Lemon (left) speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), following a press conference alongside alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2025.
Stephanie Elam's time with CNN
Elam began her career with CNN as a freelance anchor/reporter out of New York City in 2005, according to herpublic LinkedIn page, before becoming a business correspondent in 2007. She briefly left the network from 2011 to 2012 to work at KNBC, an NBC station based in Los Angeles, before returning to CNN in March 2013, still based in LA.
During her time at CNN, Elam covered a huge range of topics, according to her LinkedIn, from COVID-19, market crashes, tornadoes and volcanic eruptions to the Emmys, red carpet interviews and the deaths and lives of celebrities like Michael Jackson and Prince.
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Colleagues and CNN speak on Stephanie Elam's departure
In anInstagram post from April 18, co-host and friend Sara Sidner spoke highly of Elam in a clip, saying, "thank you for being my friend, for helping me through cancer and being a sister, really...CNN brought us together, but ain't nothing gonna tear us apart. Thank you for all your hard work."
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"You're not getting rid of me, I love you," Elam responded. "I love you guys...everyone there, I love you guys, and it's been a joy working with you all."
Another CNN colleague, Oscar Jimenez, commented on the post saying, "We’re losing a real one! Loved this moment on air. 🙏🏾"
In a statementshared with Variety, CNN said it was "grateful for her many contributions."
"Stephanie brought clarity, credibility, and heart to every story she touched over her two decades at CNN," the network told Variety. "Her versatility and natural ability to connect with audiences made her a trusted voice and a valued colleague."
Where Stephanie Elam got her start
Elam's career began at Dow Jones Newswires in 1995, where she served as a copy editor before moving to BridgeNews and reporting on corporate finances for PBS’s "Nightly Business Report," according to her LinkedIn.
She went on to anchor shows "Market on the Close" and "First Business" for Webfn, reporting on the stock market and business, eventually moving to Black Enterprise Magazine to co-anchor the "Black Enterprise Report," a nationally syndicated show about business, career and financial education.
She graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor's in broadcast journalism, her LinkedIn also shows.
Stephanie Elam's departure comes after another CNN personality's exit
Elam is the second CNN personality to depart the network in recent months. "Early Start" hostRahel Solomon announced her exit on-air in March, saying simply, "I have decided that this will be my last week at CNN. More to come on what's next for me...But I'm really excited about this next chapter."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:CNN correspondent Stephanie Elam announces departure from network