Nikki Battiste has some overnight news shifts ahead of her. The former CBS News correspondent is the new anchor of NBC’s Early Today.
“I’m thrilled to share that I will be joining NBC News as anchor of Early Today. I will also contribute to Today,” she wrote on Instagram on Friday. “I’m honored, humbled, and grateful to have the opportunity to work with the extraordinary teams at @nbc_earlytoday @todayshow and @nbcnews.”
Battiste also explained why the new job is “a true homecoming” for her. “I began my journalism career as an NBC page and then a production assistant at Today,” she wrote. “NBC has always been near and dear to me. This next chapter is a dream come true.”
She added: “Thank you @nbc_earlytoday, @todayshow and @nbcnews — and to my family for their continued support and love. I’ll see you on the air the week of August 10th on @nbc @nbcnews and @nbcnewsnow!”
Battiste is an Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning journalist whose reporting appeared on Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight, Nightline, and 20/20 during her time at ABC News, and on CBS Mornings, CBS Evening News, 48 Hours, and CBS Sunday Morning during her CBS News career, according to her bio at her former employer.
During that CBS News era, Battiste reported on the 2018 Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal and the COVID-19 crisis as well as several mass shootings and the debate about guns in U.S. schools, per Deadline.
In October 2025, Battiste was one of eight on-air CBS News personalities laid-off — all of them women — under new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, according to The Independent.
Battiste’s new gig comes after previous Early Today anchor Frances Rivera retired from TV news after 30 years in the industry and 12 years at NBC News this June.
Early Today, Weekdays, 3a/2c, NBC