Lara Spencer has been promoted to co-host of ABC’s “Good Morning America” alongside George Stephanopoulos and Robin Roberts.
It was one of the first major moves by new ABC News chief James Goldson, who is replacing the just-promoted Ben Sherwood. Goldston announced Spencer’s promotion in an email marking the two-year anniversary of “GMA” ending the 16-year ratings winning streak for NBC’s “Today.”
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“A key member of our on-air team, Lara Spencer, rejoined ABC three years ago — bringing her style, humor, sunny confidence, wonderful journalism and storytelling to ‘GMA’,” he wrote. “Lara is clearly an essential ingredient in the success we have enjoyed and I am so pleased to announce that Lara has been elevated to co-host of the program along with Robin and George.”
Spencer has also created the NBC game show “It’s Worth What?,” hosted by Cedric_the_Entertainer, and two shows for HGTV: a one-hour special that aired in April 2012 and “Flea Market Flip.”
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She wrote the bestseller “I Brake for Yard Sales,” and is working on another book.
Read Goldston’s full email to ABC News:
Tomorrow marks an historic milestone: two years ago GMA snapped Today’s 852-week winning streak. And every day since, we have played our game and fought like underdogs, never satisfied and always looking for the best stories and those indelible television moments that make GMA so special to our audience.
With our amazing team of George, Robin, and Lara and now Amy and Ginger too- I’m confident there is much more to come-and great days ahead for Good Morning America.
Robin – the captain of our team, is the heart of GMA. No matter what she’s faced, she has made it her job to make sure that we are all taken care of. Beyond her amazing broadcasting abilities and dedication to GMA, her compassion and incredible journalism never fails to inspire-and her rallying cry that Everybody’s Got Something inspires millions of Americans every day.
Just yesterday, George, once again, showed us his dedication and versatility – anchoring GMA, rushing to Washington to interview Supreme Court Justice Stevens for This Week and making it back to NY in time to anchor the special report for President Obama’s press conference. A work ethic that’s unmatched.
Nevertheless, Robin and George would be the first to say that it takes an amazing team on air and behind the scenes to do that each morning. And Tom Cibrowski and the GMA production team is without doubt the best in the business.
A key member of our on-air team, Lara Spencer, rejoined ABC three years ago – bringing her style, humor, sunny confidence, wonderful journalism and storytelling to GMA. Lara is clearly an essential ingredient in the success we have enjoyed and I am so pleased to announce that Lara has been elevated to co-host of the program along with Robin and George.
Lara grew up at WABC and GMA and then returned to us in 2011 as GMA mounted its epic challenge. A New York Times best-selling author with another book on the way, the creator and executive producer of Flea Market Flip on HGTV and great mom to Duff and Kate, Lara is simply as talented as they come.
I remain in awe of the entire staff at GMA. With Tom at the helm and Ben’s brilliant leadership, your drive, passion, creativity and unwavering dedication to ABC News and GMA brought us to where we are today.
As I close out my first week in the new job, I want to take a moment to thank everyone for all your good wishes. I could not be more excited and honored to work with this stellar team. Your dedication and passion are unmatched and I look forward to reaching great new heights alongside all of you.
Please join me in congratulating Lara on this well-deserved promotion as we all take a moment to look back on two remarkable years. And here’s to many, many more!