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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Screen & Stage • Journalism

Don Lemon

Don Lemon is an American television journalist and author best known for his long career at CNN, where he worked from 2006 until 2023.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Don Lemon is an American television journalist and author best known for his long career at CNN, where he worked from 2006 until 2023. He has since moved into independent media projects.

Early life

Don Lemon was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1966. He later built a national broadcasting career, rising to prominence as a CNN anchor and host.

CNN career

Lemon joined CNN in 2006 and became one of the network’s best-known anchors. He hosted Don Lemon Tonight and later co-hosted CNN This Morning before the network ended his contract in April 2023.

Post-CNN career

After leaving CNN, Lemon moved into independent media, launching The Don Lemon Show and other projects on platforms like X and YouTube. His work continues to focus on commentary and interviews.

In short

  • Joined CNN in 2006 and became a prime-time anchor.
  • CNN ended his contract in April 2023 after 17 years.
  • Now runs independent media projects including The Don Lemon Show.
  • Born March 1, 1966; age 60 as of July 2026.
Canadian angle

Don Lemon is relevant to Canadian readers as a major North American broadcast journalist whose coverage of U.S. politics and culture has been widely followed in Canada.

Quick questions

Who is Don Lemon?
Don Lemon is an American television journalist and author best known for his long career as a CNN anchor and host.
What happened to Don Lemon?
He left CNN in 2023 after the network ended his contract. He later moved into independent media and launched post-CNN projects.
How old is Don Lemon?
Don Lemon was born on March 1, 1966, which makes him 60 years old as of July 2026.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Lemon
    Supports: Born March 1, 1966; joined CNN in 2006; hosted Don Lemon Tonight; fired by CNN in April 2023; later announced The Don Lemon Show.
  2. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c24gm3dz36po
    Supports: Describes Lemon as a former CNN anchor; states he was dismissed from CNN in April 2023; notes he was working as an independent journalist.
  3. TV Insider — https://www.tvinsider.com/people/don-lemon/
    Supports: Birth date March 1, 1966; birth place Baton Rouge, Louisiana; age 60.
  4. People — https://people.com/tag/don-lemon/
    Supports: Identifies Lemon as an American journalist and TV news anchor; notes he joined CNN in 2006 and received journalism awards.
  5. CBS News — https://www.cbsnews.com/news/don-lemon-in-custody-former-cnn-anchor-sources-say/
    Supports: States that CNN fired him in 2023 and that he later launched independent media projects, including The Don Lemon Show and a YouTube-hosted show.
  6. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0501500/
    Supports: Birth date and age; marital status; biography details.