Highlights
- Anderson Cooper choked up delivering his iconic “I’m Anderson Cooper” sign-off for the last time
- Cooper called his 20+ years at 60 Minutes “a hell of a ride” in a farewell Overtime segment
- His exit follows reports he was uncomfortable with CBS News’ new “rightward direction”
It was a Sunday night send-off no one will soon forget.
Anderson Cooper choked up as he signed off from 60 Minutes for the last time on Sunday night (May 17, 2026), after two decades on the show, with a heartfelt farewell tribute to the flagship newsmagazine’s journalistic value and historic importance.
After delivering his final report for the show, the longtime journalist gave his iconic sign-off, saying, “I’m Anderson Cooper.” In a special behind-the-scenes look, an emotional Cooper bowed his head before delivering his closing line three times.
After pausing for several seconds and looking down to compose himself, he repeated the sign-off three times (watch the video below) — a long-running tradition on the show.
The moment was equal parts poignant and powerful. And for viewers who have watched Cooper navigate war zones, human tragedies, and some of the biggest stories of the last two decades, it hit differently.
‘It’s Been a Hell of a Ride’
In an interview about the legacy left behind by the show, Cooper reflected on what the experience truly meant to him. “Has it been 20 years? Wow. More than 20 years. Yeah, it’s been a hell of a ride.”
Cooper joined 60 Minutes in 2006 in an agreement between CBS News and CNN, where he is an anchor. He called his experience on the show “an honor of a life.”
“This is my last shoot for 60 Minutes. 60 Minutes has always been a place, at least for me, that you get to step into somebody else’s shoes. You get to see things through their eyes and see what their struggles are and what they are facing, and you learn from that,” he said.
Cooper also got candid about the juggling act that defined his tenure. “CNN doesn’t like it if I take a lot of time off to work on a 60 Minutes piece, so I’ve worked mostly for 60 Minutes on weekends,” he noted. “My vacation time at CNN has been working on 60 Minutes pieces. I’ve loved it, but it’s been tough.”
The Stories That Stayed With Him
Cooper looked back on some dangerous assignments, including diving with Nile crocodiles and riding a jet ski through heavy waves in Portugal. He also touched upon his interviews with high-profile figures such as Prince Harry and Lady Gaga, but said some of the most meaningful moments came from speaking with ordinary people, including individuals working to fight child malnutrition in Niger.
Cooper said the job “never felt like work” — more like being invited into people’s lives and personal stories. “You’re invited into their struggles, you’re invited into whatever it is that has brought them to be on 60 Minutes,” he explained.
“I don’t think the reality has hit me that I’m not going to be doing this any longer, you know, to give up something you’ve watched since you were a kid. Yeah, I will miss this,” he continued.
A Veiled Message — and a Loaded Exit
Cooper’s farewell wasn’t without subtext. The correspondent made his final appearance on 60 Minutes after announcing his departure in February amid reports that he had grown “uncomfortable” with the “rightward direction” of CBS under new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
Cooper cited a desire to spend more time with his family as the reason for his departure. But insiders have read between the lines.
A CBS source, speaking to the New York Post, said Cooper “doesn’t like that she has inserted herself,” adding, “He doesn’t want the hassle. This is the first time any of them had a boss they have to answer to.”
Cooper, for his part, kept things classy — but the message was unmistakable. “I hope 60 Minutes remains 60 Minutes,” Cooper said in a pointed seven-word statement. “There’s very few things that have been around for as long as 60 Minutes has and maintained the quality that it has.”
He added, “I think the independence of 60 Minutes has been critical.”
His first-ever broadcast as an anchor on the show aired on December 10, 2006. His exit took effect May 17, 2026. Cooper will continue in his role as anchor of CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360°.
Twenty years. Countless stories. One unforgettable sign-off.
