Norah O’Donnell’s surprise return to the CBS Mornings anchor desk this week sent a ripple of excitement through the world of broadcast journalism. The veteran news anchor, who stepped down from CBS Evening News in January 2026 after five years at the helm, rejoined her former colleagues Gayle King and Nate Burleson to promote her latest project: a groundbreaking book titled We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America.
The timing was no accident. With the book’s release set for February 24, 2026, O’Donnell’s appearance marked both a homecoming and a rallying cry for the recognition of women whose stories have long been overlooked. According to CBS News, O’Donnell remains a senior correspondent and contributor to 60 Minutes, but it’s her new role as author and advocate that’s capturing headlines across the country.
In conversation with King and Burleson, O’Donnell described the mission behind her book: to reframe U.S. history by shining a spotlight on women whose contributions have shaped the nation but rarely earned them the praise they deserve. "Women in history are so important to the shaping of this country," O’Donnell told CBS Mornings, "but they don’t get the praise that they deserve."
Co-authored with Kate Andersen Brower, We the Women is a meticulously researched, 416-page volume priced at $35 in hardcover. The book weaves together the lives and legacies of figures like Mary Katharine Goddard, the printer who risked treason by putting her name on the Declaration of Independence; Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman to argue before the Supreme Court and later a federal judge; Patsy Mink, who authored Title IX and revolutionized opportunities for women athletes; Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the only woman ever awarded the Medal of Honor; and sports icon Babe Didrikson.
O’Donnell’s research led to some eye-opening realizations about the slow pace of progress for women in America. She was shocked to discover that women couldn’t open credit cards or obtain mortgages without a man’s signature until the 1970s—and that jury service for women wasn’t universal in all states until the early 1970s. The book also revisits the 44-year struggle for women’s suffrage after Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony stormed Independence Hall in 1876 with their Declaration of Rights for Women. As O’Donnell put it, "The right to vote took 44 years after 1876, when Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony presented the Declaration of Rights for Women."
Throughout her career, O’Donnell has interviewed some of the most influential women of modern times, from Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris to Malala Yousafzai and Dolly Parton. Yet, as she admitted in her interview with The Independent, even she was surprised by how much of women’s history remained hidden from her own education. The stories she uncovered while writing the book are both inspiring and sobering, revealing not just personal triumphs but also the persistence of institutional barriers.
One story that stands out is that of Mary Katharine Goddard. As O’Donnell recounts in the book, Goddard was the only printer willing to put her name on the first official printing of the Declaration of Independence, a daring move that could have been considered treason. Despite such acts of bravery, women like Goddard have largely been omitted from mainstream historical narratives.
O’Donnell herself is no stranger to breaking barriers. She became only the second woman to solo anchor the CBS Evening News, following in the footsteps of Katie Couric. But her path was not without obstacles. In a candid moment shared during her book tour announcement, O’Donnell recalled, "I cannot tell you how many times I have experienced sexism. When I was interviewing at CBS for a position covering the White House, a senior person asked me, ‘How are you gonna cover the White House with three young children at home?’ I felt the blood rush up my neck. But I did not allow his misogyny to change the path of my career. And if I had, I wouldn’t have sat in Walter Cronkite’s chair."
Her return to CBS Mornings was also a chance to reflect on the current state of network news. As of early 2026, all three major networks—ABC, NBC, and CBS—feature male anchors exclusively in their evening news slots. O’Donnell didn’t mince words: "I don’t think it’s a good thing," she said, expressing concern about the absence of female representation in such visible roles. Yet, she remains hopeful. "Women in their twenties don’t apologize for speaking up. They command authority collaboratively and let results speak for themselves," she observed, pointing to a generational shift that could signal real progress in the fight against workplace sexism and gender discrimination.
To bring her message directly to readers, O’Donnell is embarking on an ambitious 13-city book tour, kicking off February 23 in New York City with an event featuring Gayle King at The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center. The tour will take her to cities including Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco, with tickets ranging from $40 and up depending on the venue. Each stop includes a pre-signed copy of the book, and the events are designed to foster dialogue about women’s history and representation.
We the Women isn’t just a collection of biographies; it’s a call to action. By sharing the stories of women like Frances Perkins—the first female cabinet member—and Babe Didrikson, a trailblazing athlete, O’Donnell hopes to inspire a new generation to see themselves as part of America’s ongoing story. She emphasizes the power of representation: "If you can see it, you can believe it." This philosophy, she argues, is essential not just for young women but for the nation as a whole.
As O’Donnell continues her work as a journalist and now as an author, her message is clear: the fight for gender equality is far from over, but progress is possible. By surfacing the legacies of America’s hidden heroines, she’s helping to rewrite the narrative—one that better reflects the true diversity and resilience of the American experience.
Her book and her tour arrive at a pivotal moment, as questions about representation and equality remain at the forefront of public debate. For O’Donnell, the stories of these women are more than history—they’re a roadmap for the future.