Top CNN Anchor Reveals on Air That She’s Stepping Down

CNN viewers got a surprise on Monday, March 23, when Rahel Solomon, the anchor of the 5 a.m. show Early Start, announced live on air that she will be leaving the network. She told her audience that this week would be her last behind the desk, with her final broadcast scheduled for Friday, March 27.

“Now, to some personal news, I have decided that this will be my last week at CNN,” she said, adding that more details about her next move would come later. Solomon has been with CNN since 2022 after working at CNBC, where she made a name for herself as a versatile reporter covering both general news and business topics.

On her farewell broadcast, she reflected on her time as a business correspondent. “It has been such an honor, truly, to serve as a business correspondent for CNN. I have covered everything from inflation to the job market and everything in between,” she said.

A message from Rahel Solomon: pic.twitter.com/6HMOSZTdsZ

— CNN Early Start with Rahel Solomon (@EarlyStart) March 23, 2026

She also praised the team behind Early Start, which was relaunched about a year ago. Solomon said she felt proud of her colleagues and the work they did, often during the toughest early-morning breaking news hours.

A CNN spokesperson later released a statement thanking her for her dedication and supporting her decision to leave. Born in Sudan to Ethiopian parents, Solomon has lived in several countries, giving her a unique global perspective on business reporting.

She studied finance at St. John’s University and earned a master’s from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Before joining national networks, she began her career in local news, including a role as a morning anchor in Philadelphia.

CNN has not yet announced who will take over her 5 a.m. anchor spot, which is an important piece of the network’s morning lineup and is often simulcast on CNN International.

Analysts say her departure comes at a time when the network is making several changes to its morning and daytime programming. Despite leaving, Solomon remains active in journalism and has participated in industry panels and workshops.

She has frequently spoken about the importance of authentic reporting and the challenges of covering high-stakes global stories. Fans of Early Start can expect temporary anchors to fill in over the next few weeks until a permanent replacement is named.

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