John Roberts

Early Life and Canadian Radio Career

John David Roberts was born John David Robertson in Toronto, Ontario, and spent his formative years in the suburban city of Mississauga. He completed his secondary education at Erindale Secondary School and Lorne Park Secondary School before pursuing higher education at Erindale College, which was part of the University of Toronto. His initial foray into broadcasting occurred at the university's campus radio station, CFRE-FM, located in Mississauga. This experience provided the foundation for his first professional role in 1975 as a reporter and news anchor at CFOS radio in Owen Sound, Ontario. His career progressed through several Ontario radio markets, including a stint as a newsman and disc jockey at CHYM in Kitchener. In 1977, he worked on-air for radio station CJBK in London, Ontario, before securing a position at the influential Toronto top 40 station 1050 CHUM later that same year. At CHUM, he worked as a weekday evening disc jockey, and it was during this period that the station, along with CITY-TV, gave him the on-air name J. D. Roberts, a name he used in his early television appearances.

Pioneering Television Work at CITY-TV and MuchMusic

Roberts transitioned from radio to television in 1979 when he began co-hosting the music newsmagazine "The NewMusic" on CITY-TV with Jeanne Beker. The program ran until 1985 and was a pioneering effort in music journalism that launched before MTV became widely available. Roberts, Beker, and the production team received numerous awards for their work on the series. While hosting "The NewMusic," Roberts also served as an entertainment reporter for CITY-TV and occasionally substituted for hosts John Majhor and later Brad Giffen on the local music video program "Toronto Rocks." In 1984, Roberts was selected to be one of the inaugural on-air personalities for the launch of Canada's national music video channel, MuchMusic. He and Christopher Ward were the first faces viewers saw when the network began broadcasting. At MuchMusic, Roberts hosted a variety of programs, most notably "The Power Hour," a one-hour block dedicated to heavy metal music videos. He left the music channel in 1987 to anchor CITY-TV's "CityPulse" newscasts. He eventually took over as anchor of the 10 p.m. "CityPulse Tonight" broadcast after Anne Mroczkowski moved to co-anchor the 6 p.m. edition with Gord Martineau.

First U.S. Role and Return to Canada with CTV

Seeking new opportunities, Roberts moved to the United States in 1989 to join WCIX, the CBS-owned and operated television station in Miami, Florida, which later became WFOR-TV. There, he worked as an anchor and reporter for approximately one year. In September 1990, he returned to Canada to assume a high-profile national role as co-host of CTV's flagship morning show, "Canada AM." He initially shared the anchor desk with Deborah McGregor and later with Pamela Wallin. This position placed him in living rooms across the country each morning and represented a significant step in his broadcasting career before he made a permanent move to network news in the United States. His time at "Canada AM" demonstrated his versatility and comfort in a live, conversational format.

Network News Ascendancy at CBS

Roberts joined CBS News in New York in 1992. His first network assignment was co-anchoring the "CBS Morning News" alongside Meredith Vieira. He also fulfilled duties as the news reader and substitute anchor for Harry Smith on "CBS This Morning" and its successor, "The Early Show." From 1994 to 1995, Roberts anchored the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts for WCBS-TV, CBS's flagship station in New York City. In a major career move in March 1995, he returned to the CBS network as the anchor of the "CBS Sunday Evening News," a position he held for nearly eleven years. His responsibilities expanded in February 1999 when he also began anchoring the "CBS Saturday Evening News." This dual role ended in August 1999 when he was appointed CBS's chief White House correspondent. Roberts served in that capacity from August 1999 to February 2006, covering the end of the Clinton administration and the entirety of George W. Bush's first term and the start of his second. His reporting included being embedded with the U.S. Marines' 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion during the initial invasion of Iraq in March 2003. During his CBS tenure, Roberts received three National Emmy Awards and a Gracie Award, the latter for his coverage of a groundbreaking surgery to repair neural tube defects.

Senior Roles and Conflict Reporting at CNN

In February 2006, Roberts left CBS and joined CNN. He quickly returned to international conflict zones, reporting from the front lines of the Israel-Hezbollah war in July and August 2006. During this assignment, he embedded with an Israeli infantry unit, marching ten miles into Lebanon, and his work was recognized with a Headline Award. CNN's overall coverage of that conflict received an Edward R. Murrow Award. In October 2006, Roberts returned to Iraq to serve as the first anchor of the program "This Week at War." He was based in Washington, D.C., as a senior national correspondent, a role that also included substituting for Anderson Cooper on "Anderson Cooper 360°." From 2007 to 2010, Roberts was a co-anchor of CNN's morning program "American Morning," broadcasting from New York. The program was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for best morning program in 2010. According to reports from The Associated Press, Roberts requested to leave "American Morning" to relocate and be closer to his fiancée, CNN anchor Kyra Phillips.

Fox News Correspondent and White House Assignment

CNN executives confirmed on January 3, 2011, that Roberts would be departing to join Fox News as a national correspondent based in Atlanta. In this role, he reported on numerous major stories, including the murder trial of Robert Durst, the U.S. Ebola outbreak, the 2013 EF5 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, and the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. In January 2017, Roberts was promoted to chief White House correspondent for Fox News, tasked with covering the presidency of Donald Trump. His coverage sometimes involved direct confrontations with administration officials. Following the first presidential debate of the 2020 election, Roberts engaged in a heated exchange with press secretary Kayleigh McEnany over the president's remarks, telling her to "stop deflecting, stop blaming the media." This incident received considerable media and political attention. In October 2020, Fox News announced that Roberts had signed a multi-year contract extension with the network.

Promotion to Anchor and Recent Work

On January 14, 2021, Fox News announced that Roberts was being promoted to an anchor position. He began co-anchoring the afternoon news program "America Reports," which airs from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. His former role as chief White House correspondent was assumed by Peter Doocy, who covers the Joe Biden administration. In October 2021, Roberts posted a tweet regarding the death of former Secretary of State Colin Powell from complications of COVID-19, suggesting it raised questions about vaccine efficacy. The tweet was criticized for not acknowledging Powell's age and his pre-existing condition of multiple myeloma, a cancer that compromises the immune system. Roberts later deleted the tweet, stating he did so because it was being interpreted as anti-vaccine, which was not his intention.

Personal Details and Name Change

John Roberts was previously married to his high school sweetheart. That marriage ended in divorce in 2008, and they have two children together. He announced his engagement to CNN anchor Kyra Phillips in April 2010. The couple have twin children, a daughter named Sage Ann and a son named Kellan Clay. Public records indicate Roberts and Phillips were married by approximately 2018. Roberts holds dual citizenship in Canada and the United States. He was born with the surname Robertson but shortened it professionally early in his career to avoid confusion with his uncle, John Robertson, who was a well-known Canadian sports reporter and columnist.

Career Highlights and Accolades

John Roberts's career is marked by several significant achievements and honours. His early work on "The NewMusic" at CITY-TV earned multiple awards for the program's innovative approach to music culture. His tenure at CBS News yielded three National Emmy Awards and a Gracie Award. His frontline reporting for CNN during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war was recognized with a Headline Award for his embed with Israeli forces. The most notable honour from his home country came in 2009 when he was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame during Canadian Music Week. This induction acknowledged his contributions to Canadian broadcasting from his early radio days through his influential television work before his move to American network news.

Questions about John Roberts

Is John Roberts Canadian?

Yes, John Roberts is a Canadian-American citizen. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in Mississauga, Ontario. He began his broadcasting career on Canadian radio and television stations. Roberts holds dual citizenship in Canada and the United States.

What is John Roberts known for?

John Roberts is best known as a television journalist and anchor for major American news networks. He served as chief White House correspondent for both CBS News and Fox News, covering multiple presidencies. He also co-anchored CNN's "American Morning" and currently co-anchors "America Reports" on Fox News. In Canada, he is remembered for his early work on CITY-TV's "The NewMusic" and as a founding personality on MuchMusic.

Where did John Roberts go to university?

John Roberts attended Erindale College at the University of Toronto. While there, he worked at the campus radio station, CFRE-FM in Mississauga. This experience provided his first hands-on broadcasting work. His university radio work led directly to his first professional job in 1975.

Who is John Roberts married to?

John Roberts is married to fellow journalist Kyra Phillips, a CNN anchor. The couple announced their engagement in April 2010 and have twin children together. Roberts was previously married to his high school sweetheart, with whom he has two children. He and Phillips are believed to have married around 2018.

What show does John Roberts anchor on Fox News?

John Roberts co-anchors the Fox News program America Reports. He was promoted to this anchor position in January 2021. The show airs on weekdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Prior to this, he served as the network's chief White House correspondent from 2017 to 2021.

What awards has John Roberts won?

John Roberts has won three National Emmy Awards and a Gracie Award for his work at CBS News. He received a Headline Award for his embedded reporting from Lebanon for CNN in 2006. In 2009, he was inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame. These awards recognize his contributions to broadcast journalism.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.