Judy Woodruff Bio
Judy Woodruff is an iconic American broadcast journalist, national news anchor, and managing editor based in Washington, D.C. She currently serves as a Senior Correspondent for PBS News, directing the highly acclaimed multi-state documentary series, America at a Crossroads, which examines national political polarization. She is widely revered as a trailblazer for women in media, having covered every single U.S. presidential election and political convention since 1976.
Woodruff has built a legendary five-decade career anchoring top-tier programming across network, cable, and public television news bureaus. She spent decades with the PBS NewsHour team, famously making history alongside the late Gwen Ifill in 2013 as the first all-female co-anchor team of a national evening newscast. She then served as the sole anchor and managing editor of the flagship broadcast from 2016 through the end of 2022, providing steady, fact-based journalism during critical moments in modern history.
Earlier in her professional trajectory, Woodruff held major political reporting beats at competing legacy networks. She served as a prominent White House correspondent for NBC News for six years before joining PBS in 1983 as chief Washington correspondent for the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. In 1993, she pivoted to CNN to co-anchor Inside Politics and WorldView alongside Bernard Shaw, before returning to her permanent home at PBS in 2006. Her collaborative reporting has earned prestigious accolades, including an Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award, a Peabody Journalistic Integrity Award, and the Poynter Medal.
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Beyond the daily newsroom, Woodruff is a passionate advocate for press freedom and global media equity. She is a founding co-chair of the International Women’s Media Foundation and has taught as a visiting professor at Duke University and a fellow at Harvard University. Her prestigious academic foundation comes from Duke University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science after initially starting her collegiate studies at Meredith College.
Judy Woodruff Age
Judy Woodruff is 79 years old as of early 2026. She was born on November 20, 1946, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but relocated frequently across international military bases throughout her early youth. She celebrates her birthday on the 20th of November each year, typically spending the autumn holiday season sharing home-cooked meals alongside her extended family.
Judy Woodruff Family
Woodruff was born to her parents, William H. Woodruff and Anna Lee Woodruff (née Payne). Her father was a highly disciplined chief warrant officer in the U.S. Army, resulting in a traveling “military brat” upbringing that took Judy from Oklahoma to Germany, Taiwan, and Missouri. She was raised alongside her sibling, a sister named Anita Woodruff, inside a close-knit and patriotic household that strongly encouraged global awareness, adaptability, and academic excellence.
Judy Woodruff’s Husband
Woodruff is married to her husband, Al Hunt. Al is a highly celebrated American political columnist, media analyst, and former Washington bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal. The couple tied the knot on April 5, 1980, at the St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. Together, the couple has three adult children: a son named Jeffrey Hunt, who was born with spina bifida and inspired much of the couple’s medical advocacy, a son named Benjamin Hunt, and a daughter named Lauren Hunt.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Judy Carline Woodruff |
| Date of Birth | November 20, 1946 |
| Age | 79 Years Old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Journalist, Television Anchor |
| Education | Duke University |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Husband | Al Hunt |
| Children | Three |
| Employer | PBS NewsHour |
| Years Active | 1970–Present |
Judy Woodruff’s Height
Woodruff stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 2 inches (1.57 meters).
Judy Woodruff Net Worth
Woodruff has an estimated net worth of between $5 million and $8 million as of 2026. This substantial financial standing has been built over an unmatched fifty-year career in mainstream news broadcasting, encompassing executive anchor contracts with PBS and CNN, book royalties, and university lecturing fees.
Judy Woodruff’s Salary
Woodruff earns an estimated annual salary ranging from $200,000 to $350,000. While public broadcasting networks do not publicly release exact contract terms for independent talent, this baseline reflects industry standard compensation for senior network correspondents, executive producers, and legacy news hosts.
Awards and Achievements
Throughout her career, Judy Woodruff has received numerous honors, including:
- Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Peabody Journalistic Integrity Award
- Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award
- Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism
- Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism
She has also received more than 25 honorary degrees.
