Diane Sawyer was born in Kentucky and grew up in Louisville. In March 1963, she won the America’s Junior Miss pageant and is seen here with the runners-up from other states.
AP Photo
At age 17, Sawyer took a tour of New York while in the city for the America’s Junior Miss pageant. She went on to receive an English degree from Wellesley College in Massachusetts before beginning her career in television news.
AP Photo
Sawyer (seen here in 1970) worked in Richard Nixon’s administration, and after his resignation continued to advise and assist him in writing his memoirs.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
Before she joined ABC News in 1989, Sawyer spent the beginning of her career at CBS. She was the first woman to co-anchor 60 Minutes and is seen here with producer Don Hewitt on Oct. 1, 1985.
CBS / Landov
Peter Jennings, then host of ABC’s World News Tonight, Tom Brokaw, anchor of NBC Nightly News, and Sawyer, during her tenure at 60 Minutes.
Chase Roe / Retna
After many years with CBS, Sawyer switched networks in 1989 and became co-anchor of Primetime Live with Sam Donaldson.
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In 1988, Sawyer married her current husband, director Mike Nichols. The playful couple is seen here at the 1992 Hampton Classic horse show.
Kimberly Butler, Time Life Pictures / Getty Images
Sawyer and Barbara Walters co-anchored ABC’s Turning Point after its premiere in 1994.
AP Photo
In 1995, Diane Sawyer scored an interview coup—Michael Jackson and then-wife Lisa Marie Presley spoke with her but revealed little about their puzzling marriage. The highly anticipated interview was watched by 60 million people.
ABC / Retna Ltd.
Sawyer (seen here with husband Mike Nichols) received the Hall of Fame Award at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ 13th Annual Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in 1997.
Chris Pizzelo / AP Photo
Since 1999, Sawyer has been seated in the Good Morning America anchor chair. Here, she carries the Olympic torch in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, in December 2001.
Todd Warchar, Pool / AP Photo
President George W. Bush sat down with Sawyer to discuss relief efforts for the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Emmy Award-winning journalist has also interviewed Saddam Hussein, President Fidel Castro, John Gotti, Manuel Noriega, Nancy Reagan, and the Clintons.
Krisanne Johnson, White House / AP Photo
Sawyer and Charles Gibson teamed up as co-hosts of Good Morning America in 1999, and the two remained on the air together for seven years, until Gibson left to helm World News Tonight, a position Sawyer will take over in January 2010.
Richard Drew / AP Photo
