This high
school valedictorian and
Stanford University student who had also
studied at Oxford University in England, Carlson was chosen as Miss
American 1989. Competing as
Miss Minnesota, she is the only
classical violinist to win and is credited with being one of the
brightest titleholders ever. After serving as Miss America, she
returned to Stanford, where she graduated with honors.
Carlson began her broadcasting career as a political
reporter for
WRIC-TV in Richmond, Virginia. She then
served as a weekend anchor and reporter for
KXAS-TV
in Dallas, TX, was an anchor and reporter at WOIO-TV
in Cleveland, OH, and for WCPO-TV in Cincinnati. She
went on to serve as a news correspondent for the CBS
News and co-anchor of the CBS Saturday
Early Show.
Gretchen joined
FOX News (FNC) as an anchor in June
2005. She serves as co-anchor of Fox's live morning
show, "FOX & Friends," which is rated as cable's
number one morning program.
Gretchen's work as a television journalist has been honored by three
American Women in Radio and Television National Awards (Gracie
Awards), including awards for her coverage of domestic violence,
daycare security, and best network feature.
Gretchen serves as the national celebrity spokesperson for the March
of Dimes and continues her Miss America platform commitment to
advocating the arts. She resides in New York City with her
husband and two children.
Gretchen potential for a successful career in television was
demonstrated during her reign when Mary Ann Mobley and Gary Collins
played a prank on her. After inviting her to be a special
guest with them for TV segment to be aired live to a business
conference, the couple pretended to be called away for an emergency
phone call. The producers asked her to step in for them as the
live segment's "host" until the couple returned "momentarily".
All she would have to do, they assured her, was to read the cue
cards.
Gretchen reluctantly agreed and the (mock) show began to air live.
Gretchen was capably handling her last moment role when the
cameraman "accidentally" knocked over the cue cards! Although
the cue cards were now on the floor and upside down to her,
without missing a beat, she calmly continued to read the cue cards
and address her remote audience!
Carlson began her broadcasting career as a political
reporter for
WRIC-TV in Richmond, Virginia. She then
served as a weekend anchor and reporter for
KXAS-TV
in Dallas, TX, was an anchor and reporter at WOIO-TV
in Cleveland, OH, and for WCPO-TV in Cincinnati. She
went on to serve as a news correspondent for the CBS
News and co-anchor of the CBS Saturday
Early Show. 