Don Lemon Biography
Don Lemon is a well-known American journalist and media figure who currently runs his own show, The Don Lemon Show, on YouTube. As of March 2026, his channel has attracted around 1.25 million subscribers, showcasing his move towards a digital-first approach in broadcasting.
Before he started his independent venture, Lemon spent a significant chunk of his career at CNN from 2006 to 2023. He began as a correspondent and eventually became a prominent prime-time anchor. Throughout his time there, he hosted various programs, including Don Lemon Tonight from 2014 to 2022, and later co-anchored CNN This Morning with Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow.
Earlier in his career, Lemon was a news correspondent for NBC News, making appearances on shows like Today and NBC Nightly News. He also honed his skills at local TV stations in Alabama and Pennsylvania, where he anchored weekend news segments.
Lemon’s time at CNN came to a close in April 2023. Shortly after, he made the leap to independent media, launching The Don Lemon Show, which he continues to host on YouTube as he embarks on this new chapter in his career.
Don Lemon Biography Career
Early in his journalism journey, Don Lemon kicked things off as a weekend news anchor at WBRC in Birmingham, Alabama, before moving on to WCAU in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He then spent several years as an anchor and investigative reporter for various Fox affiliates, including KTVI in St. Louis, Missouri, and the Fox station in Chicago.
Eventually, Lemon made his way to NBC News, where he worked as a correspondent for Today and NBC Nightly News in New York. He also took on the role of anchor for Weekend Today and contributed to several programs on MSNBC.
In 2003, he joined WMAQ-TV, an NBC-owned station in Chicago, where he served as a reporter and co-anchor for local news. During his time there, he was recognized with three Emmy Awards for his outstanding local investigative reporting.
He made his way to CNN after co-anchoring the 5 p.m. news at NBC5 in Chicago. Before that, he honed his skills as a journalist with NBC News, The Today Show, and NBC Nightly News in New York. He officially joined the station in August 2003, taking on the roles of both anchor and reporter. Beyond his reporting duties in New York, he also lends his expertise to various publications. Lemon has experience as an anchor on Weekend Today and has worked with MSNBC. During his time at NBC, he reported on significant events like the Space Shuttle Columbia explosion, SARS in Canada, and many other stories that captured national and global attention.
Before all this, Lemon served as a weekend anchor and general assignment reporter for NBC affiliate WCAU-TV in Philadelphia. He also worked as an anchor and investigative reporter for KTVI-TV in St. Louis, and as an anchor for WBRC-TV in Birmingham. His journey in journalism began as a news assistant at WNYW in New York City while he was still in college.
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Don Lemon Age
How old is Don? Lemon is 60 years old as of 2026. He was born on the 1st of March 1966 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. He celebrates his birthday on the 1st of March every year.
Don Lemon Education
He earned a degree in broadcast journalism from Brooklyn College and also attended Louisiana State University.
Don Lemon Nationality | Ethnicity
What ethnicity is Don? he belongs to the black ethnicity/heritage. Don was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the United States, he holds American nationality and citizenship by birth.
Don Lemon Height
Lemon stands at a height of 5 feet 10 inches (1.79 m).
Don Lemon Family | Siblings | Parents
Don was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is Katherine Lemon Clark’s daughter. Leisa Lemon and Yma Lemon are his two sisters. In addition to African-American ancestry, he has Creole ancestry; his great-grandfather was of French descent. Lemon’s sister, who died on January 31, 2018, at the age of 58, was discovered by police to have perished from accidental drowning in a pond while on a hybrid strike during his hunt.
Don Lemon Partner | Married | Husband
Is Don married? In 2024, Don Lemon tied the knot with his longtime partner, Tim Malone, after being engaged for several years. The two have been together since around 2016 and made their engagement public in 2019. Their relationship has often been in the spotlight, thanks to Lemon’s prominent journalism career and Malone’s work in real estate.
Prior to this relationship, Lemon kept much of his personal life under wraps, but he has become more open about being part of the LGBTQ+ community in the later years of his career.
Don Lemon First Wife
It appears that there’s no confirmed public record of Don Lemon having a wife, and he hasn’t been married to a woman. The information available about his personal life doesn’t mention a “first wife,” and any references to one seem to stem from misinformation or speculation.
Don Lemon Sister
On January 31, 2018, Don Lemon faced a heartbreaking loss with the passing of his sister, L’Tanya “Leisa” Lemon Grimes, who was just 58 years old. Authorities later determined that her death was a tragic accident, resulting from drowning in a pond while she was out fishing.
After taking about a week off from his on-air responsibilities, Lemon made his return to the program on February 6, 2018. He began the broadcast by expressing his heartfelt gratitude to viewers and colleagues who had reached out with their support, thanking them for their “prayers and words of encouragement” during such a difficult time.
Don Lemon Salary
How much does he earn? Lemon earns an annual salary ranging between $ 40,000- $110,500.
Don Lemon Net Worth
Lemon has an estimated net worth of $1 Million – $5 Million which he has earned through being a news correspondent.
Don Lemon Books
- 2011 Transparent. Farrah Gray
- 2021 This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism.
Don Lemon CNN (2006-2023)
Lemon kicked off his journey with CNN back in September 2006, marking the start of a significant chapter that lasted until 2023. Throughout his years at the network, he became well-known for his candid takes on the media landscape, often voicing his critiques of cable news and even questioning his own network from time to time. He also made headlines for his insights on issues impacting the African American community, which sometimes ignited public discussions and debates.
In 2014, CNN took a chance on prime-time programming featuring Lemon, rolling out pilot projects like The Eleventh Hour and The Don Lemon Show. During major news stories, such as the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, he hosted special nightly broadcasts that included analysis from aviation experts and various news guests.
After some programming shifts at CNN, Lemon became the permanent host of CNN Tonight, which later got a new name: CNN Tonight with Don Lemon. He also played a key role in the network’s New Year’s Eve Live coverage, often reporting from Central Time Zone locations alongside his fellow anchor, Brooke Baldwin.
In 2021, CNN unveiled a podcast project called The Handoff, which Lemon co-hosted with Chris Cuomo, diving into politics and personal conversations. Later that year, his show was rebranded as Don Lemon Tonight, a change he felt the need to clarify after some viewers mistakenly thought it meant he was leaving the network.
In 2022, CNN announced that Lemon would be hosting a new talk show for its upcoming streaming platform, CNN+, called The Don Lemon Show. Unfortunately, the service shut down shortly after its launch, and only a few episodes made it to air.
Later that same year, he was named co-host of CNN’s new morning program alongside Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow. The show was ultimately titled CNN This Morning, and Lemon’s journey on the program—and at CNN—wrapped up with his departure in April 2023.
Don Lemon Fired
On April 24, 2023, Don Lemon was dismissed from CNN, despite having a contract that was set to run until 2026.
According to The New York Times, CNN had been facing challenges booking guests willing to appear alongside Lemon on-air, and internal polling reportedly indicated a decline in his viewer popularity.
Lemon stated that his termination came as a surprise and said the network did not inform him directly in person—an account CNN disputed.
The decision coincidentally came on the same day that Tucker Carlson was also removed from Fox News, drawing widespread media attention to both high-profile departures.
The Don Lemon Show | YouTube (2024–present)
On January 9, 2024, Don Lemon shared his exciting plans to kick off a new program on X called The Don Lemon Show. The debut episode featured a conversation with X owner Elon Musk, diving into a variety of topics like Musk’s legal battles, his political stance, immigration policies, and other hot-button issues that spark public debate.
However, just before the episode was set to air, Musk decided to part ways with the show. Consequently, the episode was made available on YouTube and as a podcast instead.
After this change, The Don Lemon Show forged ahead on its own, transforming into a fully independent digital program. It now streams live and on-demand on its official YouTube channel, @TheDonLemonShow, where it tackles current events, including U.S. politics, global conflicts, economic trends, and media freedom issues.
Don Lemon Taken into Custody
According to CBS News, former CNN anchor Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles. Sources indicate that the arrest occurred while he was covering events, and federal authorities were involved in the operation.
This custody situation is linked to a federal case regarding his alleged involvement in activities related to a protest at a church in Minnesota.
Was Don Lemon Arrested?
Yes, Don Lemon was indeed arrested and briefly held in federal custody before being released later on.
After his release, Lemon made it clear that he intends to fight the charges, asserting that he was acting as a journalist during the incident.
Why was Don Lemon Taken into Custody?
Reports suggest that his arrest is connected to a federal investigation surrounding an anti-ICE protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Authorities claim that he and others may have engaged in actions that disrupted a religious service or interfered with protected rights.
However, Lemon insists that he was there in a journalistic role, covering the protest rather than taking part in it.
Don Lemon Church Protest
The case revolves around a protest at Cities Church in Minnesota, where demonstrators entered during a service that was reportedly linked to immigration enforcement issues. Authorities later looked into several individuals, including Lemon, regarding their presence and actions during the event.
This church protest became the pivotal legal trigger for the federal charges and subsequent arrest warrants.
Appeals court Don Lemon
It looks like a federal appeals court has been busy reviewing some emergency requests related to arrest warrants involving Don Lemon and a few others. While the court didn’t completely approve the government’s request, some judges hinted that there might have been enough reason to consider arrests.
This legal tug-of-war is just one part of the procedural steps leading up to the custody action.
Don Lemon Awards
He won an Emmy for a special program on real estate in Chicagoland, as well as other accolades. In the year 2006.
