Cheryl Burton Biography
Cheryl Burton is an American Emmy award-winning senior journalist currently serving as an evening news anchor at ABC 7 News based in Chicago, Illinois. She joined ABC 7 News in 1992 as a weekend co-anchor and reporter. She received 15 Emmy Awards for her work. Before joining ABC 7 News, she served as a weeknight anchor for the 6 pm news at KWCH-TV in Wichita, Kansas.
Cheryl Burton Education
Burton earned her B.S. degree in Psychology and Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During her time there, she was actively involved in the Marching Illini, renowned as one of the top college marching bands nationwide, and performed in prestigious events such as the Rose Bowl and the Liberty Bowl. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Chicago Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists. She is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. READ: Dan Nathan
Cheryl Burton Age
How old is Cheryl? Cheryl is 62 years old as of 2024. She was born on December 25, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America. Her birthday is always celebrated on December 25th of every year.
Cheryl Burton Nationality and Ethnicity
Burton holds American nationality and citizenship by birth. She was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, United States. She belongs to the Black-American ethnicity/heritage/ancestry.
Is Cheryl Burton White?
Cheryl is not a white woman. She is of Black American heritage and ancestry. She was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois.
Cheryl Burton Height
Burton stands at an average height of 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) and maintains a body weight of 136.69 lbs (62 kg).
Cheryl Burton Family
Cheryl is the daughter of (mother) Hattie Burton and (father) Simpson Burton. She is the fourth child of five children in her family. READ: Dianne Bock
Cheryl Burton Husband | Married
Is Cheryl Burton married? Cheryl is currently single. However, she was once married to Jim Rose, a retired journalist who served as a sports anchor at ABC 7 since 1982. The duo got married in 1986 and later divorced in 1995. Cheryl has no children.
Cheryl Burton Natural Hair
Cheryl’s hair comes to the attention of her followers doubting if she has natural hair or wears wigs. According to the look of things, Cheryl doesn’t wear wigs, she has natural hair and maintains it by dressing it in different styles.
Cheryl Burton Salary
Burton currently serving as an evening news anchor at ABC 7 News based in Chicago, Illinois, earns an estimated annual salary of $120,000.
Cheryl Burton Net Worth
Cheryl Burton is an American Emmy award-winning senior journalist, anchor and reporter with an estimated net worth of $3 million.
Cheryl Burton ABC 7 Chicago
Cheryl Burton is a prominent figure in Chicago’s news landscape, anchoring two of the city’s highest-rated newscasts. She holds the anchor chair for ABC 7 Eyewitness News at both 5 PM and 10 PM, a role she assumed in June 2018 after being promoted from contributing anchor. Additionally, she leads ABC 7’s 7 PM digital newscast, available for streaming on various platforms including ABC 7’s connected TV Apps and abc7chicago.com. Burton’s tenure with ABC 7, the most-watched station in Chicago, dates back to 1992 when she started as a weekend co-anchor and reporter. READ: Chris Plante
Recognized for her outstanding contributions to journalism, Burton was honored with the Chicago Journalists Association 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award. During the ceremony, she unveiled plans for a scholarship at her alma mater, Lindblom Math and Science Academy, aimed at supporting graduating seniors pursuing journalism studies in college.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Burton is deeply involved in charitable endeavors. She organizes an annual winter holiday toy drive benefiting children in domestic violence shelters. Notably, she cherished the opportunity to attend Oprah’s Legends Ball, considering it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
In a significant journalistic coup, Burton secured the exclusive final interview with Oprah Winfrey before the iconic host concluded her 25-year daytime talk show reign. The interview aired on Good Morning America, delved into Oprah’s reflections on love, legacy, and her profound connection to Chicago.
Prior to her tenure at ABC 7, Burton served as a weeknight anchor for KWCH-TV in Wichita, Kansas, where she played a pivotal role in a campaign that helped reduce low birth-weight babies and infant deaths. Additionally, she hosted the talk show “Viewpoint” during this time.
Burton’s broadcasting journey commenced in 1990 as a general assignment reporter for WMBD-TV in Peoria, Illinois. She then moved on to WGN-TV in Chicago, co-anchoring the nationally syndicated weekly series “MBR: The Minority Business Report” from 1989 to 1990, marking the beginning of her illustrious career.
Cheryl Burton Awards
Cheryl Burton has been recognized with numerous accolades throughout her career, notably securing 15 Emmy Awards. Her exceptional work documenting Chicago’s Barack Obama inauguration in “Journey to Witness History: The Obama Inauguration” earned her an Emmy Award in 2009. Additionally, her commitment to community service was acknowledged with the 2009 Procter and Gamble Pioneer Award. READ: Gayle Guyardo
In 2008, Burton’s journalistic prowess was celebrated with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Salute to Excellence International Award for her coverage of the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa. She also received the Vernon Jarrett Par Excellence Award in journalism that same year.
Her dedication to storytelling that touches hearts was recognized with the “Sisters in the Spirit” Award in 2005, a prestigious honor for Chicago area gospel singers. Furthermore, she was twice awarded the Thurgood Marshall Award in 2004 and 2005.
Burton’s impactful reporting on emotionally resonant stories garnered her acclaim, such as the Russ Ewing Award from the Chicago Association of Black Journalists (CABJ) for her piece on a mother-to-daughter kidney donation in 2004. She received the same award in 2003 for her coverage of the E2 nightclub tragedy.
Her exceptional journalistic skills were further highlighted in her coverage of the Pope’s visit to Canada in 2002, earning widespread recognition. Among her honors, Burton received the 1998 Kizzy Image and Achievement Award, acknowledging her excellence as a black woman in her profession.
In 1997, she was honored with the Phenomenal Woman Award from the Expo for Today’s Black Woman, and her coverage of the Million Man March in 1995 earned her another CABJ award. Additionally, her influence in empowering women across the nation was acknowledged with an “Unsung Sheroe” honor from the National Basketball Association Wives Association Inc.
Lastly, the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana bestowed upon Cheryl Burton their prestigious Luminary Award, paying tribute to her remarkable contributions.
Cheryl Burton Charity and Community
Cheryl Burton is deeply engaged in the Chicago community, dedicating a significant portion of her time to various non-profit organizations and charitable causes. She volunteers her efforts at the Boys and Girls Club of America and actively serves as a motivational speaker for the Chicago Public Schools. Additionally, Cheryl plays integral roles on the boards of the Life with Lupus Guild, the Multicultural Dance Center, and City Year.
Her involvement extends beyond these organizations as she participates in events like the Rush-Presbyterian/St. Luke’s fashion show. Cheryl’s contributions have been recognized through prestigious accolades such as the Grace and Beauty Award, the DuSable Museum History Maker Award, and the Girl Scout Camp CEO Leader Award. Notably, she is a lifelong and proud member of the Girl Scouts.
