Bobbie Battista, a former CNN anchor has died, aged 67 after a four year battle with cervical cancer, it was announced by a family spokesperson on Tuesday morning.
Known primarily for her role hosting “Talkback Live” on CNN, Bobby Battista was at the news channel for two decades, and was in the anchor chair for some of the network’s biggest stories.
Battista was on air to cover the attempted assassination of President Ronald Regan, the first Gulf war, and the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
Speaking back in 2001 about her talk show, she said; “As far as TalkBack, we’ve had some serious shows, and some fun shows. If I had to pick, I’d say I liked Free for All Fridays the best.”
Prior to joining CNN, Battista was an anchor and producer at Action News 5 on WRAL-TV, Raleigh, North Carolina, and had begun her television career at WRAL-TV in 1976.
Battista’s husband John Brimelow released a statement on Tuesday, saying; “Bobbie was the consummate trooper in her struggle with cancer, she was courageous and fearless in her battle and thoughtful for all the others in her life even as she fought through the pain. My dear partner of 25 years of marriage has cut her earthly bonds and is now in peace.”
Fox News host, and former colleague of Battista at CNN said on Twitter; “God bless the sweetness and memory of Bobbie Battista. Pure class.”
95.5 WSB’s Mark McKay also posted his memories on Twitter, saying; “When I came to ATL to work at CNN Headline Sports in 1985 I told Bobbie that I used to watch her & Charlie Gaddy on WRAL growing up in Fayetteville. She smiled & begrudgingly said: “thanks”. I smile today thankful that I was honoured to be able to call Bobbie Battista a colleague.”