Lee Cowan Biography
Lee Cowan is an Emmy Award-winning journalist hailing from the U.S., currently making his mark as a national correspondent and substitute anchor for CBS News Sunday Morning. His impressive work is featured across all CBS News platforms and broadcasts. With nearly three decades of experience under his belt, Cowan has devoted over twenty years to CBS News, spanning two different periods.
In the early days of his CBS journey, he was involved with CBS Newspath, the network’s 24-hour news service, and took on the role of researcher for CBS News Nightwatch, later contributing to the CBS Evening News in Washington, D.C.
Cowan began his journalism career in local news, where he served as an anchor and reporter for WLWT-TV in Cincinnati. He also held similar roles at WWMT-TV in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and was a weekend anchor at KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California. Prior to that, he was the news director and anchor at NBC affiliate KIEM-TV in Eureka, California.
Lee Cowan Age
So, how old is Lee? As of 2026, he’s 61 years old. Born on May 1, 1965, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Lee celebrates his birthday every year on that special day.
Education
Lee attended Washington University, where he pursued a double major in communication and speech communication, graduating in 1988.
Lee Cowan Nationality
Cowan proudly holds American nationality and citizenship. He spent his formative years in Salt Lake City, Utah, and identifies with white heritage.
Lee Cowan Height | Measurements
Standing at about 5 feet 8 inches (roughly 1.80 m), Lee is of average height. However, he hasn’t shared any specifics about his other body measurements publicly.
Lee Cowan Family | Parents
Growing up in Salt Lake City, Utah, Lee was nurtured by his loving parents. His father, Leland B. Cowan, is a surgical and radiation oncologist, while his mother, Constance W. Cowan, has also played a significant role in his life. As for siblings, Lee hasn’t revealed whether he has any, so we’re still looking into that and will update you once we have more information.
Lee Cowan Wife | Children
Lee is happily married to his wonderful wife, Molly Palmer, who works as a television associate producer. Molly is the daughter of television news author Nancy Doyle Palmer and correspondent John Palmer. The couple tied the knot on April 14, 2012, and they are proud parents to two boys: Kevin Cowan, born on April 23, 2016, and Harrison Leland Cowan, who arrived on March 9, 2019. They currently reside in Santa Monica.
Lee Cowan at CBS News
Lee Cowan is currently making his mark as a national correspondent and substitute anchor for CBS News Sunday Morning. His impressive work is featured across all CBS News platforms and broadcasts. With nearly three decades of experience under his belt, Cowan has devoted over twenty years to CBS News, spanning two different periods.
In the early days of his CBS journey, he was involved with CBS Newspath, the network’s 24-hour news service, and took on the role of researcher for CBS News Nightwatch, later contributing to the CBS Evening News in Washington, D.C.
Now calling Los Angeles home, Cowan has had the privilege of interviewing a wide range of influential personalities in politics, entertainment, and sports. His impressive roster includes First Lady Michelle Obama, musician Bruno Mars, comedian Carol Burnett, and tennis icon Billie Jean King. His reporting has delved into important social issues, such as the U.S. public defender system, the water crisis affecting the Navajo Nation, and childhood hunger.
Cowan began his journalism career in local news, where he served as an anchor and reporter for WLWT-TV in Cincinnati. He also held similar roles at WWMT-TV in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and was a weekend anchor at KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California. Prior to that, he was the news director and anchor at NBC affiliate KIEM-TV in Eureka, California.
Throughout his tenure at CBS, Cowan has covered major global and national events, including the September 11 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 2006 conflict in Beirut, and the devastating tsunami in Indonesia that same year.
Lee Cowan NBC
During his time at NBC News—where he contributed to NBC Nightly News, Today, and MSNBC—he reported on significant international and political stories, including Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and election, the 2011 tsunami in Japan, the crisis in Libya, and the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
Lee Cowan Salary
When it comes to his role as a journalist and correspondent for CBS News, there’s no doubt that Lee Cowan earns a solid salary. In fact, his annual estimated income is around $110,000.
Lee Cowan’s Net Worth
With over a decade of experience in the media industry, it’s clear that Lee has built up a substantial income over the years. His estimated net worth stands at about $3 million.