After 10 years, Avery Cotton has explained what happened to her on Channel 8
After a decade anchoring Tampa's mornings, Avery Cotton's exit has viewers wondering what's behind it. The longtime News Channel 8 anchor has explained exactly why she's leaving — and it's about as wholesome as it gets.
What Avery Cotton said about leaving Channel 8
Avery Cotton, the morning news anchor on WFLA's News Channel 8 Today in Tampa, is stepping away from television news after 10 years at the station, with her final broadcast falling on a Friday. She explained the decision herself, in her own words:
"I've decided it 's time for me to step away from television news for now and focus on being more present for my two little boys, Sam and Luke, who are already growing up way too fast."
That's the explanation, straight from her: a decade into the job, with two small children at home, she's choosing family time over the pre-dawn anchor shift. No scandal, no health scare, no falling-out. A personal choice, and a relatable one.
Who is Avery Cotton?
For viewers in Tampa Bay, she's been a fixture of the early mornings. The key details:
- The role — co-anchor of News Channel 8 Today on WFLA, on air in the small hours with the morning team.
- The tenure — a decade at the station, including her signature "Kids Corner" segment spotlighting local children and families.
- The background — she grew up near Mobile, Alabama, and is married to Joseph, a cardiologist; the couple have two sons, Sam (born 2022) and Luke.
She's also spoken openly about her Catholic faith and her love of the water, having grown up boating and fishing.
What's next for her?
She hasn't announced a new job, and that appears to be the point — the move is about stepping back, not stepping into something else. She's framed it as a pause from TV news rather than a hard goodbye to the industry, which leaves the door open for a return down the line.
For the record: this isn't the first time family has reshaped her schedule. She stepped back around the births of her sons, too. This time she's simply choosing the early-morning school run over the early-morning anchor desk.