Kayna Whitworth is an American broadcast journalist and news anchor born on July 4, 1982, in Aurora, Colorado.
She is one of the most recognized correspondents at ABC News, appearing regularly on flagship programs including Good Morning America and World News Tonight with David Muir.
Her Emmy Award-winning reporting and fearless field work have made her one of the most respected journalists in American television news.
Who is Kayna Whitworth?
Kayna Whitworth is a Los Angeles-based correspondent and anchor for ABC News. She joined the network in 2015 after building her career across multiple local newsrooms in four different states.
She is best known for her on-the-ground coverage of major breaking news events, from natural disasters to high-profile criminal cases.
Her reporting has taken her everywhere from the Arctic to the floor of a nuclear submarine.
Whitworth also hosts The King Road Killings, a top-rated ABC Audio podcast that investigates the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students.
The series has drawn a large national audience and helped cement her reputation as a journalist who goes far beyond the studio.
Few journalists at her level are willing to sleep on an ice floe in sub-30-degree temperatures or climb 200 feet up a giant sequoia for a story.
Early Life of Kayna Whitworth
Kayna Logan Whitworth grew up in Aurora, Colorado, the eldest child of Rocky and Mary Whitworth. Both of her parents worked as school teachers, and her father also coached high school football.
Because of her father’s coaching career, the family reportedly moved at least 16 times during her childhood.
That upbringing gave her a deep appreciation for rural American life, a passion that would later shape her journalism career.
Her younger sibling is named Kallen Whitworth. The family background in education and sports helped instill both discipline and curiosity in Kayna from an early age.
Kayna Whitworth Age
Kayna Whitworth is 44 years old as of 2026. She was born on July 4, 1982, in Aurora, Colorado.
Her birthday falls on Independence Day every year. She currently works as a national correspondent and anchor at ABC News, based in Los Angeles.
Kayna Whitworth Ethnicity and Nationality
Kayna Whitworth is American by nationality, born and raised in Colorado. She holds American citizenship by birth.
Her exact ethnic background has not been publicly confirmed in primary sources. Whitworth has not made detailed public statements about her ancestry.
Kayna Whitworth Height and Weight
Kayna Whitworth reportedly stands at 5 feet 8 inches tall, or approximately 172 centimeters.
She maintains an active lifestyle outside of work. Her Instagram bio describes her as a self-described “gym rat,” and she regularly shares photos of outdoor activities and hiking with her family.
Her physical presence on screen reflects the energy she brings to demanding field assignments.
From Arctic conditions to active wildfire zones, Whitworth consistently reports from environments that require real stamina.
Kayna Whitworth Education
Whitworth completed her high school education at Grandview High School in Aurora, Colorado. She graduated in 2001 before going on to pursue a career in broadcast journalism.
She attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Media Studies in 2005.
Some reports indicate she briefly attended Arizona State University before transferring to Colorado State.
Her academic training prepared her well for the fast-paced environment of local news. Within months of graduating, she had already stepped into her first on-air role.
Kayna Whitworth Career
Whitworth launched her journalism career in 2005, right out of Colorado State University.
She worked as a reporter and anchor at KTVZ, an NBC-affiliated station in Bend, Oregon, and later moved to KBOI-TV in Boise, Idaho.
Her career was building steadily with each move to a larger market.
Early Career
After Boise, Whitworth relocated to Tucson, Arizona, where she joined KOLD-TV, a CBS-affiliated station.
Her work at KOLD helped sharpen her skills in anchoring and investigative reporting.
In December 2012, she made her biggest move yet: Boston, Massachusetts. She became the weekend evening anchor and weekday morning anchor at WHDH, Channel 7, one of the most competitive local news markets in the country.
During her time in Boston, Whitworth covered some of the most significant stories of that era.
She reported on the Boston Marathon bombings and covered the arrests of NFL player Aaron Hernandez and organized crime figure Whitey Bulger.
Breakthrough and ABC News
ABC News took notice of Whitworth’s work in Boston and brought her on as a Los Angeles-based correspondent in June 2015.
The move marked a turning point in her career. That transition to national television changed everything.
Since joining ABC, Whitworth has reported on a remarkable range of stories. She has covered the Caldor wildfire, Colorado flash floods, and the Glass Fire in California’s Napa Valley.
She also reported live from the site of a volcanic eruption in Hawaii in 2018, leaving her family vacation to file the story in real time.
Her assignments have also taken her to the far extremes of physical endurance. She spent time on the USS Pasadena, a nuclear submarine, during the U.S. Navy’s Ice X training exercise.
In another assignment, she climbed 200 feet up a giant sequoia tree. The report documented the effects of climate change on some of the world’s oldest living organisms.
Recent Work
In recent years, Whitworth has become one of ABC News’ most prominent voices on criminal justice and breaking news.
She led the network’s coverage of the University of Idaho student murders beginning in 2022, a case that received national attention.
She has also covered the trial proceedings connected to former President Donald Trump’s criminal indictments.
In 2025, she reported on the Los Angeles wildfires, including live coverage from the Pacific Palisades area.
Her podcast, The King Road Killings, debuted on ABC Audio in June 2023 and quickly became one of the top-rated true crime podcasts in the country.
The five-part narrative series follows the investigation and prosecution of Bryan Kohberger, who was charged with the murders of four University of Idaho students.
Kayna Whitworth Awards and Recognition
Whitworth’s most notable professional honor is an Emmy Award for her reporting on the endangered Snake River in Washington state.
The award recognized her commitment to environmental and rural storytelling during her time at ABC News. The Emmy is a significant achievement in American broadcast journalism.
She has built a strong reputation within ABC News for tackling difficult and physically demanding assignments.
Colleagues and viewers alike recognize her for taking on stories that require personal risk and deep commitment.
Whitworth’s coverage of the Idaho murders and her King Road Killings podcast have also drawn wide critical recognition.
The podcast has ranked among the top-performing series in the true crime genre on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Kayna Whitworth Notable Coverage
Over her two decades in journalism, Whitworth has reported on some of the most consequential stories in American public life.
Her coverage spans crime, disaster, politics, and environmental issues. Below are some of her most significant reporting assignments:
- Boston Marathon bombings (2013)
- Arrest of Aaron Hernandez, former NFL tight end (2013)
- Arrest of Whitey Bulger, organized crime figure (2013)
- Hawaii volcanic eruption coverage (2018)
- Caldor Fire and Glass Fire coverage, California
- University of Idaho student murders (2022 to present)
- Criminal indictments of former President Donald Trump
- Los Angeles wildfires, Pacific Palisades (2025)
Her reporting has spanned both coasts and nearly every major news category. That breadth is rare even among seasoned network correspondents.
Kayna Whitworth Husband
Kayna Whitworth is married to Rhett Lewis, a sports broadcaster and journalist. The two met while working together at WHDH in Boston, where they were both anchors.
They married on May 15, 2015, in a private ceremony in New Orleans, Louisiana. The wedding was attended by close family and friends.
Rhett Lewis has built his own successful broadcasting career since leaving Boston. He has worked as a host for the NFL Network, appearing on programs including Path to the Draft.
He also serves as a radio analyst for Indiana University football and as a SiriusXM host.
Whitworth has spoken publicly about how Lewis balances a demanding career with being an involved and hands-on father.
Kayna Whitworth Children
Kayna Whitworth and Rhett Lewis are parents to two sons. Their first child, Conway Rock, was born in August 2017. Their second son, Wylder Whit, arrived on April 13, 2019.
Whitworth shared news of his birth on social media, noting that he was born on the same day that his great-grandfather had passed away nearly 20 years earlier.
The family lives in the Los Angeles area. Both Whitworth and Lewis continue to manage demanding broadcast careers while raising their two boys.
Kayna Whitworth Net Worth and Salary
Kayna Whitworth’s estimated net worth is $1 million as of 2026. Her income comes primarily from her work as a national correspondent and anchor at ABC News.
Whitworth has been a working broadcast journalist since 2005. Her career has spanned more than two decades across local and national television.
Salary
Whitworth’s annual salary at ABC News is reportedly around $300,000, according to estimates cited by multiple journalism and entertainment outlets.
ABC News does not publicly disclose individual salaries. Her compensation reflects her senior standing within the network.
She contributes across multiple major programs including Good Morning America and World News Tonight with David Muir.
Additional Income
In addition to her anchor and correspondent salary, Whitworth earns income as a podcast host.
The King Road Killings, produced by ABC Audio, is one of the network’s most successful podcast properties. She has built a varied income stream within the ABC News ecosystem.
Her roles as anchor, field correspondent, and podcast host give her a broader earning profile than a typical single-platform journalist.
Kayna Whitworth Social Media
Kayna Whitworth is active on Instagram under the handle @kaynawhitworth, where she has approximately 24,000 followers.
She regularly posts content from her reporting assignments alongside photos of her family.
Her Instagram bio describes her in five words: wife, mom, gym rat, potato connoisseur, and storyteller.
Whitworth is also active on X at @KaynaWhitworth, where she has roughly 24,000 followers. She uses the platform to share breaking news updates and links to her ABC News stories.
She also maintains a presence on Facebook, where fans can follow her reporting and personal updates.
Her social media gives viewers a window into both her life on the road and her home life with her family in Los Angeles.
The Bottom Line
Kayna Whitworth has earned her place among the most trusted names in American broadcast journalism through two decades of fearless, ground-level reporting.
Whether she is inside a nuclear submarine, covering a wildfire, or hosting a nationally ranked podcast, she brings the same relentless drive to every story.
