Robin Meade Blog

We rocked out with Sixwire at the Rahm Celebrity Golf Tournament for St. Judes

2019-06-05T09:58:00.002-05:00

The Rahm Celebrity Golf Tournament, benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was held last weekend. A love for golf and St. Jude brought actor Kevin Rahm and tournament chairman Clarke Rheney together for this inaugural tournament. Golfers and guests enjoyed a weekend of tournament play at the beautiful, historic grounds of the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida.

Contributions from this event will help ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

Florida fans (and others), I'll be in St. Augustine for a St. Jude's Songwriter's jam

2019-05-14T12:00:00.002-05:00

A four-day fundraiser for St. Judes coming!
Rahm Celebrity Golf Tournament will feature more than 45 celebrities, songwriters, and rock legends playing, performing and raising money at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine.

I'll be joining them on Songwriters Night on Thursday, May 30. It will be the first event of the four-day inaugural Rahm Celebrity Golf Tournament. Held at the Renaissance World Golf Village ballroom, it will feature several renowned Nashville songwriters, who will not only perform their biggest hits to date, but also tell the stories behind how those song were written.

Tim Nichols is among the songwriters scheduled to perform. Nichols wrote Tim McGraw’s iconic No. 1 hit “Life Like You Were Dying.” He also wrote Jo Dee Messina’s hit song “Heads Carolina, Tails California.”

Songwriter Kelley Lovelace will recount how she wrote Carrie Underwood’s smash hit “All-American Girl,” as well as Brad Paisley hits “Ticks,” “I’m Still A Guy,” and “Camouflage” in addition to performing those hits.

Joining Nichols and Lovelace will be Jamie O’Neal and Billy Dean. Tickets for Songwriters Night are $100 and include an open bar.

Rock ‘n’ Roll takes center stage at the tournament on May 31. The evening begins with a parings party for golfers and their guests followed by The St. Jude Jam, a nearly three-hour rock-and-roll variety show.

Those scheduled to perform at The St. Jude Jam include Steve Augeri, former lead singer of Journey; Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Steve Cropper, of Booker T & the MGs; Jason Scheff, longtime lead singer of Chicago; Wally Palmer, lead singer of The Romantics; John Elefante, former lead singer of Kansas; Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Mike Mills of R.E.M; Jay Demarcus of Rascal Flatts; Drew Copeland of Sister Hazel; and American Idol season seven winner David Cook.

Along with two still unannounced special guests Headline News Anchor Robin Meade will also perform at the jam.

The Big 5 - 0 Birthday OMG, can it be? Here are some photos from the past childhood to now.

2019-04-21T06:08:00.000-05:00

50 50 GIF from 50 GIFs

Say it ain't so!
I've hit the 5 - 0
It's not so bad,
I'm not sad.

Turning fifty,
never thrifty!
Sometimes nifty,
usually shifty!

Getting Ole?
Not in my soul!
Little country
Still Rock 'n' Roll

I got the blues?
Not as long as there's news,
someone to schmooze,
and taste of booze.

Please raise your glass,
show your brass,
cheer en masse,
Hey 50! kiss my....................grass

Patrick Warburton St. Jude Saturday Soiree hosted by meeeeee!

2019-03-08T12:28:00.001-06:00

Another amazing year of The Warburton!

I was thrilled to HOST and perform again at the Saturday Soiree this year.

This has been the best Warburton yet, as we “party with a purpose” benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The Saturday Soiree truly celebrated St. Jude and inspired so many to open hearts and give so generously.

We got to meet St. Jude patient, Tyler, and his mom, Michelle. Tyler has had a very special friendship with Patrick Warburton.

Michelle tearfully shared how Patrick’s video messages and emails got Tyler through some of the hardest times during his treatment and they’ve continued to stay in touch and remain close. Tyler even challenged Patrick to a rib-eating contest at Central BBQ in Memphis (both Patrick and Tyler claimed to have won!).

We got to take part in a “No More Chemo” party for Tyler just like they do at the hospital – and colorful streamers were shot throughout the room as part of the celebration during the “No More Chemo” song!

Perhaps the most exciting part of the night was the Live Auction and Give to Live fundraising efforts. Both the Live and Silent Auctions exceeded what was raised last year! Guests were then treated once again to great music by SIXWIRE and Friends, including performances by Charles Esten, Robin Meade, Christian Kane, Kevin Rahm and even Patrick Warburton!

The audience was moved and blown away by Javier Colon’s rendition of “Hallelujah.” It’s no wonder why he won The Voice! A special thank you to Sandi Young at Shakti Warriors for sponsoring the Saturday Soiree.

Super Bowl Week was a blow out!

2019-02-07T09:54:00.001-06:00

Jumpsuit by Jovani

If the weather ever gave Atlanta a big break, the “Big Game Big Give” pre-Super Bowl soiree Feb. 2 delivered a touchdown magnificent night at the estate of Carrla and Jeff Goldstein.

Californian Marc Pollick, uber planner and philanthropic consultant, brought in police cars, red carpet, Aston Martin luxury vehicles, and flame dancers for more than 500 guests.

For the 10th year, the pre-Super Bowl charity event raised big bucks for The Giving Back Fund, a national nonprofit that creates and manages charitable foundations and projects for high net worth individuals, celebrities, athletes, business entrepreneurs and corporations. The exclusive star-studded gala was voted the number one Super Bowl party by ESPN.

Host Jeff Goldstein, resplendent in a Ted Baker black and gold patterned jacket, said, “I am pleased to be involved and help raise funds for such great organizations.” Wife Carrla, magnificent in gold Michael Costello and Gucci accessories, was pleased with the crowd size. “Perhaps we oversold it!” Goldstein twins Sydney and Robert were on hand, too, to welcome the younger crowd.

The Warburton Celebrity Weekend Line up is announced. I'll be hosting Songwriter's Night

2019-01-19T13:33:00.000-06:00

Photos from previous events...

The celebrity attendees, composed of legendary rockers, actors, and athletes alike, has been announced for the 9th annual Patrick Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament.

The event will return to the desert once again from February 28-March 3 and will be jam-packed with golf, good music, and great efforts made toward an even greater cause, St Jude Children's Research Hospital.

ADVERTISING

The star-studded attendee list will include over 75 celebrities, who will be arriving on February 28 for Songwriter's Night at the Pavilion at the JW Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Desert.

The celebrities set to appear and play in the celebrity golf tournament, which will cap off what has been dubbed "St. Jude Week in the Desert" on March 2 and 3, were announced today in a tournament release.

Actors

Joe Mantegna
Richard Karn
Chris McDonald
Bruce McGill
Richard Kind
David Naughton
Kevin Dillon
Jackie Flynn
Kevin Rahm
David Leisure
Bruce Thomas
Brian Thompson
Galen Gering
Andy Buckley
Gregory Harrison
Matt McCoy
Jonathan Banks,
Sam Henning
Paula Trickey

Athletes

Sterling Sharpe
Kordell Stewart
Jim McMahon
Harold Green
Dan Fouts
Jay Feely
Kurt Bevacqua
Scott Erickson
Tommy John
Brad Penny
Robin Ventura
Grant Fuhr
On March 1, the Rheneypalooza Jam will bring a unique lineup of Rock-And-Roll Hall of Famers & other legendary musicians to the ballrooms of the JW Marriott Desert Springs.

The announced lineup:

Alice Cooper
Alex Lifeson (Rush)
Steve Augeri (Journey)
Jason Scheff (Chicago)
Jay Demarcus and Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts)
Mike Mills (R.E.M.)
Wally Palmer (The Romantics)
Leigh Nash (Sixpence None the Richer)
Skunk Baxter (Steely Dan/The Doobie Brothers)
Gretchen Wilson.

“We keep hearing there is no event like this in the desert, which is why it sells out earlier and earlier each year. It’s the perfect blend of celebrities, musicians, golf and unique events that aren’t duplicated in way out here,” said Clarke Rheney, Tournament Chairman and St. Jude’s 2017 National Volunteer of the Year. “We have rock and roll legends, actors and sports heroes who use their star power for good, mingling with fans and doing their part to raise money and awareness for the kids of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.”

Thursday, February 28 - Songwriters Night - JW Marriott Desert Springs, Palm Desert
"This will be an evening with a group of renowned Nashville songwriters telling the stories behind their biggest hits, along with performing those hits," reads an event news release. "The event will be hosted by HLN morning news anchor, Robin Meade. Tickets are $150 and include a barbecue dinner and drinks."
Friday, March 1 - Rheneypalooza Jam
"has generated a lot of buzz as “the best event in the desert” and sold out the past few years because of its unique line-up of Rock-and-Roll Hall of Famers and other famous rock legends who perform some of their hits in what becomes essentially a 4+ hour rock-and-roll variety show," reads an event news release."
Saturday, March 2 - The Saturday Soiree
"[The event] will feature red carpet appearances that evening by many of the celebrities involved with the tournament, as well as a dinner and dancing to music by the band, Sixwire, the featured band from the television show, Nashville.
Saturday & Saturday, March 2-3 - Celebrity Golf Tournament
"Each foursome golfs with a celebrity. It is a non-spectator golf tournament, so those who wish to participate in the weekend’s festivities are encouraged to purchase tickets to the evening events," reads an event news release.
For tickets and more information on this year's event, go to thewarburton.com .

I'm heading to the desert for Patrick Warburton's St. Jude's Songwriter's Night

2018-12-19T12:32:00.000-06:00

The event, officially billed as the 9th annual Patrick Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament, will kick off on February 28 and run through March 3, and will bring a jam-packed celebrity lineup over with over 75 "stars, songwriters, and rock legends".

I'll be hosting on Thursday, February 28 - Songwriters Night - at the JW Marriott Desert Springs, Palm Desert
"This will be an evening with a group of renowned Nashville songwriters telling the stories behind their biggest hits, along with performing those hits."

It's a blast.

Me and the Army Field Band and Soldier's Chorus Perform Holiday Show Sound of Bells in Baltimore!

2018-12-16T13:33:00.000-06:00

I was so honored to be the emcee and perform with the U.S. Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus at the Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric in Baltimore,MD.

America's Big Band brings its signature style to the season with the annual holiday concert series, “Sound the Bells.”
I sang a couple solos and the singalong too. AND I read It Was The Night Before Christmas to some kiddies...
What a great way to celebrate the holiday season.

Watch the whole concert here...
https://youtu.be/n9roVMMRjHI

Never before seen memory with George H.W. Bush video

2018-12-05T15:27:00.000-06:00

I've never shown this video on the air... This is an outtake from an interview I had with President Bush (41) 9 years ago... a look behind the scenes when I played a recording for the President of a song my friend, John Rich of Big & Rich, wrote and recorded for his own grandfather... a veteran of WWII just like Pres. Bush. Here's that moment and the President's reaction AND now John's reaction too!

25 Years ago

2018-11-08T16:19:00.000-06:00

"Our schedules keep it fresh! We don't see each other during the week. So when we finally bump into each other on Friday nights, it's like, "Look at you! You're cute! How was your week? Great to see you! Let's go out together!"

Behind the scenes at Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame

2018-11-01T13:34:00.000-05:00

It was a special evening as I helped celebrate the Class of 2018 and recognize the industry’s most accomplished leaders.

The Class of 2018 features individuals working from coast to coast across the wild, wide spectrum of media, in programming and distribution, in management and finance, in front of the camera and behind it. Women leaders this year deserve special attention, including CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Gayle King of CBS This Morning and Courteney Monroe of National Geographic Global Networks. In recognition of her industry leadership, this year’s Chairman’s Award goes to Linda Yaccarino of NBCUniversal.

My dad bought me my first car - a $200 Ford Maverick!

2018-10-31T10:16:00.001-05:00

Was this a way of telling me something?

My first car was a light blue, two-door 1974 Ford Maverick. It had a classic sporty shape, but in 1985 or so when the Mav was my ride, it reminded me of something some fella would drag race on the back roads. The radio receiver didn’t work, but the cassette player did. I fed it a regular diet of The Outfield, Crowded House and John Cougar Mellencamp albums.

I came home from school one afternoon during my junior year of high school, and my dad asked me to go get something for him from the garage. Thank goodness I didn’t whine about it, because when I opened the door there was the Maverick! A piece of cardboard was propped up on its windshield with the word “Surprise!” scrawled in his writing. He picked it up for a mere $200 from a co-worker.

I have great memories of piling my friends inside to go toilet paper someone’s house. It must have had a pretty deep trunk, because that’s where the Charmin got stacked to supply our night of shenanigans. It was my transportation for all your classic high school moments: football games, high school dances … and, eventually, the drive to college.

By the time I was a junior in college, my dad was afraid the old Mav would give up the ghost and leave me stranded on some frozen Ohio highway. Somewhere he came across a white 1980 Chevy Citation and switched the Mav out for that. I drove the Citation until one day when the road curved and I didn’t. You get the picture.

I'm hosting the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame with Kathie Lee Gifford and Rosanna Scotto

2018-10-29T13:25:00.000-05:00

NYC Television Week, presented by Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News magazines, is having their NYC Television Week featuring five mega events including Advanced Advertising, TV Data Summit, Next TV Summit, NYC Television Week's 40 under 40 and the star-studded Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.

I'm pleased to be hosting this prestigious event.

"We have assembled an exceptional lineup of speakers and panelists who are proven experts in their field of business. Attendees will have many valuable opportunities to hear first-hand about the latest industry developments and how to navigate the immediate business challenges facing the television and video industries. The tremendous support that this event continues to receive emphasizes the importance of having an industry platform where leading executives and senior managers can come together to discuss lessons learned, new trends and technologies, and perspectives of where the future of the industry lies," said Mr. Charlie Weiss, Vice President, Group Publisher, Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News.

The preliminary speaker lineup includes such industry leaders as:

Ian Ferreira, EVP, Programmatic – WideOrbit
Lance Neuhauser, CEO - 4C Insights
Julie Sterling, Director, Broadcast Partnerships - Google
Jim Keller, VP, National Advertising, Hulu
Mark Gorman, CEO - Matrix Solutions
Jessica Hogue, SVP, Product Leadership – Nielsen
Radha Subramanyam, Chief Research & Analytics Officer, CBS Television
Natasha Hritzuk, VP, Consumer Innovation and Research – Turner Broadcasting System
Nicolle Pangis, CEO – NCC Media
Ross McCray, CEO – VideoAmp
Michael Powell, President & CEO – NCTA – The Internet and Television Association
Jennifer Koester, Lead Director of Telco and Video Distribution Partnerships – Google
Andy McCollum, CEO – Philo
John Hendricks, Founder & Chairman– CuriosityStream
A sampling of topics to be covered include how data insights can guide programming decisions, segmenting markets, profiling viewers and providing solutions to advertisers; in-depth looks at the latest digital advertising technologies and how to use them to succeed; OTT growth and business models; transformative TV technologies; video consumption trends (and the way to measure those trends); how to manage talent and content in the digital age; and much more.

For a detailed look at all of the NYC Television Week events, speakers, programs and registration information, visit www.nyctvweek.com.

Coming to HotLanta? Here's my restaurant recommendations for lunch, happy hour, dinner, late night...

2018-09-27T09:33:00.003-05:00

Is Atlanta on your road trip plans?
I'm often asked for restaurant recommendations, and the AJC.com did a nice piece on what I'm liking for food today.
As you know, I'm a mixologist, so I added my imbibing suggestions too. Don't forget my vegetarian preferences.

I've got a new crush on the rebranded restaurant inside the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. I initially ducked into Longleaf more for the air conditioning than the food. But it’s clean aesthetic and chef-driven menu called for me to stay and order up some vittles. For this vegetarian, no surprise that I went for the vegetable plate. That day, it included oyster mushrooms, glazed turnips and sliced okra. I suspect some of it was grown on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens, in what they call the Edible Garden. Meat eaters, you have lots to choose from. My hubby loved his craft burger, and we both scarfed down their artisan cheese plate with cinnamon encrusted nuts. But could it be the view that ultimately enhances the food? Huge glass walls allow you take in the beauty of the grounds while you munch in comfort.

Longleaf, Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-585-2061, atlantabg.org/visit/longleaf

(Note: Because Longleaf is on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens, admission or membership is required to dine at the restaurant. )

Favorite place for happy hour:

My hubby loves Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar’s food in East Cobb. I like testing out the joint’s mixology. Just glancing at the descriptions of the concoctions makes you feel like you’ve plopped down somewhere between a farmers market, a garden party and your dad’s cigar collection.There’s a drink that includes a sugar snap pea, another that uses a Serrano shrub, and still yet one whose ingredients render it a skinny colada! I recommend the smoked Old Fashioned for the sheer entertainment value of being served a drink in a glass topped with hickory smoke. It’s good, too, going down the hatch.

Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar, The Avenue at East Cobb, 4475 Roswell Road, Marietta. 770-635-7641, driftoysterbar.com/

Favorite place for dinner:

If I get a hankering for a nice meal after work, Seed Kitchen & Bar hits the spot. Seed strikes me as a fresh-ingredient, locally-sourced, in-season type of place where parts of the menu change depending on the time of year. I like that you can go in and order your staple, or roll the dice and order the item du jour. For example: Today I’m intrigued by the summery sounding Georgia Peach and Arugula Salad, but I’ve enjoyed their Deviled Eggs and love the sound of the Carmelized Brussel Sprouts for sharing with the table. It’s been awhile since I’ve eaten their Parmesan Garlic Fries. But oh, honey! Those could be my food vice. Mr. Cool has enjoyed the Hangar Steak Frites and the Shrimp & Grits.

Seed Kitchen & Bar, Merchant’s Walk, 1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. 678-214-6888, eatatseed.com/

Favorite place for late night food and drinks:

Check out Huey Luey’s Mexican Kitchen and Margarita Bar in Sandy Springs (locations in Hiram and Acworth, too) .

Tacos, enchiladas, burritos, nachos, fajitas. It has all of these, but I love the off-the-beaten-path items like the Farmer’s Kale Salad. Once their fresh guacamole hits the table, don’t even bother talking to me, I’ll be busy! But the best part, besides the fact they also have live music and a ton of places to tuck away into the corner to sip or sup: Their specialty margarita menu lists 20 seasonal, fresh-to-order flavors. (Disclaimer: They aren’t open THAT late night. But for the morning news anchor, being out past nine pm IS late night.)

Huey Luey’s, 6650 Roswell Road, Atlanta. 678-905-7241, hueylueys.com/

Working! Saved me from going totally bananas. Maybe. What do you think?

2018-07-20T10:34:00.000-05:00

I had way too much time on my hands when I was off work because of my iProblems.
Need proof? Easy-peasy. I have video. It happened.

I'm back.

I'm back - but slowly. If you got up a little late, I missed you!

2018-07-16T11:20:00.006-05:00

I had a corneal ulcer - very rare. Natch.
FYI: A corneal ulcer is a condition in which inflammation of the outermost layer of the eye results in pain.
Yep. I had pain.

Doc says I'm good to go...

Im going to try it! ‘Returning to work tomorrow after cornea surgery. Taking it slow, just going to handle the 6a & 7a eastern tomorrow of @MorningExp and then hopefully add back in all 5 hours as the week wears on. Lets see how it goes, together! However, there’s this: pic.twitter.com/DIlKN19Nzo
— Robin Meade (@RobinMeade) July 16, 2018

Getting jump on Talk Like a Pirate Day

2018-07-10T14:41:00.000-05:00

Oh, ugh, I really messed up my cornea and required another procedure. This time, I'm going full on Pirate - doctor's orders.

Bring on your "i" or "eye" jokes... Eyefull Tower?

Him: You at doc?
Me: Yes
Him Eye see
Me: You still got it.
Him: I'm your star pupil.
Me: Get out.
Him: Iris I could.
Him: Sorry if my jokes are cornea

See you soon.

Monday! Amy Grant, Vince Gill to bring Nashville to The Broadmoor to benefit military and I'll be hosting.

2018-06-23T10:15:00.000-05:00

Amy Grant and equally famous husband Vince Gill will perform at The Broadmoor on Monday to raise money for a cause that supports our nation's military. Jenny Gill and Molly Weaver will be special guests.

All proceeds from Nashville Comes to The Broadmoor will benefit the Snowmass Village-based Challenge America, a nonprofit launched by Houston Cowan, a longtime friend of Grant's. In 2009, she and Gill became honorary co-founders of the nonprofit, which works to connect service members, veterans and their families to resources in their communities.

I'll be the emcee for my buddies. Couldn't be more honored to support them and military families.

Tickets here: https://www.itickets.com/events/398225

Beware the Corneal Ulcer!

2018-06-23T09:58:00.001-05:00

Corneal ulcer.
YEP, it’s as painful as it sounds - but it's healing.

FYI... (from the innerweb) Corneal ulcers can occur from direct injury to the eye, or from a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection.
Symptoms include eye redness, eye pain, excessive tearing, sensation of a foreign body in the eye, and worsening or blurry vision.
Treatment may include an antibiotic, antifungal, or antiviral medication if the condition is related to an infection. Treatment of non-infectious causes may include an eye patch.

I’ve been in bed resting my eyes and have my sweet pups nursing me back to health

Mr. Cool is typing this for me as I say it out loud. No screens, no sunlight, no work, NO FUN!

I could win a NCAA Bracket Challenge!!! Go Big Blue!

2018-03-30T09:37:00.000-05:00

Get this! I was asked by TV Newser to do a bracket for the NCAA men's basketball tournament and I'm sitting just 2 POINTS out of first place with 3 out of 4 teams still playing!!!! Woooooooo

I'm on Team CNN / HLN

Ana Cabrera, anchor, CNN Newsroom
Dave Briggs, co-host, Early Start
Robin Meade, anchor, Morning Express
Coy Wire, sports anchor and correspondent
Bob Van Dillen, meteorologist, Morning Express
Lynn Smith, anchor, Weekend Express
Melody Taylor, executive producer, Weekend Express with Lynn Smith

Leading the 2018 Bracket Challenge heading into Final Four weekend is NBC News Sunday Today host and MSNBC Morning Joe co-host Willie Geist.
The NBC Newser, who has picked Villanova to cut down the nets on Monday night, is 2 points clear of HLN Morning Express host Robin Meade. The lead HLN personality has chosen Michigan to win it all.

Here's are the leaders...

RANK TEAM NAME SCORE CORRECT BEST SCORE BEST CORRECT CHAMPION
1 Willie Geist 73 38 121 40 Villanova (148)
2 Robin Meade 71 35 135 38 Michigan (132)
3 Janelle Rodriguez 68 36 116 38 Kansas (103)
3 Peter Alexander 68 37 68 37 Virginia (145)
5 Dave Briggs 67 37 115 39 Villanova (136)
6 David Westin 66 33 130 36 Michigan (137)
6 Lisa Desjardins 66 31 114 33 Kansas (102)
6 Todd Piro 66 35 82 36 Virginia (157)
9 Coy Wire 65 35 113 37 Kansas (137)
9 Mike Bettes 65 33 65 33 Virginia (153)

BTW: I'm leading ALL HLN players - bracket here and I CAN'T BE BEAT!!!

A refresher course on the History Of Moi

2018-03-27T11:24:00.000-05:00

Atlanta Journal-Constitution staff writer Melissa Ruggieri covers music and entertainment news for Atlanta Music Scene blog on ajc.com, and she remembers when MTV was awesome.

Melissa started at the AJC in September 2010 writing features and entertainment stories and covering Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Florida International University and a master's in English from Virginia Commonwealth University. She previously worked as the pop music critic at the Richmond Times-Dispatch from 1996-2010 and at the Sun-Sentinel in South Florida from 1992-1996. She lives in Atlanta with her husband.

We go back a long way... funny how neither one of us has aged!!!

She did a very nice feature story about my life in the news biz. Here it is... along with some pics from the "good old days."

Robin Meade’s first day on the air at HLN was Sept. 11, 2001.
By the time the second plane hit the World Trade Center on that traumatic, chaotic day, Meade noticed that every face in the newsroom changed.

“It was clear that this was no accident. This could not be explained away,” she said.

Almost 17 years later, Meade, the host of HLN’s “Morning Express,” said her work anniversary still reminds her of the families who lost loved ones.

Every weekday, Meade’s post at the CNN offshoot requires the deft balancing act of covering breaking news, trending lifestyle topics and entertainment, while still sharing space with sports, weather and business experts.

Her 6 a.m. wake-up call — “Morning, sunshine!” — coupled with her doe-eyed beauty, self-deprecating humor and chameleonic anchoring ability has earned her a daily viewing audience of 300,000-plus.

It’s also notched Meade, 48, an impressive stat: She’s the longest-running morning anchor on a national news show, in it an accomplishment she credits to many, beginning with her viewers.

“They’ve allowed me to be their morning habit year after year,” she said. “Without them, I get fired.”

Meade is also complimentary toward her bosses throughout the years who were “brave enough to let me be my authentic self on the air,” as well as the behind-the-scenes crew at HLN.

“My longevity is due in large part to the folks who come in at zero-dark-thirty to make the mornings go smoothly … the show wouldn’t happen without them,” she said.

Meade, a native of New London, Ohio, found a public audience early as Miss Ohio in 1992 (“I like to joke that some of my prior titles were ‘Miss Represented,’ ‘Miss Spoken,’ ‘Miss Understood,’ but not ‘Miss Demeanor,’” she said with a laugh) and nabbed her first broadcast job as a part-time evening reporter in Mansfield, Ohio.

She escalated to anchoring and reporting jobs in Cleveland, Columbus, Ohio, Miami and Chicago before landing at Atlanta’s CNN Center.

While many of CNN’s top names have departed Atlanta for the blazing spotlight of New York, Meade is comfortable in her Southern outpost.

She and husband Tim Yeager will celebrate their 25th anniversary in November (Her tip for longevity? Don’t choose a mate for looks, title or money — go for humor), and Meade has utilized her local connections to assist with her musical aspirations.

Meade has released a pair of country-pop albums — “Brand New Day” in 2011 and “Count on Me” in 2013 — and plays a handful of gigs every year, usually at Eddie’s Attic. For two weeks in 2014, Meade hit the Las Vegas Strip to perform with Australian vocal group Human Nature at the Sands Showroom at the Venetian (she also guested on “Sleigh Ride” on the group’s Christmas album).

Last holiday season, she released “Ghost of My Christmas Past,” a single she wrote “on an 80-degree day in the late summer-early fall up on Lake Lanier”; it was produced by fellow Atlantan Kristian Bush of Sugarland.

The intersection of Meade’s role at HLN and her interest in music took a fun detour last summer when a “Morning Express” story about genealogy website Ancestry.com uncovered that she is fourth cousins with country superstar Blake Shelton.

“He fits right in with the Meade men I know,” she said of her long-lost relative. “Tall, handsome, self-deprecating creative creatures.”

Just another discovery for TV’s longest-running national morning anchor.

Lordy, I love me some deals... and HLNDeals.com has 'em

2018-03-21T17:46:00.002-05:00

You KNOW I love to shop, amiright???

Did ya see it today? A new weekly segment will bring you some fantastic brands at exclusive discounts for Morning Express viewers.

It's HLNDeals.com

AND FREE SHIPPING if you spend $100 or more.

HLN Deals, a weekly TV segment that will showcase unique brands and products to our audience. HLN Deals will integrate and feature premium brands as segments during HLN's morning show, "Morning Express with Robin Meade," and offer viewers the unique ability to instantly purchase featured products at exclusive discounts.

"Consumers have demonstrated that they care about compelling stories, that they enjoy learning about great brands, and value genuine deals for premium products," said Markus Reinmund, CEO of Knocking. Reinmund adds, "We're seeing tremendous opportunities for media companies like HLN to generate incremental revenue and engage their audiences in an entirely new manner by offering content that drives immediate viewer action and measurable sales."

"HLN always puts viewers first, and partnering with Knocking helps us meet this goal by combining engaging content with the delivery of exclusive deals for our viewers while also delivering an excellent consumer experience on hlndeals.com,"

said Tim Mallon, SVP, Business Development and Operations for HLN.

NCAA Men's Basketball Brackets Busted? Are you ready to bust a move

2018-03-18T15:09:00.001-05:00

I challenged CNN's Wolf Blitzer to a March Madness bracket competition a few years ago. The agreement: If had the better bracket, Wolf would have had to step out of the Situation Room and onto our set to anchor sports. If Wolf's bracket was the winner I would have to learn a dance and perform it on the air!

It didn't go well... but I paid off my bet with some nae-nae dance moves. Check it out here...

http://robinmeadeblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/if-you-missed-me-and-nae-nae-here-it-is.html

St. Jude's Charity Patrick Warburton Golf Tournament Soiree with ME...lotsa photos

2018-03-04T11:25:00.002-06:00

The fun continues at the Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament. Saturday celebrities and their partners hit the links at the JW Mariott and Classic Club after a Soiree and auction.

The annual event bringing 75 celebrities to the desert to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Actor Chace Crawford working on his swing on the driving range.

"I'm trying to improve my golf game and it's a sad state of affairs. So we'll see," Crawford said.

And the Big Bang Theory's Kunal Nayyar telling us he might have rocked a little too hard last night.

"I'm always in bed at 10 p.m. and last night I was out a lot later. But I got to see a lot of people that I love and look up to. And music that I grew up on, so for me it was a dream come true," Nayyar said.

"St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, even though its far away in Memphis, everyone is touched and moved by what the hospital does. And the hospital has been there for members of this community," Warburton said.

Every year organizers hope to exceed the previous year's donations. Last year the event raised enough money to run the hospital for a day.

"Over the last seven years, we've raised a total of about $7.2 million, $7.3 million. And last year alone we raised $2.2 million but that's about what it costs a day to keep the doors of the hospital open," Warburton said.

Warburton said he hopes to raise more than $2.2 million this year. The event continues throughout the weekend with tomorrow night's Jam Session and Golf Tournament on Saturday and Sunday.

The Warburton Jam kicks off charity golf tournament vids and pix

2018-03-04T11:18:00.000-06:00

Steve Augeri, former lead singer of JOURNEY
Jeff (Skunk) Baxter, Steely Dan & The Doobie Brothers
John Elefante, former lead singer of KANSAS
Kevin Griffin, BETTER THAN EZRA
Emerson Hart, TONIC
Tom Johnston, DOOBIE BROTHERS
Richard Marx
Robin Meade
Mike Mills, REM
Wayne Nelson, LITTLE RIVER BAND
Richard Page, MISTER MISTER
Wally Palmar, ROMANTICS
Jason Scheff, former lead singer of CHICAGO
Sixwire (Andy Childs, John Howard, Steve Mandile, Chuck Tilley, Steve Hornbeak, Kevin Marks)
Mickey Thomas, STARSHIP

The love of golf and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital brought together actor Patrick Warburton and tournament chairman, Clarke Rheney, and in 2010 as teammates at the Schultz Celebrity Golf Classic, the pair dreamed up an event that would blend Patrick’s popularity as a celebrity with Clarke’s deep-rooted knowledge of how to successfully operate golf tournaments. The Coachella Valley desert, with its spectacular surroundings and some of the most revered weather in the country, would serve as the perfect backdrop. Clarke was hooked by the mission of St. Jude at a very young age, after serving the hospital as part of his Eagle Scout project. Growing up near Memphis allowed Clarke many opportunities to be connected to St. Jude, and it’s been close to his heart ever since. Clarke honed his skills in golf tournament operations through a number of roles over the years, including Celebrity Chairman of the Bob Hope Classic and most recently, as part of the Executive Committee in charge of amateur golf for the PGA TOUR’s CareerBuilder Challenge. In 2010, Patrick and his wife Cathy made their first visit to St. Jude to tour the facility and meet some of the patient families. Patrick read to the kids, and Cathy decided to volunteer her artistic talents to paint a mural on one of the walls at the hospital. Moved by the patients they met and the impressive strides that have been made on pediatric cancer survival rates due to St. Jude research, they were eager to partner with Clarke to lead a fundraising effort that became the Patrick Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in March 2011. The tournament has grown to include one-of-a-kind music events such as the Songwriter’s Night – the stories behind the stories of some of country’s greatest songs – as well as a rock variety show known as The RheneyPalooza Jam, which features 4+ hours of hits by rock and roll legends and hall-of-famers accompanied by house band Sixwire, made up of some of the best studio musicians in Nashville. Last year, we added the RUSH, which is back again in 2017. The RUSH is a driving experience at the BMW Performance Driving Center West – At the Thermal Club where participants enjoy lead/follow lapping, timed autocross, drag race and a performance drive.