ABC this morning announced that today would be Robin Roberts‘ last day anchoring “Good Morning America” before she goes on extended leave. Tomorrow was originally planned to be her last day on the program.
This time, the culprit was Hurricane Isaac. After today’s show, ABC says Roberts will “fly home to Mississippi to be with her ailing mother, Lucimarian, and her family in the hurricane zone.”
Next week, she will return to New York to make final preparations for her bone marrow transplant.
ABC also confirmed some of the people who will fill in for Roberts over the coming months, including Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters.
Update: Video of the “GMA” team wishing Roberts well:
Over on NBC’s “Today,” there were well-wishes for Roberts:
“We have heard this morning that our friend over at ABC, Robin Roberts, our colleague, has announced this will be her last morning on the air for a while,” Matt Lauer said. “As you know she is about to undergo a blood transplant for a blood disorder called MDS, as our guest Cher Lloyd would say, we want you back.”
“We’ve shared many a good day and evening with Robin,” Al Roker said. “Here in louisiana, she’s the pride here. Everybody’s thoughts and prayers are with her. She’s going to come back stronger than ever.”