Sharon Lawson Bio, Age, Husband, Family, FOX 5 Career, Net Worth, Salary, Education, and Journalism Journey

Who Is Sharon Lawson?

Sharon Lawson is an Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist and television news anchor with a career spanning more than three decades. She is best known for her years as a morning anchor at FOX 5 Atlanta (WAGA-TV), where she became one of the station’s most recognizable personalities through Good Day Atlanta. Her warm on-air presence, compelling storytelling, and ability to connect with viewers made her one of Atlanta’s most respected journalists.

Throughout her career, Lawson has reported from local communities, covered major breaking news events, interviewed world leaders and cultural icons, and produced award-winning documentaries. She has worked in several television markets across the United States, including Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Minnesota, Georgia, and Miami, building a reputation as a journalist committed to informing, inspiring, and serving her audience.

In 2024, after seven successful years at FOX 5 Atlanta, Lawson left the station as part of a company-wide restructuring. She later joined CBS News Atlanta, where she continues her broadcasting career, bringing decades of experience to a new audience.

Sharon Lawson Early Life

Sharon Lawson was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Jamaican parents. Her family later relocated to Florida during the mid-1980s, where she spent much of her youth. Growing up in a multicultural household shaped her appreciation for diversity, community, and storytelling.

Lawson has often shared that her dream of becoming a television journalist began when she was just five years old. Her mother noticed her pretending to present television news using a hairbrush as a microphone while standing in front of a mirror. What started as childhood imagination eventually became a lifelong profession.

She credits her parents, especially her mother, for encouraging her ambitions and teaching her the importance of hard work, integrity, and faith.

Sharon Lawson Education

After completing high school in Florida, Lawson enrolled at the University of Central Florida (UCF), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications.

While at UCF, she developed the reporting, writing, broadcasting, and production skills that prepared her for a career in television news. She also gained practical newsroom experience that helped her transition smoothly into professional journalism after graduation.

Her education provided the foundation for what would become one of the longest-running careers in local television journalism.

Beginning of Sharon Lawson’s Journalism Career

Lawson’s broadcasting career began on Florida’s Gulf Coast at WWSB-TV in Sarasota, where she worked as a photographer, editor, reporter, and producer. Unlike many journalists who begin in only one role, she learned virtually every aspect of television news production.

Working behind and in front of the camera gave her a deep understanding of newsroom operations and helped shape her into a versatile journalist capable of reporting, shooting video, editing, and anchoring.

In 1995, she accepted her first anchor position at WMDT-TV in Salisbury, Maryland. This opportunity marked the beginning of her career as a television news anchor.

Career Growth Across the United States

Following her time in Maryland, Lawson continued advancing her career in larger television markets.

From 1997 to 2000, she served as the weekend anchor at WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio. She later joined WFTC-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she expanded her experience covering politics, public safety, community issues, and breaking news.

Her growing reputation eventually brought her back to Florida, where she joined NBC 6 (WTVJ) in Miami.

Sharon Lawson’s NBC 6 Miami Career

One of the defining chapters of Lawson’s career came during her 14 years at NBC 6 South Florida.

At NBC 6, she worked as both an anchor and reporter, covering major national and international stories affecting South Florida. During this period she reported on:

• Hurricane Charley and other major hurricanes
• South Florida politics
• Community investigations
• Immigration issues
• International stories involving the Caribbean
• Health and social justice topics

She earned multiple Emmy Awards during her tenure, including recognition for the documentary Journey to Be Fibroids Free, which chronicled her personal experience while educating women about uterine fibroids. She also received praise for Being Black in America and Sisters: Diversity in Politics, programs that explored race, representation, and social issues.

Her work demonstrated a willingness to combine investigative journalism with deeply personal storytelling.

Sharon Lawson’s FOX 5 Atlanta Career

Lawson joined FOX 5 Atlanta (WAGA-TV) in September 2017 as an anchor for Good Day Atlanta. Less than two years later, she was promoted to co-anchor the station’s 10 a.m. hour while continuing to appear throughout the morning broadcast.

During her years at FOX 5, she became one of Atlanta’s most recognizable morning television personalities.

She covered countless breaking news stories, community events, severe weather situations, and interviews with public officials, entertainers, and inspirational figures.

Among her most memorable assignments was traveling to Las Vegas immediately after the tragic 2017 mass shooting, where she reported live on one of the deadliest incidents in modern American history.

Her interviewing career has also included conversations with:

• His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
• Archbishop Desmond Tutu
• Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
• Political leaders
• Civil rights advocates
• Entertainment personalities

These interviews helped establish Lawson as a respected journalist capable of handling both serious news and human-interest stories.

Departure from FOX 5

In June 2024, Lawson departed FOX 5 Atlanta following a company restructuring that resulted in several veteran journalists leaving the station. Her departure marked the end of a seven-year chapter that had made her one of Atlanta’s favorite morning anchors.

Soon afterward, she joined CBS News Atlanta, continuing her journalism career while bringing her decades of reporting experience to a new newsroom.

Awards and Professional Recognition

Over her distinguished career, Sharon Lawson has received numerous honors.

She is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, recognized for excellence in reporting, documentaries, and special programming. Her journalism has also been honored by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) for outstanding reporting on diversity and public affairs.

Beyond broadcasting awards, Lawson is widely respected for mentoring young journalists and supporting educational initiatives.

A scholarship has even been established in her honor to encourage future generations of aspiring broadcasters.

Sharon Lawson Age

Sharon Lawson celebrates her birthday every year on January 16.

Although she has publicly shared her birthday, she has chosen not to reveal her birth year. Based on her education and career timeline, she is widely believed to be in her early to mid-50s, though she has never officially confirmed her age.

Sharon Lawson Husband

Sharon Lawson is married to Chris (Hristos) Pappas.

The couple began dating in October 2013 and married in January 2016 during a beautiful ceremony in Jamaica, honoring Sharon’s Jamaican family heritage. Lawson has frequently described Chris as “a man with a heart of gold,” and the couple occasionally shares glimpses of their travels and celebrations on social media.

Their marriage is known for its privacy and stability, with Lawson preferring to keep much of her personal life away from the public spotlight.

Sharon Lawson Family

Lawson was born to Jamaican parents in Toronto before relocating to Florida as a child.

She has often spoken about the influence her parents had on her life and career. Her mother, in particular, played an important role in encouraging her early interest in journalism.

Despite being a public figure, Lawson has kept information regarding her siblings and extended family private. Similarly, she has not publicly confirmed whether she has children.

Sharon Lawson Height

Sharon Lawson is generally reported to stand approximately 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 meters) tall.

Although FOX has never officially published her height, this measurement is consistently reported across multiple biography sources.

Sharon Lawson Salary

Lawson’s exact salary has never been publicly disclosed.

During her time as a senior anchor in the Atlanta television market, industry estimates placed her annual earnings somewhere between $90,000 and $180,000, depending on her contract and broadcasting responsibilities. Earlier estimates published by biography sites vary, but none have been officially confirmed.

Sharon Lawson Net Worth

Sharon Lawson has built a successful broadcasting career spanning more than 30 years.

Based on her long tenure in major television markets, Emmy-winning journalism, and anchor positions in Miami and Atlanta, her estimated net worth is generally believed to range between $1 million and $5 million.

Because Lawson has never publicly disclosed her financial information, these figures remain estimates rather than confirmed amounts.

Community Service and Personal Interests

Outside the newsroom, Lawson is passionate about mentoring young journalists, supporting women’s health initiatives, and encouraging youth education.

She frequently speaks about faith, perseverance, and the importance of pursuing one’s dreams. Her documentary on fibroid awareness has been widely praised for helping educate women about an often-overlooked health issue.

Lawson also enjoys:

• Traveling internationally
• Running and biking
• Spending time outdoors
• Meeting new people
• Learning about different cultures
• Community volunteer work

These interests reflect her belief that journalism is ultimately about understanding people and sharing meaningful stories.

Legacy

Few local television journalists have maintained the consistency and trust that Sharon Lawson has earned throughout her career. From her early days as a one-person newsroom journalist in Sarasota to becoming one of the most respected morning anchors in Atlanta, Lawson has demonstrated professionalism, compassion, and excellence in broadcast journalism.

Her willingness to tell meaningful stories, mentor future journalists, and use her own experiences to educate others has made her career about much more than delivering the news. She remains an influential figure in American local television journalism and continues to inspire audiences through thoughtful reporting and authentic storytelling.