Biography

The oldest of five children, she was born in Agana, Guam, to an American father and a Japanese mother. Her father, who was born in Pueblo, Colorado, had English, Irish, Scottish, and German ancestry. Her parents met when her father, a career navy sailor, worked as a streetcar conductor in Japan after World War II.

On the show Finding Your Roots (2012), discovered the identity of her biological paternal grandfather, Charles Earl Wright, whom neither she nor her father had ever known. Charles was the grandson of William Henry Hill and Margaret Ann Casey, born in Devonshire, England and Ireland, respectively, who were homesteaders in Colorado.

1978 graduate of the University of Oregon School of Journalism.

Worked through college as a cocktail waitress.

Was replaced by Savannah Guthrie as Today (1952) Show co-host in June 2012. Was named anchor-at-large and national/international correspondent for NBC News.