Zara (Dog)
In September 2011, Natalie Morales adopted a dog named Zara. Zara was saved from a kill shelter by the North Shore Animal League and featured on Today with several other rescue dogs. Both Morales and a Today stage manager wanted to adopt Zara, so they asked their viewers to vote. Morales won 77% of the votes and took home the winning prize!
Obi (Dog)
In February 2019, Natalie Morales adopted a spaniel-terrier mix puppy named Obi from Paw Works. Obi played in a “Puppy Bowl” segment on Access Hollywood Live, where Morales felt an “instant connection” to the furry football player. And yes the name is from Obi-Wan Kenobi, which was chosen by her son and Star Wars fan, Luke.
Frankie (Dog)
Natalie Morales added a third rescue dog to her pack in May 2024 with Frankie (named after “Ol’ Blue Eyes” singer Frank Sinatra). She adopted the puppy from Best Friends Animal Society, which you can read about here.
Duke (Dog)
Natalie Morales’ first childhood dog was a Shetland Sheepdog named Duke, which she got when she was four years old.
He was smart and sweet and had that instinct that most dogs do — he could read people and knew what they needed. When I would cry he would jump up and lick my tears. When I danced, he would put his paws on me to dance with me. And when friends jokingly threatened to toss me in our pool, Duke barked and ran to save me. I was 13 years old when Duke died, and I still remember that being one of the worst days of my young life.
Natalie Morales, People, April 2018
Niña (Dog)
Natalie Morales’ first rescue dog was a white Golden Retriever named Nina, who she picked out for her family from a Humane Society shelter. This was when she was in college, but would train Niña during her summer breaks.
I was already in college, but I spent my summers training Niña, swimming with her in the lake and taking her on runs. She was a huge comfort to my family during the aftermath of losing our house to Hurricane Andrew. Niña was a beautiful soul and she too gave me the most incredible years of loyalty and unconditional love. When I would come home from college for breaks, she was always the most excited to see me. Losing Niña would also come too soon, and it was again more heartbreak because she was such a member of our family.
Natalie Morales, People, April 2018
Natalie Morales
Birthday
June 6, 1972 (52)
Links (Tags)
Natalie Morales is an accomplished American journalist, widely recognized for her extensive work with NBC News and more recently as a co-host and moderator on the CBS Daytime talk show The Talk. Morales began her career in journalism after graduating from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Latin American studies. Her early career saw her working at Chase Bank in New York before transitioning to television. She gained prominence as a correspondent and anchor at MSNBC from 2002 to 2006 and then moved to NBC’s Today show, where she served in multiple roles including co-anchor and national correspondent. Her notable assignments included coverage of major global events such as the Olympic Games, presidential inaugurations, and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
In 2021, after more than two decades at NBC, Morales made a significant career shift by joining The Talk on CBS. Her move to The Talk involved working closely with co-hosts like Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Jerry O’Connell, and Sheryl Underwood. Morales’ work has earned her several accolades, including multiple Daytime Emmy Awards as part of the Today team, recognized as the best morning news program. She also received a Robert F. Kennedy Award in international journalism for her report on Honduran lobster divers.
