Bio
Nancy O'Dell is an American television host and entertainment journalist best known as the co-anchor of the syndicated entertainment news show Entertainment Tonight, since 2011.
Named one of TelevisionWeek's 10 Most Bankable Stars in Syndication, Emmy Award-winning entertainment journalist O'Dell has proven to be a force in all areas of her career as a host, author, producer and entrepreneur.
In addition to her work with ET, O'Dell also hosts Your Own Show, one of OWN network's premiere primetime shows. She also hosted FOX's New Year's Eve Special ringing in 2011 from Las Vegas.
Previously, O'Dell served as the co-anchor of Access Hollywood for 13 years. O'Dell has contributed reports to CBS's The Early Show, NBC News' Today show and Dateline.
Nancy is a published author with her first book, Full of Life: Mom-to-Mom Tips I Wish Someone Told Me When I Was Pregnant, debuting in the top three of all motherhood books and as a top-selling gift book. Full of Life was released by Simon Spotlight in April 2009.
Her second book, Full of Love: Mom-to-Mom Advice for Enriching Families with Simple Photo Albums and Scrapbooking was released in October 2010.
Some of O'Dell's additional broadcasting work includes hosting ABC's 2010 Fall Preview special, 2010 Emmy Awards coverage for CBS, VH1's 2010 Critic's Choice Awards Live Red Carpet Special and the 2010 Superbowl Fan Jam Concert Special.
NBC Sports also tapped Nancy to host their live 2009 NFL Kickoff Show. In 2009, she hosted NBC's live coverage of the Kentucky Derby with Bob Costas, as well as the Bravo special Ladies First: Bravo at the Kentucky Derby.
O'Dell was chosen by NBC for nine years to host two of their popular annual network broadcasts, The Live Golden Globes Arrivals Special and The Tournament of Roses Parade.
O'Dell has done guest appearances on numerous television shows, including the Emmy award-winning 30 Rock, Disney Channel's Hannah Montana and Sesame Street. O'Dell can also be seen in Scream 4 in 2011, a sequel in the huge blockbuster movie franchise. O'Dell also had roles in Scream 2 and 3.
In 2006, she appeared in the Golden Globe-nominated film Thank You for Smoking and had a recurring role as herself on FX's Dirt from 2006 to 2008.
Other TV appearances include co-hosting ESPN's ESPY Awards Red Carpet Show in 2003 and 2004 and NBC's broadcast of Christmas in Rockefeller Center in 2004 with Al Roker.
O'Dell hosted Miss USA from 2004 to 2007. She also hosted Miss Universe in 2005 and the annual Prism Awards on the FX channel in from 2008 to 2010.
An award-winning journalist, O'Dell has been honoured with three Associated Press Awards, two Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Awards, an Emmy Award and has been nominated for seven additional Emmys.
In 2009, O'Dell was honoured by the beauty industry for the inaugural Beautiful Humanitarian Award by the Professional Beauty Association, an award given to a public figure who exemplifies beauty both inside and out.
In addition, she was nominated two years in a row (1999 and 2000) for the prestigious ICG Publicists Guild Press Award, recognizing excellence in entertainment reporting.
O'Dell began her broadcast career as a reporter and anchor at WPDE-TV in Myrtle Beach, S.C. She later worked as morning news anchor and crime reporter at WCBD-TV in Charleston, S.C.
O'Dell went on to become evening co-anchor and investigative reporter in Miami for NBC's WTVJ-TV, before joining Access Hollywood.
O'Dell, a National Vice President of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the ALS National Ambassador, has been working with MDA since her mother was diagnosed with and passed away in 2008 from complications related to ALS.
In August of 2009, MDA, O'Dell, and O'Dell's family formed a foundation in her mother's name called Betty's Battle: Fighting ALS.
Additionally, O'Dell was inducted into the American Red Cross's National Celebrity Cabinet in 2002 and remains in that position today and she also serves as a celebrity spokesperson for the March of Dimes (MOD).
Further, she acts as an international board member for Best Buddies, a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.
In June 2002, Best Buddies honoured O'Dell with the organization's Spirit of Leadership Award. This honour has previously been bestowed upon Muhammad Ali, Maria Shriver and Olympian Carl Lewis.
A native of South Carolina, O'Dell is a graduate of Clemson University.