Deborah Norville

Deborah Norville is, by nature, curious and crafty. She can spin a yarn with the best of them and ask the most intimidating people the toughest questions. The funny thing is that this two-time Emmy winner almost didn’t become a journalist because writing scared her. Today she has nearly 30 years of journalism under her belt, is a best-selling author, talk-show host, speaker and—her favorite role in life—wife and mother of three. Norville became a household name by taking using her work on “Inside Edition” to cover stories such as her series of reports from inside a North Carolina prison—as an inmate. The series was so groundbreaking that she earned two national awards for excellence in journalism. She never seems to shy away from full immersion, hard-hitting, informative stories.

She covered the 911 attacks from Washington, D.C., President Reagan’s funeral and Barak Obama’s inauguration as President of the United States. Never one to shy away from controversial interviews, she took on Paula Jones to discuss her lawsuit against former president, Bill Clinton and interviewed brave surfer, Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm during a shark attack, but who continues to surf to this day. The veteran journalist loves facing the complexities and challenges of life and work with warmth and humor. You will also find her walking the red carpet now and again at entertainment awards and charity galas.

Norville also co-hosted the “Today Show” and reported for “48 Hours,” “Street Stories,” and NBC News. She has earned her fame, but she’s the first to admit she’s just grateful for all her opportunity and her favorite role as mom. Today she continues hosting “Inside Edition” but now enjoys writing books and developing her craft line of fiber art—The Deborah Norville Yarn Collection. She is a lifelong seamstress and crafter and finds knitting relaxing and cathartic.

Norville’s books:

  • Thank You Power: Making the Science of Gratitude Work for YOU (2007, Thomas Nelson, publisher)
  • The Power of Respect: Benefit From the Most Forgotten Element of Success (2007, Thomas Nelson, publisher)
  • Back on Track: How to Straighten Out Your Life When it Throws You a Curve (1997, Simon & Schuster, publisher)
  • I Don’t Want to Sleep Tonight (1999, Golden Books—children)
  • I Can Fly (2001, Golden Books—children)
  • Knit with Deborah Norville (2010, Leisure Arts)
  • She has also been a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul and Think Positive.

Norville was born August 8, 1958, in Dalton, Georgia. She earned her bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude with first honors, in journalism in 1979 from the University of Georgia. She married husband, Karl Wellner on December 12, 1988 and has three children—daughter, Mikaela; and sons, Karl “Niki” Nikolai and Kyle Maximilian. She is active in many associations and charities, including the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., March of Dimes, the Broadcasters Foundation of America, the Rita Hayworth Alzheimer’s gala, as well as the Florida Blue Key, Delta Delta Delta and Phi Beta Kappa Sororities.