The longest-running female host ever on early-morning television, Joan Lunden, made a stop in Wheeling on Monday night. 

Lunden boasts a resume reporting from 26 countries, covering five Presidents, five Olympics, and more. 

But in addition to being a journalist, Lunden is a mother of seven, breast cancer survivor, and health advocate. 

Spending decades in front of the camera, Joan Lunden is no stranger to the spotlight. 

Now that her days on Good Morning America are behind her, Joan is a speaker and advocate traveling the country to spread her message about being prepared for the curve balls life can throw. 

Joan watched her mother struggle through one of those when she was just 13-years-old and her dad, a surgeon and private pilot, died in a plane crash. 

In addition to being a journalist, Joan struggled with balancing a career, raising her children, and taking care of her aging mother.

“I hit every obstacle and made the mistakes, and through it all I said ‘It doesn’t have to be this hard. It shouldn’t have to be this hard. And I am going to take everything I learned along the way and then share it with others so they’re better prepared,'” Lunden said. 

In 2014, she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, another bend in the road that she has used to advocate for other women. 

“You know, I think any time we share our story, that other people learn,” she said. 

However, one of the biggest topics she focuses on is how to care for the aging population, what she believes will be the country’s next big crisis. 

“The demographic in this country is changing dramatically, right before our eyes. In just a couple of years, there are going to be many more people over the age of 65 than under 15,” Lunden said. 


In addition to contributing reports on network television, Joan has authored nine books, and runs her website, JoanLunden.com, where she interacts with the cancer community, and posts about health, wellness, lifestyle tips, and boomer information. 

After speaking, she held a question an answer session for those in attendance.

Joan Lunden’s appearance was made possible- free of charge- by the OVMC Auxiliary.

They say they hope to continue to bring speakers the the Ohio Valley.