GMA and ABC News Family Mourns a Dear Loss: ‘I Am Still in Denial’ originally appeared on Parade.
The ABC News and Good Morning America family are mourning a dear departure on their team.
Michele Mayer has been working as the stage manager at ABC News and Good Morning America for over 30 years, and on July 2, the team had to say goodbye to her as she leaves the Big Apple to return to her home state of Kentucky.
Mayer began as a teleprompter operator in the mid-1990s when Peter Jennings was the World News Tonight anchor. She has since worked under Charles Gibson, Diane Sawyer and David Muir.
“Finally tonight, a personal note about someone we will miss here at ABC News,” intro’d Muir on the piece about Mayer’s work at ABC.
“I want all the wonderful people who watch World News to know that when you’re watching the person sitting at this desk, you’re really also watching the coach behind the camera. Michele was always there to say move it along, or slow it down, or time to get out, or, in my case, she had signs printed up [that read ‘Sit up straight’],” said Sawyer in her segment about Mayer.
“When Shelly says sit up straight, you do,” added Muir.
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Gibson remembers the very first night he took over World News from Jennings, recalling, “The first night the show was mine, not just filling in for Peter, I came into the studio and Michele said to me, ‘There may be some people around here who are a little bit afraid of you. I’m not. I’m the person that will tell you what to do.’ And she did, in the nicest way, for four years.”
“I am still in denial about all this. I can’t believe Shelly is leaving. My partner in crime out there…you deserve this, Shelly, go home to Kentucky, back with your family and the horses and the beautiful countryside…I don’t know what I’m going to do,” said Muir.
“We were just two Kentucky girls who got to the big city. She was hilarious when you needed a laugh and, most of all, she is and always will be a person who cares passionately about what we do,” said Sawyer.
The Instagram post comments are full of Good Morning America and ABC News people who are sad to see Mayer leave their team as well.
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“She always kept me on point btw. We’ll miss you fiercely, Michelle! ♥️♥️,” writes Good Morning America contributor Deborah Roberts.
Good Morning America chief meteorologist Ginger Zee writes, “@8michele8 is an institution. Going to miss you dearly. Sending you all the sunshine.”
“This is soooo sweet! 😍 This relationship really does become a close and valued one. Also…. Kentucky ladies are where it’s at! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🥰🥰,” writes TV personality Julie Smith.
“What an amazing career and journey! Your love and protective energy for the set and all its people were incredible to watch and experience. Enjoy your time back home. ❤️,” writes ABC News correspondent Mireya Villareal.
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GMA and ABC News Family Mourns a Dear Loss: ‘I Am Still in Denial’ first appeared on Parade on Jul 3, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.