Joan Lunden, the host of Second Opinion
An award-winning journalist, bestselling author, motivational speaker, and women’s health & wellness advocate, Joan Lunden has been a trusted voice in American homes for more than 30 years. For nearly two decades, Lunden greeted viewers each morning on Good Morning America bringing insight to the day’s top stories. As the longest-running female host ever on early morning television, Lunden reported from 26 countries, covered 5 presidents, 5 Olympics, and kept Americans up to date on how to care for their homes, their families, and their health.
Today, Lunden continues to be one of America’s most recognized and trusted personalities. Lunden is a sought-after speaker and event host throughout the country, the host of the CBS series Your Health, and recently, served as a special correspondent on the TODAY Show. On her website JoanLunden.com and social media, women interact with her every day about health, wellness, lifestyle tips, family, and boomer information.
As a part of the sandwich generation, Lunden’s demographic is far-reaching. She is a mother of 7 including two sets of teenage twins. Like many Boomers in America, she has juggled being a working mom while caring for an aging parent and brings this experience to her role as the spokesperson for the nation’s leading senior referral service, A Place for Mom, a company helping caregivers and families find the right care and resources for their loved one.
In June of 2014, Lunden was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, which required chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. An eternal optimist, Lunden wanted to turn her diagnosis into an opportunity to help others. She blogged throughout her cancer treatment and wrote a memoir Had I Known, which documents her battle, and reflects on her life and career. Lunden advocates for patients on Capitol Hill, and actively communicates with the cancer community through her social media and on her website. One of the most visible women in America, Lunden has graced the covers of more than 60 magazines and book covers. Lunden’s next book, Why Did I Come into This Room; A Candid Conversation About Aging will hit stands in March of 2020.
Lunden has served as a national spokesperson for various organizations such as The American Heart Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, The American Lung Association, The American Red Cross, The American Academy of Pediatrics, and The Colon Cancer Alliance.
Joan Lunden’s books include Had I Known; Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregiving; Growing Up Healthy: Protecting Your Child From Diseases Now Through Adulthood; Wake-Up Calls; A Bend in the Road is Not the End of the Road; Joan Lunden’s Healthy Living; Joan Lunden’s Healthy Cooking; Mother’s Minutes; Your Newborn Baby; and Good Morning, I’m Joan Lunden. She also hosts the exercise video Workout America. Joan Lunden truly exemplifies today’s modern working woman.