Tracy McCool is an American television journalist and evening news anchor best known for her long career at FOX 8 News in Cleveland, Ohio. She has spent more than two decades on air, covering breaking news, community events, and severe weather across Northeast Ohio.
Viewers also know her for the story of her late husband, John Cook, and her work raising awareness about colon cancer. This article covers her age, career, family, and net worth in full detail.
Tracy McCool Bio
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Tracy McCool (also cited as Tracy Lyn McCool) |
| Age | 60 years old (as of July 2026) |
| Date of Birth | April 6, 1966 |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Birthplace | Northeast Ohio |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | Around 5 feet 6 inches (unverified) |
| Weight | 130 lbs (59 kg) |
| Marital Status | Widowed |
| Husband | John Cook (deceased) |
| Children | Two, Cassidy and Carter |
| Net Worth | Estimated between 1 million and 5 million dollars |
| Salary | Estimated between 45,000 and 120,000 dollars a year |
| Profession | Television news anchor and reporter |
| Employer | FOX 8 News, WJW-TV, Cleveland |
| Education | Copley High School, Kent State University |
| Social Media | Facebook, Twitter/X (@TracyMcCool) |
Who Is Tracy McCool?
Tracy McCool is a veteran news anchor at FOX 8 News in Cleveland. She co-anchors the station’s 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts, which regularly rank among the top rated broadcasts in the Cleveland market.
She joined the station’s news team decades ago and worked her way up from reporter to evening anchor. Her steady delivery and long tenure have made her a trusted face in Northeast Ohio households.
How Old Is Tracy McCool? Age And Birthday
Tracy McCool was born on April 6, 1966, which makes her 60 years old as of 2026. Her April birthday places her under the Aries zodiac sign, known for energy and directness, traits that show up in her steady on air presence.
Her age also lines up with her long career timeline. FOX 8 marked her 30 year anniversary with the station in September 2024, meaning she started her broadcasting journey there in the mid 1990s, back when she was still in her twenties. That kind of career length is rare in local television, where anchor turnover tends to happen every few years.
Where Is Tracy McCool From?
Tracy McCool grew up in Northeast Ohio and finished high school at Copley High School before heading to Kent State University for her broadcast journalism degree.
Copley sits near Akron, and that hometown tie shaped the kind of stories she chose to cover once her career took off. She still calls the Akron area home today, which keeps her rooted in the same communities she reports on each night.
Tracy McCool’s Height, Weight, And Body Measurements
Tracy McCool is estimated to be around 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) tall and weighs approximately 130 pounds (59 kg).
Her estimated body measurements are 36-28-37 inches (91-71-94 cm). She has blonde hair and blue eyes, which complement her polished appearance as a longtime television news anchor.
What Is Tracy McCool’s Net Worth And Salary?
Tracy McCool’s estimated net worth sits between 1 million and 5 million dollars. That figure reflects more than 30 years of steady work in broadcast journalism rather than any outside business dealings.
Salary
Her reported annual salary lands between 45,000 and 120,000 dollars. That range fits what senior anchors typically earn in a mid sized US media market such as Cleveland.
Pay for local anchors depends heavily on market size, years on air, and contract terms, which explains why the estimate covers such a wide span.
Income Sources
Her main income comes from her anchor and reporter role at FOX 8 News. Anchors with three decades of tenure often see gradual salary growth through repeated contract renewals rather than sudden jumps. There is no public record pointing to major income outside her broadcasting career.
Tracy McCool Education and Early Life
Tracy McCool’s path into journalism started with a solid Ohio education. She graduated from Copley High School, then enrolled at Kent State University to study broadcast journalism.
Kent State has a long track record of training working journalists across Ohio, and its hands on program gave McCool real newsroom experience before she ever appeared on camera. Choosing to build her career close to home reflects a pattern seen in many local anchors who want to serve the towns where they grew up.
Tracy McCool Career and Professional Journey
Tracy McCool’s career now spans more than three decades in Ohio television news. She did not begin as an anchor. She began as an intern with no camera time at all.
Starting Her Journalism Career
Her broadcasting career started off screen, first as a news intern and later as a morning show producer, long before she ever sat behind an anchor desk.
Before landing at FOX 8, she spent two years as a reporter and anchor at WTTE-TV and WSYX-TV in Columbus, Ohio, following an earlier stint at WICU-TV in Erie, Pennsylvania. She then joined FOX 8 News as a general assignment reporter in May 2000.
Building the Akron/Summit County Bureau
As a general assignment reporter, she took a lead role in setting up FOX 8’s Akron/Summit County bureau at Summit Mall. This move gave the station a stronger foothold outside downtown Cleveland, allowing better coverage for viewers in Akron and the surrounding Summit County communities.
Becoming an Evening News Anchor
She also spent time as a morning show reporter and fill in anchor, work that eventually earned her a full time spot on the evening desk. That shift from field reporting to a permanent anchor role marked a major turning point in her career.
Her Role at FOX 8 Cleveland
Today, Tracy McCool co-anchors the top rated 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts, sharing the desk with Gabe Spiegel at 5 p.m. and Lou Maglio at 6 and 10 p.m. That lineup puts her among the most watched anchors in the Cleveland television market during the busiest viewing hours of the day.
Advocacy, Community Work, and Special Projects
After her husband’s cancer diagnosis, Tracy McCool turned her platform toward public health. Her on air segments about colon cancer awareness reportedly pushed many viewers to book their own screenings. Her story shows how a personal hardship, when shared honestly on air, can turn into a public health message that reaches an entire region.
Is Tracy McCool Married? Husband, Family, And Relationship Status
Tracy McCool was married to John Cook and is now widowed following his death from cancer. Her openness about her husband’s illness on air has kept public interest in her family story strong for years.
John Cook’s Illness And Death
John Cook served in the military before later opening a gym where he trained mixed martial arts fighters. In 2018, doctors diagnosed him with stage 4 colon cancer, and he began treatment at Cleveland Clinic.
Even with a difficult prognosis, those close to him described him as someone who stayed himself through the fight, keeping his sense of humor even during hard days. His battle with the disease became the direct reason Tracy McCool began her push for earlier cancer screening on air.
Tracy McCool’s Children
Tracy McCool is the mother of two children, Cassidy and Carter. She keeps most details about their lives private, a common choice among public figures raising kids away from the spotlight.
Family Pets
The McCool household also includes two dogs, Samson and Nikko. She has shared glimpses of them in occasional social posts, giving followers a small window into her life outside the newsroom.
Social Media Presence
Tracy McCool maintains an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Her Facebook page has attracted more than 90,000 likes, while her social media accounts allow followers to keep up with newsroom updates, family moments, community news, and personal posts.
She also shares photos and updates through her Instagram account, giving viewers another way to follow her life beyond the FOX 8 newsroom.
Tracy McCool’s Awards and Professional Achievements
Tracy McCool’s standout professional milestone is her 30 year anniversary with FOX 8 News, celebrated in September 2024. That level of tenure is uncommon in local television, where anchor turnover happens often.
Beyond that milestone, her real achievement lies in the trust she has built with viewers over three decades and in the real impact of her cancer awareness reporting, which reportedly encouraged many people to get screened earlier.
Fast Facts About Tracy McCool
- Born April 6, 1966, making her 60 years old as of July 2026
- Joined FOX 8 News in Cleveland and became a general assignment reporter by 2000
- Graduate of Copley High School and Kent State University
- Helped set up the Akron/Summit County news bureau
- Co-anchors the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts at FOX 8
- Husband John Cook passed away after a battle with stage 4 colon cancer
- Mother of two, Cassidy and Carter
- Uses her platform to promote early colon cancer screening
- Estimated net worth ranges from 1 million to 5 million dollars
- Active on Facebook and Twitter/X under the handle @TracyMcCool
Read More: Elise Menaker: Age, Husband, Net Worth, Bio and Career
Wrapping Up
Tracy McCool’s story reaches far past the anchor desk. Her three decade career at FOX 8 News reflects steady growth built on trust and consistency, not shortcuts.
Her honesty about losing her husband to colon cancer turned personal grief into public good, pushing real viewers toward earlier screenings.
At 60 years old, with decades of journalism behind her, Tracy McCool remains one of Northeast Ohio’s most recognized and respected news anchors.
References
- FOX 8 Cleveland (WJW). “Tracy McCool | Author Page”
- FOX 8 Cleveland (WJW). “Tracy McCool Celebrates 30 Years With FOX 8 News In Cleveland”
- Ohio Mirror. “Who Is Tracy McCool? Celebrating 30 Years With FOX 8 Anchor”
- Facebook. “Tracy McCool”
- X. “Tracy McCool (@TracyMcCool)”
- ZoomInfo. “Tracy McCool – Anchor at Fox 8”
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