Veteran Nashville Anchors Bid Farewell After Decades on Air

As of November 14, 2025, the Nashville broadcast news landscape is undergoing a significant shift, with the departure of several veteran anchors and personalities.

Rebecca Schleicher and Ben Hill, who have been morning show personalities at NewsChannel 5 for the past decade and five years respectively, have announced their decision to leave the station. Schleicher, a 10-year traffic anchor, described her departure as an "extremely tough decision," while Hill, the morning show co-anchor, shared that he wants to spend more time with his growing family.

Their exits are the latest in a series of high-profile departures from Nashville's news media scene in recent years. In June 2023, Vicki Yates concluded her 33-year tenure at NewsChannel 5, going on to join WNPT, Nashville's PBS station, as a correspondent. Amy Watson, a nearly two-decade veteran of the NewsChannel 5 morning anchor desk, retired in August 2024 to care for her mother, who had dementia.

These seasoned journalists have left an indelible mark on Nashville's broadcast news, and their departures signal the end of an era. As the city's news landscape continues to evolve, the community will undoubtedly miss the familiar faces and trusted voices that have kept them informed for decades.