Melanie Lawson returns to ABC13 Houston anchor desk after year off following her father's death
Melanie Lawson at the Heart Association's annual Heart Ball at the Hilton Americas Houston on Feb. 15, 2020. She has returned to the ABC13 Houston anchor desk after an extended leave. (Gary Fountain/Houston Chronicle contributor)
Longtime ABC13 Houston news anchor Melanie Lawson is back on the station's anchor desk after an extended break following the passing of her father in May 2024.
Lawson returned for the 11 a.m. newscast Thursday with Jeff Ehling and meteorologist Rachel Briers, according to ABC13. She had been on leave from the station for roughly a year following the death of her father, Rev. William A. Lawson, known as "Houston's pastor," founder of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church and a Houston civil rights activist. He was 96.
KTRK/13 chief meteorologist Tim Heller talks with anchors Melanie Lawson and Art Rascon at work on Friday, July 27, 2018 in Houston. She has returned to the ABC13 Houston anchor desk after an extended leave. (Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer)
Mike McGuff, who operates a blog related to Houston and Texas media, also reported that Lawson experienced a foot injury. During her father's funeral she attended in a wheelchair.
ABC 13 posted a video of her return broadcast on its Facebook page Thursday. Jeff Ehling opened the newscast Thursday morning followed by Lawson in her familiar role.
"I wanted to start by saying thank you. Over the last few months, I've been overwhelmed by your kindness. I've gotten so many lovely messages and well wishes from so many of you and I can't tell you how much it has meant to me," Lawson said at the top of the newscast.
She told viewers she is blessed to have grown up here and to still call this city home.
Rev. William "Bill" Lawson's daughters Cheryl Lawson, left, Melanie Lawson and Roxanne Lawson speak about their father during a celebration honoring him at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church on Friday, May 24, 2024, in Houston. Melanie Lawson has returned to the ABC13 Houston anchor desk after an extended leave. (Brett Coomer/Staff photographer)
In September 2022 she celebrated 40 years with the station, according to McGuff's website. Lawson also spoke at the funeral of her fellow ABC13 Houston anchor Chauncy Glover in November 2024.
In May, Lawson interviewed Tina Knowles, mom to Beyoncé and Solange in an exclusive interview in which Knowles spoke on divorce, her book and her breast cancer diagnosis.
Melanie Lawson and Jan Carson at the15th annual Houston Hospice Butterfly luncheon. Lawson has returned to the ABC13 Houston anchor desk after an extended leave. (Amber Elliott/Houston Chronicle)
