Inside Christi Paul’s stunning home as CNN anchor reveals devastating reason she quit to spend time with husband & kids
FORMER CNN anchor Christi Paul has decided to leave the network to spend more time with her husband and their three kids.
The journalist, who is from Ohio, revealed she will be returning to her home state as she departed The New Day Weekend after nine years.
But when off the air, Paul offered fans an insight into her life at home which she shares with her husband Peter, who she married in 2003, and their three kids.
Last year, she renovated her home, sharing a series of before and after snaps on Instagram as she documented the progress.
In February 2021, she shared a picture of her kitchen being refurbished.
She explained that she was renovating her home while her kids were learning online amid the Covid pandemic.
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Paul wrote: “3 kids, 2 dogs, and a hubby… living without a kitchen this week while it’s painted.
“Fridge is in the TV room, ovens in the living room, and boxes of kitchenware just all over. Plus virtual learning. This should be interesting.”
Instagram users said it was the equivalent of “urban camping”, while anchor Lynda Kinkade said “If anyone can handle all that with grace.. it’s YOU.”
The journalist brightened up her kitchen as she replaced wooden cabinets with white units.
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She has shared a snap of her bedroom that has the mantra “I’ll always choose you” above her pillows.
She said: “Who are you choosing? Every. Day” and shared a tale from when Peter proposed.
Paul said: “When Pete proposed to me, he said ‘I’m giving you a ring with one diamond in it so every time you look at it you remember, We only choose once and I choose you.
“And this has been our mantra. We will always choose each other in this life. We make decisions together. We parent as parents. We hold each other & our vows sacred.
“Oh listen – we argue. We get frustrated and angry with each other. It’s not a cakewalk (& I do like cake).”
‘SACRED VOWS’
She asked her followers who they were “choosing”, before ending her lengthy post: “My hope is that you choose what & who are genuinely for you.
“That you don’t try to walk into someone else’s story… but you write your own. That you ‘be still’ figure out what/who you really value and choose that.”
In a series of family snaps, she shared a picture of her child on Zoom while eating popcorn.
And she revealed how she and her family marked her daughter Sofie’s 16th birthday in January.
Pictures showed dozens of different colored balloons floating near the ceiling.
‘DEEPEST JOY’
Paul said: “The birthday balloon fairy still showed up this week.”
She gushed: “Happy Sweet 16 to my precious jokester Sofie. It’s my deepest joy to be a mom.”
She described the bond between her and Sofie as a “bond like no other”.
Paul held back tears as she signed off from the New Day Weekend for the final time on Sunday, June 26.
In a goodbye video created by CNN, Christi was praised for having covered “some of the most memorable stories of our lifetime”.
The journalist has reported on Hurricane Harvey, the mass shooting in Orlando, and Covid-19.
In her last show, Christi explained the heartbreaking, but important decision to leave the show in Atlanta.
“I am a part of the Great Resignation. Back in 2020 for those of you who might know, my husband had Covid.
“It was really bad for about three-and-a-half weeks and there were moments when I thought I was going to be a single mom.
“Like many of you, I didn’t see my parents for a year and at some point, my husband and I looked at each other and we just thought ‘What are we doing? We’ve gotta get back home’ and an opportunity came up.
“I’m going home to Ohio. I will be on the air. It will be announced later this week.”
Dozens of tributes have been paid to Paul following her departure.
Victor Blackwell, who has co-hosted the show for nine years, paid a glowing tribute.
He said: “I’m really happy for you. I’m kinda sad for the rest of us though. We’re gonna miss you on weekend mornings.
“You’re more than just a journalist and an anchor. You brought compassion and warmth to the show. You’ve been the show’s conscience.
“And personally, I want to thank you for your friendship, fun times, not-so-fun times … listen, we’ll still have our FaceTime dates, our breakfast meet-ups.
“I will end though with what you’ve ended every show with for eight-and-a-half years … thank you for some really good memories.”
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Retired soldier Mark Hertling, who is a military analyst on CNN, said Paul was “always so kind and professional” when she conducted interviews.
And, Sara Sidner said: “Christi Paul was always a fabulous anchor but an even better human. We will miss her.”