After 30 years of anchoring Inside Edition, Deborah Norville is bidding farewell to the show, with her last episode airing on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Norville opens up about her decision to leave and what's next for her.

Norville, 66, recalls how she made the decision to join Inside Edition 30 years ago, citing her desire to be a wife and mother. "I couldn't be the wife and mother that I aspired to be, if I was having to ask my husband to hold down the fort way, way more often than I should have been asking," she says.

The longest-running anchor on a national television program emphasizes the importance of knowing oneself and making decisions based on one's values. "Who you are is not what you do. That's a label, but that's not who you are. Who you are is what you believe in. Who you are is what motivates you. Who you are is what you think is important. Who you are is why you believe you were put on this planet," she explains.

Norville shares that she's excited to put family at the forefront and make time for her husband, Karl Wellner, and their three children, Mikaela, 26, Kyle, 29, and Niki, 33. "It's the right move for my family, for my husband, for the entirety of our marriage. There've been too many times when my career had to come first, and I had to say, 'You do understand?' And he'd always say he did. He said the right thing, and now I understand," she says.

Norville is grateful for her experience on the show, saying, "I am overwhelmed with gratitude. People have been so incredibly lovely, and I'm just incredibly grateful for all of it."

The veteran journalist is not slowing down, teasing a couple of projects in the works, including the syndicated game show The Perfect Line, set to premiere later this year. "I think it's going to be a great transition from Inside Edition because the show is built around pop culture and trivia," she says.

Check out some of Deborah Norville's memorable moments on Inside Edition:

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