WGN-TV Announces Former News Anchor Allison Payne Has Died at the Age of 57

WGN-TV Chicago is mourning the loss of longtime former news anchor Allison Payne, who died at the age of 57.

Payne anchored newscasts on WGN-Channel 9 from 1990 to 2011. She died September 1 in her hometown of Detroit. No cause of death was reported.

Payne a native of Richmond, Virginia grew up in Detroit and graduated from the University of Detroit and Bowling Green State University. She began her career as an intern and reporter in Toledo, Ohio. In 1988 she was hired as news anchor at WNEM in Saginaw, Michigan. In 1990 her big break came when she was hired to replace Pat Harvey as an evening anchor on WGN. At the time Channel 9 WGN's programming, Chicago Cubs baseball, and the station's 9 O'clock News made its way into many homes across America as it was featured on many cable systems nationwide. 

I am heartbroken over the death of Allison Payne. For 21 years she was theee face of @WGNNews for me, a little black girl living in Bolingbrook, IL. My parents moved my bedtime to 9:30p so that I could watch the nightly news with @AllisonPayneTV & Steve Sanders. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/ljjyy1PLBr

— Afua S. Owusu (@afuasowusu) September 11, 2021

I'd be a fool to not acknowledge, now, that I am who I am today because Allison Payne knocked down the doors and made room in the halls that me and so many other young black journalist walk through. (3/3) @allisonsnews @AllisonPayneTV https://t.co/mHgfauTvi1 pic.twitter.com/eTL3F6LO1v

— Afua S. Owusu (@afuasowusu) September 11, 2021