> At a Glance
> – Tony Dokoupil teared up during a Jan. 6 “Live From America Tour” stop in Miami
> – The CBS Evening News anchor, 45, said the city should have been his lifelong home
> – His family left after his father’s drug-related imprisonment
> – Why it matters: Viewers saw the usually composed anchor reveal how childhood upheaval still shapes him
A routine stop on Tony Dokoupil‘s “Live From America Tour” turned into an on-air emotional moment when the CBS Evening News anchor confronted the childhood memories tied to Miami.
Emotional Homecoming
While filming in the city on Jan. 6, Dokoupil’s eyes welled up as he recalled the place he considers his true home.
> “It makes me emotional, it’s so funny. You only have one childhood, right?”
He told CBS Miami that every corner of the city reminds him of family gatherings:
- Grandmother, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins all lived nearby
- He would have spent his entire childhood there
Why His Family Left
Dokoupil revealed the abrupt end to his Miami upbringing:
> “But we left because my father got in some trouble with business. We laugh about it now, but he was a drug dealer and he went to jail.”
The relocation left him feeling cheated of the full Miami experience.
> “This should have been my home for the whole stretch. To have it and then to lose it, it just kind of rocks me.”
New Anchor Growing Pains
The emotional interview aired one day after his first-night fumble in the CBS Evening News anchor chair, announced Dec. 10.
> “To other news, as you just heard from Jill, to other news now, to Gov. Walz. No, we’re gonna do Mark Kelly. First day, first day, big problems here.”
Dokoupil also ended the Jan. 5 broadcast by praising Marco Rubio, calling the secretary of state “the ultimate Florida man,” a line that drew criticism.
Key Takeaways
- Dokoupil’s on-air tears highlight the personal impact of his father’s imprisonment
- The anchor’s first-week stumbles illustrate the pressure of succeeding a legendary newscast
- His “Live From America Tour” aims to connect with viewers nationwide, starting with his own past
