How did Allison Payne die? Ex-WGN host, 57, had reported on Obama’s roots in Kenya.
Allison Payne, a former WGN anchor, died on September 10 at the age of 57, according to the station.
Payne, a Detroit native, worked for WGN-TV for 21 years, anchoring a variety of programmes, including the primetime 9 p.m. newscast.
As soon as the station announced her death, condolences to the renowned journalist started to flood in on social media, with many people recalling how her work impacted their lives.
Payne joins a long list of notable journalists who have died this year. Dick Stolley, the founding editor of People Magazine, died on June 16 at an Illinois nursing facility.
Robert Kekaula, a Hawaii journalist and sportscaster, died unexpectedly at the age of 56 only days later.
Ayesha Faines, a Grapevine TV personality, died in early July at the age of 35 after suffering from a severe allergic reaction.
WGN released a statement confirming Payne’s untimely death. Dean Richards, the channel’s Entertainment reporter, used social media to announce Payne’s death with a touching tweet says that he is very sad to inform Allison Payne, a former WGN TV anchor, has died in her hometown of Detroit.
She co-anchored WGN News for 21 years, winning nine Emmys in the process.
Allison died as a result of a succession of health problems for which no cause of death has been given. She was 57 years old at the time, and he prays for her to rest in peace.
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How did Allison Payne die?
As Richards pointed out, the precise reason of Payne’s death had not been disclosed at the time of reporting. WGN also referred to her health problems in their statement but did not specify what caused Payne’s death.
Payne was placed on medical leave between January and August 2008 after having a series of mini-strokes.
As a result, she announced an indefinite leave of absence in November 2008 and confessed to being treated for depression in January 2009.
In an interview, she stated that It was hard going out of the home; and she couldn’t get out of bed.
Payne returned in 2009, but was taken off the air in January 2011. It was because she was experiencing difficulty with her voice chords as she revealed a few weeks later.
Following a series of inappropriate on-air appearances that included slurring words, glassy-eyed gazes, and weeping, the station demoted her from the 5:30 and 9:00 p.m. newscasts.
Payne never disclosed what was wrong with her, but after many failed efforts to return, she chose to retire in September 2011. WGN stated in a statement that Payne and WGN had parted ways in September 2011 when she had returned to her hometown of Detroit after a series of terrible health occurrences.
It’s unknown how Payne’s health has improved during the last decade.
In late 2011, she founded her own production business, although she has since completely vanished from the public eye.
Payne’s death has resurfaced in the wake of her departure in September 2011.
When she died, she was living in her hometown of Detroit, but we don’t know anything more about her.
‘Gone too soon
The news of Payne’s passing rapidly circulated on social media, prompting many people to express their sorrow for the popular anchor.
“Damn. Allison Payne, a long-time anchor for @WGNTV, has passed away. She was 57 years old at the time. Allison was a lovely, compassionate lady who worked as a wonderful anchor and had a charming grin.
She’s had a lot of health problems in the past several years. So quickly gone, “one individual said on Twitter. Another person said, “Allison Payne’s death has shattered my heart.
She was the face of @WGNNews for me, a young black kid from Bolingbrook, IL, for 21 years. My parents changed my bedtime to 9:30 p.m. so that I could watch @AllisonPayneTV and Steve Sanders on the evening news.”
According to a tweet from a WGN staffer, “I’m devastated. Allison Payne was a television godmother, a mentor, and a dear friend to me.
I wish I could have rescued her the way she did for me when I first began this insane job. She was brilliant, attractive, and giving.
I can’t believe she’s no longer among us.” According to WGN’s weather producer, “Allison Payne, a former WGN news anchor, died recently, and I was devastated to learn of her death.
She was a lovely, beautiful person who co-anchored the news for 21 years and won 9 Emmy honors. I worked with her for many years. Sweet buddy, may you rest in peace.”
Payne covered Barack Obama’s Kenyan origins and Reverend Jesse Jackson’s peace talks with Israel and Lebanon, among other significant topics, throughout her lengthy tenure with WGN.
She received nine Emmy Awards for her work in journalism, including one each for Outstanding Achievement for Individual Excellence on Camera and Outstanding Achievement for Informational Programs.
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How did Allison Payne die? Ex-WGN host, 57, had reported on Obama’s roots in Kenya