Barbara Starr, (Journalist) Retirement, Age, CNN, Controversies, Husband, and Family
Barbara Starr Biography & Wiki
Barbara Starr is a veteran American television journalist best known for her role as CNN’s Pentagon correspondent, a position she held from 2001 until 2022. Based in Washington, D.C., Starr became a prominent voice in national security journalism, reporting extensively on U.S. military operations and defense policy for over two decades.
She joined CNN in 2001, taking the lead on coverage of the Pentagon. Over the years, she reported on pivotal events such as the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, delivering in-depth analysis on military strategy, intelligence operations, and global security threats. Starr also served on the board of the Pentagon Press Association, and was widely recognized by colleagues and competitors alike as a mentor in the field of defense reporting.
Prior to joining CNN, she was a producer at ABC News starting in 1998, where she covered Pentagon-related stories for Nightline, ABCNews.com, ABC Radio, World News This Morning, and World News Now.
How Old is Barbara Starr? | Age and Birthday
Barbara Starr was born on September 11, 1950, in the United States, making her 74 years old as of 2025.
Education | High School and College
Barbara pursued her education in California, completing her early schooling before enrolling at California State University, Northridge. She graduated with a degree in Journalism, which laid the foundation for her distinguished reporting career.
Nationality and Ethnicity
Starr holds American nationality and was born and raised in the United States. She identifies as being of white ethnicity.
Height | How Tall is Barbara Starr?
Barbara Starr stands at approximately 5 feet 4 inches (about 1.6 meters) tall. She is considered to be of average height. However, she has not publicly shared additional body measurements.
Family Background | Parents and Early Life
Starr prefers to keep her personal life out of the public eye. While she has shared that she was raised in the United States, details regarding her parents or siblings have not been disclosed publicly.
Is Barbara Starr Married? | Husband and Personal Life
Barbara was previously married, although she has not made her ex-husband’s identity public. The relationship ended in separation, and she has not disclosed whether she has any children. She continues to keep her personal affairs private, with limited information available about her current relationship status.
Barbara Starr at CNN
Barbara Starr is a veteran American television journalist best known for her role as CNN’s Pentagon correspondent, a position she held from 2001 until 2022. Based in Washington, D.C., Starr became a prominent voice in national security journalism, reporting extensively on U.S. military operations and defense policy for over two decades.
She joined CNN in 2001, taking the lead on coverage of the Pentagon. Over the years, she reported on pivotal events such as the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, delivering in-depth analysis on military strategy, intelligence operations, and global security threats. Starr also served on the board of the Pentagon Press Association, and was widely recognized by colleagues and competitors alike as a mentor in the field of defense reporting..
Starr frequently appeared on CNN’s flagship programs, including:
- The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
- New Day
Her field reporting has taken her to war zones and military operations around the world. She’s made multiple trips to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa, often embedding with U.S. forces. Notably, in 2006, she traveled to Beirut, Lebanon, during the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, accompanying U.S. Marines on a mission to evacuate American citizens.
In 2014, her contributions to journalism were recognized with the Jefferson-Lincoln Award from the Panetta Institute for Public Policy—a tribute to her commitment to informing the public on critical national issues.
Criticism and Controversies
Despite her long tenure and industry recognition, Starr’s reporting occasionally attracted criticism. Some media observers referred to her as acting like a “spokesperson for the Pentagon,” suggesting her coverage too closely aligned with official military narratives.
In June 2013, MSNBC’s Chris Hayes aired a segment comparing Starr’s use of leaked information to that of Glenn Greenwald, arguing that Starr’s reporting could be equally, if not more, damaging to national security—highlighting a broader debate on the ethics of national security journalism.
In July 2015, Starr faced backlash from Kenyan citizens after referring to Kenya as a “terror hotbed” during CNN’s coverage of President Barack Obama’s visit to the country. While the comment was intended to reflect security concerns tied to Al-Shabaab militants based in neighboring Somalia, many Kenyans viewed the description as an unfair generalization, leading to a trending hashtag on Twitter criticizing CNN’s portrayal of the nation.
In May 2021, it was revealed that the Trump administration had secretly pursued a legal case against CNN in an attempt to obtain Starr’s phone and email records from 2017, as part of a leak investigation. The move raised significant concerns about press freedom and government overreach.
Retirement
After a distinguished career spanning more than two decades, Barbara Starr announced her departure from CNN in December 2022. Her exit marked the end of a notable era in defense journalism, where she had played a central role in shaping the public’s understanding of U.S. military operations and national security challenges.
Salary
As of 2025, Barbara Starr earns an estimated annual salary of $100,000 from her role at CNN.
Net Worth
With decades of high-level reporting under her belt, Starr has amassed an estimated net worth of $2 million as of 2025.
