Since rumors of her retirement next year have been the watercooler topic of late, what better venue for Barbara Walters to address them than on The View.
"There were many reports last week saying that I was retiring from ABC, and there was an assumption that I would be making an announcement today," the pioneering journalist said on Monday's show.
At a youthful and vigorous 83, Walters declared she's not going anywhere—at least for now.
"Here I am, and I have no announcement to make," she said. "But I do want to say this: If and when I might have an announcement to make, I will do it in this program, I promise, and the paparazzi guys, you will be the last to know."
Well said, Babs.
Reports of Walters calling it a career after 50 years in the news business first surfaced last week and quickly gained speed, particularly in the wake of the ABC News legend's recent health issues. Walters took time off to recover from a head injury she sustained in a fall that occurred the weekend of the presidential Inauguration and then came down with chickenpox.
But she's used to the gossip, especially after she was overheard telling President Obama in a December 2011 sit-down with the network, "I need one more interview with you because I'm retiring next year."
No doubt she'll go when she's good and ready.