Mom Muse | Tracy Kornet

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One of the most dynamic women we know, Tracy Kornet is a multi-talented entertainer. With a career in television spanning over 20 years, she is a news anchor, host and reporter at the CBS affiliate (KTXA) in Dallas, Texas. She is on air weekdays on CBS11 News at 4:00 pm and many nights filling in on the 5:00, 6:00 and 10:00 pm newscasts. In addition to being a skilled journalist, Tracy has an amazing singing voice and serious dance skills. For several years she was the lead singer of her station’s rock band, playing gigs and festivals all around Dallas. During her sophomore year of college, Tracy even left school for a time to play Cinderella at Tokyo Disneyland and go on tour with a Japanese pop star. Cool, right? Tracy is also a wife and mother of three giant kids. They all play college basketball, and her youngest son stands at a towering 7-feet tall. Her husband, Frank, is a former NBA player, hence the height and awesome basketball genes.

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Tracy with her kids – Luke, Nicole and John – at the Vatican in Rome.

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Tracy with her youngest son Luke at Liberty High School right before he was crowned Homecoming King.

singing at waxahachieTracy sings her heart out.

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On the set of American Idol.

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Tracy was born in Chicago and grew up in Tampa. She graduated from the University of Kentucky, but considers herself a “Vandy” girl. Tracy spent her first three years of college at Vanderbilt University in Nashville studying French & International Relations, singing with “The Original Cast,” and dancing with the Vandy Pom Squad. She met her husband there, and the couple was elated when their son, Luke, chose to follow in his dad’s footsteps and play basketball for the Vanderbilt Commodores.

After starting her television news career in Lexington, Kentucky, Tracy then moved to Phoenix, Arizona to launch and host her own talk show called Sonoran Living Live. The show won dozens of Emmy awards, and she loved the creativity required and the connection formed with viewers and guests in that type of format. However, when Tracy was summoned to the news desk to cover breaking news on September 11, 2001, she knew the news desk was where she belonged.

Some of Tracy’s most meaningful television moments include anchoring alongside CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley and the legendary Bob Schieffer during KTXA’s coverage of the 50th Anniversary of the assassination of JFK in Dallas. She also conducted a 90-minute, standing-room-only Q&A session with Schieffer called “An Evening with Bob Schieffer: Remembering JFK.”

Tracy’s favorite part of her job is field anchoring live events. “I love giving viewers a front-row seat from anywhere the action is, especially if it’s a major sports event,” she tell us. Two NCAA championship runs with the Kentucky Wildcats, World Series coverage of the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks, a Dallas Mavericks National Championship, and the 2011 Super Bowl in Dallas have been just a few of her favorite assignments.

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Tracy reporting from the NBA Finals.

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Tracy in her favorite Versace dress with her friend Sharon Lynch and corporate strategist and author Tony Jeary.

In her free time, Tracy’s most favorite thing to do is cheer on her kids at their basketball games. She also loves to travel and feed her craving for adventure. In recent years, Tracy has amped up her public speaking and musical appearances, mainly at community events and women’s groups. She’s also in the middle of writing her first book and told us that she “hopes to never, ever stop learning.” We can’t wait to read the book when it comes out!

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Tracy with three of her four siblings at an Aerosmith concert. L to R: Ben Wing, John Wing, Tracy and Tiffany Lowther.

MSL: Describe your style in five words or less.
Tailored, bright, simple, refined, casually elegant.

MSL: What inspired you to go into broadcasting?
Finding a career that felt like a hobby. I’m curious and adventuresome by nature. Journalism requires both. The opportunity to write, ask questions, and the adrenaline rush of intense deadlines and live television is a perfect fit for my frenetic, multi-tasking tendencies. I am so grateful for this ever-evolving, challenging career.

photo The CBS11 4:00 pm anchor team on a day they all randomly showed up in coordinating outfits! L to R: Angela Martin, Trending Reporter; Tracy; Jeff Jamison, Meteorologist; Tammy Dombeck, Traffic Expert. 

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Tracy and CBS11 anchor Karen Borta on site at the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four.

MSL: What do you like best about your job? The biggest challenge?
The best part is learning something new and relevant everyday and having the opportunity to share information with others. It feeds the teacher inside of me. What do I like least? With the increased competition and immediacy of the internet, I’m concerned about the shrinking television news industry. Instability and insecurity are not my friends!

MSL:  What’s the one item in your closet you can’t live without, that makes you feel both chic and comfortable?
Nude, patent leather Gianni Bini platform heels. They elevate every outfit and compliment even my pale legs!

MSL: Whose style do you most admire and draw inspiration from?
Cindy Crawford and Charlize Theron.

MSL: Being on TV, it must be a challenge to wear something different every day. How do you stretch your wardrobe to keep it fresh on camera?
Statement necklaces! What a Godsend they are for my go-to sheath dresses! I recently discovered Sam Moon for awesome and expensive-looking necklaces, earrings and bracelets that rival my pricey boutique pieces. I also invest in multiple pencil skirts and boots every year, so I can change up my top throughout each season.

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MSL: Do you style yourself for the show? Is there flexibility regarding what you wear or expectations for a certain look?
Yes, I style myself. We’ve experienced a 180-degree turn in our wardrobe rules, just within the last two years. My first six years in Dallas we were never allowed to go sleeveless, wore suits almost every day, and necklaces could be no bigger than a quarter! Today I wear a sleeveless or cap-sleeve dress several times a week and over-sized necklaces for color and pizzazz.

MSL: Do you have any tips on how you streamline your morning routine?
Find a gym nearby where you can workout every morning for even 45 minutes. I often bring a stack of books with me, so I can do my morning devotionals on the treadmill when I’m short on time. Use Velcro rollers after drying hair. Leave in as long as possible while you do your makeup. Invest in simple, quality, go-to dresses and neutral shoes. They look good with almost ANYthing!

MSL: Tell us something about yourself that people would be surprised to hear.
I was a total tomboy growing up and I am terrified for cook for people.

MSL: You’re writing a book – what’s it all about?
Some of my more interesting adventures and career choices, sprinkled with some lessons I’ve learned the hard way about marriage, motherhood, and this marvelous world of television news I’ve plugged away at for 20-plus years now.

I might also irritate you with the one, recurring theme that’s underscored my whole life — that following your own rules, sticking to what you’re good at, and getting help where you suck, makes life a whole lot more fun, adventuresome and unique. I simply hope that my story gives you permission to go for what you really want — and to do it the way that’s right for you. My goal is to finish it by Spring 2015.

MSL: What’s your best style advice for other moms out there?
Don’t buy clothes that are too tight or too baggy. I struggled with the latter until my first job in Phoenix at age 32. My stylist took me shopping for our promo campaign and said everything I was wearing (and picking out in the stores) was two sizes too big. My pants looked like MC Hammer! I was so concerned about wearing clothes that were too revealing. Fitted clothes are slimming. Don’t be afraid to show off your curves.

Invest in one great (typically expensive) pair of dark, long, blue jeans that make your butt look good. My favorite, most slimming style is bootcut, worn with wedges, boots or platform heels. (I find platforms so comfortable. I had bunion surgery 10 years ago and still struggle with pain if I don’t buy comfy heels.) You can dress great jeans up or down and always feel long, lean and sexy.

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5 responses to “Mom Muse | Tracy Kornet”

  1. toni taylor says:

    tracy i have told you how much i admire you! and it just keeps getting better and better! i am so impressed by all that you have accomplished and to be so young! you will do well the rest of your life because you love what you do!

  2. Tammi says:

    Inspirational for all women, young and old. Thank you for sharing your story!

  3. Linda Ferguson says:

    Hey there!
    I’ve thought about you often over the years and wondered how you were doing and how I could get in touch with you.
    So much has happened since I last talked to you. It sounds like everything’s going GREAT for you, and I know Marilyn would be thrilled. Almost every day in my car, when I don’t have on talk radio, I play “Shout to the Lord” that whole cd. I ALWAYS think of your singing that at Marilyn’s funeral and wonder how you did that.
    Email me when you can. I know you’re super busy.
    Blessings,
    Linda (Charlotte, NC now)

    • Tracy says:

      Linda! I am googling my husband, saw this post, read it until the end for the first time in years, and have just seen your comment!!!
      I am so touched. Casey friended me on FB recently, so I will hunt you down that way. Thank you for this precious memory and kind words and thoughts about my mama. 🙂 love you, Linda!

  4. Tracy Kornet says:

    Linda– I am trying to reach you or your boys. I no longer have your email address. Please email me as soon as you can. Just thinking about you! Tracy Wing Kornet

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