Tracy McCool is a veteran American television journalist best known for her long-running work at FOX 8 News in Cleveland, Ohio.
With decades in local broadcasting, she has become a familiar face across Northeast Ohio. But how old is Tracy McCool, what is her net worth, and who was her husband?
This guide covers her age, birthday, hometown, education, salary, career milestones, family, children, advocacy work, and social media presence using publicly available information.
Tracy McCool Bio
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Tracy McCool |
| Age | 60 in 2026 |
| Birthday | April 6, 1966 |
| Birthplace | Copley/Cleveland area, Ohio, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Television journalist and news anchor |
| Education | Kent State University |
| Height | Approximately 5 ft 6 in |
| Weight | Not reliably disclosed |
| Net Worth | Public estimates vary; approximately $1 million–$5 million |
Public biographies consistently identify Tracy McCool as a Northeast Ohio journalist and longtime FOX 8 News anchor. Kent State University confirms that McCool graduated in 1994 and later served as the university’s 2014 Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal.
Financial figures should be treated more cautiously. Neither FOX 8 nor McCool has publicly released an exact salary or personal net-worth statement. Online estimates therefore vary widely, and the figures in this article are presented as estimates rather than verified financial disclosures.
Who Is Tracy McCool?
Tracy McCool is an American television news anchor and journalist whose professional identity is closely tied to Northeast Ohio. She built her reputation through local reporting, anchoring, community coverage, and years of experience handling breaking news. Her career has included work at WICU-TV in Erie, Pennsylvania, followed by reporting and anchoring positions at WSYX-TV and WTTE-TV in Columbus.
McCool ultimately became one of the recognizable faces of WJW, commonly known as FOX 8 News Cleveland. She joined the station in May 2000 as a general-assignment reporter and gradually moved through reporting and anchoring roles. Her career progression illustrates how local television journalists can build lasting authority by developing strong community relationships rather than relying solely on national exposure.
How Old Is Tracy McCool? Age and Birthday
So, how old is Tracy McCool? Public biographies report that she was born on April 6, 1966. That makes her 60 years old in 2026, following her April 6 birthday. Several biographical sources give the same birth date and year, although FOX 8’s official materials do not prominently publish a birth date.
Her age is notable because McCool has built a broadcasting career spanning more than two decades at FOX 8 alone. Kent State’s alumni publication identifies her as a 1994 graduate and describes her journey from student broadcaster to evening anchor. In 2014, two decades after graduation, Kent State selected her as its Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal, another sign of her professional standing.
Where Is Tracy McCool From?
Tracy McCool is from Northeast Ohio and is associated particularly with Copley, Ohio, near Akron. Public biographies sometimes list Cleveland as her birthplace, while other sources identify Copley as her hometown. Because those descriptions differ, the safest characterization is that she is a Northeast Ohio native with deep roots in the Akron-Cleveland region.
Her regional connection has been important throughout her career. Rather than moving permanently to another major television market, McCool established herself in Ohio and developed a strong connection with viewers in Northeast Ohio. Her familiarity with the region has helped shape the community-centered style associated with local television news.
Tracy McCool’s Height, Weight, and Body Measurements
Tracy McCool is commonly listed as approximately 5 feet 6 inches, or about 1.67 meters, tall. However, her weight and detailed body measurements are not reliably documented by authoritative sources. Some entertainment websites publish specific weight figures, but those numbers are not independently verified and should not be presented as established facts.
For a journalist whose professional value comes from reporting and anchoring, physical measurements are considerably less meaningful than career experience and credibility. McCool’s recognizable on-camera presence has developed through years of television work, while her professional profile remains centered on journalism, community reporting, and public communication.
What Is Tracy McCool’s Net Worth and Salary?
Tracy McCool’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. Various online publications estimate her wealth somewhere between $1 million and $5 million, but those figures should be regarded as public estimates rather than audited financial information. Her long career in television journalism is the most obvious foundation for any accumulated wealth.
It is also important to avoid treating an internet estimate as a confirmed bank balance. A journalist’s net worth can include accumulated salary, retirement accounts, investments, property, and other assets, while public databases rarely have access to complete personal financial records. Therefore, a range is more responsible than claiming one exact number.
Salary
McCool’s salary has never been officially published by FOX 8. Online estimates commonly place her annual earnings somewhere around $80,000 to $120,000, while other sources provide broader figures. These numbers should be viewed as estimates based on comparable television positions and reported industry ranges, not as confirmed compensation.
Her long tenure and senior evening-anchor position would generally make her more experienced than an entry-level local reporter. Still, without an employment contract or official disclosure, it is impossible to state her exact annual salary with certainty.
Income Sources
McCool’s primary known income source is her television journalism career. Her work as a reporter and anchor at FOX 8 represents the central professional activity associated with her public profile.
Additional public-facing work may include community events, appearances, and journalism-related projects. However, there is not enough reliable evidence to assign specific dollar amounts to those activities. For that reason, claims about endorsements, investments, or private business income should not be treated as established components of her earnings.
Education
Tracy McCool attended Copley High School before studying broadcast news at Kent State University. Kent State’s own alumni publication identifies her as a 1994 graduate and notes that she majored in broadcast news. During college, she worked with TV2, Kent State’s student television station, an experience that helped her discover that broadcasting was the career she wanted.
Her college years provided more than classroom training. Working in student television exposed her to the practical demands of reporting and production. Kent State later recognized that connection by naming her the 2014 Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal. The honor came roughly 20 years after her graduation and reflected the career she had built in local television.
Tracy McCool’s Career
McCool’s career developed through several stages rather than an overnight jump into a major anchor position. Before FOX 8, she worked at WICU-TV in Erie, Pennsylvania, and later at WSYX-TV and WTTE-TV in Columbus. Those positions gave her experience in reporting and anchoring before she established herself in Cleveland television.
She joined WJW FOX 8 in May 2000 as a general-assignment reporter. A 2011 report from the Akron Beacon Journal noted that she had moved through the station’s morning operation before being named a weeknight co-anchor. This progression shows how her role expanded over more than a decade at the station.
Building the Akron/Summit County Bureau
One of McCool’s notable professional contributions was her involvement in establishing FOX 8’s Akron/Summit County Bureau at Summit Mall. The assignment strengthened the station’s ability to cover news in the Akron area while giving McCool a direct connection to a community close to her Northeast Ohio roots.
This type of bureau work is significant in local television because it brings reporting resources closer to communities outside the primary newsroom. For McCool, it also helped establish her as more than a studio personality. She became a reporter with a recognizable presence in the region she served.
Evening Anchor Role
McCool eventually moved into the station’s evening-anchor lineup. A 2011 Akron Beacon Journal report stated that she would become the new weeknight co-anchor for the 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts after serving as a morning-show co-anchor.
Her rise from general-assignment reporter to evening anchor represents one of the central career highlights in the Tracy McCool biography. The position placed her at the center of the station’s most important daily broadcasts and helped cement her status as a longtime Cleveland-area television personality.
Advocacy and Special Projects
McCool’s public advocacy became especially visible through her family’s experience with colon cancer. Her late husband, John Cook, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, and McCool openly discussed the family’s experience with viewers. Cleveland.com reported on her decision to share the difficult diagnosis publicly in 2018.
The experience later became part of a broader message about cancer awareness and screening. John’s own story emphasized the importance of seeking medical attention rather than assuming serious disease only affects older adults. McCool’s willingness to discuss the experience added a deeply personal dimension to her public work.
Is Tracy McCool Married? Husband, Family, and Relationship Status
Tracy McCool was married to John W. Cook, whom she first knew during their high-school years at Copley. According to John’s obituary, the couple married in December 2002 and had two children, Cassidy and Carter. They remained married until John’s death in May 2023.
As of 2026, McCool is a widow. There is no reliable public evidence establishing a subsequent marriage. Because she keeps much of her private life away from the spotlight, claims about a current romantic relationship should be treated carefully unless confirmed by McCool herself or a credible source.
John Cook’s Illness and Death
John Cook battled stage 4 colon cancer for several years. In 2018, McCool publicly described the family’s shock after doctors diagnosed the disease. Cleveland.com reported that Cook was in his 40s when he received the diagnosis, despite being physically active and owning an MMA training center.
Cook continued pursuing treatment and clinical trials during his illness. He died on May 9, 2023, at age 53, with Tracy by his side, according to his obituary. The obituary also records that he had served in the U.S. Army and founded the Evolve fitness and mixed martial arts gym.
Tracy McCool’s Children
Tracy and John had two children, Cassidy and Carter. John’s obituary confirms that both survived him and identifies them as his daughter and son. The family has generally kept the children’s private lives away from extensive media coverage.
Cassidy has also appeared in community-related public records. For example, Akron Children’s Hospital listed Cassidy Cook as a 2024 Charity Ball honoree and identified her as the daughter of the late John Cook and Tracy McCool Cook.
Family Pets
McCool has also shared her affection for family pets. Public biographies have identified two dogs, Samson and Nikko, as part of the family. Samson has been described in published profiles as a particularly large dog, reflecting the family’s fondness for animals.
These details offer a glimpse into the more personal side of McCool’s life outside the newsroom. Nevertheless, she generally maintains a reasonable boundary between her professional visibility and her family’s private life.
Social Media Presence
Tracy McCool has maintained a public social media presence connected to her journalism career and Northeast Ohio audience. Her accounts have been used to share professional updates, FOX 8 content, community activities, and occasional personal reflections. Reported follower counts vary by platform and change over time, so they should not be treated as permanent statistics.
Her social-media approach is consistent with her television role: community focused rather than celebrity driven. She has also used public platforms to discuss cancer awareness and remember John. This gives viewers a way to connect with the person behind the anchor desk while still keeping many private family details out of the public sphere.
Tracy McCool: Fast Facts
- Full name: Tracy McCool
- Birthday: April 6, 1966
- Age: 60 in 2026
- Hometown: Copley/Northeast Ohio
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Television journalist and news anchor
- Education: Kent State University, broadcast news
- FOX 8 career: Joined WJW in May 2000 as a general-assignment reporter
- Husband: John W. Cook, who died May 9, 2023
- Children: Cassidy and Carter
- Height: Approximately 5 feet 6 inches
- Weight: Not reliably verified
- Estimated net worth: Commonly reported at $1 million–$5 million, but unverified
- Estimated salary: Public estimates commonly fall around $80,000–$120,000 annually
- Notable honor: 2014 Kent State Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal
FAQs
How old is Tracy McCool in 2026?
Tracy McCool is 60 years old in 2026. Public biographies list her birthday as April 6, 1966.
What is Tracy McCool’s salary?
Her exact FOX 8 salary is not publicly disclosed. Online estimates commonly place her annual earnings around $80,000–$120,000, but these figures are not official.
What is Tracy McCool’s net worth?
Public estimates generally place Tracy McCool’s net worth between $1 million and $5 million, although no audited figure has been released.
Who was Tracy McCool’s husband?
Her husband was John W. Cook. They married in December 2002 and had two children. Cook died on May 9, 2023, after battling stage 4 colon cancer.
Where did Tracy McCool go to college?
Tracy McCool attended Kent State University and graduated in 1994 with a degree in broadcast news. She also worked with the university’s TV2 student television station.
Wrapping Up
The story of Tracy McCool is built around longevity, local journalism, and a strong connection to Northeast Ohio.
At 60 in 2026, she has spent decades developing her skills from student broadcasting and early reporting positions to a prominent evening-anchor role at FOX 8.
