Television legend Jane Pauley has been named the new anchor of “CBS Sunday Morning,” the nation’s #1 Sunday morning news program, it was announced today by CBS News President David Rhodes.

Jane Pauley, anchor of “CBS Sunday Morning.” Michele Crowe/CBS

Pauley will succeed Charles Osgood as anchor. Osgood is retiring from the series on September 25, after 22 years as anchor of the award-winning broadcast, and after 45 years at CBS News.

Pauley’s first broadcast in the new role will be October 9, when she’ll become only the third anchor in the history of “Sunday Morning.”

Pauley joined “Sunday Morning” in 2014 as a contributor. Since then she’s been a substitute host and has delivered a steady stream of high-profile interviews and reporting to the broadcast.

“Charles Osgood set the standard for ‘CBS Sunday Morning,’” Pauley said. “And it’s a great honor to be given the chance to further our show’s legacy of excellence. I look forward to bringing loyal viewers the kind of engaging, original reporting that has made the broadcast so irresistible for so long.”

“Jane Pauley is the ideal host for the most wide-ranging news program on American culture, our beloved ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ broadcast,” said Rhodes. “Charles Osgood is a television news legend -- and so is Jane Pauley.”

“We first got to know Jane when we did a story about her on ‘Sunday Morning,’” said Rand Morrison, Executive Producer of “CBS Sunday Morning.” “Our viewers immediately responded by suggesting she belonged on ‘Sunday Morning’ permanently. And, as is so often the case, they were right. She’s a dedicated, experienced broadcast journalist. But -- every bit as important -- she’s a delight to work with. A worthy successor, and a perfect fit.”

“Sunday Morning” host Charles Osgood passes the baton to Jane Pauley, who begins as host of the long-running news program on October 9. John Paul Filo/CBS

Highlights of Pauley’s work on the broadcast include a profile of Hillary Rodham Clinton; a moving interview with 11-year-old Marquis Govan​, who became a voice of reason in the aftermath of the Ferguson, Mo., shooting of an unarmed man by a police officer; the only TV interview with David Letterman​ about his retirement from late-night television; and a report on a group of educators who lived through the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School​ in Newtown, Conn., who are now fighting to change gun control laws.

Pauley, a member of the Broadcast and Cable Hall of Fame, is the recipient of multiple Emmy Awards; the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism; the Edward R. Murrow Award for outstanding achievement; and the Gracie Allen Award from the Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television.

Before joining CBS News, Pauley was a familiar face on morning, daytime and primetime television. She began her network television career in 1976 as a co-host of NBC’s “Today” show. She spent 13 years on the morning broadcast, and a decade as the anchor of “Dateline NBC,” starting in 1992. She was the host of the syndicated daytime series, “The Jane Pauley Show” in 2004.

Pauley has written two New York Times bestsellers: A memoir, “Skywriting: A Life Out of the Blue”​ (Ballantine Books 2004); and “Your Life Calling: Reimagining the Rest of Your Life”​ (Simon & Schuster 2014), based on her award-winning series on “Today” about people 50 and over starting different careers, learning new skills, making a difference or pursuing their dreams.

A longtime advocate in children’s health and education, Pauley is also a highly-regarded spokesperson in mental health.

She and her husband, Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau, are the parents of three grown children and grandparents to two.