A Tri-State native, Brandon Bartlett joined the Eyewitness News team in October 2017. He began his career in journalism while in high school serving as the Youth Reporter for Century TV8 News, the cable news station in his hometown of Owensboro, KY. From there he moved across the river working for WEVV-TV CBS 44 as the weekend anchor/reporter. Most recently, Brandon spent 10 years as a news anchor/reporter for 14 News, WFIE-TV in Evansville.
Brandon grew up watching WEHT News 25 and has been a life-long fan of ABC News. Through friends and contacts, he has met many of his idols at ABC — sitting in on several live broadcasts of World News Tonight with Peter Jennings in New York City and meeting with Jennings in his office after those broadcasts to talk about the business. He’s also sat in on live broadcasts of PrimeTime Live with Diane Sawyer (another Kentucky native) and Sam Donaldson, as well as Good Morning America with Charlie Gibson and Joan Lunden, then Charlie Gibson, Diane Sawyer, and Robin Roberts. It was his surprise meeting one day (set up by a friend) with his long-time idol Barbara Walters that ultimately led to several other meetings with the broadcast legend. He sat in on several tapings of 20/20 with Walters and Hugh Downs. Brandon was invited to attend Walters’ private Christmas party in NYC (where he danced with her), met with her several times in her office, and was even featured during a live segment on The View with Walters.
During his early days in television news, Brandon became friends with Anderson Cooper and Lisa Ling, who have both given him advice about the business.
Brandon has had the opportunity to interview several people while working in this business including President Barack Obama, President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Sen. Wendell Ford, Sen. Bob Dole, (Tri-State native) Florence Henderson, Justin Timberlake and ‘NSYNC, Gene Hackman, Bill Cosby, Willie Nelson, Joe and Nick Jonas, author Mary Higgins Clark, and several others.
Brandon has won several awards for his reporting of some of the big stories in the Tri-State.
Brandon attended Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro then New York University in New York City — a city he loves dearly. In fact, when he’s not watching WEHT’s news, he’s watching WABC-TV Eyewitness News in NYC — his favorite station. He’s also seen over 150 plays/musicals on Broadway.
When he’s not working, Brandon likes to spend time with his family, friends, and Jennings — his black lab fondly named after — who else, but Peter Jennings.
