Posted on 03/14/2011 12:27:10 PM PDT by NoExpectations
NEW YORK -- From the early 1990s to just a couple of years ago, Laurie Dhue was a familiar face on network news.
She has the distinction of being the only person to anchor at the three big cable networks -- CNN, MSNBC and most recently Fox News, where she served as anchor from 2000 to 2008 and also hosted her own weekend show.
But behind Dhue's impressive careers, glamorous looks and rising star status, was a painful secret she hid for more than a decade. She was an alcoholic.
She recently sat down with CBN News to discuss how she overcame her addiction.
"When people look at me they say, 'You don't look like an alcoholic. How could you have these types of problems?' But outward appearances are deceiving and they certainly were in my case. From the outside, I had it all. I had a great job at Fox News. I had more friends than I can count. A loving family. none of that mattered," Dhue explained.
"Because inside I was a shell of a person. I had low self esteem. That's why I turned to alcohol. It seemed to make me happier. But as the years went on and my problem didn't get better, it actually got worse. I had to look at myself and see what it was that was that I felt so bad about that I had to cover with alcohol," she added.
Success Wasn't Enough
But something inside her head kept telling her with all her success, it still wasn't enough.
"There was something inside of me that said, 'Laurie you're not good enough.' I don't know where it came from," she told CBN News. "That's something I still ask myself."
"Some of it started in my teen years when we go through that awkward period. And I was very awkward, I was tall, gawky, not one of the popular girls. And when I got older, alcohol was a way to fit in, to feel like I mattered, that I belonged. The drinking went from normal in my 20s, but then my drinking really took off in my 30s when I moved to New York," she recalled.
Her drinking continued, going from bad to worse.
"When my drinking was at its worst, I would drink heavily 2 or 3 times a week. and going to work or on weekends very hungover," Dhue explained. "And playing the same tape in my head over and over, how could I have done this again? How could I have gone out and gotten drunk last night when I swore I was only going to have one or two drinks? And that was a question that after years of asking I just stopped asking. I truly thought that's how I had to live just to live a normal life."
"I drank to make myself more interesting to other people," she continued. "And I drank to make other people more interesting to me. When the truth of the matter is, I was very interesting the way I was, and alcohol wasn't doing me any favors. When I realized that, I was ready to get sober, because I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. And I got down on my knees and begged God for help on the morning of March 14, 2007. I said, 'I cannot do this. God help me, and that's when I knew the fight was over.'"
God answered her prayer and Dhue revealed that her faith played a huge role in her recovery.
"My faith played an enormous role in my sobriety. I would not be where I am, which is four years sober -- four years without a drink, without God's help," she said.
Resources to Fight Alcohol Addiction
CBN News asked her, "How do you negotiate a cocktail party these days?"
"I tend to go to a cocktail party and stay for 30 to 45 minutes, say, 'Hi', shake hands, have short conversations, then I leave,' she replied.
"And I drink Pellegrino!," she exclaimed. Sometimes it's Pellegrino with a lemon slice, sometimes with a lime and when I'm really feeling crazy, an orange slice. but it's all about the sparkling water, and that's fine."
Dhue also wants to help people who have the same addiction.
"I want to let people know, they are not alone. There are so many people that have an addiction to something, but maybe they are afraid to admit it. And even if they admit it, they are afraid to get help, because they don't know where to go or what to do and they don't know that there are literally ten's of thousands of resources out there that are available," she explained.
Journey Has Helped Spiritual Life
Today, Dhue runs her own media training business and is hoping to get back on network news. She says Fox News let her go because her contract had expired and they couldn't come to an agreement, not because of alcohol. But she says, no matter what the future holds, she's happier today than she's ever been.
"I'm grateful, because going through this journey of sobriety and increasing my spiritual life has made me a much stronger person and a much happier person," she said. "And the woman you see sitting before you today is a really happy one. I feel like I'm finally becoming the woman I was meant to be and perhaps the woman God wants me to be."
I think she was one of the guests on Jerry Rivers’ (make that Geraldo Rivera’s) Fox show last night.
My wife saw her on that show. She said her appearance had changed dramatically.
She is one of my favorites. I wondered where she went.
Got this blond thing going on for decades. She is hotter than my mini after 30 rapid fire shots.
Those that believe the daily consumption of alcohol is improper are mostly descended from lineage that only drank wine and beer.
Those who drank the water and milk mostly died, or got lucky and survived to procreate puritans.
It's usually not a good idea for alcoholics to compare bottoms, but in this case I'd make an exception.
Liked her alot...she did a great job. Sorry to hear of the problem. Wish her only the best.
Whatever happened to E.D.Hill???
After seeing the picture at post 4, I’ll take her bottom compared to any.
E.D. Hill is on CNN with Eliot Spitzer. NO JOKE!
Dhue me bump
Wow. ironically, I happened to see her last night on Fox and said to my wife, “What happened to her? She looks like she hit the wall.” (Everything being relative of course-she is still amazing looking obviously).
She alway felt inferior to her more successful brother, Scooby.
No offense, but she seem’s to be saying “Dhue” me!
In Pittsburgh it was the Press Club, Jojo's in the strip district (24hours) Primanti's (the OLD place, also 24 hours) and a few other bars.
A very sad story about someone in this market. Don Cannon, story from 2007.
There were other local "icons" none of whom I will ID but the stories would AMAZE you and in some cases it wasn't just booze.
A few years into my career I took my wife to a station Christmas party. On the way in she saw one of our news anchors, someone I still am working with closely.
As we entered the hotel he came staggering toward us with a LARGE scotch in his hand, ran into a wall and started greeting us. He was SLOSHED!
My wife couldn't believe it. For me it was pretty normal. At one point ON THE AIR we were all talking about what we did on the weekend. Our anchor was behind a glass in another studio but listening in while he put together a newscast.
While most of us were saying things like we read over the weekend, did some gardening, played with the family...when it was his turn this guy spun around and without the slightest hesitation said he got blind, stinking drunk on scotch.
There was an awkward silence until we went to break, LOL!
To be fair newsrooms back then were tough for several reasons. Many turned to booze.
I didn't drink much before I started working in news, now I drink my beer like it's oxygen!
I really don't know what the reason is. Some try to rationalize it saying it's the pressure of deadlines, trying to be accurate because your reputation is all you have, or because so much of the news you have to at least read if not report is so depressing.
I think it's just the type of person who was attracted to news.
It is very different today!
FWIW when the Feds went into WACO I was sitting in a local pizza pub with a sportscaster for the baseball team, a very well respected and still on the air weather man (he is a wonderful guy) and a couple of other newsies, staff and air talent.
We were all sloshed to the point that we couldn't quite grasp what was going on.
Within a few hours several of us were on the air and covering the story in a completely competent and sober manner.
But that ended it for me. While I admit to drinking a lot of beer, I don't hang out with those types.
Besides most have retired or been fired, LOL!
Best wishes to LD.
Good for her! I wish her well.
I know all the guys were always ogling her pretty looks, while I was distracted by her lipgloss. I badly wanted to do a science experiment with her. My hypothesis was that if you gently pushed Laurie Dhue face first into a glass window, she would not be able to pull herself away.
It’s amazing how the world’s most beautiful woman can still feel bad about themselves.
She’s a brave and classy lady...I admire her guts and candor. BTTT
I meant to add that it's not necessarily BETTER today! Most of the young ones EXPECT to come in, do a short internship, get hired and start working major day parts.
A very good friend of mine graduated from PSU, works at the BIG K TV and has worked at several local radio and TV stations. She is successful but is VERY union. She is always whining about conditions, assignments and things in general.
Although she is ...ummm...over 50...she is a VERY beautiful woman but she often asks me why she has never been married, can't keep a guy.
Being the blunt bustard I am I tell her it's because of that constant, leftist/unionist/feminist (to some extent) whining.
Yeah, I'm a jerk, LOL!
I absolutely love her. I pray that she is able to continue with her sobriety. It is difficult but with friends, family and faith, she can win.
I thought one must be 14 or older to be a member of FR. I guess I was wrong.
Nerdy guys, pay attention. those drop dead gorgeous girls--do not assume they will reject your advances. Peter Orzsag's gorgeous wife probably had low self-esteem too.
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