Who Is AJ Hilton? Meet The New Morning News Presenter Of WCCO As Jason Derusha Left The Show

Publish date: 2024-05-17

AJ Hilton is the new co-anchor of WCCO Mornings and WCCO Mid-Morning.

He is an American journalist with over a decade of experience.

When not working, AJ digs crate for records, wathces movies, and explores foods & places. WCCO News Director Kari Patey named him the replacement for Jason Derusha.

Who Is AJ Hilton? His Wikipedia And Bio 

AJ Hilton is an Emmy award-winning journalist.

According to his Linkedin bio, he is a veteran with 17 years of experience in the field. Likewise, his extensive in-studio experience and in-field production are some of his qualities aside from news writing and newscasts. 

Moreover, AJ actively volunteers in the community for Middle Tennessee's Second Harvest Food Bank and the Book'em child literacy program. 

Though not on Wikipedia, he has a brief introduction on Fox 17, according to which he completed his Bachelor's in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Minnesota. Likewise, he is an Apple Valley High School graduate.

His first TV job was at KSAX-TV, where he worked for two years. After that, he became a news anchor/reporter at WILX-TV in 2007. Furthermore, he worked for over five years at FOX 47 (WSYM) and three years at WCTV.

Similarly, Hilton is the Morning News Anchor at WZTV Fox 17, which he joined in Jun 2016. He will be leaving it for WCCO in June 2022.

WCCO Presenter AJ Hilton Replaces Jason Derusha

AJ Hilton replaces Jason Derusha as he becomes the co-anchor of WCCO Mornings and WCCO Mid-Morning.

The official announcement came from the WCCO/CBS News Minnesota's News Director Kari Patey on 2 June 2022. AJ will be teaming up with Co-Anchor Heather Brown, Meteorologist Riley O’Conner, and morning Reporters Shayla Reaves and Pauleen Le.

AJ bid farewell to his Nashville workplace with a post on Facebook and Instagram yesterday, which stated Friday to be his last day on air. 

It’s official, friends. Can’t wait to join an elite group of journalists— and come home to Minnesota. https://t.co/PGV0sYPnMx

— A.J. Hilton (@AJHilton_News) June 2, 2022

Today, AJ retweeted the official announcement, which met with welcome responses from fellow journalists, including Kirsten Mitchell, Marielle Mohs, and Sean Jensen. Brian Jackson, AJ Gersh, and David Aranoff congratulated him.

He will be anchoring his first show on Monday, 27 June. 

Also: Michelet Louis Was From Muskogee Oklahoma, Shot After Bomb Threat As Many Questioning His Family Background

AJ Hilton Wife And Children - Everything On His Family 

Journalist AJ Hilton is happily married to his wife who name he has kept under the radars as of now.

The couple welcomed their first child in 2019. Quincy Hancock Hilton was born on 27 May at 6:47 p.m. AJ has another fur child, Chewie. 

Three years ago to the day (May 27th) me, my wife, and our dog Chewie, moved to Nashville. Go figure on the SAME day in 2019, we’d welcome our little peanut to the world.
Quincy Hancock Hilton is here, and we couldn’t be any happier or more in love. #babyq pic.twitter.com/hHB4yO2ASK

— A.J. Hilton (@AJHilton_News) May 30, 2019  

On the beautiful occasion, the journalist expressed his happiness via a tweet. He, his wife, and their puppy had moved to Nashville three years ago on the same day they welcomed their kid. 

He also mentions his mom and dad on his Instagram. He doesn't miss out on mother's day and father's day.  

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