Natalie Leticia Morales is the daughter of Penelope and Lieut. Col. Mario Morales, Jr., a retired Air Force veteran of the Persian Gulf and Vietnam War. She was born in Taiwan, of Brazilian and Puerto Rican descent. As a U.S. Air Force dependent, she has spent much of her life living overseas with her family in Panama, Brazil and Spain. Ms. Morales has as an anchor / correspondent covered several major breaking news stories, including Hurricane Katrina, the Space Shuttle Columbia explosion, the Tsunami disaster. She holds a bachelor of arts degree, with 2 majors - journalism and Latin American studies, from Rutgers University.
Hispanic Magazine named her one of the "Top Hispanics to Watch" in 2005.
Speaks Spanish and Portuguese.
Has a son, Josh, with her husband, Joe Rhodes (Joshs full name is Joseph Steven Rhodes). Josh was born in 2004.
Voted one of the 50 Most Influential Latinas by El Diario La Prensa in 1999
Was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, NJ in 1994 with a double Bachelors degree in Journalism & Mass Media and Latin American Studies.
Married by the Rev. Bossart at Phipps Mansion in Denver, Colorado.
Gave birth to her second son, Luke Hudson Rhodes, on September 9, 2008. He weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz.
Loves gummy bears.
Replaced Ann Curry as the "Today" (1952) Shows newsreader on June 9, 2011 after Curry became co-host.
Half-Brazilian.
Hobbies include skiing.
Lives in Hoboken, NJ
