ABC’s Whit Johnson Discovers Ancestry Secret Through DNA Test

Imagine, if you will, a straightforward test that could dig up the buried origins of your family history. Would you take it? This is the very dilemma which came before Whit Johnson, co-anchor of both Good Morning America and ABC World News Tonight. Whit knew his parents weren’t together anymore and understood his father was adopted, but beyond those facts, Whit didn’t know much about his family’s past.

Defying his dad’s hopes, Whit found himself deeply linked to something he never expected. He discovered a massive family secret, one that promised to turn both his and his father’s lives upside down, and permanently alter the way they saw things.

Californian Upbringing

Whit Johnson, who was born and grew up in San Francisco, California, always harbored dreams of becoming a reporter. He didn’t waste time turning this dream into reality, jumping right into a career in broadcasting after he had completed his studies. He earned his degree in Television and Radio Broadcasting at San Francisco State University.

Johnson had a fulfilled and renowned career amongst the ranks of CBS News and KNBS Los Angeles. His accomplishments further extended when he covered the 2016 Olympics. Later, in 2018, he embarked on a new journey with ABC. Eventually, he became part of the correspondent team of Good Morning America. Little did he know that his career would lead him to a personal, remarkable discovery about his own family.

Family Man

For Whit, the things that matter most in life are his wife and children. In the year 2018, he accepted an offer from ABC News to work full-time as a correspondent, which led him to move to the vibrant city of New York. His wife, Andrea Fuji, who also is a journalist for ABC News, accompanied him on this journey. The couple has two lovely daughters named Leah and Summer. Whit is the epitome of a family man, showcasing immense pride in his roles as a father and a husband.

Whit, the child of divorced parents, Sharon and Steve, has started his own small family. Now, he’s grappling with questions about his own genetic history.

Close Father–Son Bond

Whit’s father, Steve, holds a special place in his life. The bond between the father and son has always been tight and Steve remains the person Whit admires the most. Whit once captioned an Instagram post back in 2020, declaring his affection for his father. It read, “Happy Father’s Day to the man who taught me what it means to be a dad.” Steve’s influence had a large part in showing Whit just what a father’s role truly is.

Sure, Whit and his dad share a strong bond but some parts of his dad’s life remain a mystery to him. It wasn’t too long after when Whit started becoming curious and began to ask questions about his own familial background.

Mom Sparked His Curiosity

Whit’s parents are not together anymore, and he’s had a strong bond with the partner of his mom. Whit also has credited his stepfather, who is also a respected radio host named Dean Edell, for being the one who sparked his interest in the world of broadcasting.

In an interview that Whit gave to ABC News, he talked about his story and gave his mom the credit for piquing his interest in tracing back their family’s roots. Whit said, “My mother and father divorced years ago, and my mother had this growing curiosity about my ethnicity.” So Whit comes from a large extended family and it was from his mother’s side that his fascination towards learning more about his family genealogy began. They were both intrigued by their ethnic background and it had been growing over the years. This came especially from his mother, who had always been the curious one after her divorce from his father.