Former ‘GMA’ Host Joan Lunden Joining ‘Today’ as Special Correspondent

Former Good Morning America host Joan Lunden is joining Today — sort of.

The veteran journalist is set to contribute to the NBC morning show as a special correspondent during October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as part of a series on the disease, Today announced on Wednesday.

Lunden also appears bald on the cover of People magazine, which was also revealed on Today, with Lunden calling in to discuss her decision to let herself be photographed that way.

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“It was such a tough decision. As a parent, I worried how my kids would think,” she said. “And it wasn’t the comfortable decision — knowing you were going to be seen by everyone in such a vulnerable way — but I know it was the right decision.”

Ultimately she felt she could inspire other women battling the disease.

“I knew I could be a voice for a quarter of a million women who are diagnosed every year with breast cancer, and I wanted to show that your health is more important than your hair,” she said. “Your hair grows back after you stop chemo, and then you have your life.”

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Lunden revealed that she had cancer in a live appearance on GMA in June, opening up about her diagnosis to current host Robin Roberts who, along with GMA news anchor Amy Robach, has battled the disease.

Lunden was the longest-running host of GMA, hosting the show from 1980-1997, and is currently a health and wellness and family caregiving advocate.

See Lunden’s People cover in the tweet below.

Powerful photo of @JoanLunden on the cover of @PeopleMag: http://t.co/dcPo0jttfo pic.twitter.com/MycwnXfRiH

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 24, 2014

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