Laura Rutledge is a journalist and reporter from the United States. She is currently employed by ‘CNN International’ and ‘ESPN.’ Raised in Florida, Laura earned her degree in broadcast journalism from the ‘University of Florida.’ She began to gain attention in 2012 when she was crowned ‘Miss Florida.’ That same year, she embarked on her journey in sports journalism. In 2013, she competed in the ‘Miss America’ pageant but did not win. Regarding her career in journalism, she initially served as a sideline reporter for ‘Fox Sports.’ After two years at ‘Fox Sports,’ she transitioned to ‘ESPN.’ She has hosted post-game coverage on ‘Fox College Football’ and halftime segments for college football games aired on ‘Fox Sports Network.’ Additionally, she produced a show called ‘SDLive,’ which was broadcast on ‘Fox Sports San Diego.’ Renowned as one of the leading female sports journalists in America, she is celebrated for her impressive looks and exceptional reporting abilities. Laura met professional baseball player Josh Rutledge in 2011, and they married in 2013.
Childhood & Early Life
Laura Rutledge, originally named Laura McKeeman, was born on October 2, 1988, in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA. She grew up in Florida and attended Celebration High School in Celebration, Florida. From a young age, Laura showed an interest in various makeup products and enjoyed dressing up, dreaming of achieving fame and being on television. Consequently, she began preparing for beauty pageants during her childhood. Additionally, she had a passion for dancing and participated in ballet classes.
Her affinity for sports was influenced by her parents, who were devoted fans of college football, and her brothers also shared a passion for sports. Although Laura did not actively participate in sports as a child, she loved watching them on television. Due to this interest, she aspired to become a sports journalist by the time she completed high school.
For college, Laura opted for the University of Florida over Florida State University because the former offered a superior communications program. She enrolled in the University of Florida and pursued a degree in media.
During her freshman year at the university, she discovered that she could earn some income by working at the on-campus radio station. She secured her first job as a radio host at the WRUF radio station located on the university’s main campus, and she enjoyed her role from the start.
Laura initially enrolled in a communications program upon joining the university but later switched to telecommunications as her childhood aspiration of being on television resurfaced. She attended the university from 2007 to 2011 and worked at the campus radio station until she graduated.
Career of Laura Rutledge
In her senior year at the University of Florida, Laura struggled to secure an internship, despite being interviewed by multiple broadcasting companies. ESPN and Fox Sports were two of the companies that considered her.
Undeterred by this setback, she continued to pursue opportunities and eventually connected with an individual from Fox Sports who assisted her in obtaining her first internship at Fox Sports Florida. However, the work she was given did not match her expectations; she was tasked with copying DVDs of sports broadcasts.
An unforeseen event allowed her the chance to make her on-screen debut. When an on-air presenter faced a last-minute scheduling conflict, Laura was asked to fill in. She took full advantage of this opportunity and received positive feedback for her performance.
Following this, she was invited to host broadcasts of games played by professional baseball teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays and San Diego Padres, which were aired by Fox Broadcasting Company. Laura quickly gained popularity among Fox Sports viewers, solidifying her role as a reporter for Fox Sports.
In 2012, she made the decision to compete in the Miss Florida pageant. On July 7, she won the title, granting her the chance to represent Florida in the Miss America beauty pageant scheduled for 2013. While she did not win the Miss America title, she was recognized as one of the top 16 contestants in the competition.
After her success in the Miss Florida pageant, she returned to her broadcasting career and reported on the National Paintball Championship held in Lakeland, Florida, in 2012. This championship was organized by the National Collegiate Paintball Association, and Laura served as an on-field reporter for Fox College Sports.
Laura also took on the role of a television host during her time at ‘Fox Sports San Diego.’ In 2013, she hosted a program named ‘Chargers Insider’ for the American football team known as the ‘San Diego Chargers.’ She additionally appeared as a host on a show called ‘SDLive,’ which she initiated on ‘Fox Sports San Diego.’ Besides hosting the show, she currently acts as its producer.
By the close of 2013, she had gained significant popularity while working for ‘Fox Broadcasting Company.’ In 2014, Laura received the chance to host the ‘Coors Light Postgame Show’ on ‘Fox College Football.’ She also served as the host for halftime segments of college football games aired on the ‘Fox Sports Network.’
That same year, she made the decision to join ‘ESPN’ and was subsequently hired by the ‘SEC Network,’ a division of ‘ESPN Inc.’ Laura later mentioned in an interview that she chose to work for the ‘SEC Network’ because she wanted to cover as many sporting events as possible, particularly college sports. Given that the ‘SEC Network’ was focused on college sports reporting, she felt compelled to accept their offer to join ‘ESPN.’
In addition, she hosts Paul Finebaum’s show on the ‘SEC Network’ titled ‘The Paul Finebaum Show,’ where she engages with callers and addresses sports-related inquiries. Laura primarily serves as a host and reporter for both ‘CNN International’ and ‘ESPN.’ She is recognized as one of the most attractive and well-known college sports journalists in the United States.
Family & Personal Life
In 2011, Laura encountered professional baseball player Josh Rutledge through a mutual friend. After reuniting in Birmingham, Laura and Josh Rutledge began dating. On December 7, 2013, Laura married Josh Rutledge. She is active on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter, boasting thousands of followers.
Net worth of Laura Rutledge
The estimated net worth of Laura Rutledge is about $3 million.