Shae Cornette is an American sports broadcaster. She hosts ESPN’s First Take. She took over the show in November 2025. She now sits next to Stephen A. Smith, and she replaced the longtime host Molly Qerim.

Shae Cornette grew up in Chicago. She spent years in local sports media. Then she reached one of the biggest jobs in American sports TV.

Quick Facts About Shae Cornette

Detail	Information
Full name	Shae Peppler Cornette
Profession	Sports broadcaster, television host
Known for	Host of ESPN’s First Take
Born	1986, Chicago, Illinois
Age	39 (as of 2026)
Nationality	American
Education	Indiana University Bloomington
Husband	Jordan Cornette (married 2019)
Children	Joey, Saylor, and stepson Carter
Net worth	Estimated $1 million to $3 million

Who Is Shae Cornette?

Shae Cornette is a TV sports anchor and host. She works for ESPN. Today she is best known as the host of First Take, the network’s morning sports debate show.

Before First Take, she worked in radio, on digital shows, and on SportsCenter. Her earlier name was Shae Peppler. That is why many people still search for “Shae Peppler.”

She is also part of a broadcasting couple. With her husband, she became part of the first married pair to co-host an ESPN Radio show.

Who Is Shae Cornette Married To?

Shae Cornette is married to sports broadcaster Jordan Cornette. They met in 2014 while working together at Campus Insiders in Chicago. They were friends first. That friendship later grew into a relationship.

The couple married on June 1, 2019. Their early years together were not easy. Shae’s family faced a serious illness, and Jordan lost his older brother. They got through those hard times together. Since then, they have been a team at home and on air.

Shae Cornette’s Husband: Jordan Cornette

Jordan Cornette is a former Notre Dame basketball player. He became a sports analyst and broadcaster. He worked at ESPN for several years. There, he and Shae co-hosted GameDay on ESPN Radio. He left ESPN in August 2023. Today, he works as a men’s college basketball analyst for NBC Sports.

Shae Cornette has often thanked Jordan for helping her start at ESPN. She says he believed in her talent. He pushed for her to get a chance on the radio. That support helped open the door to her national career.

Early Life and Education

Shae Cornette was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1986. She grew up in a family that loved sports. The city is famous for its loyal fans. Still, she did not plan to work in sports media at first. As a young student, she wanted to be a marine biologist.

That changed at Indiana University Bloomington. She took a public speaking class. She found that speaking in front of people came easily to her. A counselor told her to try broadcast journalism, and the idea stuck.

She graduated from Indiana University with two degrees, one in broadcast journalism and one in kinesiology. In college, she also did internships with MTV Networks and Showtime Networks. She worked as a production assistant on CBS coverage of Chicago Bears games too.

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Career Journey

Shae started her career in her hometown. Her first jobs came at the Big Ten Network and on The Chicago Huddle on ABC 7. Later she worked for Campus Insiders, a digital sports network that became Stadium. She also appeared on Morning Dose on WGN-TV.

One of her biggest local breaks came at Fox 32 in Chicago. She worked there for about two years as a field reporter and weekend sports anchor. She became the main reporter for the Chicago Bears. She even hosted her own weekly show called Bears Unleashed.

Over the years, she also co-hosted Kap & Co., a popular talk show on ESPN 1000. These jobs helped her build the live, natural style she is known for today.

Shae Cornette’s ESPN Career

In 2020, Shae joined ESPN Radio. She moved from Chicago to Connecticut. She co-hosted a weekly football show called GameDay with her husband, Jordan Cornette. Together they made history as the first married couple to co-host an ESPN Radio show. Around the same time, she became a host for SiriusXM’s NFL Radio channel.

Her role kept growing. In October 2021, Shae and Jordan co-hosted the relaunched ESPN+ show SportsNation. She then became a regular anchor on SportsCenter. She has called that job a dream come true.

In October 2025, ESPN named her the new host of First Take. She now works alongside Stephen A. Smith, and she replaced Molly Qerim. She earned the role after a tryout period. Her first episode aired on November 3, 2025.

How Old Is Shae Cornette?

Shae Cornette was born in 1986. That makes her 39 years old as of 2026. Her exact birth date is not public in a clear way, so you may see slightly different days in August listed for her. The birth year, 1986, stays the same, and so does her link to Chicago.

Shae Cornette’s Height and Appearance

Height is one of the most searched things about Shae Cornette. But she has never shared her exact measurements. You may see her height listed at around 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 7 inches (about 168 to 170 centimetres).

On screen, she looks calm and put together. That fits her bright, lively hosting style. Beyond that, the exact numbers are best seen as guesses, not confirmed facts.

Family and Personal Life

Shae Cornette and Jordan Cornette have a blended family. They have two children together. Their son, Joey, was born in April 2021. Their daughter, Saylor, was born in January 2023. Joey is named after Jordan’s late brother, Joel Cornette, who was a former Butler basketball player. Jordan also has an older son named Carter from an earlier relationship, and Shae is his stepmother.

The family lives in Connecticut. They have an English Cream Golden Retriever named Kobe. The name is a tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant. In her free time, Shae enjoys hiking, cycling, the outdoors, and interior design. She is also a big fan of iced coffee.

Charity and Community Work

Shae Cornette works hard for cancer fundraising, and the cause is personal to her. She co-founded an event called “Fashion’s Fight Against Cancer.” It has raised more than $200,000 for childhood cancer research. The work is tied to her sister, who fought Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a teenager.

She has also helped with other fundraising events. One was a V Foundation weekend that raised millions of dollars for cancer research. This part of her life shows how much she cares about giving back, away from the studio.

Shae Cornette’s Net Worth

If you are wondering about her net worth, the estimates fall between $1 million and $3 million. One thing to keep in mind is simple. These are estimates, and the number can change depending on where you look.

Most of her money comes from her broadcasting work. That includes her ESPN salary, her radio hosting, and her studio and event appearances. Her exact ESPN salary is not public. Her new job on First Take is expected to raise her pay in the future.

Interesting Facts About Shae Cornette

• She once wanted to be a marine biologist before she chose broadcast journalism.
• She has two degrees from Indiana University, in broadcast journalism and kinesiology.
• Shae and Jordan were the first married couple to co-host an ESPN Radio show.
• Her son Joey is named after Jordan’s late brother, Joel Cornette.
• The family dog, Kobe, is named after NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
• She co-founded a cancer fundraising event that has raised more than $200,000.

Conclusion

Shae Cornette’s story is a steady climb. She went from a local Chicago reporter to the host of one of ESPN’s most watched shows. Along the way, she built a family and a strong work partnership with her husband. Her career is built on hard work and real preparation. Taking the First Take chair is one of her biggest moments yet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Shae Cornette? 

Shae Cornette is an American sports broadcaster and the host of ESPN’s First Take. She is also known for her earlier work on SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, and Chicago sports television.

How old is Shae Cornette? 

Shae Cornette was born in 1986 and is 39 years old as of 2026. She was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois.

Who is Shae Cornette married to? 

She is married to Jordan Cornette, a former Notre Dame basketball player and sports analyst. The couple married on June 1, 2019.

What is Shae Cornette’s height? 

Shae Cornette has never confirmed her height. You may see it listed at around 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 7 inches, but those numbers are not official.

What is Shae Cornette’s net worth? 

The estimates put her net worth between $1 million and $3 million. These are estimates and can change depending on where you look.

This article has been fact-checked by Richard Dennis, CelebsAmerica’s founder and lead editorial voice. We verify every claim, every source, and every story we put our name on.