Holly Wagner

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You may have seen Holly Wagner’s live reports on the morning show and the noon show. She’s been with WCCO since August 2009.

She said, “This was a destination for me. When I worked in Fort Myers, Fla. at WINK-TV, I made a vision board with a top list of stations I would love to work for. WCCO was at the top of the list, a place with integrity, strong and ethical journalists I could learn from. After a lot of leg work and pestering, I finally got the call to join the team! I couldn’t believe it!”

Holly grew up in Council Bluffs, Iowa and spent time every summer at her grandparents’ cabin on the Mississippi River in northern Iowa. She graduated from University of Nebraska-Omaha with a degree in communication and major in broadcasting. Holly spent time producing and reporting at TV stations in Omaha and in Lincoln, before moving onto Fort Myers, Fla. She worked at WINK-TV for five years as a reporter, and eventually a weekend morning anchor.

“I loved living in Florida! The hurricanes I could do without,” said Holly. “I started my job a week after Hurricane Charley hit. Francis, Ivan, and Jean followed. Talk about an initiation! This was a period of great growth in my career. I stood out in hurricanes, covered brush fires, a Presidential visit, and for two years I worked the crime beat.”

Holly said she was blessed to cover the story of a WWII Veteran who at 80, met the son he never knew he had. Turns out a former lover never told him she was pregnant and gave the baby up for adoption. The man found out about his son thanks to Google. His son Googled the name on his birth certificate and found out his father had written a book.

“We got to be there when they met,” she said. “I will remember that moment the rest of my life. The story ended up winning at Emmy Award.”

Holly says she has always loved telling people’s stories. When she was in junior high, she played Barbara Walters for a school project and interviewed troubled beauty queens.

“I used to have a show in my best friend Mel’s basement called ‘The Holly Dolly Parton Show.’ It had an audience of one, but was very entertaining!”

Holly also worked on her high school newspaper and went onto study broadcasting in college.

In the winter of 2012, she says she “married the most amazing man I’ve ever known!”

Holly said she realizes now, there was more to the plan of me moving to Minnesota. She and her husband, Brandon, are just starting their lives together. He’s from Dayton, Minn., and an avid wrestling fan. They love to spend time outdoors hiking and biking, and last year they took up gardening. Holly said they both enjoy volunteering and helping others in our community.

“I don’t want to leave out Lady Elizabeth, my long-haired mini-dachshund! She is the sweetest, naughtiest best friend a girl could ever have!”