Longtime Lexington TV anchor leaving air for ‘some of best news I’ve ever had’

Janet Patton
·1 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

A longtime Lexington television anchor is leaving the air, at least for now.

Nancy Cox, evening news anchor of NBC affiliate WLEX-TV 18, announced on Monday night that she is taking a leave of absence, beginning July 27, for personal reasons.

Her last broadcast will be Wednesday.

“There are some personal things I need to address that I just can’t do while I’m here at work,” said Cox in Monday’s LEX 18 News at 6. “(There are) people I need to take care of (and) issues I need to take care of.”

Cox also announced that she recently became engaged to marry longtime beau Justin Galli.

“He is all that and a box of chocolates, and we have a fabulous future to plan together,” she said. “I wanted to share it with (the viewers) because you all have meant so much to me over the years, and you know everything about me personally, so why not share some of the best news I’ve ever had?”

Nancy Cox with former co-anchor Kevin Christopher at the Kentucky Derby. Cox has been with WLEX-TV 18, the Lexington NBC affiliate, since 1992.
Nancy Cox with former co-anchor Kevin Christopher at the Kentucky Derby. Cox has been with WLEX-TV 18, the Lexington NBC affiliate, since 1992.
Nancy Cox, after she was hired to anchor WLEX-18’s Saturday morning newscast, June 23, 1992. The then-24-year-old Cox was a producer/reporter for WKYT-TV (Channel 27), WLEX’s top rival. A Campbellsville native and 1990 Miss Kentucky winner, she has been with WLEX ever since.
Nancy Cox, after she was hired to anchor WLEX-18’s Saturday morning newscast, June 23, 1992. The then-24-year-old Cox was a producer/reporter for WKYT-TV (Channel 27), WLEX’s top rival. A Campbellsville native and 1990 Miss Kentucky winner, she has been with WLEX ever since.

Cox, a former Miss Kentucky, has been with WLEX since 1992 as a reporter and then anchor. In 2022, she celebrated her 30-year anniversary with the station, which is the Lexington NBC affiliate.

WLEX did not immediately say who would replace Cox on air or when she might return.

Cox declined to comment further.

Lexington news anchor Nancy Cox announced she is taking a leave of absence from NBC affiliate WLEX, Channel 18, and that she has recently become engaged.
Lexington news anchor Nancy Cox announced she is taking a leave of absence from NBC affiliate WLEX, Channel 18, and that she has recently become engaged.