Named as one of Electronic Media's 10 Most Bankable Stars in Syndication and one of the "20 Hottest Stars Right Now" by Shape Magazine, Nancy O'Dell serves as the co-anchor of "Access Hollywood," the daily entertainment newsmagazine currently in its ninth season of providing the most comprehensive coverage of entertainment news and personalities on television. She was part of "Access Hollywood's" on-air team when the show launched in 1996, serving as weekend co-anchor and weekday correspondent. In January 1999, O'Dell was promoted to co-anchor, and has since earned a reputation as one of Hollywood's leading entertainment journalists.

In addition to her on-air duties at "Access Hollywood," O'Dell contributes reports to both NBC News's "Today" show, and "Dateline." Beyond covering events such as The Oscars, The Emmys, The Grammys and The Golden Globe Awards, O'Dell has also hosted the national Golden Globes Arrivals Show for the past five years with Dick Clark for NBC, The Emmys Pre-Show for Fox (1999) and for ABC (2000). In 2002, she co-hosted NBC's Emmys Post-Show. A member of the Academy of Country Music, she was the original host and consulting producer of USA Network's "Nashville Star," a nationwide search for the next great country music artist. In addition, O'Dell has been a co-host for NBC's network coverage of the Tournament of Roses Parade since 2000. In 2003 and 2004 she co-hosted ESPN's ESPY Awards Red Carpet Show. In 2004 she also co-hosted NBC's broadcast of the Miss USA Pageant and Christmas in Rockefeller Center. Additionally, O'Dell co-hosted the Hollywood Christmas Parade in 1999, 2000 and 2002. For Clear Channel Radio in Los Angeles, O'Dell has been the commercial spokesperson for KBIG-FM since 2004.

An award-winning journalist, O'Dell has been honored with three Associated Press Awards, two Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Awards, and is a five-time Emmy Award nominee. In addition, she was nominated two years in a row (1999 and 2000) for the prestigious Publicist Guild of America's Press Award, recognizing excellence in entertainment reporting.

O'Dell began her broadcast career as a reporter and anchor at WPDE-TV in Myrtle Beach, S.C. She later worked as morning news anchor and crime reporter at WCBD-TV in Charleston, S.C. Before joining Access Hollywood, she served as co-anchor and investigative reporter for NBC's Miami station, WTVJ-TV.

Although O'Dell maintains a busy work schedule, she regularly makes time for philanthropic endeavors. In February 2002, she was inducted into the American Red Cross's National Celebrity Cabinet, and she also serves as a national spokesperson for the March of Dimes. In addition, she acts as an international board member for Best Buddies, a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. In June 2002, Best Buddies honored O'Dell with the organization's Spirit of Leadership Award. This honor has previously been bestowed upon Muhammad Ali, Maria Shriver and Olympian Carl Lewis. O'Dell also serves as a Celebrity Ambassador for Childhelp USA, an organization committed to meeting the needs of abused and neglected children.

A native of South Carolina, O'Dell was inducted into that state's Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in 1998 as the youngest member ever in recognition of her journalistic success. O'Dell is a summa cum laude honors graduate of Clemson University.

--Access Hollywood