What happened to Aaron Brown? Cause of death revealed as CNN anchor behind monumental 9/11 coverage dies at 76

Well-known journalist Aaron Brown, 76, unexpectedly passed away on December 29, 2024. He gained recognition over the years for his appearances on networks such as CNN and ABC and covered many events, including the 9/11 attacks.

Aaron's family spokesperson Molly Levinson told WSAZ that he was battling pneumonia for a long time, which eventually led to his demise. Aaron's colleagues, including John Vause, who works for CNN, expressed their grief over Brown's death.

Vause also recalled that Aaron Brown taught him how the words "I don't know" work perfectly in their industry. Vause further stated that he learned how to become a "better reporter" and continued:

"He was a tough guy to work for, but he could also be quite mentoring. It was almost like doing your midterm finals every time you were doing a live shot with Aaron."

While speaking to ABC News, Aaron's former producer Molly Levinson said that Aaron will always be remembered for the way he covered the 9/11 attacks. Levin continued praising Brown as she said:

"On air he gave simple, understandable – even elegant – analysis and reporting, Behind the scenes as a boss and a mentor, he accepted nothing less than excellence, and he gave nothing less than endless loyalty in return. There's no one like him and he will be deeply missed."

His survivors include his wife Charlotte Raynor alongside a daughter and two grandchildren.

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Aaron Brown was associated with CNN for a long time until he exited in 2005

The Minneapolis, Minnesota native presented many shows throughout his career. Before CNN, he was employed as a reporter for different shows on ABC News such as Good Morning America, and covered various cases, including the murder trial of O.J. Simpson, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

Aaron Brown came to CNN in 2001 and eventually became a popular face among the public after covering the 9/11 attacks. A report by the network on December 31, 2024, stated that Aaron covered the incident from their office based in Manhattan.

While paying tribute to Brown, his colleague John Vause addressed the time when Brown reported the incident and said:

"When he was live on air, he just stopped and looked at it. And paused. And he shared this moment that everybody was thinking, 'Good Lord. There are no words.'"

During his coverage, Aaron Brown was heard addressing every single detail, including the collapse of the towers. He also described the incident by saying:

"This is devastation. There are 50,000 people who normally go to work in the Trade Center buildings."

According to CNN, Aaron was named the "steadiest man on television" by The Los Angeles Times almost a month after the 9/11 attacks and received the Edward R. Murrow Award for covering the incident.

Notably, Aaron Brown completed his graduation from the University of Minnesota and worked as a radio host for a brief period before entering the world of news, as stated by The Hollywood Reporter. He left CNN in 2005 and additionally gained recognition as the host of the live news program, NewsNight.