Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Layden.
Hi Melanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in West Tennessee, I was always fascinated by the weather. Particularly, severe weather and tornadoes. They were common where I’m from and I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a meteorologist. However, it wasn’t “the norm” to see a woman in my line of work. In the ’90s, the meteorologist you would see on TV was (typically) a man and kindly referred to as a “weatherman”. I ended up getting my Bachelor’s degree from Ole Miss in Journalism and then later went on to get my Masters from Mississippi State in Broadcast Meteorology. My first TV job was in Huntsville, Alabama where I cut my teeth in the news business as a producer and traffic anchor working the overnight shift. After a few years there, I got an offer to come to Nashville to be closer to home. I started off at WSMV as a traffic anchor on the morning show, which I did for 4 years while also going back to school to get my Masters. In 2019, I was promoted to weekend morning meteorologist.
Today, women make up most of the TV news industry. The gender roles have shifted greatly and Nashville is one of the few cities in the country where all 4 news station’s Chief Meteorologists are females.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No. TV is not as glamorous as it seems. I got told “no” so many times before getting the role I have now. I was passed over for the job I have now 3 times before someone finally took a chance on me. Since then, I’ve gone on to cover countless severe weather events and have been nominated for four Emmy Awards.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a Meteorologist at WSMV News4 in Nashville. You can catch me on the Nashville NBC affiliate weekend mornings from 5:00-7:00 A.M. and various times throughout the week.
What I love about my job is getting to interact with the viewers. I love that I get to help people plan their day and sometimes even prepare for their most important events, like a party or a wedding.
Weather is the #1 thing that people bring up in small talk. It changes every day. The weather is so interesting to me because it’s really the only thing that affects every single person, at any given time, all around the world.
What were you like growing up?
I was always very outgoing as a child. Being in front of the camera is something that has always come naturally. Tie that in with a love of weather/science and it makes for a pretty good career.
Contact Info:
- Email: melanie.layden@wsmv.com
- Instagram: @MelanieLaydenTV
- Facebook: Facebook.com/MelanieLaydenTV
- Twitter: @MelanieLaydenTV
