Melanie Zanona is an award-winning American journalist and Capitol Hill correspondent for NBC News. She is widely recognized for her expert coverage of Congressional affairs, political analysis, and breaking news from Capitol Hill. With over a decade of experience in political journalism, Melanie has established herself as one of the most respected voices in Washington, D.C. media circles. Before joining NBC News, she worked for prestigious outlets including CNN, Punchbowl News, Politico, and The Hill.
Melanie Zanona Wikipedia
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Melanie Laura Zanona |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | March 29, 1988 |
| Age | 37 years (as of December 2025) |
| Place of birth | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Current residence | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Italian-American |
| Zodiac sign | Aries |
| Religion | Christian |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) |
| Weight | 121 lbs (55 kg) |
| Hair colour | Brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Jason Robert Millison (m. 2013) |
| Children | Three |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
| Profession | Journalist, Capitol Hill correspondent, political analyst |
| Net worth | $500,000 – $1 million (estimated) |
Who is Melanie Zanona?
Melanie Zanona is a Capitol Hill correspondent for NBC News based in Washington, D.C. She joined NBC News in February 2025 after distinguished tenures at several prominent news organizations. Melanie specializes in covering Congressional proceedings, legislative developments, and political dynamics on Capitol Hill. Her reporting focuses on House Republican leadership, internal party conflicts, and major legislative battles.
The Chicago native has built a reputation for breaking major political stories and providing insightful analysis on complex Congressional matters. She is known for her ability to cultivate relationships with lawmakers and staff, which gives her unique access to behind-the-scenes developments. Her work appears across NBC News platforms including NBC Nightly News, TODAY, and MSNBC.
How old is Melanie Zanona? Age and birthday
Melanie Zanona is 37 years old as of December 2025. She was born on March 29, 1988, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Her zodiac sign is Aries, which is known for traits like determination, confidence, and leadership. These characteristics align well with her successful career in the competitive field of political journalism.
What is Melanie Zanona’s net worth and salary?
As of 2025, Melanie Zanona’s net worth is estimated to be between $500,000 and $1 million. She has accumulated this wealth through her successful journalism career spanning over a decade. Her primary income source comes from her position as Capitol Hill correspondent at NBC News.
While her exact salary at NBC News has not been publicly disclosed, Capitol Hill correspondents at major networks typically earn annual salaries ranging from $72,000 to $180,000, depending on experience and seniority. Given Melanie’s extensive experience and award-winning track record, she likely commands a competitive salary within or above this range.
Her net worth has grown steadily throughout her career as she has progressed from working at The Hill to Politico, then CNN, Punchbowl News, and finally NBC News. Each career move has represented advancement in both responsibility and compensation.
Career
Early career beginnings
Melanie Zanona graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in News-Editorial Journalism. Shortly after graduation, she began her journalism career at Pensions & Investments magazine, where she worked as an assistant reporter helping cover retirement and investment news.
The Hill (2011-2019)
Melanie’s breakthrough in political journalism came when she joined The Hill newspaper as a staff reporter. During her tenure at The Hill, she covered Congress, the White House, and federal policy issues. This position allowed her to develop expertise in Congressional reporting and build crucial relationships with lawmakers and political insiders. Her work at The Hill established her credibility as a Capitol Hill journalist.
Politico (2019-2021)
In 2019, Melanie joined Politico as a congressional reporter and became the author of Huddle, Politico’s influential morning newsletter covering Congressional news. This role significantly elevated her profile in Washington journalism circles. At Politico, she broke numerous stories about internal Republican Party dynamics, legislative battles, and leadership conflicts. Her reporting during this period demonstrated her ability to secure exclusive information from sources on Capitol Hill.
CNN (2021-2024)
Melanie’s career reached new heights when she joined CNN as a Capitol Hill reporter in July 2021. During her three years at CNN, she covered major events including the January 6 Capitol investigation, House Speaker elections, and significant legislative debates. She became a familiar face on CNN’s television broadcasts, providing real-time analysis and breaking news from Capitol Hill. Her work at CNN expanded her national audience and solidified her reputation as an expert on Congressional affairs.
Punchbowl News (2024-2025)
In mid-2024, Melanie joined Punchbowl News as a senior congressional reporter while simultaneously serving as a contributor for NBC News. Punchbowl News, founded by former Politico journalists, focuses exclusively on Capitol Hill coverage. This position allowed her to continue producing in-depth Congressional reporting while also appearing regularly on NBC News programs.
NBC News (2025-present)
In February 2025, Melanie officially joined NBC News as a Capitol Hill correspondent, marking the latest milestone in her impressive career trajectory. At NBC News, she reports across all platforms including NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, TODAY, MSNBC, and NBC News Digital. She covers breaking news from Congress, provides political analysis, and conducts exclusive interviews with lawmakers and officials.
Throughout her career, Melanie has been recognized as an award-winning journalist known for breaking major stories and providing sharp political insights. Her party trick, as she describes it, is identifying lawmakers by the backs of their heads.
Is Melanie Zanona married? Husband and relationship status
Melanie Zanona is married to Jason Robert Millison. The couple tied the knot on July 20, 2013, in a private ceremony attended by close family and friends. Jason works in the media industry with experience in broadcasting, audio production, and podcasting. He previously worked for the Washington Nationals baseball team in sports business before transitioning to media production.
Melanie and Jason have been together for over 12 years since their wedding. Their relationship is characterized by mutual support for each other’s careers. Despite Melanie’s high-profile journalism career, the couple maintains a relatively private personal life, rarely sharing intimate details publicly. They both hail from the Chicago area, which strengthened their early connection.
The couple is known to enjoy spending time together away from the political spotlight. After their wedding, they honeymooned in Cancún, Mexico, to decompress from the wedding planning.
Does Melanie Zanona have children?
Melanie Zanona and Jason Robert Millison are proud parents of three children. However, the couple has chosen to keep their children’s identities, names, and ages private. They rarely post about their family life on social media, preferring to protect their children from public attention.
In March 2020, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Melanie tweeted about the challenges of working from home with children, giving a rare glimpse into her life as a working mother. Despite her demanding career covering Congress, she balances her professional responsibilities with motherhood.
Melanie Zanona’s height and weight
Melanie Zanona stands 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) tall and weighs approximately 121 pounds (55 kg). She maintains a proportionate build and professional appearance suitable for her on-camera work. Melanie has brown hair and brown eyes, and she presents herself with confidence and professionalism when appearing on television broadcasts and conducting interviews on Capitol Hill.
Fast facts about Melanie Zanona
- Chicago pride: Melanie is a proud Chicago native who often references her hometown roots. She describes herself as “Chi till I die” on her social media profiles.
- University of Illinois alumna: She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
- Italian food enthusiast: In her spare time, Melanie enjoys cooking Italian food, reflecting her Italian-American heritage.
- Dog lover: Melanie and her husband have a boxer dog named Bodie, who appears occasionally in their social media posts.
- Unique talent: She claims her “party trick” is identifying members of Congress by the backs of their heads, a skill developed from years covering Capitol Hill.
- Strong social media presence: Melanie has over 93,000 followers on Twitter (X) where she shares breaking news and political insights, and over 21,000 followers on Instagram.
- Award-winning journalist: Throughout her career, she has received recognition from journalism organizations for her Capitol Hill coverage and investigative reporting.
- Washington insider: After over a decade covering Congress, she has become one of the most well-connected journalists on Capitol Hill with access to high-ranking officials.
- Multi-platform reporter: Her work appears across television, digital platforms, newsletters, and print publications.
- Career longevity: At age 37, she has already worked for five major news organizations and continues to advance in her field.
Read more: Who is Kathrine Narducci? Biography, net worth, age, height, husband, children, career
Wrapping up
Melanie Zanona has established herself as one of Washington’s premier Capitol Hill correspondents through dedication, skill, and journalistic integrity. From her beginnings in Chicago to her current role at NBC News, she has consistently demonstrated excellence in political reporting. Her ability to break major stories, cultivate sources, and explain complex political dynamics has made her an indispensable voice in American political journalism. As she continues her work covering Congress, Melanie remains committed to informing the public about the important decisions and debates happening in the halls of power.
References
- Melanie Zanona – NBC News Author Profile
- NBC News hires Zanona as Capitol Hill correspondent
- Melanie Zanona – LinkedIn Profile
- Melanie Zanona – Politico Staff Profile
- Melanie Zanona – Punchbowl News
- Melanie Zanona – Leading Authorities Speakers
- Melanie Zanona – IMDb Biography
Disclaimer: The information shared on AcubiStyles.com is collected from trusted and reputable sources. However, Acubi Styles does not take responsibility for any inaccuracies or missing details. Readers are advised to verify information independently before making any conclusions. For updates, corrections, or inquiries, please contact us at info@acubistyles.com or visit our Contact Us page.
