Barbara Walters Announces Retirement

After a round of speculation, longtime newscaster Barbara Walters confirmed her imminent retirement today.

The 83-year-old The View co-host announced her plans to retire in Summer 2014 to ABC News on Sunday night, which Walters linked to in a Twitter post, writing, "Big news - and I want to tell you first... (Looking forward to one more great year!)"

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"I am very happy with my decision and look forward to a wonderful and special year ahead both on 'The View' and with ABC News," said Walters, who created the morning talk show in 1997. "I created 'The View' and am delighted it will last beyond my leaving it."

ABC News stated that although Walters won't be featured as a co-host on The View any longer, she will still remain with the show as a producer.

"I do not want to appear on another program or climb another mountain," she said. "I want instead to sit on a sunny field and admire the very gifted women – and OK, some men too – who will be taking my place.'

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The Massachusetts native began her career as a co-host of Today in 1961, a position that she held for fifteen years. After her Today stint, Walters moved on to ABC as a co-anchor and contributor to ABC News and eventually made her way into becoming host of 20/20 for two decades.

"No one was more surprised than I," she said of her extensive career. "I wasn't beautiful, like many of the women on the program before me, [and] I had trouble pronouncing my r's. I still do!"

Amid many honors for her TV accomplishments, the forthright newscaster was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.

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"There's only one Barbara Walters," said Ben Sherwood, president of ABC News. "And we look forward to making her final year on television as remarkable, path-breaking and news-making as Barbara herself. Barbara will always have a home at ABC News and we look forward to a year befitting her brilliant career, filled with exclusive interviews, great adventures and indelible memories."