If you’ve spent any time watching Wood TV 8 in Grand Rapids, you probably recognize Whitney Burney. She’s the kind of reporter who brings a certain grounded energy to the screen, whether she’s covering local politics or viral neighborhood stories. But because she’s in our living rooms every day, people naturally get curious. Specifically, they want to know: is Whitney Burney married? It's one of those questions that pops up in Google search bars more often than you'd think.
Honestly, the answer isn't a simple "yes" or "no" because of how timelines work. As of early 2026, the short answer is: Whitney Burney is not yet married, but she is currently engaged.
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The Big Update: A Wedding on the Horizon
For a long time, Whitney kept her personal life pretty close to the vest. That’s standard for journalists who want the focus to be on the news, not their weekend plans. However, life happens.
Whitney is currently set to marry her partner, Jonathan Parnell II.
If you look at recent registry and wedding details, they have a big date circled on the calendar for September 4, 2027. The ceremony is planned for Detroit, Michigan, which makes sense given her deep roots in the state. So, if you were looking for a husband's name, you won't find one just yet, but Jonathan is the one.
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They’ve been together for a while. You can tell they’re a solid match just by the way they’ve navigated the spotlight. Being a public figure in West Michigan isn't always easy. Whitney has actually been quite vocal about the "nasty" side of the job—like when she shared screenshots of an abusive email from a local doctor a few years back. Having a partner like Jonathan in her corner likely makes that kind of public-facing stress a lot easier to handle.
Why People Keep Asking About Her Status
Why does everyone care? Well, it's the "neighbor effect."
Whitney isn't just a random face on a screen. She grew up in Grand Rapids. She went to City High Middle School. She’s a Michigan State University Spartan through and through. When a "local girl made good" returns home to anchor the news, the community treats her like family. And what do families do? They ask when you’re getting married.
She joined the News 8 team back in June 2019 after a stint in Virginia. Since then, she’s become a staple of the 11 p.m. broadcast and weekend segments.
A Quick Timeline of Whitney's Life and Career
- Roots: Born and raised in Grand Rapids (City High Class of 2012).
- Education: Studied Journalism and Political Science at MSU.
- Early Career: Spent two years in central Virginia (covering things like the Charlottesville rallies).
- Return Home: Back in Michigan since 2019, working at Wood TV 8.
- The Future: Engaged to Jonathan Parnell II, with a wedding set for late 2027.
What’s Next for Whitney?
Aside from wedding planning, which is basically a second full-time job, Whitney has her eyes on bigger career goals. In a 2022 interview, she mentioned her "vision board" has the Good Morning America logo right in the top corner. She’s ambitious.
Does being married change that? Probably not. If anything, having that stability at home usually helps people push harder in their careers. For now, she’s still Whitney Burney on your TV screen. Whether she chooses to change her name professionally after the 2027 wedding remains to be seen—many anchors keep their maiden names for "brand consistency," while others go for the hyphen.
Actionable Insights:
If you’re a fan and want to keep up with the updates, the best place isn't actually a gossip site. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram. She’s surprisingly transparent about the realities of being a Black woman in broadcast news, and that’s where you’ll likely see the first photos of the big day when 2027 finally rolls around.
- Check her official Wood TV 8 profile for her latest reporting.
- Look for wedding updates closer to late 2027 if you're interested in the local Detroit ceremony.
- Support local journalism by engaging with her stories, which helps anchors build the "reach" they need for those national dreams like GMA.
For now, she's focused on the news. The wedding bells are coming, just not quite yet.