Markie Martin will be at the State Fair of Texas Oct. 9-11, bringing NewsNation’s “Morning in America“ to the fairgrounds where she will talk with fairgoers, sample State Fair favorites and welcome special guests.

Born in Dallas and raised in Ada, Oklahoma, Markie credits the culture, kindness and work ethic of this region with playing an integral role in shaping who she has become personally and professionally. Those roots are evident in her journalistic approach, which blends directness and toughness with warmth and authenticity.

The State Fair of Texas will serve as the backdrop for her homecoming, providing an opportunity to reconnect with the people and traditions that helped cultivate the ambitious, kind-hearted woman and journalist she is today.

Texas Lifestyle Magazine recently had the opportunity to catch up with Markie about her Texas roots, her journey from a small-town newsroom to national television, life as a working mom, and why coming home to Dallas for the State Fair of Texas feels so special.

What do you remember most about your early years in Texas and growing up in Oklahoma?

People who are from Texas and Oklahoma are VERY proud to be Texan and Oklahoman…and I am certainly no exception! I think back on those formative years with such fond memories. Childhood was so beautiful there, with an early importance placed on family, faith and community.

Personally, I have a hard time describing Dallas culture to people who have never visited. How would you describe Dallas culture?

I feel like every Dallasite has a tough time answering this question! But when I think of Dallas, I think of a city that dreams big but still says “Yes ma’am, yes sir.” My producers point out all the time that I call everybody sir and ma’am on my show. Old habits and courtesies die hard! Here, strangers talk to you, neighbors drop off dinner when you’ve had a baby, church members really do add you to their prayer list! Dallas taught me you can be ambitious and kind at the same time, and that is how I’ve approached my entire career.

What does it mean to you to bring NewsNation’s “Morning in America” to the State Fair of Texas and return to Dallas for the broadcast?

This is going to be such a fun career moment for me! To have Big Tex as the backdrop and my team on the ground with me as we’re covering the biggest news of the day will be thrilling. Not to mention, I’m sure I will have a small cadre of family and friends watching in the wings, ready for a post-show Fletcher’s corndog!! And it’s a reminder to our viewers that NewsNation is not just located in and focused on the big coastal cities. We’re LIVE in Middle America, and many of us are from there.

You’ve described yourself as a “Food Network aficionado” since childhood and enjoy experimenting with new recipes that you sometimes share on Instagram. What are some of your favorite meals to cook that are inspired by Texas cuisine?

Cooking brings me immense joy! Whether it is for my children and family or a table full of friends—Nothing makes me happier than seeing all my favorite faces dining together. My most requested recipe is my mother’s black bean soup! Heavy on the cilantro and lime—OUTSTANDING. If I’m feeding a crowd and not sure what to make, I turn time and again to a steak salad and baked potato bar! It feels elevated and special, but something about a baked potato just puts people at ease and makes for a really fun, relaxed atmosphere. In our kitchen, we have “The Homesick Texan” on display—and my husband loves to make the poblano mac and cheese for special guests.

Your father is a doctor, and you originally planned to study medicine. What ultimately made you realize journalism was the path you wanted to pursue?

My dad is a plastic surgeon at Medical City Dallas, and growing up I loved watching him at work—and I loved that every day looked different. I’m not one for monotony. However, I immediately knew in my first collegiate chemistry course that medicine would not be my path. Knowing I had always been a great writer and loved watching the news, I pivoted to the journalism department at the University of Richmond. Everything started clicking—the assignments and homework didn’t feel like homework. During my senior year, I interned with CBS 6 in Richmond and knew then and there it was an itch I had to scratch. Heading out with the reporters, sitting with the anchors, learning how to write a story was all very exciting in my early twenties. It still excites me to this day.

You’ve gone from beginning your career at KTEN in Denison to anchoring a national morning show from Chicago. What does it feel like to go from working in a small Texas market to being one of the faces viewers across the country wake up to each morning?

Surreal. Some days it still doesn’t feel real, especially when I find myself in the middle of a big interview or massive coverage I know people across the country are paying attention to. I’ve had the privilege of interviewing everyone from the President of the United States and high-ranking members of Congress, to sports legends, medical luminaries and the real human voices that are the heart of every story we tell. It’s been an honor to have a front-row seat to history, and it’s one I don’t take for granted.

Your interviews include political figures such as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, as well as cultural personalities like Giuliana Rancic and America’s Next Top Model judge Nigel Barker. What have you learned about building trust and making people feel comfortable enough to open up?

I am nothing if not kind and welcoming—and a true believer that every voice and viewpoint deserves a seat at the table. I try to approach every guest with that openness, dignity and respect. Sadly, there is very little of that in my industry, which is why for a long time I didn’t want to go into cable news. Turn the channel to any cable news network these days, and you’ll see a political panel screaming over each other. While that may be good for ratings, it isn’t good for humanity. I decided I could be different, and thankfully my bosses at NewsNation decided decorum was needed, too. I don’t subscribe to the idea that journalists have to be bulldogs—and I’ve found that people tell you more when they don’t feel cornered!

You have two young children and wake up at 2 a.m. to prepare for your program. That takes grit. How do you balance such a demanding work schedule with motherhood?

I think “balance” is elusive—especially as a working mother. Some days I feel like I’m excelling at home with my kids but not killing it at work, the next day I’ve had a stellar show in the studio but haven’t gotten to spend much quality time with family. I think that’s a universal truth for any working parent. But I have a phenomenal teammate and support system at home in my husband who champions everything I do and takes over after 7 p.m. so I can sleep for my 2 a.m. alarm clock. We are also blessed to have fabulous childcare that we lean on to get us through our days and allow me to prioritize “me time” during the week. It truly does take a village.

When viewers around the country watch “Morning in America” broadcasting from Dallas, what do you hope they understand about Texas that they might not see from outside the state?

I hope when I’m live at the Texas State Fair, viewers are able to see and feel the Texas I know and love. Outsiders often view it through the lens of politics and cowboy cliches, and it’s so much bigger than all its stereotypes. At the fair especially, I feel like the best of the best are on display—the families who have been attending for generations, deep pride in tradition, strangers talking to each other like long lost friends. That warmth is something I’ve carried with me my whole career, and in Chicago, too. I’m proud to show the rest of the country that side of home, even if it’s just for one morning.

Tune in to watch Markie sample unique State Fair foods, mingle with fairgoers and interview special guests. She will be at the fairgrounds Oct. 9-11. You can also follow her on Instagram at @markie_martin.

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Cover photo courtesy NewsNation Anchor Markie Martin.

Sara Aguinaga is a massage therapist and editorial contributor at Texas Lifestyle Magazine who enjoys writing about travel, food, wellness and culture. She can be reached at sara.alice.aguinaga@gmail.com.