Former Kentucky basketball star Rex Chapman will host a new show on CNN
CNN announced Tuesday that former Kentucky basketball star Rex Chapman is joining the network as a host for its new streaming service that will launch later this year.
“Chapman is known for celebrating the highs of college basketball and NBA stardom, rebounding from the lows of opioid addiction and now for his viral social media presence where he shares humor and positivity,” CNN said in a statement. “In that same spirit, Chapman’s weekly CNN+ show will include intimate conversations with athletes, entertainers and everyday heroes as Chapman looks for the silver lining beyond today’s toughest headlines.”
Chapman, 54, is a Bowling Green native and was a standout basketball player in Owensboro before signing with UK out of high school and starring for two seasons with the Wildcats. He was selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft and played in the league for 12 years.
More recently, Chapman has worked as an analyst for Kentucky basketball radio broadcasts. He’s also become a social media sensation, with a Twitter handle that has more than one million followers. Chapman is also the host of two podcasts, including Charges with Rex Chapman, which has explored his own battle with opioid addiction and features interviews with other athletes who have battled adversity away from their sports.
More information about Chapman’s show will be announced soon, and CNN+ is scheduled to launch in the spring.
This story was originally published January 18, 2022 at 1:01 PM.
