Sawyer isn't going far; she will replace the retiring Charles Gibson at "World News." George Stephanopoulos will replace her starting Monday.
In promising a show of salutes, co-anchor Robin Roberts urged viewers to "put on some waterproof mascara." Then her eyes welled up; the two women have worked together on the anchor desk since 2005.
Said Sawyer: "My heart is smiling and the privilege of sharing my mornings with all of you has been more than I can say."
It was also newsreader Chris Cuomo's last day, which wasn't mentioned during the show's first half hour.