Student follows in grandfather’s footsteps to host television show 

By Kaleel Stewart

Staff Writer

As a child, Alana McLaughlin said she loved going to work with her grandfather James Haney on the set of Fox where he, as the host of “Comments with Dr. James Haney,” interviewed people from different professions, primarily in the black community, such as professors, doctors, and local community members.

“It didn’t really hit that we were…on television talking and that thousands of people would see this,” said McLaughlin, a sophomore multimedia journalism major. “It was just like I get to talk to Grandpa, and I taped my first episode with him in December of 2010.”

McLaughlin was eight years old in 2010, and now at 22, McLaughlin carries on her grandfather’s legacy as the host of “Perspectives with Alana McLaughlin,” a talk show that sheds light on stories of individuals who are having an impact on Nashville and Middle Tennessee. 

Every Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m., McLaughlin is live on MyTv30. 

McLaughlin said when she joined her grandfather on set, the viewers thought it was cute and wholesome, so Haney decided to bring her on the show more often. 

“As I got older, the topics would become a little more mature,” said McLaughlin. “I talked about… more diverse things: 9/11, different ongoings in town, politics, economics, sex, drugs, just anything you can think of, and we continued this cycle of where I would travel with him. I would tape one episode with him a month.” 

McLaughlin’s life took an unexpected turn in September 2022 when her grandfather was diagnosed with dementia. The family faced a tough decision about the future of his show.

The show did not air for two years because of Covid, and Fox Director Eric Dahl reached out multiple times from September to December asking about the status of Haney. 

“We just dodged the calls from September through December… We didn’t want to say that he couldn’t. We didn’t want to say he could,” said McLaughlin. 

In December 2022, around Christmas time, McLaughlin decided to take matters into her own hands and scheduled a meeting with Dahl. 

“I had no clue what I was gonna say in this meeting. I really just wanted to be face to face and explain to him, like, look, he’s sick, but I don’t want to give this up, and that’s what I did,” said McLaughlin.

McLaughlin convinced Dahl to allow her to be the interim host for the show. She shot a pilot episode which was sent to headquarters, and McLaughlin said they loved it but suggested she take over comments instead of hosting.

At the time, McLaughlin was 20 years old and enrolled at Tennessee State University. 

“They’re like, ‘You know the ropes. You’ve watched Dr. Haney do it for years, and if you can commit to this, then we will commit to you,” said McLaughlin. 

With the help of Fox, McLaughlin rebranded the show, and McLaughlin and Dahl agreed on the name “Perspectives.”

The first episode aired on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

“I’ve met religious leaders, clergy, law enforcement, teachers, celebrities…and influencers that I grew up looking at,” said McLaughlin. “It’s amazing that this platform has brought us together, and we’re doing something positive,” said McLaughlin. 

McLaughlin’s mother, Cheryl Haney, has witnessed her daughter’s growth and supported her journey every step of the way.

“She’s just a really good-natured person, and she’s always been that way,” said Haney. “She always wants to help people, always for the underdog, always fighting some cause.”

In the summer of 2024, McLaughlin decided to transfer to Trevecca. 

“I felt like I was outgrowing TSU,” said McLaughlin. “I was in a bunch of different clubs…but it didn’t feel like I was growing.”

When McLaughlin toured Trevecca, she said she remembers feeling safe as well as happy, and she wanted to feel like that forever.

“I’m proud to say that I’ve spent this whole year of being 22 on the right path, like literally from day one to now,” said McLaughlin.

Despite the successful moments McLaughlin has had with “Perspectives,” she has also experienced challenges along the way. 

“My big goal is to share all of the stories that matter to all of the people in Nashville,” said McLaughlin. “I’m getting out of my own belief set and getting out of my comfortability which has been the hardest thing…but it’s also been the most rewarding part.”

McLaughlin believes her show stands out from others because of its diversity and unpredictability. She incorporates guests from all backgrounds and ethnicities who have had an impact on Nashville, and there is a new topic of discussion every week. 

Moving forward, McLaughlin said she hopes to grow her show by continuing to highlight individuals who have had an impact on Nashville and Middle Tennessee. 

“I want to bring that wholesome kind of feeling back to daytime television. I want to really elevate God’s people and the impact that God has had on our lives… I want to bring those larger groups of people together,” said McLaughlin.