Ernie Johnson and his wife, Cheryl Johnson, raised six children together, including two biological children and four adopted children. The longtime basketball broadcaster, best known for hosting Inside the NBA, has frequently spoken about the importance of family, faith, and adoption in his life. Their children are Eric, Maggie, Michael, Carmen, Ashley, and Allison. The family also experienced a heartbreaking loss in October 2021 when their adopted son Michael died at age 33.
While Johnson has spent decades interviewing NBA legends and covering major basketball events, his experiences as a father have remained central to his personal story.
How Many Children Does Ernie Johnson Have?
Ernie Johnson is the father of six children: Eric, Maggie, Michael, Carmen, Ashley, and Allison.
He and Cheryl have two biological children and adopted four others from different backgrounds.
Their family includes children adopted internationally and through the American foster care system.
Three of their children have been described as having special needs, making caregiving an important part of the family’s daily experiences.
Johnson has often explained that raising his children shaped his understanding of patience, responsibility, and unconditional love.
Although his television career made him a familiar face to basketball fans, his role as a father has been equally significant.
Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson is one of Ernie and Cheryl’s two biological children.
He grew up in a household where sports, faith, and family responsibilities were closely connected.
As the son of a prominent television personality, Eric has occasionally attracted public curiosity.
However, he has generally maintained a more private life than his father.
Detailed information about his current professional activities and personal relationships is not widely publicized.
Ernie has consistently emphasized the importance of his children as individuals rather than presenting them primarily through his own celebrity status.
Maggie Johnson
Maggie Johnson is the couple’s biological daughter and one of their six children.
Like her brother Eric, Maggie was part of the family before Ernie and Cheryl expanded their household through adoption.
She grew up alongside siblings from different backgrounds, experiencing a family environment shaped by both biological relationships and adoption.
Although Ernie has spoken publicly about his family’s experiences, Maggie has largely remained outside the entertainment spotlight.
The broadcaster has not regularly shared extensive details about her private life.
Her place in the family is nevertheless an important part of the larger story of the Johnson household.
Michael Johnson
Among Ernie Johnson’s children, Michael Johnson became particularly well known because of his adoption story and the powerful bond he shared with his parents.
Ernie and Cheryl adopted Michael from an orphanage in Romania in 1991.
He was a young child with significant medical and developmental challenges.
Michael had Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive genetic condition that causes muscle weakness and affects mobility.
His medical needs required substantial care throughout his life.
Despite those challenges, Michael became an essential part of the Johnson family.
Ernie frequently discussed how his son influenced his understanding of love, compassion, and the importance of being present for others.
Michael’s story also resonated with viewers who had followed Johnson’s broadcasting career for years.
Michael’s Death
Michael Johnson died in October 2021 at the age of 33.
His death was an enormous loss for Ernie, Cheryl, and their children.
The news also prompted an outpouring of sympathy from the basketball community.
Colleagues, players, and fans expressed their support for Johnson, whose warmth and sincerity had made him one of the most respected personalities in sports broadcasting.
Michael had become known for a special way of communicating affection with his family.
His familiar expression of “Love you too” held particular emotional significance for those who knew his story.
Following his death, Johnson spoke about the importance of remembering Michael through the love and joy he brought into their lives.
Carmen Johnson
Carmen Johnson is Ernie and Cheryl’s adopted daughter from Paraguay.
The couple welcomed her into their family in 1993, continuing their commitment to international adoption.
Her arrival came approximately two years after Michael joined the household from Romania.
Carmen became part of a growing family whose members had different cultural and personal backgrounds.
Although her father’s career has been highly public, Carmen has maintained a relatively private profile.
There is limited verified public information about her current occupation and personal life.
Her adoption remains one of the important milestones in the Johnson family’s history.
Ashley Johnson
Ashley Johnson joined the Johnson family through domestic adoption from the foster care system in 2011.
She was adopted alongside her twin sister, Allison.
Their arrival marked another significant chapter in Ernie and Cheryl’s parenting journey.
By that time, Johnson was already an established television broadcaster with years of experience balancing professional commitments and family responsibilities.
Welcoming the twins expanded the family to six children.
The couple’s decision reflected their longstanding involvement in adoption and their willingness to provide a permanent home for children who needed one.
Allison Johnson
Allison Johnson is Ashley’s twin sister and was also adopted by Ernie and Cheryl in 2011.
The sisters joined the family together through the American foster care system.
Their adoption allowed them to remain together as siblings while becoming part of the larger Johnson household.
Like several of the other children, Allison has generally remained outside the public spotlight.
Ernie and Cheryl have shared aspects of their parenting experiences without making every detail of their children’s lives public.
The twins’ adoption completed a family journey that had begun with the couple’s biological children and continued through international adoption.
Who Is Cheryl Johnson?
Cheryl Johnson is Ernie Johnson’s wife and the mother of their six children.
She has played a central role in the family’s adoption decisions and caregiving responsibilities.
The couple married in 1982 and built their life together while Ernie developed his broadcasting career.
Their shared Christian faith has been an important part of how they describe their approach to family life.
Cheryl has also been closely associated with the family’s commitment to adoption and supporting children with additional needs.
Ernie has repeatedly acknowledged her dedication and the influence she has had on their household.
Family and Faith
Faith has been a recurring theme in Johnson’s discussions about parenting.
He has often described his family experiences as lessons in compassion, patience, and service.
Raising six children, including three with special needs, required the family to adapt to different responsibilities and challenges.
The couple’s experiences also shaped Johnson’s public conversations about adoption and disability.
Rather than treating his children’s backgrounds as obstacles, he has emphasized the value of belonging and providing consistent support.
His relationship with Michael became one of the most widely recognized examples of that outlook.
Life Beyond Basketball
Ernie Johnson is best known for his work on Inside the NBA, where he developed a reputation for thoughtful commentary and strong relationships with fellow broadcasters.
However, he has frequently made clear that his television achievements do not define every part of his life.
His marriage to Cheryl and their six children have remained central to his identity outside sports.
Their family story includes international adoption, foster care, medical challenges, and the grief of losing a child.
It also includes decades of shared experiences that have shaped Johnson’s approach to both work and personal relationships.
Latest Family Update
As of October 2026, Ernie Johnson and Cheryl are known for raising six children: Eric, Maggie, Michael, Carmen, Ashley, and Allison.
Their family includes two biological children and four adopted children.
Michael, whom they adopted from Romania in 1991, died in October 2021 at age 33, leaving a lasting impact on his family and the basketball community.
The couple’s experiences have made their story one of the most recognizable examples of adoption and family commitment in professional sports broadcasting.
For readers searching “Ernie Johnson children,” the answer is six children, five of whom are living, with Michael remembered as an especially meaningful part of the Johnson family’s legacy.
