Get to know Barbie Bassett
Barbie Bassett is WLBT's Chief Meteorologist. Originally from Marks, she was reared on a farm as the last of four children. Barbie graduated from Mississippi College in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications. She received her Master of Science degree from Mississippi State University with concentration in Broadcast Meteorology in 1995. Barbie is WLBT's first Chief Meteorologist in the station's 50 year history and has been granted the Seal of Approval from the American Meteorological Society. She has been given the "Best Weathercast" award by the Associated Press for the last three years.

Barbie won the 2000 Mrs. Mississippi International title. At the Mrs. International pageant, she was named a semi-finalist in the Top 15 as she competed against women from all over the world. She has held 4 state beauty pageant titles and 1 national title over the years. She is an accomplished opera singer, ventriloquist, pianist, and model.

Before joining WLBT, Barbie was the weekend meteorologist for WTVC in Chattanooga, Tennessee. For two years, she was the morning meteorologist for WAPT, the ABC affiliate in Jackson. She is also an adjunct professor of communication for Mississippi College.

Barbie sits on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation, the Magnolia Speech School, the Mississippi Epilepsy Foundation, the Girl Scout Council of Middle Mississippi, The Christmas Village and she is a graduate of Leadership Mississippi. She is Vice President of the American Meteorological Society Jackson Chapter, she teaches two year olds in Sunday School at Colonial Heights Baptist Church, she is a Life Member of the Madison-Ridgeland Junior Auxiliary and is a member of the Junior League of Jackson. Barbie was selected as the "Volunteer of the Year" for the National Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation for 2004 and has been named one of Mississippi's "Top 40 Under 40".

In her spare time, she enjoys storm chasing, collecting Barbie Dolls, and spending time on the family farm.

Barbie and her husband are the parents of three children: Grace, Will Christian and Lilly Faith.

News Flash!
Barbie is working on her first book. We'll keep you updated on when it will be published!