She was voted "Career Mother of the Year" by the National Institute of Infant Services, and in 1982-1983, honoring her dedication to motherhood, she was voted "Mother of the Year" by the National Mother's Day Committee.
Lunden hosted ABC's broadcast of the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, from 1989 to 1991, and hosted the Walt Disney World Easter and Christmas Parades with Regis Philbin until the mid-90s.