Following news of Sean Hannity’s divorce from his wife, Jill Rhodes, were rumors of his relationship with Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt. And while he was an aggressively outspoken reporter, he was tight-lipped when it came to his personal life. When asked about his new romance, Hannity briefly answered through a spokesperson from the network that he doesn’t discuss his personal life in public.
It wasn’t a straight-out denial, so naturally, people became even more curious. Let’s take a quick look at how the events unfolded.
The Quiet Divorce
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Last June 3, 2020, Page Six dropped an exclusive that Hannity and Rhodes have divorced after being married for more than two decades. According to the couple’s friends, the two had actually been legally divorced for more than a year already. And prior to filing, they were already separated. They just dealt with everything privately, so there was no buzz around the whole situation.
In a joint statement, Hannity and Rhodes expressed their commitment to work together for the best interests of the two children they share – Patrick, then 21, and Merri Kelly, then 18. And that the agreements between the two were amicable and were entered into over four years ago. That was their first and only comment on the issue, and they asked that their privacy be respected.
According to a source, a friend who lived with the former couple together on Long Island, Hannity and Rhodes remain on very good terms, and at times, people wouldn’t realize they have already separated. They would still have family dinners, attend their kids’ tennis tournaments, and Hannity was still close with Rhode’s family. Additionally, the friend noted that there was no third party, and the reason behind the split was simply because of Hannity’s workaholic attitude.
The Open Secret Relationship
Hannity is interviewing Ainsley Earhardt, who he is widely reported to be in a romantic relationship with. Neither acknowledged it. pic.twitter.com/4VeP26Kagt
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 28, 2022
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Then a few days after the public confirmation of Hannity’s divorce, Vanity Fair published an article linking him with co-host of Fox & Friends, Ainsley Earhardt. According to author Gabriel Sherman, the two were the first couple of Fox News and had been so for quite some time. They never really acknowledged their relationship with their colleagues, but it was obvious that they were a couple. A Fox staffer revealed that they knew that the two were involved. They weren’t even making the effort to keep it hidden.
The two had reportedly been seeing each other privately and not just for months but years. In fact, Earhardt remotely recorded Fox & Friends in Hannity’s home studio in the basement of his mansion on Long Island during the pandemic and also rented her own space nearby. Aside from that, they had also been seen spotted acting flirty with each other during off hours and getting cozy in a New York City bar not far off from the Fox News Studios. Another thing: Earhardt’s television agent was also Hannity’s lawyer.
But what really stuck most about the whole thing was their appearance at the wedding of Fox & Friends weekend host Pete Hegseth and Fox producer Jennifer Rauchet at the Trump National Golf Course in Colts Neck, New Jersey. Hannity flew his private helicopter and emerged out of the plane with Earhardt, sort of like making a grand entrance. A former Fox executive who was also in attendance recalled people’s “Wow, okay” reactions.
Earhardt flat-out denied the rumors. In her statement through a network spokesperson, she said that she wasn’t dating anyone and was very focused on raising her daughter. In addition, she expressed her praises for Hannity and that ‘whomever he chooses to date will be extremely fortunate.’
The Fox News host was officially divorced from her ex-husband, football player Will Proctor in 2019. The two wed had been together for six years and shared a daughter named Hayden. In an interview with PEOPLE after her divorce, she said that she and Proctor remained amicable after the split. They were focused on moving ahead and raising their little girl. As to finding love again, she said that she would love to meet a new partner in the future and ‘demonstrate a loving relationship for Hayden one day.’ She wasn’t sure when that would be, but she trusted that God would put the right man in his life and at the right time according to his will.
What’s the real score between Hannity and Earhardt?
Sean Hannity dating ‘Fox & Friends’ co-host Ainsley Earhardt https://t.co/jjXBrzQi8j pic.twitter.com/9AVjl6SrM2
— New York Post (@nypost) June 11, 2020
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In 2021, Hannity appeared on Fox & Friends to celebrate the channel’s 25th anniversary. And viewers thought that Earhardt had been dropping not-so-subtle hints that they are indeed a couple.
First was when co-host Brian Kilmeade asked Hannity if he had any favorites out of the three anchors of the program. Earhardt was quick to respond, saying he does have one. Hannity then went on to jokingly reveal that it was ‘for sure’ either Earhardt or Steve Doocy. And second, was when she praised Hannity, saying how generous and good he was as a person and how he had helped all of them in their careers.
Seeing how Sean Hannity upholds privacy in his personal life, we might never really get an answer whether he’s really dating Ainsley Earhardt. But who knows? Maybe they’ll finally confirm their relationship soon. When that happens, we’ll make sure to share the news with you.