When did Sean Hannity get divorced? Marriage and family life explored in wake of Ainsley Earhardt engagement news

Journalists Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt announced their engagement on December 26, 2024. Fox News reported that Sean proposed to fellow channel host Earhardt at the “perfect place,” aka their church over the Christmas holiday, where they initially bonded over their mutual faith.

“We are overjoyed and so thankful to our families for all of their love and support during this wonderful time in our lives,” the duo told Fox News.

Hannity and Earhardt also shared that their kids “couldn’t be happier” for them and blessed them ahead of the engagement. Later, the pair met with their minister to share the good news.

They also told the media outlet that they still “get along well” with their respective ex-spouses, and “actually made them aware this was happening ahead of time.” Sean and Ainsley added, “Everyone is supportive of each other.”

According to People magazine, Sean Hannity divorced his first wife Jill Rhodes in June 2020 after two decades of marriage. They share two kids together.

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All you need to know about Sean Hannity’s personal life

Sean Hannity met Jill Rhodes in 1991 in Huntsville, Alabama, while working for the radio channel WVNN as a national conservative voice. She was a political columnist back then, working for the Huntsville Times. On April 13, 2011, he told Newsmax how he “fell in love” with the “little picture in her column” and was intrigued by her talent and gift.

Later, during an interview with People Magazine in February 2002, the pair recalled their early days when he would call her up to “solicit” ideas for stories, and left behind frequent voicemails. Jill Rhodes explained how after attending a 1992 mayoral debate organized by him, she realized that he was the “man” she was “going to marry.”

In 1992, Sean asked Jill to move in with him after landing a radio talk show gig in Atlanta. While she agreed, she wanted to get engaged. During the 2011 interview with Newsmax, he recalled how everyone told Rhodes not to “marry” him.

"Because it was Huntsville, Alabama, and I'm Sean, the New York talk-radio [guy]," he added.

Not only that but their pastor also advised them against marrying because they reportedly got into frequent debates during pre-marital counseling. However, the duo tied the knot on January 9, 1993. Subsequently, Sean Hannity and his first wife went on to have two children, Sean Patrick, 25, and Merri Kelly, 22.

In 2002, he wrote his debut book, Let Freedom Ring: Winning the War of Liberty Over Liberalism, and dedicated it to his family. Over the next 16 years, they remained married but kept their relationship private.

In 2020, they announced their divorce, confirming they amicably separated four years back and officially ended it one year ago. They even shared a joint statement with People magazine in June 2020. The duo mentioned how they were “committed to working together for the best interests of their children,” and maintained a close bond in doing so.

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Ainsley Earhardt at Fox News Studios on March 19, 2018 in New York City. (Image via Getty)

Sean Hannity, 62, who is the host of his syndicated eponymous show on Fox News recently, got engaged to Fox & Friends co-host, Ainsley Earhardt, 48. As per Vanity Fair, the couple began dating in 2019 and their relationship became public the following year. They have been in a long-distance relationship since, with Hannity living in Florida and Earhardt in New York.

Ainsley has been married twice before. According to Parade, her first husband was Kevin McKinney and their marriage lasted from 2005 to 2009. In October 2012, she tied the knot with Canadian football quarterback, Will Proctor. They share a daughter Hayden and split in 2019.