Sean Hannity was already married before headlines ever touched on his personal life. Back in 1993, he tied the knot with Jill Rhodes, a political columnist he met during his early radio days in Alabama.
Together, they built a private life while Hannity’s media career skyrocketed. Although they kept things quiet for years, their divorce was eventually confirmed in 2020, revealing they had separated long before the public ever caught on.
More recently, Hannity’s name has been linked to a familiar face from Fox News, sparking plenty of speculation and a few confirmed milestones. While the details of both relationships will be covered ahead, it’s clear that Hannity’s personal life has taken some very public turns in recent years.
Sean Hannity’s Ex-Wife, Rhodes Was A Political Columnist
Sean Hannity’s marriage to Jill Rhodes began quietly, far from the television studios where he’d later become a household name. In 1991, while working his first major radio job at WVNN in Huntsville, Alabama, he crossed paths with Rhodes, then a political columnist for the Huntsville Times.
Hannity said he was first drawn to the photo in her column, but it was that small image that had him hooked. The early days of their courtship were marked by voicemails and political banter, eventually leading Rhodes to attend a local mayoral debate Hannity had helped organize. That night, she told PEOPLE, she saw him in person and thought, “That is the man I’m going to marry.”
By 1992, Hannity had taken a radio job in Atlanta and asked Rhodes to join him. She agreed—on one condition: there had to be a ring first.
Despite warnings from colleagues and even a pre-marital counseling session that ended in tears after a heated exchange between Hannity and their pastor, the two went ahead with the wedding in 1993. Ironically, the same pastor who had raised concerns later officiated weddings for many of their friends. “Eighteen years later,” Hannity once said, “we’re the only ones still married.”
Their Divorce Was Quiet, But the Commitment to Their Kids Remains
Throughout the years, Hannity and Rhodes kept a low profile as a couple. She stayed out of the limelight, never appearing at public Fox News events or maintaining a visible social media presence. Meanwhile, Hannity kept his family life separate from his on-air persona.
They welcomed two children: a son, Patrick, born in 1998, and a daughter, Merri Kelly, born in 2001. Both kids have excelled in sports, particularly tennis, with Patrick attending Wake Forest University and Merri playing at the University of Michigan.
In 2002, Hannity dedicated his book Let Freedom Ring to Rhodes and their children, calling them the most important people in his life and crediting them for his happiness despite the demanding hours of his career.
But even with that foundation, the marriage slowly unraveled. Though the public didn’t learn until June 2020, the couple had been separated for years before officially finalizing their divorce over a year prior.
In a joint statement to PEOPLE, they emphasized their mutual respect and commitment to co-parenting: “Sean and Jill are committed to working together for the best interests of their children… They maintain a close relationship as parents.”
Neither has spoken further about the split.
Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt Dated in Private for Years
In June 2020, a source close to Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt confirmed to PEOPLE that the two had been “seeing each other very secretively for years.” According to the insider, Hannity was extremely private because of his fame and controversy, but it had been an “open secret” that they were dating.
The source said they were “together all the time, but in private … for years, not just months,” and that they had been spotted “getting cozy in the back of” a New York City bar and “acting flirty in off-hours.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Earhardt reportedly rented a home near Hannity’s and used his home studio to record. When the relationship first made headlines, both denied it. Hannity said through a spokesperson, “I do not discuss my personal life in public.”
Earhardt also released a statement: “Right now, I am focused on raising my daughter, and I am not dating anyone. As anyone at Fox News will tell you, Sean is a wonderful person and whomever he chooses to date will be extremely fortunate.”
In 2019, Hannity and Earhardt attended the wedding of Fox & Friends weekend host Pete Hegseth and producer Jennifer Rauchet. They arrived together in Hannity’s private helicopter and flew to Trump National Golf Course in Colts Neck, New Jersey. According to PEOPLE, this was not the first time Hannity had taken Earhardt on his helicopter for a vacation.
Over the years, they were photographed during multiple outings. In 2022, they posed for photos at Oyster Fest in Long Island, holding corn on the cob. In January 2023, they were seen together at a Waffle House in South Carolina.
They Announced Their Engagement in December 2024
On December 26, 2024, Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt confirmed their engagement. In a joint statement to Fox News, they said, “We are overjoyed and so thankful to our families for all of their love and support during this wonderful time in our lives.” Hannity proposed to Earhardt at a church in Florida, which the couple described as “the perfect place” because they initially bonded over their shared religious beliefs.
They have continued to live in separate states, with Hannity based in Florida and Earhardt residing in New York City. Despite the distance, the couple has maintained a long-distance relationship.
Both share children with their former spouses—Hannity has two children, Patrick and Merri, with Jill Rhodes, and Earhardt has a daughter, Hayden, with Will Proctor. Before the engagement went public, both Hannity and Earhardt informed their ex-spouses, who offered their support.
The two have spoken about one another on air without publicly confirming their relationship until the engagement. In October 2021, Hannity appeared on Fox & Friends to celebrate Fox News’ 25th anniversary.
When asked to name his favorite host, Earhardt interjected, “Yes, he does.” Hannity replied, “It’s between Steve [Doocy] and Ainsley, for sure.” Earhardt said during the segment, “You’re just a really good person, Sean, and you’ve helped all of our careers.” Hannity responded, “You’re nice to say that.”
