Steve Doocy, a longstanding co-host on “Fox & Friends,” revealed on Thursday, May 1, 2025, his plans to reduce his full-time hosting responsibilities at the network’s New York City studios. He will permanently move to Florida, where he will contribute to the morning show three days a week.
The announcement was made during Thursday’s broadcast, with Doocy expressing emotion as he discussed this significant change after nearly 30 years with the network.
“After decades of getting up at 3:30 and driving into NYC in the dark, today is the last day I will host the show…from the couch,” Doocy told viewers. “I am not retiring, I’m not leaving the show. I’m still a host — but it’s time for a change.”
Doocy, who will turn 70 next year, has been with Fox News since it began in 1996 and was a founding co-host of “Fox & Friends” when it launched in 1998. Having completed over 6,800 early morning wake-ups and 31,000 hours of live television from the show’s “curvy couch,” Doocy is moving to a “coast-to-coast” hosting role.
In his new role, Doocy will broadcast from Florida and travel across the country, focusing on segments such as visits to local diners and community events, which are popular features of the show. Recent examples include his live report from Chicken N Pickle, a suburban Kansas City, Missouri, pickleball venue.
“It’s going to make it easier for me to report from Florida and other parts of America that don’t get a lot of network airtime,” Doocy explained. “I’ll be going from the Carolinas to the Keys. From Middle America to Mar-a-Lago.”
The decision to reduce his daily commitment came after discussions with Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott, whom Doocy has known for over 30 years.
“She gave me a great option — to keep working on this show… just not every day,” Doocy said. “Essentially, it’s the Johnny Carson deal. Remember, Johnny worked his three days in Burbank, and I’ll be based in Florida. Which means you may never see me in a necktie again.”
While Doocy transitions to this new role, co-hosts Brian Kilmeade, Ainsley Earhardt, and Lawrence Jones will continue the show from the New York studio. No replacement will fill Doocy’s position on the couch.
Doocy acknowledged that the morning show schedule impacted his family life over the years.
“When my kids were growing up, I never had breakfast with them. I was here. Kathy did everything,” Doocy shared. “But starting tomorrow, I’m going to have breakfast with my grandkids and my children whenever I can.”
This new chapter in Doocy’s career begins with a focus on family time. He plans to visit Washington, DC, to meet his newborn grandson, George, followed by a trip to Dallas, Texas, to see his daughter Sally, who is expecting her second child, a boy, in July.
Doocy is among several prominent news anchors who have recently moved to roles with reduced workloads, such as NBC’s Lester Holt and “The Today Show’s” Hoda Kotb.
President Donald Trump, a regular “Fox & Friends” viewer, recorded a congratulatory message for Doocy that was aired during Thursday’s broadcast, commending his fair coverage over the years.
Throughout his tenure at Fox News, Doocy has interviewed various political figures, including President Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. According to Nielsen Research, “Fox & Friends” has remained the top cable news morning show since 2001.
Before joining Fox, Doocy was a reporter at multiple local TV stations and briefly anchored at WCBS in New York. He also hosted the syndicated “House Party with Steve Doocy” and a children’s program called “Not Just News.”
Doocy expressed gratitude to his colleagues behind the scenes and especially recognized executive producer Megan Albano for accommodating his new schedule.
“I’m transitioning from ‘It’s time to make the donuts’ to ‘It’s time to make the breakfast, Grandpa,'” Doocy concluded. “Now step on it.”
