Sean Hannity
Born 1961 · Age 64
American conservative radio and television host, political commentator, and author; longtime Fox News personality and nationally syndicated radio host.
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Life & Career Timeline
Family background: Irish immigrant grandparents
Maternal and paternal grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Ireland (contextual family background during childhood).
Born in New York City
Sean Patrick Hannity born to Lillian (née Flynn) and Hugh Hannity in New York City.
Youth job: paperboy
As a child on Long Island he worked delivering the New York Daily News and Long Island Daily Press.
Attended Catholic seminaries
Attended Sacred Heart Seminary (Hempstead, NY) and St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary (Uniondale, NY) during youth/teen years.
Attended NYU and Adelphi University (no degree)
Attended New York University and Adelphi University but left without graduating to pursue broadcasting.
Started house-painting business
Started a house-painting business; later expanded into building contracting work in Santa Barbara.
First talk-radio show (volunteer) at KCSB-FM
Hosted first talk show at UC Santa Barbara's volunteer college radio station; show ran about 40 hours of airtime.
KCSB controversy and cancellation
Show canceled after contentious discussions of gay and lesbian rights; ACLU intervened and station refused Hannity's requested apology/airtime.
Hired at WVNN (Athens, Alabama)
Placed an ad representing himself and was hired as afternoon talk show host at WVNN in the Huntsville media market.
Joined WGST (Atlanta) as local host
Moved from WVNN to WGST in Atlanta, filling Neal Boortz's previous slot and rising in regional prominence.
Married Jill Rhodes
Married Jill Rhodes; marriage resulted in two children and ended in divorce in 2019.
Co-founded/Co-hosted Hannity & Colmes on Fox News
Debuted as the conservative co-host with Alan Colmes on the new Fox News debate-style show; ran from 1996 to 2009.
Relocated to New York; substitute on WABC
Left WGST, moved to New York and substituted for WABC's afternoon drive host during Christmas week.
Hired by Roger Ailes to Fox News
Fox News co-founder Roger Ailes hired Hannity for a TV program (working title Hannity and LTBD); led to Hannity & Colmes.
Joined WABC full-time (late-night slot)
WABC put Hannity on air full-time in a late-night time slot.
Moved to WABC afternoon drive-time
WABC moved Hannity into the drive-time slot (afternoons), establishing a major New York-area radio presence.
The Sean Hannity Show nationally syndicated
Sean Hannity Show began national syndication on September 10, 2001 on more than 500 stations nationwide.
Published Let Freedom Ring (NYT bestseller)
Let Freedom Ring: Winning the War of Liberty over Liberalism published (William Morrow); reached NYT nonfiction bestseller list.
Won Marconi Award & Talkers Freedom of Speech Award
Received National Association of Broadcasters' Marconi Award (Network Syndicated Personality of the Year) and Talkers Magazine Freedom of Speech Award.
Started 'Freedom Concerts' charity events
Launched country music-themed 'Freedom Concerts' to raise money for charity (ran 2003–2010).
Signed $25M five-year contract with ABC Radio
In 2004 Hannity signed a $25 million five-year contract extension with ABC Radio (to continue show until 2009).
Published Deliver Us From Evil (NYT bestseller)
Deliver Us From Evil published (William Morrow); reached NYT list and stayed on the list for five weeks.
Awarded honorary degree by Liberty University
Jerry Falwell, chancellor of Liberty University, awarded Hannity an honorary degree.
Television cameo in The Siege (voiceover)
Made a brief voiceover appearance credited as an unseen reporter in the film The Siege (1998 credit noted in bio sources).
Program added to Armed Forces Radio Network
The Sean Hannity Show made available via Armed Forces Radio Network in 2006.
Interviewed Vice President Dick Cheney
Conducted high-profile interview with Vice President Dick Cheney (photo-captioned event, 2006).
Clear Channel three-year extension across 80+ stations
In January 2007 Clear Channel Communications signed a groupwide three-year extension with Hannity on more than eighty stations.
Debuted Hannity's America (Fox News Sunday show)
In January 2007 Hannity began a Sunday night television show on Fox News, Hannity's America.
Won second Marconi Award (2007)
Received another Marconi Award from the National Association of Broadcasters as Network Syndicated Personality of the Year.
Signed $100M five-year radio contract (summer 2008)
In the summer of 2008, Hannity signed a reported $100 million five-year contract (rights/extension for radio syndication).
Hannity & Colmes final broadcast; show becomes Hannity
Alan Colmes announced his departure; final broadcast January 9, 2009. Hannity merged the debate show into his self-titled program.
Freedom Concerts controversy; CREW complaints filed
CREW filed FTC and IRS complaints alleging misleading fundraising claims and charity-status violations; concerts stopped around 2010.
Published Conservative Victory (NYT bestseller)
Conservative Victory: Defeating Obama's Radical Agenda published by HarperCollins; became Hannity's third NYT bestseller.
Listed on Forbes 'Celebrity 100' at No.72
Forbes listed Hannity as No.72 on its Celebrity 100 list (2013).
Signed long-term contract with Premiere Networks
Hannity signed a long-term contract to remain with Premiere Networks in September 2013.
Appeared on House of Cards (season 2) as himself
Made a cameo appearance as himself on the second season of the Netflix series House of Cards.
Moved radio broadcast to WOR (New York)
Since January 2014 Hannity hosted the 3:00–6:00 p.m. time slot on WOR in New York City; previously on WABC until end of 2013.
Signed with multiple Salem Communications stations
At the beginning of 2014, signed contracts to air on several Salem Communications stations including WDTK, WIND, WWRC, and KSKY.
Spoke at CPAC (February 2015)
Delivered a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February 2015.
Early and vocal support for Donald Trump (2016 campaign)
Became an early supporter and frequent media ally of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election; hosted Trump frequently.
Appeared in a Trump campaign ad
Hannity appeared in a 2016 Trump campaign advertisement.
Feud with Ted Cruz & other conservative figures
Had public disputes with conservatives who opposed Trump, including a contentious April 2016 radio interview with Ted Cruz.
Became closely tied to Trump's messaging
Media reported that Hannity had close access to Trump and influenced messaging; his profile rose significantly during 2017–2018.
Described as Trump's 'shadow' chief of staff by aides
White House advisors/observers characterized Hannity as an unofficial adviser or 'shadow' chief of staff to President Trump during his administration.
Inducted into National Radio Hall of Fame
Hannity was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in November 2017.
Executive producer and appearance in Let There Be Light
Executive produced and appeared in the 2017 film Let There Be Light starring Kevin Sorbo.
Talkers Magazine rankings and awards
Talkers Magazine listed Hannity No.2 in their 2017 Heavy Hundred ranking and in 2009 ranked him No.2 on the 100 most important radio talk show hosts; also gave him the Freedom of Speech Award in 2003.
Promoted Seth Rich conspiracy; advertisers pulled
In May 2017 Hannity promoted theories about DNC staffer Seth Rich's death; several advertisers (Crowne Plaza, Cars.com, Leesa, USAA, Peloton, Casper) pulled ads from his Fox program.
Public self-description as 'advocacy'/'opinion' journalist
In December 2017 Hannity said he was a journalist, clarifying he was an 'advocacy journalist' or 'opinion journalist'.
Program audience reported at 13.5M weekly (March 2018)
As of March 2018, The Sean Hannity Show was reported heard by more than 13.5 million listeners per week.
Forbes reports Hannity as most-watched/listened by 2018
Forbes reported that by 2018 Hannity had become one of the most-watched cable hosts and most-listened-to talk radio hosts, aided by closeness to Trump.
Seth Rich parents sued Fox News (March 2018)
Seth Rich's parents filed a lawsuit against Fox News in March 2018 alleging the network pushed conspiracy theories about their son's death.
Revealed large real estate holdings (April 2018)
Report revealed Hannity owned at least 877 residential properties bought for nearly $89M; HUD loans used for some purchases; management controversies followed.
Michael Cohen office search warrant executed
Federal agents served a search warrant on Michael Cohen's office and residence (April 9, 2018); later related to Hannity due to legal interactions.
Court reveals Hannity as a Michael Cohen client
In a court hearing, Cohen's lawyers identified Hannity as a previously undisclosed client (April 16, 2018); sparked ethics controversy.
Public relationship with Ainsley Earhardt begins
Listed as partners starting 2019 (Ainsley Earhardt); later reported engaged in 2024.
Divorced Jill Rhodes
Marriage to Jill Rhodes ended in divorce in 2019; they have two children.
Published Live Free or Die
Released fourth book Live Free or Die: America (and the World) on the Brink (Threshold Editions).
Fox News agreed to pay Rich family millions (Oct 12, 2020)
Fox News agreed to pay millions to the Seth Rich family (news reported October 12, 2020) related to the wrongful reporting claims.
Amplified 2020 election fraud claims
After the 2020 election, Hannity amplified false claims of election fraud and hosted figures who made unsubstantiated allegations (e.g., Sidney Powell).
Texted Mark Meadows regarding January 6
On December 31, 2020 Hannity texted White House chief of staff Mark Meadows saying he did not 'see January 6 happening the way he [Trump] is being told.'
Dominion Voting Systems sues Fox News (Hannity named among hosts)
Fox News was sued by Dominion (2021) after hosts and guests promoted claims Dominion's machines were rigged; Hannity was among hosts named in case.
Reported participation in post-2020-election strategy call
WaPo reported May 2022 Hannity participated in a conference call days after the 2020 election discussing strategies to challenge the vote; call included several high-profile figures.
Fox News settles Dominion suit for $787.5M (Hannity implicated)
The Dominion v. Fox News defamation lawsuit produced a settlement requiring Fox to acknowledge false statements; settlement cited at $787.5 million (Hannity was among hosts named).
Reported engagement to Ainsley Earhardt
Partner Ainsley Earhardt listed as engaged to Hannity in 2024 (public reporting in bio summary).
Encyclopaedia Britannica revision notes update
Breviated: Britannica entry updated and most recent editor revision dated July 20, 2025 (shows ongoing public profile).
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