Ainsley Earhardt’s Attempt to Clarify Sean Hannity Romance Timeline Only Fuels Speculation

Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt are officially engaged—but the lead-up to that announcement has been anything but straightforward. Their relationship has been the subject of industry whispers for years, and Earhardt’s recent attempt to set the record straight may have done more to muddy the waters than clear them.

Rumors From the Start

Reports of a connection between the two began swirling in 2019 when they were spotted attending a wedding together. At that time, Hannity’s divorce from Jill Rhodes had not yet been made public. To some observers, their close appearance together raised questions about whether the relationship had started before Hannity’s marriage had formally ended.

In a Daily Mail interview, Earhardt addressed the origins of their romance:

“I didn’t know Sean had gone through a divorce at first. Nobody did. It was very private. I only found out when we started comparing notes and stories because he knew I had gone through mine.”

While meant to be an innocent clarification, the comment implied they had already built enough of a rapport to be “comparing notes” about past marriages—fueling speculation about just when their feelings began.

A Timeline That Raises Eyebrows

Earhardt also recalled that in 2020, Hannity asked her out, but she first sought their boss’s blessing:

“I really want your support because I’m crazy about this guy.”

That admission raises its own questions—being “crazy” about someone rarely happens before a first date. It suggested there was already chemistry long before any official outing, adding another wrinkle to the already compressed timeline between Hannity’s divorce becoming public and the pair going public with their closeness.

There’s no public evidence of any overlap between Hannity’s marriage and the start of his romance with Earhardt, but the sequence of events—and Earhardt’s slightly vague recollections—has kept the rumor mill turning.

Keeping the Details Close

Hannity has maintained his usual privacy, refusing to comment publicly on the timeline. While Earhardt’s quotes were meant to clarify, they left enough ambiguity to keep media speculation alive.

Even their engagement defies the typical celebrity narrative. Reports suggest they have no plans to live together after the wedding. Hannity resides full-time in Florida, while Earhardt is based in New York for Fox & Friends. Insiders say they spend weekends together in Florida but keep separate residences during the week.

There’s also word of a prenup, a low-key ceremony, and no set public date for the wedding.

Past Relationships and Public Caution

Both have been through public divorces. Hannity and Rhodes finalized their split in 2019 after more than two decades of marriage. Earhardt divorced William Proctor in 2018 after six years together, following rumors of his infidelity—rumors he denied. Before that, she was married to Kevin McKinney, her college sweetheart.

Given their histories, the couple appears intent on managing the relationship on their own terms, balancing personal privacy with public curiosity.

An Unfinished Story

From the close sightings in 2019 to the “crazy about this guy” confession in 2020, and now to an unconventional engagement arrangement, Hannity and Earhardt’s romance has been a steady source of fascination in media circles.

Whether the relationship’s origins were entirely aboveboard or not may remain a mystery. What’s certain is that Earhardt’s attempt to straighten out the record has left the public with just as many questions as answers—and the whispers show no sign of fading.