In a stunning on-air moment, Fox News veteran Steve Doocy announced a major change to his role on Fox & Friends after nearly three decades on the iconic morning show. “It’s time for a change,” Doocy told viewers, hinting at an exciting new chapter in his career. Fans flooded social media with reactions, calling the new role a “perfect fit” while expressing bittersweet emotions over the shift. After years of waking up with Doocy’s humor and charm, audiences are eager to see what’s next.

Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy on set in October 2024.Credit : John Lamparski/Getty

Fox & Friends‘ Steve Doocy is revealing his next move on the show after decades on the “curvy couch.” The morning show co-host announced on May 1 that he is transitioning to a new role that will take him out of the Fox studio and across the country.

In his new title as a host for Fox & Friends remote assignments, Doocy will be based in Florida, but will appear remotely on the show — which will remain based in New York City. He’ll share segments from across the nation with co-hosts Brian Kilmeade, Ainsley Earhardt and Lawrence Jones, per a press release shared with PEOPLE.

Doocy announced his plans to viewers live on the May 1 Fox & Friends show, telling them, “After decades of getting up at 3:30 and driving into New York City in the dark, today is the last day I will host the show from the couch.”

Doocy added, “I am not retiring. I’m not leaving the show. I’m still a host, but it’s time for a change.”

Fox & Friends hosts Steve Doocy, Brian Kilmeade and Ainsley Earhardt in New York City in July 2024.Roy Rochlin/Getty

In his new role, Doocy — who helped found Fox & Friends and has been a co-host on the program since it launched in 1998 — will work three days a week from Florida, but will also travel to “other parts of America that don’t get a lot of network airtime,” he said on the show, describing himself as “the coast-to-coast host.”

While he won’t be reporting from the New York studio, Doocy told viewers, “I will continue to join this couch crew for commentary. You have trusted me for all these years and don’t worry, you will still hear my voice and my opinions.”

The new role also means more family time for Doocy, who shares children Peter, Mary and Sally with wife Kathy Doocy, and is grandfather to Bridget, 2, Arthur, 2, and 2-week-old George. Steve will become a grandfather of four in July, when Sally is expected to give birth to her second child, a boy, he told viewers.

“When my kids were growing up, I never had breakfast with them. I was always here,” Doocy said. “But starting tomorrow, I’m going to have breakfast with my grandkids and my children whenever I can.”

While speaking with PEOPLE last month about the birth of George, Steve said he was looking forward to spending time with his youngest grandson. “As a grandparent, my job is to spoil them rotten the rest of their lives,” he said.