After just two years on Fox News' "Fox & Friends," Elizabeth Hasselbeck is stepping down as co-host. The 38-year-old TV personality announced Monday that she will be exiting the network's morning show.
"Oftentimes, the most difficult decisions are between two great things," she said in a statement, according to the Hollywood Reporter. "Throughout my 14 years working in television, I have never experienced a more positive and thoughtful atmosphere than Fox News Channel, thanks to the strong leadership of [Fox News Chairman and CEO] Roger Ailes, who has created the best working environment a woman and mother could ask for. His understanding, compassion and kindness was exemplified when I shared with him that I am entering into a season where I want to start my day with my children first, and he offered his blessing to do so. With a heart full of gratitude and the peace that God has given me, I am confident that this personal decision is the right one for our family, and we will be joining all of you watching 'Fox & Friends' each morning as we get ready for school together."
"Elisabeth and I discussed this at length over several weeks, and while I would love for her to continue here, I respect her incredibly difficult, yet deeply personal decision," Ailes added to the statement. "She has been a great addition to the 'Fox & Friends' franchise."
Hasselbeck left ABC's "The View" in 2013 after nearly 10 years on the panel and has been with Fox News ever since. She made her television debut in 2001 when she competed on the hit reality show "Survivor." This will mark the end of nearly 15 consecutive years on television.
The morning news show has been rated the No. 1 cable news morning program ever since Hasselbeck joined, according to Fox News. She has been working alongside Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade for the past couple of years as they not only remained in the No. 1 spot for the basic cable time slot of 6-9 a.m., but also had the highest total viewers and adult viewers in the 25-54 demographic. A variety of co-hosts will take her seat at "Fox & Friends" until a replacement is named.
Hasselbeck and husband Tim, 36, have three children together, daughter Grace, 9, and sons Taylor, 7, and Isaiah, 5, according to E! News. Around this time last year, she had a slight cancer scare and had to take a hiatus from "Fox & Friends," but luckily it turned out to be nothing serious.
"I had a tennis ball-sized tumor that they said needed to come out," she said on the show following her return. "I had a little bit of a scary waiting period to know what it was, but it was benign. I'm beyond thankful to have a clean bill of health. The kids were great through it. Tim was a hero in the hospital there."
