Fox News Taps Emily Compagno as ‘The Five’ Co-Host Starting Sept 8
Emily Compagno Joins "The Five" as New Permanent Co-Host
What Happened?
Fox News just made a big announcement! Emily Compagno is officially joining the popular show "The Five" as a permanent co-host. Think of it like getting a permanent seat at the coolest lunch table in the cafeteria.
Mark Your Calendar: Emily makes her official debut on September 8, 2026.
Who Will She Be Sitting With?
Emily won’t be alone at the table. She’s joining a team of familiar faces:
- Greg Gutfeld – The funny guy who usually sits in the middle
- Dana Perino – Former White House Press Secretary (that means she used to speak for the President!)
- Jesse Watters – The reporter who asks people questions on the street
- Harold Ford Jr. and Jessica Tarlov – They take turns filling the "liberal seat" (that’s the spot for someone with different political views to keep the conversation balanced)
Who Is Emily Compagno? (Her Cool Resume)
Emily isn’t new to Fox News or TV. Here’s her story in simple terms:
Before TV: A Real-Life Lawyer & Government Pro
- Criminal defense & civil litigation attorney – She defended people in court and handled non-criminal legal disputes
- Federal managing attorney – A boss lawyer for the U.S. government
- Acting Director at the Social Security Administration – She helped run the agency that sends retirement checks to grandparents
- Judicial Extern for the 9th Circuit Court – She worked with a famous federal judge (like a super-intern for a top judge)
TV Career at Fox News
- 2018 – Started as a contributor (guest expert)
- 2021 – Became co-host of "Outnumbered" (another Fox show)
- 2024 – Wrote a New York Times bestseller called "Under His Wings"
Fun Fact: She Was an NFL Cheerleader!
- Captain of the Oakland Raiders cheerleading squad (yes, really!)
- NFL Ambassador – Represented the league internationally
What Is "The Five" Anyway?
Imagine a group chat with 5 smart friends who talk about the day’s biggest news stories – but on live TV. That’s "The Five"!
Why It’s a Big Deal:
- 15 years on air (that’s ancient in TV years!)
- Most-watched show on cable news right now
- 3.6 million people watch every episode
- #1 among Independents (people who don’t pick a political "team")
- Even gets more Democratic viewers than CNN or MSNBC
What Changes Now?
For Emily:
- New gig: Permanent seat on "The Five" starting Sept 8
- Old gig: Stepping down from "Outnumbered"
- "Outnumbered" future: Rotating guest hosts until they pick someone new
For Viewers:
- Same great show, new voice at the table
- Emily brings her legal smarts, government experience, and high energy
- The "chemistry" (how well hosts work together) gets a fresh boost
IMPORTANT POINT
This isn’t just a seat change – it’s a promotion. "The Five" is Fox News’ flagship show (their biggest, most important program). Moving there means the network trusts Emily with their most valuable time slot: 5 PM Eastern, right when millions of Americans get home from work.
Summary
| Who | What | When | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emily Compagno | Joins "The Five" as permanent co-host | September 8, 2026 | Top-rated cable news show gets fresh talent |
| Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott | Announced the hire | Monday (announcement day) | Called Emily "highly accomplished" with "energy and talent" |
| Emily Compagno | Leaves "Outnumbered" | Same time | Rotation of hosts until permanent replacement named |
| "The Five" | Celebrated 15 years | Last month | Now #1 in cable news, beats broadcast networks in key demo |
Bottom line: A lawyer-cheerleader-author-TV pro just got the co-host chair on the most-watched show in cable news. Pretty cool career trajectory!
FAQ
What does "co-host" mean exactly?
A co-host shares hosting duties. On "The Five," all 5 hosts discuss topics together, debate, joke, and share opinions. No single person is "the boss" on air – it’s a team effort.
What’s the "liberal seat"?
"The Five" tries to show different political viewpoints. Four hosts lean conservative (right), so they reserve one rotating seat for someone with liberal (left) views. Harold Ford Jr. and Jessica Tarlov take turns in that role.
Why does the 25-54 "demo" matter?
Advertisers pay the most money to reach adults aged 25-54 because they spend the most. "The Five" gets 322,000 viewers in this group – that’s huge for 5 PM cable news!
Will "Outnumbered" be canceled?
Nope! The show continues. Fox will use rotating guest hosts (different people each week) until they choose a new permanent co-host for Emily’s old seat.
Can I watch "The Five" without cable?
Yes! You can stream it on the Fox News app, Fox Nation, or services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and Fubo. New episodes air weekdays at 5 PM Eastern / 2 PM Pacific.
Article based on Fox News Digital reporting by Joseph A. Wulfsohn.