In the high-stakes, fast-moving world of cable news, a single whisper can become a roar in minutes. Recently, a shocking rumor ignited social media, sending devoted viewers into a frenzy: “UNEXPECTED! Ainsley Earhardt has formally confirmed she’ll step away from Fox News by the end of November, with her successor already named.”

For the millions who start their day with the familiar “curvy couch” of Fox & Friends, the news was a bombshell. Earhardt, a staple of the network for nearly two decades and a co-host of the flagship morning show since 2016, is one of the most recognizable faces in conservative media. The idea of her abruptly departing, with a successor waiting in the wings, seemed almost unthinkable.

Fans were left with a mountain of questions. Why would she leave at the peak of her career? Was she fired? Is she moving to a rival network? And who is this mysterious, already-named successor?

But in an era of rampant misinformation, the job of a content editor is to verify. And a deep dive into the facts reveals that this explosive rumor is just that: a rumor. The truth is not one of a sudden departure, but one of long-term stability and a massive, happy development in her personal life that may have inadvertently fueled the speculation.

Ainsley Earhardt is not leaving Fox News.

In fact, sources close to the network and public statements have confirmed the exact opposite. Far from stepping away, Earhardt is locked in. A Fox News spokesperson recently clarified that both Earhardt and her primetime-host fiancé, Sean Hannity, have secured “long-term deals to remain at FOX News Media.”

The statement could not be more direct: “Earhardt will continue to co-host Fox & Friends from New York while the primetime star will continue to host his eponymous show Hannity from Florida.”

So, where did such a specific and sensational rumor come from? The most likely culprit is a misunderstanding of the other major news in Earhardt’s life: her engagement to Sean Hannity. This, not a career change, is the real “unexpected” news. After Hannity announced his permanent move to a state-of-the-art studio in Florida, speculation likely began that Earhardt would naturally follow him, forcing her to abdicate her New York-based Fox & Friends throne.

However, Earhardt herself has been clear about their unique, modern arrangement. In interviews, she has explained that their careers are paramount and they have a system that works. She and her daughter, Hayden, fly to Florida on Fridays after school, spend the weekend with Hannity, and return to New York on Sunday. It’s a long-distance commitment that allows both media titans to maintain their respective empires. The rumor of her departure was an assumption, not a fact.

The second part of the rumor—that “her successor already named”—is a fascinating piece of misremembered history. It is true that a successor was named for a Fox & Friends host, but that event happened in February 2016, and the successor was Ainsley Earhardt herself.

Earhardt’s journey to the curvy couch is a story of persistence. She joined Fox News in 2007 as a correspondent, eventually landing the co-host spot on Fox & Friends First, the network’s early-morning lead-in. For years, she was a reliable substitute host on the main show, filling in for Gretchen Carlson and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. When Hasselbeck announced her departure in 2015 to spend more time with her family, a nine-year veteran of the network was the obvious choice. In 2016, Ainsley Earhardt was officially named the new co-host, stepping into the role that would make her a household name.

The current rumor, therefore, appears to be a bizarre echo of her own promotion, twisted and repackaged as a new event.

Far from being replaced, Earhardt has solidified her position as a cornerstone of the Fox News brand. Alongside her long-time co-hosts Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy (and more recently, Lawrence Jones), she has helped Fox & Friends dominate the cable news ratings for 23 consecutive years. Her appeal to the network’s core audience is undeniable.

Beyond the couch, she has built a formidable brand as an author. Tapping into her deeply held Christian faith and her experiences as a mother, she has penned four New York Times bestsellers, including the #1 children’s picture books Take Heart, My Child: A Mother’s Dream and I’m So Glad You Were Born. Her 2019 memoir, The Light Within Me, gave readers an intimate look at her life, faith, and the “wonderful memories” and “ups and downs” she has navigated, most of which, she notes, happened while working at Fox.

Her journey has not been without public hardship, including two divorces, which she has handled with public grace. Her 2018 separation from Will Proctor, her husband of six years and the father of her daughter, was a difficult period she navigated while in the public eye. Through it all, she has credited her “Fox family” and her faith with providing a bedrock of support. “I am grateful to Fox for their support and allowing me to spend all day, every day after the morning show with my child,” she said in a statement at the time.

This history of loyalty—both from her to the network and from the network to her—makes the “sudden exit” rumor even more baseless. She has become more than just a host; she is an integral part of the network’s identity.

In 2019, Earhardt told People magazine, “I would be completely content to stay in this position for the rest of my life. I really have finally found that peace and that happiness.”

Today, that peace seems to have only deepened. Her engagement to Hannity, a relationship that was the subject of quiet speculation for years before being confirmed, marks a new and joyful chapter. The couple, who have worked at the same network for decades, are now navigating a bicoastal life, proving that two powerhouse careers can coexist.

So, for the viewers who were bracing for a tearful goodbye at the end of November, you can set your minds at ease. The “unexpected” news is not a departure; it’s a debunking. Ainsley Earhardt isn’t going anywhere. The only “successor” in this story is Earhardt herself, who succeeded in landing her dream job years ago and shows no signs of letting it go. The real story isn’t a professional ending, but a personal beginning.