Steve Doocy

{{short description|American political commentator and TV anchor}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Steve Doocy

| image = File:Secretary_Pompeo_Participates_in_an_Interview_With_Fox_and_Friends_(47924332813)_(cropped).jpg

| caption = Doocy in 2019

| birth_name = Stephen James Doocy

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|10|19}}

| birth_place = Algona, Iowa, U.S.

| occupation = Author, news anchor

| party =

| children = 3, including Peter

| website =

| alma mater = University of Kansas (BS)

| spouse = Kathy Gerrity Doocy

}}

Stephen James Doocy ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|uː|s|i|}}; born October 19, 1956) is an American television host, conservative political commentator, and author. He served as a co-anchor of Fox & Friends on the Fox News Channel from 1998 through 2025.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/person/d/steve-doocy.html|title=Steve Doocy|website=Fox News|date=March 25, 2022}} Doocy now works in a limited capacity for the program from Florida, focusing on special projects. {{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Colby |date=2025-05-01 |title=Exclusive: Fox & Friends Icon Steve Doocy On Why He's Moving to a New Role |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/dooc-draft-2-2/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Mediaite |language=en}}

Early life and education

Doocy was born in Algona, Iowa, the first child and only son of James "Jim" Edward Doocy, who worked in sales and construction, and JoAnne Doocy, née Sharp. His paternal grandfather was of Irish descent, and his maternal grandmother of Swedish descent.{{cite web |url=http://english.360elib.com/datu/P/EM303002.pdf |title=Tales from the Dad Side |first=Steve|last=Doocy|access-date=2015-12-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222084031/http://english.360elib.com/datu/P/EM303002.pdf |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|url=http://dannerfuneralhome.net/obituary/1507|title=James E. Doocy – Obituary – Danner Funeral Home|access-date=September 29, 2016|archive-date=April 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403130445/http://dannerfuneralhome.net/obituary/1507|url-status=dead}} He was raised in Industry, Kansas, and attended Kansas grade schools in Russell, Salina, and Industry.{{cite news|date=January 24, 2014|title=Fox News host Steve Doocy to be honored as Distinguished Kansan of the Year|newspaper=Topeka Capital-Journal|url=http://events.cjonline.com/events/clubs-and-meetings/fox-news-host-steve-doocy-be-honored-distinguished-kansan-year|access-date=August 4, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054940/http://events.cjonline.com/events/clubs-and-meetings/fox-news-host-steve-doocy-be-honored-distinguished-kansan-year|url-status=live}} Doocy went to junior high in Wakefield and high school in Clay Center, Kansas. He graduated from the University of Kansas, in Lawrence, with a Bachelor of Science in journalism. He was the first on-air disc jockey for KJHK radio, the student-operated radio station in Lawrence.{{Cite web|url=https://kuhistory.ku.edu/spotlight/journalism-school-grad-be-honored|title = Journalism School Grad to be Honored|date = January 21, 2014}}

Career

Doocy started his television career with reporter jobs at TV stations in Topeka, Des Moines, Wichita, and Kansas City.{{cite web|url=https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/steve-doocy/17797|title=Kansapedia: Steve Doocy}} His first major market assignment was as a features reporter for WRC, in Washington, D.C. In 1990, Doocy was named the host of NBC's nationally syndicated program House Party with Steve Doocy, a remake of the 1960s Art Linkletter show, which was followed by the syndicated kids' series Not Just News.{{cite web|url=https://nationalspeakers.com/steve-doocy/bio|title=Steve Doocy Bio}}

In 1994, Doocy got his first morning show job, as the co-host of Wake Up America on NBC's America's Talking channel.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/list_item/americas-talking-short-lived-networks-quibi/|title=America's Talking: 2 years (1994–1996)|date=2020-12-01|last=Schneider|first=Michael|work=Variety }} He then anchored the morning newscast on CBS-TV's flagship station, WCBS-TV, in 1996 in New York City. He was the live Times Square reporter on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on ABC-TV for four ball drops.

Doocy joined the Fox News Channel in 1996{{Cite news |title=Never mind Sean Hannity. Steve Doocy is the rare host at Fox promoting vaccines. |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2021/07/20/steve-doocy-vaccines-fox/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |issn=0190-8286}} and began co-hosting the network's morning show Fox & Friends in 1998.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-17 |title=Meet the Doocys, the first family of Fox News |url=https://www.deseret.com/2021/6/16/22451986/meet-the-doocys-the-first-family-of-fox-steve-doocy-peter-doocy-fox-news |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Deseret News |language=en}} In 2004, he helped launch Fox News Channel's New Year's Eve special, All American New Year, whose hosts have included Bill Hemmer and Megyn Kelly.

Fox & Friends regularly interviewed Donald Trump, before and after his election as president. After the election, Trump called it "the most honest morning show."{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/02/16/media/jim-acosta-donald-trump-press-conference/|title=Transcript: President Trump's exchange with CNN's Jim Acosta|work=CNN Business|date=February 16, 2017|access-date=January 27, 2022}} During his first year as president, Trump continued to watch and often quoted the program on Twitter.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-praises-fox-friends-renews-old-feuds-early-morning-tweet-n742001|title=Trump praises 'Fox & Friends,' renews old feuds in early morning tweets|work=NBC News|first=Danielle|last=Silva|date=April 3, 2017|access-date=January 27, 2022}} This prompted The New York Times to call Fox & Friends "the most powerful TV show in America."{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/344061-trump-quotes-nyt-fox-friends-most-powerful-tv-show-in-america/|title=Trump quotes New York Times: 'Fox & Friends' is 'most powerful TV show in America'|first=Rebecca|last=Savransky|work=The Hill|date=July 27, 2017|access-date=January 27, 2022}}

In 2019, it was reported that Trump ranked many reporters' loyalty on a scale of 1 to 10. Doocy received a "12 out of 10."{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/03/11/the-making-of-the-fox-news-white-house|title=The Making of the Fox News White House|first=Jane|last=Mayer|date=March 4, 2019|access-date=June 7, 2019|magazine=The New Yorker|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211045411/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/03/11/the-making-of-the-fox-news-white-house|url-status=live}}

On September 15, 2020, Doocy made news when he challenged President Trump's announcement of a series of weekly appearances on Fox and Friends. Doocy responded: "You may want to do it every week, but Fox is not committed to that. We're going to take it on a case-by-case basis."{{Cite web|date=2020-09-15|title=Trump says he'll be on Fox & Friends every week — but host Steve Doocy doesn't agree to have him|url=https://theweek.com/speedreads/937587/trump-says-hell-fox--friends-every-week--but-host-steve-doocy-doesnt-agree-have|access-date=2020-09-16|work=The Week|first=Brendan|last=Morrow|language=en}} Doocy extended an invitation for Joe Biden, at the time the Democratic nominee for president, to appear on the program, offering him equal airtime to Trump.{{Cite web|last=Balluck|first=Kyle|date=2020-09-15|title=Fox News host says network 'not committed' to weekly segment after Trump mentions it|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/516471-fox-news-host-says-network-not-committed-to-weekly-segment-after-trump/|access-date=2020-09-16|website=The Hill|language=en}}

Doocy earned attention in 2022 and 2023 for challenging his co-hosts about the Joe Biden-Ukraine Investigation,{{Cite news |last=Barr |first=Jeremy |date=2024-03-19 |title=On Fox News, Steve Doocy has become the unexpected voice of dissent |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2024/03/18/steve-doocy-fox-news-dissent/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} arguing that there is no evidence to support an impeachment.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-28 |title=Fox & Friends Fight Over Biden Impeachment Evidence |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-friends-gets-heated-after-steve-doocy-insists-there-is-no-evidence-to-support-a-biden-impeachment/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=Mediaite |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-10 |title=Steve Doocy Confronts Rep. James Comer Over Biden Investigation: 'Did They Break Any Laws?' |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/steve-doocy-confronts-rep-james-coomer-over-biden-investigation-did-they-break-any-laws/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=Mediaite |language=en |archive-date=March 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320230203/https://www.mediaite.com/tv/steve-doocy-confronts-rep-james-coomer-over-biden-investigation-did-they-break-any-laws/ |url-status=live }} Because of this, Trump has attacked him,{{Cite web |date=2023-09-27 |title=Trump Tears Into 'Terrible' Fox & Friends Host Steve Doocy: 'He's Not Nice Like He Should Be' |url=https://www.mediaite.com/trump/trump-tears-into-terrible-fox-friends-host-steve-doocy-hes-not-nice-like-he-should-be/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=Mediaite |language=en}} and Rep. James Comer, Chair of the House Oversight Committee, has stopped appearing on the show.{{Cite web |last=Mastrangelo |first=Dominick |date=2023-12-13 |title=Comer says he won't go on 'Fox & Friends' because of Doocy |url=https://thehill.com/business/4357751-comer-fox-friends-doocy-hunter-biden-impeachment/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}

Doocy has earned TV reporting and writing awards from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists (formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi),{{cite web|url=https://www.harpercollins.ca/author/cr-190028/steven-doocy/|title=Steven Doocy Books & Biography|website=www.harpercollins.ca}} and 11 Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/06/20/wrc-takes-22-local-emmys/643c7df4-0c9a-49ab-853e-38cb905202dc/|title=WRC TAKES 22 LOCAL EMMYS|last=Peasley|first=Sarah|date=1988-06-20|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

On May 1, 2025, Doocy announced that he will be taking a step back from hosting Fox & Friends after serving as a co-anchor for 27 years. He will now be working three days per week from Florida and focusing on special projects for the show beginning in late May.{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ted |date=2025-05-01 |title=Steve Doocy To Move To Out-Of-Studio Role At 'Fox & Friends,' Will Co-Host Three Days A Week |url=https://deadline.com/2025/05/steve-doocy-fox-news-fox-and-friends-1236382456/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

Published works

In 2020, Doocy and his wife Kathy published the Happy in a Hurry Cookbook, which debuted at number one on the New York Times Best Seller list{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2020/10/18/advice-how-to-and-miscellaneous/|title=Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous Books Best Sellers|work=The New York Times|date=2020-10-18|access-date=March 12, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130142835/https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2020/10/18/advice-how-to-and-miscellaneous/|url-status=live}} and became one of America's top cookbooks of that pandemic year.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/dining/best-cookbooks-2020-pandemic.html|title=How the Cookbooks of 2020 Tell the Stories of Our Pandemic Kitchens|work=The New York Times|date=March 2, 2021|last1=Severson|first1=Kim}} It was a sequel to their successful 2018 Happy Cookbook: A Celebration of the Food That Makes America Smile.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2018/10/21/advice-how-to-and-miscellaneous/|title=Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous Books Best Sellers|work=The New York Times|date=2018-10-21}}

The Doocys also authored The Mr. and Mrs. Happy Handbook and Tales from the Dad Side.{{cite book|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4264780-tales-from-the-dad-side?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=PwjU8PKsKw&rank=2| title=Tales from the Dad Side: Misadventures in Fatherhood by Steve Doocy|website=goodreads.com| date=2008| publisher=William Morrow| isbn=978-0-06-144162-2| oclc=191930153}} All four books were published by William Morrow and Company, a division of HarperCollins, and all were New York Times bestsellers.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Personal life

Doocy is married to Kathy Doocy (née Gerrity), a former model and TV sports reporter who starred in a TV commercial for the Chatty Cathy doll.{{Cite web |last=Cadelago |first=Christopher |title=Is Fox's Peter Doocy Just Asking Questions — Or Trolling the White House? |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/05/07/peter-doocy-fox-news-profile-biden-white-house-485248 |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Politico |date=May 7, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=January 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126013353/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/05/07/peter-doocy-fox-news-profile-biden-white-house-485248 |url-status=live }} The couple have three adult children: Mary, Sally and Peter Doocy. Peter serves as a Fox News Senior White House Correspondent, a role he shares with Jacqui Heinrich.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-03-04/fox-news-white-house-correspondent-peter-doocy-biden|title=Fox News' scrappy White House correspondent grills Biden, who plays along|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Stephen|last=Battaglio|date=March 4, 2021|access-date=January 27, 2022|archive-date=September 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914210152/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-03-04/fox-news-white-house-correspondent-peter-doocy-biden|url-status=live}}

Doocy lives in Wyckoff, New Jersey.{{cite web|url=https://projects.nj.com/features/stars/|title=New Jersey's Map of the Stars}} Kathy Doocy is a cancer survivor. They have two grandchildren, a granddaughter named Bridget Blake Doocy born on February 1, 2023, and a grandson named George Jack Doocy born on April 16, 2025, the children of Peter Doocy and Hillary Vaughn.{{cite web |last1=Coggins |first1=Madeline |title=Peter Doocy and Hillary Vaughn celebrate the birth of their daughter |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/peter-doocy-hillary-vaughn-celebrate-birth-daughter |website=Fox News |date=February 9, 2023 |publisher=Fox Interactive |access-date=2024-03-15 |ref=Granddaughter}}{{Cite web |title=Fox News' Peter Doocy, Wife Hillary Welcome Second Baby: 'Our Hearts Are Filled with More Love' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/fox-news-peter-doocy-wife-hillary-vaughn-welcome-son-george-jack-doocy-11721054 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=People.com |language=en}}

Doocy is Roman Catholic and serves as a lector in his church.{{cite web|url= https://archive.org/details/FOXNEWSW_20131225_070000_A_FOX__Friends_Christmas|title= A FOX Friends Christmas|date= December 25, 2013}}

Doocy was named Distinguished Kansan of the Year by the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas in 2014.{{cite web|url=https://kualumni.org/tag/steve-doocy/|title=kualumni.org: Steve Doocy}}