For the past eight years, Columbia native Ainsley Earhardt has made early mornings and hard news look effortless as the cohost of the top-rated morning show, “Fox & Friends.” At this point in her career, settling into a comfortable rhythm would be the obvious — and no doubt tempting — path forward. Instead, Ainsley has chosen the humble-meets-hustle approach typical of a genteel Southern lady. “I’m at the point in my career when I let go and give it to God,” she says, adding, “It’s freeing!”
A snapshot of her recent accolades proves the effectiveness of her approach to a camera-ready career. In April of 2024, she was inducted into the South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Vanna White, Eartha Kitt, and other well-known entertainers whose highly heralded careers originated in the Palmetto State. She was especially tickled to share this achievement with Columbia’s very own Hootie & the Blowfish, a group that has sounded through her speakers since the days of cassette tapes. “It just means the world to me. I feel like South Carolina helped get me to the national level; I feel honored.”
The following weekend, Ainsley returned to her alma mater for the University of South Carolina’s commencement ceremony, during which she was presented with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. Twenty-five years earlier, she was one of the students clothed in caps and gowns. Now, accompanied by her 8-year-old daughter sitting a few steps below, she stood on stage delivering words of encouragement to the sea of 2024 graduates. Needless to say, the nostalgia was indelible. “To be up on stage during the commencement and to be able to speak to all the graduates for whom I really am pulling … it just meant a lot to me.”
The 25-year span, bookended by Ainsley’s graduation and her most recent engagement on campus, is chock-full of changes to the university’s landscape, including the coming and going of dorms, the gradual movement of the university’s campus closer to Williams-Brice Stadium, and the maturation of The Vista and Five Points. To that end, the same can be said of her personal and professional life during this time frame. While working her way up the ranks of broadcast journalism, she has authored four books, including three children’s books and one memoir; prioritized motherhood; become a caretaker to her own mother; and demonstrated a dedication to serving other mothers, children, and families both on and off the air.
Throughout the evolution of her career, her faith has remained steadfast. She credits this firm foundation to her parents’ commitment to instilling a love of God and a habit of attending church within their family. As a resident of the infamous City That Never Sleeps who grew up steeped in Bible Belt culture, she says, “I miss the faith aspect of the Carolinas.”
This, combined with sweet tea, barbecue, and her family, comprise Ainsley Earhardt’s top reasons to return home — a familiar trip that she prioritizes every two to three months. When she does, she becomes keenly aware of the differences between the two lifestyles she holds in tandem. Nonetheless, she says, “I’m just grateful to be at the national level. Everyone on our team talks about how fortunate we are to do the job that we do; our bosses make it easy and enjoyable.”