Fox News tapped Emily Compagno as the newest permanent co-host of "The Five," the cable news ratings leader that now draws more viewers than a major broadcast evening newscast.
The network announced Monday that Compagno will join the roundtable alongside Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino, and Jesse Watters, with her official debut set for September 8. She steps away from her current role as co-host of "Outnumbered," a midday program she has anchored since 2021. Rotating Fox News personalities will fill her "Outnumbered" chair until a permanent replacement is named.
Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott framed the move as a reward for consistent on-air performance. Scott said in a statement:
"Fifteen years later, 'The Five' remains a powerhouse and appointment viewing for millions of Americans. Emily is a highly accomplished host whose energy and talent have made her a standout across FOX News Media, and we are thrilled to officially welcome her to the show."
Compagno called the promotion "an incredible privilege." She pointed to the show's culture and the relationships she has built filling in over the years.
"I couldn't be more honored to join 'The Five,' a team I have long admired and have been fortunate to work alongside over the years. Having an official seat at the table on what I truly believe is the most fun show on television is an incredible privilege. I am grateful for the opportunity and can't wait to get started."
The numbers explain why a seat on "The Five" is the most valuable real estate on cable news. During the second quarter of 2026, the 5 p.m. ET roundtable averaged 3.6 million total viewers and 322,000 in the 25-to-54 demographic that advertisers prize most. It commanded more than 64 percent of all cable news viewers in its timeslot, leaving competitors at CBS, NBC, CNN, and the network now called MS NOW to split the remainder.
The show has held the top spot in cable news ratings for 19 consecutive quarters, the New York Post reported. It finished 2025 with a larger audience than the "CBS Evening News", a broadcast network program with vastly wider distribution. "The Five" also draws more Democratic viewers than CNN and MS NOW combined and ranks as the number-one program among independents, a cross-partisan pull that few opinion-driven shows can claim.
The program celebrated its 15-year anniversary last month, a milestone that underscores its durability in a cable landscape where hosts and formats churn constantly.
Compagno is not a career broadcaster. Before joining Fox News as a contributor in 2018, she practiced law in criminal defense and civil litigation. She served as a federal managing attorney and Acting Director at the Social Security Administration, the sprawling agency that processes benefits for tens of millions of Americans. Earlier in her legal career, she worked as a Senior Judge Judicial Extern for the late Judge John T. Noonan at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the federal appellate court that covers nine western states.
Her path to television took an unconventional detour through professional sports. Compagno captained the Oakland Raiders' cheerleading squad and later served as an NFL Ambassador, representing the league overseas. That combination, federal courtroom experience, agency management, and professional athletics, gives her a background unlike any other host on the current Fox News lineup.
Fox News has continued to invest in talent across its programming slate, including its streaming platform Fox Nation, where personalities like Jeff Foxworthy have headlined original specials.
In 2024, Compagno published "Under His Wings" through Fox News Books. The title became a New York Times bestseller, adding a publishing credential to an already varied career.
The move creates a ripple effect beyond "The Five." Compagno's departure from "Outnumbered" opens a vacancy on a show she helped anchor for five years. Fox News said rotating personalities will fill the seat in the interim, but the network has not named candidates or set a timeline for choosing a permanent replacement.
"The Five" itself announced the addition on August 25, making the news official on air. The show's existing liberal-seat rotation, filled by Harold Ford Jr. and Jessica Tarlov, remains unchanged, preserving the ideological mix that has defined the program's format since its launch.
Fox News also reported a 29-percent surge in unique digital visitors during the second quarter, a sign that the network's audience growth extends beyond the television screen. Compagno's promotion lands at a moment when the brand is expanding, not contracting.
Cable news is a business built on personalities, and the networks that keep their best talent in front of the camera tend to keep their audiences. Fox News just put one of its strongest assets in its highest-profile chair, and the ratings say the audience is already there waiting.
