Jill Rhodes spent more than two decades out of the spotlight despite being married to one of American television’s most recognisable faces. As the former wife of Fox News host Sean Hannity, she built her own career in journalism long before her husband became a household name, and she has remained a private figure even after their marriage ended. This article traces her background, career, marriage, and life after divorce, using verified reporting rather than tabloid speculation.
Quick Bio Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jill Rhodes |
| Date of birth | 27 August 1962 |
| Birthplace | Montgomery, Alabama, US |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Alabama (Journalism) |
| Occupation | Political columnist, journalist, book and TV editor |
| Best known for | Former wife of Sean Hannity |
| Spouse | Sean Hannity (married 1993, divorced 2019/2020) |
| Children | Two (son and daughter) |
| Current relationship status | Divorced, co-parenting amicably |
| Public profile | Private; no known social media accounts |
Early Life and Education
Jill Rhodes was born on 27 August 1962 in Montgomery, Alabama. She grew up in the state and went on to study journalism at the University of Alabama, where she developed the writing and reporting skills that would later define her early career.
After finishing her studies, Rhodes moved into local political journalism, settling in Huntsville, Alabama. This city would later play a central role in her personal life, as it was where she first crossed paths with Sean Hannity.
Career in Journalism
Rhodes began her professional life as a political columnist for the Huntsville Times, covering local politics and civic affairs. Her reporting on a contentious Huntsville mayoral race in the early 1990s brought her into contact with Hannity, who was then working as a local radio host covering the same story.
Following her marriage, Rhodes shifted her career rather than abandoning it. In an interview with the New York Times in 1998, Hannity noted that his wife had moved from reporting into book editing. She later worked in television editing roles, though she largely avoided public attention throughout this period, choosing to keep her professional life low-key while raising the couple’s children.
Meeting Sean Hannity and Their Marriage
Jill Rhodes met Sean Hannity in Huntsville in the early 1990s while both were covering the same local political story, she as a newspaper columnist and he as a radio broadcaster. The pair married on 9 January 1993, beginning a marriage that would last for more than two decades.
Hannity later credited Rhodes publicly for her support during his rise in broadcasting. In his 2002 book, Let Freedom Ring: Winning the War of Liberty Over Liberalism, he dedicated the work to Rhodes and their children, describing his family as the reason his career felt worthwhile.
Family Life and Children
Sean Hannity and Jill Rhodes had two children together, a son and a daughter, born in 1999 and 2002 respectively. The family settled on Long Island, New York, as Hannity’s broadcasting career grew.
Throughout their marriage, Rhodes kept a deliberately low public profile compared with her husband. Friends and colleagues have described her as a steady, hands-on parent who prioritised her children’s lives over public visibility, a trait that continued well after her divorce.
Divorce and Separation
Sean Hannity and Jill Rhodes separated several years before formally confirming their divorce. According to a joint statement given to USA Today in 2020, the couple had reached an amicable separation agreement more than four years earlier, meaning their marriage had effectively ended around 2015 even though the legal divorce was finalised later.
In their statement, the former couple said they remained committed to co-parenting and asked the public to respect their privacy. They did not disclose the specific reasons for the split, and neither has commented publicly on the matter since.
Life After the Divorce
Despite their divorce, Rhodes and Hannity have maintained a notably cordial relationship. Sources close to the family told Page Six that the pair still attend family dinners together and support their children at sporting events such as tennis tournaments.
Rhodes has continued to avoid the public eye, holding no known social media presence and giving no interviews about her personal life. Hannity became engaged to his Fox & Friends co-host, Ainsley Earhardt, in December 2024, and reports indicate that Rhodes remains on good terms with her former husband as he moves into this new chapter.
Conclusion
Jill Rhodes built a career of her own in journalism long before her marriage to Sean Hannity made her a subject of public curiosity. Although the couple’s marriage ended after more than two decades, their amicable co-parenting arrangement and Rhodes’ continued preference for privacy say more about her character than any headline ever could.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Jill Rhodes?
Jill Rhodes is an American journalist best known as the former wife of Fox News host Sean Hannity. She worked as a political columnist and later as a book and television editor.
2. How did Jill Rhodes meet Sean Hannity?
The pair met in Huntsville, Alabama, in the early 1990s while both covering the same local mayoral race, Rhodes as a newspaper columnist and Hannity as a radio host.
3. Why did Jill Rhodes and Sean Hannity divorce?
Neither has publicly disclosed the exact reason. Their joint statement to USA Today only confirmed an amicable separation focused on their children’s wellbeing.
4. Does Jill Rhodes have children?
Yes, she shares a son and a daughter with Sean Hannity, born in 1999 and 2002.
5. What is Jill Rhodes doing now?
She maintains a private life away from the media, with no public social media presence, while continuing to co-parent her children alongside Hannity.
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