Dean announced her decision last month in a video posted to X, but Friday marked her final appearance on the morning program. The senior meteorologist rose to prominence over more than two decades at the network, becoming a familiar presence in millions of American households.
Her Decision to Leave
Dean said the physical toll of waking up at 2:30 a.m. while managing multiple sclerosis had become unsustainable. “Living with an illness, we don’t talk about this on TV, but getting up at 2:30 in the morning is a really tough thing, right? It’s tough on your body,” she said during her farewell.
She stressed that stepping away now gave her an opportunity to focus on her health. “I think I caught it at a time where I can repair myself a little bit. And part of that is, unfortunately, getting away from a job that was very stressful in a lot of ways, even though I loved it so much,” Dean said.
A Personal Journey on Air
Throughout her tenure at Fox News, Dean shared major life milestones with viewers, including her engagement, the births of her two sons, and the loss of her in-laws during the COVID-19 pandemic. She expressed deep gratitude to the audience that invited her into their homes each morning, recalling interactions with viewers outside the studios and during weather segments.
Dean became emotional while thanking her husband for the sacrifices he made throughout her career. She said he carried “the lion’s share” of responsibility for raising their two sons during the years she worked while most families slept.
The Emotional Goodbye
As she reflected on her departure, Dean described the experience as grieving the loss of a second family. “When you leave a career, a job, there is a grieving period because this has been part of my life. You guys have been my second family… turning the page on this chapter has been really heavy,” she said.
Despite the difficulty of leaving, Dean emphasized gratitude rather than regret about her 22-year run. Fox News has not announced whether Dean will continue with the network in another capacity.
