Emily Compagno Named New Co-Host of The Five on Fox News
Fox News announced on Monday that Emily Compagno will join The Five as a permanent co-host starting September 8. According to Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott, Compagno steps into the role following a 15-year milestone for the top-rated cable news program, which averaged 3.6 million total viewers in the second quarter of 2026.
The daytime panel show, which recently celebrated its anniversary, holds the title of the most-watched program across cable news, capturing over 64% of all viewers in the 5 p.m. ET timeslot, per Fox News. Compagno fills a permanent slot on the panel that was previously occupied by Jeanine Pirro, who departed the network in May 2025 after an appointment by Donald Trump as U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia.
Lineup Changes and Network Strategy
As Compagno transitions into her new seat beside regular co-hosts Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino, and Jesse Watters, along with rotating liberal-seat contributors Harold Ford Jr. and Jessica Tarlov, the network faces an immediate scheduling shift. Compagno will step down from her role as co-host of the noon ET program Outnumbered. Fox News announced that a rotating lineup of network personalities will fill her former seat until a permanent replacement is named.
“Fifteen years later, ‘The Five’ remains a powerhouse and appointment viewing for millions of Americans,” Suzanne Scott said in a statement. “Emily is a highly accomplished host whose energy and talent have made her a standout across FOX News Media.”
Background and Audience Demographics
Compagno initially joined Fox News as a contributor in 2018 before taking over as co-host of Outnumbered in 2021. Beyond her television work, she authored the 2024 New York Times bestseller Under His Wings, published via Fox News Books. Her professional background includes practicing criminal defense and civil litigation, serving as a federal managing attorney and Acting Director at the Social Security Administration, and acting as a Senior Judge Judicial Extern for the late Hon. John T. Noonan at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She also cheered for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and served as an NFL Ambassador abroad.
Data provided by Fox News indicates that The Five draws 322,000 viewers within the coveted 25-54 demographic, outperforming traditional broadcast evening news broadcasts and pulling in more Democratic viewers than CNN and MS NOW, alongside ranking as the top program among independent voters.