Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Sean Hannity

Discover the career path of Sean Hannity, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Sean Hannity is a prominent American conservative media personality. He is known for hosting "The Sean Hannity Show," a nationally syndicated radio program, and a political commentary show on Fox News since 2009. Earlier in his career at Fox News, he co-hosted "Hannity & Colmes" with Alan Colmes from 1996 to 2009, which was a debate-style show. His work generally reflects a conservative viewpoint on political and social issues. He is also an author.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1989: Hosted first talk radio show

In 1989, Sean Hannity hosted his first talk radio show at KCSB-FM, the volunteer college station at UC Santa Barbara.

1989: Talk Show Host at UC Santa Barbara

In 1989, Sean Hannity volunteered as a talk show host at UC Santa Barbara.

1992: Moved to WGST in Atlanta

In 1992, Sean Hannity moved to WGST in Atlanta, filling the slot vacated by Neal Boortz.

September 1996: Hired by Fox News

In September 1996, Roger Ailes hired Sean Hannity to host a television program, which debuted as Hannity & Colmes.

1996: Co-hosted Hannity & Colmes on Fox

In 1996, Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes co-hosted Hannity & Colmes on Fox.

January 1997: Full-time at WABC

In January 1997, WABC put Sean Hannity on the air full-time, giving him the late-night time slot.

January 1998: Hannity on WABC

From January 1998 Sean Hannity was on WABC's afternoon time slot.

September 10, 2001: The Sean Hannity Show National Syndication

On September 10, 2001, The Sean Hannity Show began national syndication on more than five hundred stations nationwide.

2003: Freedom Concerts Started

From 2003 Sean Hannity hosted country music-themed "Freedom Concerts" to raise money for charity.

2004: Contract extension with ABC Radio

In 2004, Sean Hannity signed a $25 million five-year contract extension with ABC Radio (now Citadel Media) to continue the show until 2009.

2006: The program was made available via Armed Forces Radio Network

In 2006, The Sean Hannity Show was made available via Armed Forces Radio Network.

January 2007: Extension with Clear Channel Communications

In January 2007, Clear Channel Communications signed a groupwide three-year extension with Sean Hannity on more than eighty stations.

January 2007: Hannity's America Debut

In January 2007, Sean Hannity began a new Sunday night television show on Fox News, Hannity's America.

January 2008: Departure of Alan Colmes and Merging of Hannity & Colmes show into Hannity

In January 2008, Alan Colmes announced his departure from Hannity & Colmes, leading to Sean Hannity merging the Hannity & Colmes show into Hannity.

November 2008: Colmes announced his departure from Hannity & Colmes

In November 2008, Alan Colmes announced his departure from Hannity & Colmes.

2008: Contract renewal with Citadel Communications

In the summer of 2008, Sean Hannity was signed for a $100 million five-year contract with Citadel Communications.

January 9, 2009: Hannity took over the time slot with his own new show, Hannity

On January 9, 2009, after the final broadcast of Hannity & Colmes, Sean Hannity took over the time slot with his own new show, Hannity.

2009: Contract end with ABC Radio

In 2009, Sean Hannity's contract ended with ABC Radio.

2009: Hosted self-titled program on Fox News

Since 2009, Sean Hannity has hosted a self-titled political commentary program on Fox News.

September 2013: Contract with Premiere Networks

In September 2013, Sean Hannity signed a long-term contract to remain with Premiere Networks.

2013: End of WABC show

In 2013, Sean Hannity left WABC in New York.

January 2014: Hosted the WOR Show

Since January 2014, Sean Hannity has hosted the 3:00–6:00 p.m. time slot on WOR in New York City.

2014: Signed contracts to air on Salem Communications stations

In 2014, Sean Hannity signed contracts to air on several Salem Communications stations including WDTK Detroit, WIND Chicago, WWRC (now WQOF) Washington, D.C., and KSKY Dallas.

2014: Joined WOR

Since 2014, Sean Hannity has worked at WOR.

August 2016: Hannity as Trump Advisor

In August 2016, Jim Rutenberg reported that Hannity was acting as an advisor to Donald Trump's campaign, offering strategy and messaging suggestions. Hannity responded that he wanted Trump to be president and did not claim to be a journalist.

2016: Close Relationship with Trump

In 2016, Sean Hannity developed a close relationship with Donald Trump during the election, which grew even closer during Trump's presidency. They spoke frequently, discussing Hannity's show, the special counsel investigation, and White House staff. Hannity echoed Trump's attacks on the media and encouraged actions like shutting down the government for border wall funding.

2016: Early Supporter of Donald Trump

In 2016, Sean Hannity was an early supporter of Donald Trump in the presidential election and often acted as an unofficial spokesman for him.

May 2017: Offer to Assange to Guest Host Show

In May 2017, Sean Hannity offered Julian Assange the opportunity to guest host his Fox News TV show.

May 17, 2017: Hannity's coverage of the Mueller investigation begins

On May 17, 2017, following Robert Mueller's appointment as special counsel, Sean Hannity began intensely covering the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election on his show. According to a Media Matters review, Hannity devoted a significant portion of his program to criticizing Mueller and the media's coverage of the probe.

September 2017: Hannity hosts Bill O'Reilly on his show after O'Reilly's firing from Fox News

In September 2017, Sean Hannity hosted Bill O'Reilly on his show, several months after O'Reilly was fired from Fox News due to multiple sexual harassment allegations. During the interview, O'Reilly criticized liberal media watchdog groups and expressed regret for not fighting harder when these groups targeted his advertisers.

December 2017: Hannity defines himself as a journalist

In December 2017, Sean Hannity defined himself as a journalist, specifically an advocacy or opinion journalist.

March 2018: Listeners per week

As of March 2018, The Sean Hannity Show is heard by more than 13.5 million listeners a week.

April 9, 2018: Federal Agents Search Michael Cohen's Office

On April 9, 2018, federal agents searched the office and residence of Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's personal attorney. Sean Hannity defended Cohen on air, criticizing the action as an abuse of power.

April 2018: Sharing a lawyer with Trump

In April 2018, it was revealed that Sean Hannity shared a lawyer, Michael Cohen, with Donald Trump. Hannity had not disclosed this conflict of interest while defending Cohen and criticizing his investigators on Fox News, raising journalistic ethics concerns.

April 16, 2018: Hannity Revealed as Cohen's Client

On April 16, 2018, in a court hearing, it was revealed that Sean Hannity was one of Michael Cohen's clients, a fact Hannity had not disclosed while covering Cohen on his show.

May 16, 2018: Hannity's show coverage of Mueller investigation

From Robert Mueller's appointment (May 17, 2017) to May 16, 2018, Sean Hannity had 487 segments substantially devoted to Mueller (approximately two per episode), opened his program with Mueller 152 times (approximately three times per week), and the content of his show was highly critical of the probe and the media's coverage of the probe

August 2018: Sekulow and Giuliani Host Hannity's Radio Show

In August 2018, Jay Sekulow and Rudy Giuliani, both personal lawyers for Donald Trump, hosted Sean Hannity's radio show, using the platform to defend Trump and promote the administration's arguments.

November 4, 2018: Hannity announced as 'special guest appearance' at Trump rally

On November 4, 2018, Donald Trump's website announced that Sean Hannity would make a "special guest appearance" with Trump at a midterm campaign rally the following night in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Hannity initially denied he would be on stage campaigning with the President, but did speak at Trump's lectern on stage at the rally, mocking the "fake news" media.

2018: Most-watched and most-listened-to hosts

According to Forbes, by 2018, Sean Hannity had become one of the most-watched hosts in cable news and most-listened-to hosts in talk radio, due in part to his closeness and access to Trump.

2018: Forbes Estimate of Annual Income

In 2018, Forbes estimated Sean Hannity's annual income to be $36 million.

July 2021: Hannity Encourages Consideration of Vaccination

In July 2021, Sean Hannity encouraged his audience to consider vaccination against COVID-19 on live television.

January 2023: Comer begins investigating the Bidens

In January 2023, James Comer began investigating the Bidens but found no evidence of wrongdoing by the president.

October 2023: Staffer Emailed Republican Lawmakers

In October 2023, a staffer on Sean Hannity's show emailed Republican lawmakers, questioning why they weren't supporting Jim Jordan, Donald Trump's choice for House Speaker.

December 2023: House votes to initiate impeachment inquiry

In December 2023, despite a lack of evidence, the Republican-controlled House voted unanimously to initiate an impeachment inquiry against President Biden.

2023: Promotion of Allegations Against Joe and Hunter Biden

Throughout 2023, Sean Hannity heavily promoted allegations that President Joe Biden acted corruptly through his son Hunter Biden's business dealings, referring to them as the "Biden crime family." He discussed bribery allegations on his program 85 times and hosted James Comer 43 times to discuss the House Oversight Committee investigation.

February 2024: FBI informant indicted

In February 2024, the FBI informant who made bribery allegations against President Biden was indicted on charges of fabricating the story and was allegedly associated with Russian intelligence.

March 2024: Impeachment inquiry winds down

By March 2024, lacking evidence and Republican support, the impeachment inquiry against President Biden was winding down.

April 2024: Hannity ceases to mention inquiry

By April 2024, Sean Hannity had not mentioned the Biden inquiry or hosted James Comer on his program for a month.

2024: Move to Florida

In 2024, Sean Hannity announced his move from Long Island, New York, to Florida and that he would be broadcasting The Sean Hannity Show and Hannity from his new home permanently.

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