In September 2026, Emily Compagno took a seat that most cable news personalities spend whole careers chasing: a permanent chair at the table of The Five, one of the most-watched programs in all of cable news. The road that led her there is one of the most unusual in television.
She has been a criminal defense attorney, the captain of an NFL cheerleading squad and a USO morale booster for troops in Iraq. She did much of it at the same time. Here is how a Navy doctor’s daughter from the Bay Area became one of the most recognizable faces on Fox News.
| Quick Facts | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Emily Rose Compagno |
| Date of Birth | November 9, 1979 |
| Age | 46 (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Oakland, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Washington (BA), University of San Francisco School of Law (JD) |
| Profession | TV host, attorney and legal analyst |
| Known For | Co-host of The Five on Fox News |
| Net Worth as of 2026 | $2 million to $5 million (estimate) |
Early Life and Education
Emily Rose Compagno was born on November 9, 1979, at Naval Hospital Oakland in California. Her father, John Compagno, was a U.S. Navy commander and physician, and her mother, Katherine, raised the family in nearby El Cerrito. She grew up alongside two sisters, Natalie and Julietta.
That military household shaped her early ambitions. At the University of Washington, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, she spent two years as a U.S. Air Force ROTC cadet. The discipline stuck, even after she chose a courtroom over a cockpit.
She went on to the University of San Francisco School of Law and graduated with her J.D. in 2006. Along the way she served as president of the school’s Federalist Society chapter and as articles editor of its Intellectual Property Bulletin.
Most law graduates spend their first working years buried in case files. Emily Compagno spent hers in case files and on an NFL sideline.
Emily Compagno Career: From Courtroom to Cable News
Criminal Defense Attorney
After passing the California bar, Compagno worked as a criminal defense attorney in San Francisco. She later passed the Washington bar as well. That trial experience is the foundation of everything she does on air today, from breaking down jury verdicts to explaining why a high-profile case is unfolding the way it is.
Captain of the Raiderettes
Here is the part of her resume that surprises most viewers. While practicing law, Compagno also served as captain of the Raiderettes, the cheerleading squad of the Oakland Raiders. The NFL later chose her as a league ambassador, a role that took her to Beijing and Shanghai to promote the game.
She was also one of five NFL cheerleaders selected by the USO to visit U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Kuwait. For the daughter of a Navy officer, that trip carried real personal weight, and her support for service members remains a constant theme in her work.
Joining Fox News in 2018
Compagno joined Fox News in 2018 as a contributor and legal analyst. She quickly became a semi-regular fill-in co-host on The Five and appeared on Gutfeld!, where her mix of legal precision and quick humor stood out.
Her first big hosting break came on the streaming side. In March 2020, her series Crimes That Changed America debuted on Fox Nation, followed by Fox Nation titles including Under His Wings, Hero Dogs, Weapons of War and American Vampires. True crime became a signature lane, and in February 2023 she was announced as host of The FOX True Crime Podcast on Fox News Radio.
If that genre is your weak spot, our profile of Memphis homicide detective Caroline Mason shows the real investigative work behind shows like The First 48.
Outnumbered and Big Live Events
In January 2021, Fox News named Compagno a co-host of Outnumbered alongside Harris Faulkner and Kayleigh McEnany. The daytime panel gave her a daily national platform for the first time.
The network also trusted her with its marquee live broadcasts. She hosted Fox’s All-American New Year from Times Square in 2021 and 2022, and in 2025 she co-hosted coverage of the Army 250 Parade with Lawrence B. Jones.
Permanent Co-Host of The Five
On August 24, 2026, Fox News announced that Compagno would become a permanent co-host of The Five. She took her new seat on September 8, 2026, joining Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino and Jesse Watters, while Harold Ford Jr. and Jessica Tarlov continue to rotate in the panel’s liberal chair. To take the job, she left Outnumbered.
“I couldn’t be more honored to join The Five,” Compagno said, calling it “the most fun show on television.” Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott praised her as “a highly accomplished host whose energy and talent have made her a standout across Fox News Media.”
For U.S. viewers, The Five airs weekdays on Fox News. Cord-cutters can watch it live through streaming TV services that carry the channel, such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV, while her specials live on Fox Nation.
So who is Emily Compagno when the studio lights go dark?
Personal Life
Compagno lives in New York City, where Fox News is headquartered. She is Roman Catholic, and her family’s military background still shapes the causes she chooses to support.
Away from the anchor desk, she is active with nonprofits that support U.S. veterans, law enforcement and police K9 programs. That last cause shows up in her work too, most clearly in her Fox Nation series Hero Dogs.
When it comes to romance, she keeps the details private. Several websites name a husband for her, but their claims contradict one another and she has not confirmed them publicly. Celebiograph has not been able to verify those reports, so we are not repeating them here.
Lawyer, cheerleader, host and now a permanent prime-time panelist. That kind of range tends to show up in the paycheck.
Emily Compagno Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1979 | Born November 9 at Naval Hospital Oakland, California |
| 2006 | Earns J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law |
| Before 2018 | Works as a criminal defense attorney in San Francisco and captains the Oakland Raiders’ Raiderettes |
| 2018 | Joins Fox News as a contributor and legal analyst |
| 2020 | Crimes That Changed America debuts on Fox Nation in March |
| 2021 | Named co-host of Outnumbered in January; hosts Fox’s All-American New Year from Times Square |
| 2022 | Hosts All-American New Year from Times Square again |
| 2023 | Announced as host of The FOX True Crime Podcast in February |
| 2025 | Co-hosts Fox News coverage of the Army 250 Parade |
| 2026 | Named permanent co-host of The Five on August 24; joins the panel September 8 |
Net Worth as of 2026
Emily Compagno’s net worth is estimated at $2 million to $5 million as of 2026. Her income has grown steadily across eight years at Fox News, from contributor fees to a daily co-host role on Outnumbered and now a permanent seat on The Five. Fox Nation series, her podcast and live event hosting add further income on top of her earlier earnings as a practicing attorney. Fox News does not disclose talent salaries, so any figure is an estimate. Please note that net worth figures are estimates based on publicly available data and are subject to change.
Emily Compagno: Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Emily Compagno?
Emily Compagno is 46 years old. She was born on November 9, 1979, in Oakland, California, and she turns 47 in November 2026.
What show is Emily Compagno on now?
Emily Compagno is a permanent co-host of The Five on Fox News. She joined the panel full-time on September 8, 2026, after Fox News announced the move on August 24, 2026, and she left Outnumbered as part of the change.
Was Emily Compagno an NFL cheerleader?
Yes. Emily Compagno was captain of the Raiderettes, the Oakland Raiders cheerleading squad, while she was also practicing law. The NFL later named her a league ambassador, and she visited U.S. troops in Iraq and Kuwait with the USO.
Is Emily Compagno a real lawyer?
Yes. She earned her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2006, passed the California bar and worked as a criminal defense attorney in San Francisco. She later passed the Washington bar too.
Is Emily Compagno married?
Emily Compagno keeps her romantic life private. Several websites name a husband, but their claims contradict one another and she has not confirmed them, so Celebiograph does not treat any of them as verified.
What is Emily Compagno’s net worth?
Emily Compagno’s net worth is estimated at $2 million to $5 million as of 2026. Most of it comes from her Fox News and Fox Nation work, built on top of her earlier career as an attorney.
Conclusion
Emily Compagno’s rise makes sense once you see the full picture. Courtroom training gave her credibility, the sideline gave her poise, and eight years of steady work at Fox News earned her a permanent seat on one of cable’s biggest shows. In 2026, she is no longer the fill-in. She is part of the lineup.
If you follow political and news personalities, read our profile of White House aide Natalie Harp, a former cable news anchor of her own, or see how CNBC’s Kelly Evans built her career in business news.
Explore more celebrity biographies, net worth estimates, and career stories at Celebiograph.
Sources: Wikipedia, Barrett Media, Deadline