Gretchen Carlson

Gretchen Carlson is an American television journalist, author, and women’s rights advocate.

Gretchen Carlson is an American television journalist, author, and women’s rights advocate. She is best known for co-hosting Fox News’s "Fox & Friends" and hosting "The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson," and for her public sexual harassment complaint against Fox News chairman Roger Ailes. She was crowned Miss America 1989 and has written books including "Getting Real" and "Be Fierce."

Early life and education

Gretchen Elizabeth Carlson was born on June 21, 1966, in Anoka, Minnesota. She attended Stanford University and also studied at Oxford University. A classical violinist, she won the Miss America crown in 1989, becoming the first musician to hold the title.

Broadcasting career

Carlson began her career in local television news before joining CBS News. She later moved to Fox News, where she co-hosted "Fox & Friends" from 2005 to 2013. From 2013 to 2016, she hosted her own program, "The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson."

Harassment complaint and advocacy

In 2016, Carlson filed a sexual harassment complaint against Fox News chairman Roger Ailes. The case led to Ailes's departure from the network and is widely seen as a precursor to the #MeToo movement. Following the complaint, Carlson became a prominent advocate for workplace equality and survivors of harassment.

Books and public roles

Carlson is the author of "Getting Real" and the bestseller "Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back." She served as chairwoman of the Miss America Organization from 2018 to 2019. She also co-founded Lift Our Voices, an organization focused on ending workplace harassment and forced arbitration.