Gretchen Carlson
Encyclopedia
Gretchen Elizabeth Carlson (born June 21, 1966) is an American
television
personality who currently co-hosts the Fox News morning show Fox & Friends
along with Steve Doocy
and Brian Kilmeade
. An accomplished violinist and winner of the 1989
Miss America
Pageant while representing her native Minnesota
, Carlson graduated from Stanford University
before embarking on a career as a television journalist. Gaining experience as anchor and reporter for several local network affiliates before joining CBS News
as correspondent in 2000, she later became co-host of the Saturday Early Show
. In 2005 Carlson moved to Fox News and became the regular co-host of Fox & Friends a year later. Carlson continues to work with the Miss America pageant and serves as a national celebrity spokesperson for March of Dimes
.
and graduated from Anoka-Hennepin School District 11
's Anoka High School
, where she was the 1984 class valedictorian
. One of her childhood nannies was Michele Bachmann
, the future Republican
congresswoman. Growing up, Carlson was an accomplished violinist winning numerous local and national competitions. She performed as a soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra as an 8th grader and was the Concertmistress for the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony. She spent five summers studying at the prestigious Aspen Music Festival in Aspen, Colorado. Winner of several Concerto Competitions at the MacPhail School of Music in Minneapolis, she was also featured as a soloist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
In 1984, she was elected as one of the Anoka Homecoming attendants and was named Miss Teen Minnesota and was first runner-up in the 1984 Miss Teen USA
National competition. Carlson won the title of Miss Minnesota
in 1989 and became the third woman from Minnesota to win the Miss America
title. For the talent competition, Carlson played Zigeunerweisen
, the violin
composition of Sarasate
.
Carlson graduated cum laude from Stanford University
in 1990, with a degree in sociology (organizational behavior). While at Stanford University, she studied abroad at Oxford University.
On October 4, 1997, Carlson married sports agent Casey Close
, whose clientele includes Ryan Howard
, Derek Jeter
and formerly Josh Hamilton. They have two children. In September, 2011, Carlson was named to the inaugural class of the Anoka High School Hall of Fame.
, on CBS
, along with Russ Mitchell
. She joined CBS News as a correspondent in 2000, and began working on The Early Show in 2002. Before her tenure at CBS, Carlson served as a weekend anchor and reporter for KXAS-TV in Dallas, Texas
, was an anchor and reporter at WOIO
-TV in Cleveland, Ohio
, and for WCPO-TV, in Cincinnati. She began her television career in Richmond, Virginia
, as a political reporter for WRIC-TV
. She began her media career in a franchise called Neighborhood News.
Carlson was moved to Fox & Friends
initially as a weekend substitute host. But on September 25, 2006, a shifting of anchors, which included E.D. Hill moving to the 10 a.m. hour of Fox News Live
opened a weekday slot on Fox & Friends, which Carlson filled. She co-hosts the show with Steve Doocy
and Brian Kilmeade
.
She announced on Fox & Friends on June 9, 2009 (also repeated on Glenn Beck
's Fox News television program the same day) that her parents' car dealership had been selected for closing as part of the General Motors
reorganization and bankruptcy on June 1, 2009. The dealership, Lee Carlson's Main Motors, has been operating since 1919, and is still open.
, Counselor to then-President George W. Bush
, Carlson labeled Democratic U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy
a "hostile enemy" of the United States, "right here on the home front." Bartlett replied "Well, we don't view Ted Kennedy as a hostile enemy. We do view him to be an open and often critic of the war. He has been from the very outset. I don't think that's anything new." Keith Olbermann
chose her as that day's "Worst Person in the World" on that night's broadcast of his show Countdown, while Howard Kurtz
of the Washington Post called it "the Fox News exchange of the day", and asked, "Doesn't the Constitution allow for dissent?"
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
personality who currently co-hosts the Fox News morning show Fox & Friends
Fox & Friends
Fox & Friends is an American morning television show on the Fox News Channel.-History:The show begins at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time with the latest Fox News Live headlines and analyzes the news of the morning...
along with Steve Doocy
Steve Doocy
Stephen James "Steve" Doocy is an American network-television personality on the Fox News Channel, journalist, and a best selling author.-Early life:...
and Brian Kilmeade
Brian Kilmeade
Brian Kilmeade a Fox News Channel television personality. Weekdays, he co-hosts Fox's morning show, Fox & Friends, along with Steve Doocy and Gretchen Carlson. Kilmeade also co-hosts Brian and the Judge, a talk-news radio show on Fox News Radio, with Judge Andrew P. Napolitano...
. An accomplished violinist and winner of the 1989
Miss America 1989
Miss America 1989, the 68th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 10, 1988 and was televised by the NBC Network.- Results :*Miss America 1989 Gretchen Carlson...
Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
Pageant while representing her native Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, Carlson graduated from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
before embarking on a career as a television journalist. Gaining experience as anchor and reporter for several local network affiliates before joining CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
as correspondent in 2000, she later became co-host of the Saturday Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
. In 2005 Carlson moved to Fox News and became the regular co-host of Fox & Friends a year later. Carlson continues to work with the Miss America pageant and serves as a national celebrity spokesperson for March of Dimes
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
.
Early life
Carlson was raised in Anoka, MinnesotaAnoka, Minnesota
At the 2000 census, there were 18,076 people, 7,262 households and 4,408 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,709.0 per square mile . There were 7,398 housing units at an average density of 1,108.7 per square mile...
and graduated from Anoka-Hennepin School District 11
Anoka-Hennepin School District 11
The Anoka-Hennepin School District 11 is a school district in Minnesota, northwest of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The district serves 13 communities: All of Anoka, Champlin and Coon Rapids, and parts of Andover, Blaine, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Dayton, Fridley, Ham Lake, Nowthen, Oak Grove...
's Anoka High School
Anoka High School
Anoka High School is a four year public high school located in Anoka, Minnesota on 3939 7th Avenue N.-School overview:Anoka High School is part of Anoka-Hennepin School District 11 and is one of five regular high schools in the district...
, where she was the 1984 class valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
. One of her childhood nannies was Michele Bachmann
Michele Bachmann
Michele Marie Bachmann is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing , a post she has held since 2007. The district includes several of the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities, such as Woodbury, and Blaine as well as Stillwater and St. Cloud.She is currently a...
, the future Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
congresswoman. Growing up, Carlson was an accomplished violinist winning numerous local and national competitions. She performed as a soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra as an 8th grader and was the Concertmistress for the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony. She spent five summers studying at the prestigious Aspen Music Festival in Aspen, Colorado. Winner of several Concerto Competitions at the MacPhail School of Music in Minneapolis, she was also featured as a soloist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
In 1984, she was elected as one of the Anoka Homecoming attendants and was named Miss Teen Minnesota and was first runner-up in the 1984 Miss Teen USA
Miss Teen USA 1984
Miss Teen USA 1984, the 2nd Miss Teen USA pageant, was televised live from Memphis, Tennessee on 3 April, 1984. At the conclusion of the final competition, Cherise Haugen of Illinois was crowned by outgoing queen Ruth Zakarian of New York....
National competition. Carlson won the title of Miss Minnesota
Miss Minnesota
The Miss Minnesota competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Minnesota in the Miss America pageant. Minnesota has won the Miss America crown on three occasions. The last, was Gretchen Carlson, in 1989.- Winners :...
in 1989 and became the third woman from Minnesota to win the Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
title. For the talent competition, Carlson played Zigeunerweisen
Zigeunerweisen
Zigeunerweisen , Op. 20, is a musical composition for violin and orchestra written in 1878 by the Spanish composer and virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate and premiered during the same year in Leipzig...
, the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
composition of Sarasate
Pablo de Sarasate
Pablo Martín Melitón de Sarasate y Navascués was a Navarrese Spanish violinist and composer of the Romantic period.-Career:Pablo Sarasate was born in Pamplona, Navarre, the son of an artillery bandmaster...
.
Carlson graduated cum laude from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1990, with a degree in sociology (organizational behavior). While at Stanford University, she studied abroad at Oxford University.
On October 4, 1997, Carlson married sports agent Casey Close
Casey Close
Casey Richard Close is a sports agent and former college baseball player.-University of Michigan:Close was born in Columbus, Ohio and attended the University of Michigan on a baseball scholarship. He played for the Michigan Wolverines baseball team from 1983 to 1986...
, whose clientele includes Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard
Ryan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nicknamed "The Big Piece", Howard stands and weighs . He bats and throws left-handed....
, Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter
Derek Sanderson Jeter is an American baseball shortstop who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. A twelve-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter's clubhouse presence, on-field leadership, hitting ability, and baserunning have made him a central...
and formerly Josh Hamilton. They have two children. In September, 2011, Carlson was named to the inaugural class of the Anoka High School Hall of Fame.
Career
Carlson was previously the co-anchor of the Saturday Early ShowThe Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
, on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, along with Russ Mitchell
Russ Mitchell
Russell Mitchell is an American journalist for CBS, anchor of the Early Show on Saturday, and weekend anchor of the CBS Evening News.-Early years:...
. She joined CBS News as a correspondent in 2000, and began working on The Early Show in 2002. Before her tenure at CBS, Carlson served as a weekend anchor and reporter for KXAS-TV in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, was an anchor and reporter at WOIO
WOIO
WOIO, virtual channel 19 , is the CBS affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio. It is licensed to the nearby suburb of Shaker Heights. WOIO is owned by Raycom Media and its sister station to MyNetworkTV affiliate WUAB . The two stations share a studio facility in Cleveland and WOIO's transmitter is located in...
-TV in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and for WCPO-TV, in Cincinnati. She began her television career in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, as a political reporter for WRIC-TV
WRIC-TV
WRIC-TV, virtual channel 8 , is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Richmond, Virginia market. It is owned by Young Broadcasting. The station is licensed to nearby Petersburg, while its studios are just off the Powhite Parkway extension in the Arboretum office park in western...
. She began her media career in a franchise called Neighborhood News.
Carlson was moved to Fox & Friends
Fox & Friends
Fox & Friends is an American morning television show on the Fox News Channel.-History:The show begins at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time with the latest Fox News Live headlines and analyzes the news of the morning...
initially as a weekend substitute host. But on September 25, 2006, a shifting of anchors, which included E.D. Hill moving to the 10 a.m. hour of Fox News Live
Fox News Live
Fox News Live was an American news/talk television program, the hard-news daytime programming of the Fox News Channel. In addition, it also referred to the short headline segments of nearly every hour daily.-About:...
opened a weekday slot on Fox & Friends, which Carlson filled. She co-hosts the show with Steve Doocy
Steve Doocy
Stephen James "Steve" Doocy is an American network-television personality on the Fox News Channel, journalist, and a best selling author.-Early life:...
and Brian Kilmeade
Brian Kilmeade
Brian Kilmeade a Fox News Channel television personality. Weekdays, he co-hosts Fox's morning show, Fox & Friends, along with Steve Doocy and Gretchen Carlson. Kilmeade also co-hosts Brian and the Judge, a talk-news radio show on Fox News Radio, with Judge Andrew P. Napolitano...
.
She announced on Fox & Friends on June 9, 2009 (also repeated on Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
's Fox News television program the same day) that her parents' car dealership had been selected for closing as part of the General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
reorganization and bankruptcy on June 1, 2009. The dealership, Lee Carlson's Main Motors, has been operating since 1919, and is still open.
Controversy
On Fox & Friends, during a January 10, 2007 interview with Dan BartlettDan Bartlett
Daniel Joseph Bartlett was a Counselor to the President in the Bush administration. The position was previously held by Karen Hughes, who vacated the post in 2002. On June 1, 2007, he announced his resignation and that he would be leaving the White House on July 5, 2007...
, Counselor to then-President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, Carlson labeled Democratic U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
a "hostile enemy" of the United States, "right here on the home front." Bartlett replied "Well, we don't view Ted Kennedy as a hostile enemy. We do view him to be an open and often critic of the war. He has been from the very outset. I don't think that's anything new." Keith Olbermann
Keith Olbermann
Keith Theodore Olbermann is an American political commentator and writer. He has been the chief news officer of the Current TV network and the host of Current TV's weeknight political commentary program, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, since June 20, 2011...
chose her as that day's "Worst Person in the World" on that night's broadcast of his show Countdown, while Howard Kurtz
Howard Kurtz
Howard "Howie" Alan Kurtz is an American journalist and author with a special focus on the media. He is host of CNN's Reliable Sources program, and Washington bureau chief for The Daily Beast. He is the former media writer for The Washington Post. He has written five books about the media...
of the Washington Post called it "the Fox News exchange of the day", and asked, "Doesn't the Constitution allow for dissent?"