Tucker Carlson has spent more than three decades in American media, moving from print journalism to cable news stardom and eventually to his own independent media venture. Along the way he's become one of the most talked-about (and argued-about) figures in political commentary.
Here are 19 fact-checked details about his early life, career milestones, and personal life.
Tucker Carlson was born Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson on May 16, 1969, in San Francisco, California.
His father, Richard Warner Carlson, was a journalist and broadcasting executive who directed Voice of America and served as U.S. ambassador to the Seychelles.
Carlson began his journalism career as a fact-checker for Policy Review magazine before writing for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and The Weekly Standard.
He made his television debut in 2000 as a co-host of CNN's The Spin Room, alongside Bill Press.
Carlson co-hosted CNN's Crossfire and had a heated on-air exchange with comedian Jon Stewart in 2004; the show was cancelled the following year.
After CNN, Carlson hosted a nightly show on MSNBC called "Tucker" (originally launched as "The Situation with Tucker Carlson") from 2005 to 2008.
He joined Fox News in 2009 as a contributor and occasional guest host, and launched his own primetime program, Tucker Carlson Tonight, in 2016.
Tucker Carlson Tonight became one of the most-watched shows in cable news history during its run.
Carlson has repeatedly drawn controversy and criticism for his commentary on immigration, race, and the COVID-19 pandemic, among other topics.
He was known for wearing a bowtie earlier in his career but stopped in 2006, saying he wanted to avoid being pigeonholed and blend in more with mainstream media.
Carlson has written several books, including "Ship of Fools: How a Selfish Ruling Class Is Bringing America to the Brink of Revolution" and "The Long Slide: Thirty Years in American Journalism."
He co-founded the conservative news website The Daily Caller in 2010.
Carlson competed on season 3 of Dancing with the Stars in 2006, dancing the cha-cha with partner Elena Grinenko before being eliminated in the first round.
As a conservative commentator, Carlson has generally supported Republican politicians, including Donald Trump, though he has occasionally criticized Trump on specific issues.
Carlson has been married to Susan Andrews since 1991, and the couple has four children.
He graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.
Carlson is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing, hunting, and spending time outdoors.
In 2008, Carlson had a brief cameo appearing as himself in the political satire film "Swing Vote," starring Kevin Costner.
After leaving Fox News in 2023, Carlson launched an independent subscription media venture, the Tucker Carlson Network, where he continues to publish interviews and commentary.
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