Fox News commentator Jessica Tarlov and her husband, hedge fund executive Brian McKenna, began their relationship close to home: They were next-door neighbors when the COVID-19 pandemic brought lockdowns.
The couple connected during that period, announced their engagement in April 2021 and married a few weeks later. They have since welcomed two daughters, Cleo and Teddy.
While Tarlov is a familiar face to viewers of The Five, she and McKenna have kept much of their family life private. Still, she has occasionally shared glimpses of their life together, including the story behind their first daughter’s middle name.
From neighbors to husband and wife
Tarlov announced her engagement to McKenna during an April 9, 2021, appearance on Fox Business Network’s Kennedy. Their wedding followed just weeks afterward.
Fellow Fox News commentator Guy Benson later shared a wedding photo on X and congratulated the couple. Tarlov responded to her friend with a playful message: “Chief romance correspondent reporting for marriage duty 😉 Thank you, Guy!”
Their marriage began during a year that brought both joy and loss for Tarlov. Her father, film producer Mark Tarlov, died in July 2021 while she was pregnant with her first child.
A meaningful name and a growing family
The couple’s first daughter, Cleo Markie McKenna, was born on December 11, 2021. Her middle name honors Tarlov’s late father.
Tarlov’s colleague Dana Perino announced Cleo’s arrival on Fox News, saying that the baby was “the tallest baby born at Mount Sinai that day.” Perino added that the new parents were “certainly overjoyed.”
The following June, Tarlov marked McKenna’s first Father’s Day with a post that also reflected on her own father’s absence.
“First Father’s Day for my incredible husband and my first without my Dad. The circle of life is really something!” she wrote on X.
Tarlov noted that her husband disliked having his picture taken, while Cleo was more agreeable.
Their family grew again on April 11, 2024, when their second daughter, Teddy Tarlov McKenna, was born. Perino once again shared the news on Fox News and sent her colleague congratulations.
After Teddy’s arrival, Tarlov posted on X that the family was thrilled to welcome her and that she planned to spend the next few months on maternity leave with her daughters.
Life away from the television studio
Tarlov has been a commentator on The Five since 2022, while McKenna works as a hedge fund executive. The couple share occasional family photos, but they generally keep their relationship and their children’s lives out of the public eye.
Tarlov has also spoken about how she unwinds when she is away from work. In an interview with Carry, she said television helps her decompress, even if her husband thinks she watches too much.
“I watch TV. Way too much if you ask my husband. It’s the only way I can decompress,” she said.
