Fox News star Sean Hannity built his career in front of the camera, but at home, his two children, Patrick and Merri, have carved their own paths — both on the tennis court and in the classroom.
Family roots and early years
Sean Hannity shares his two children with his ex-wife, Jill Rhodes. The pair married in 1993 and spent over two decades together before divorcing in 2019.
\Throughout their marriage, they raised Patrick, born in 1998, and Merri, born in 2001, largely away from the public spotlight — though their achievements have occasionally caught public attention.
Patrick Hannity: A scholar-athlete with a competitive spirit
Patrick Hannity grew up with a strong love for tennis, encouraged by both his parents. His hard work paid off when he joined the Wake Forest University tennis team, a prestigious program in collegiate sports.
Patrick briefly made headlines in 2021 after a Salon investigation raised questions about his father’s purchase of a nearby home and the use of a private jet painted in Wake Forest colors. However, the university defended Patrick’s academic and athletic achievements, confirming that he was admitted based on merit — including a standout 4.2 GPA.
“It’s suspicious, but it’s hard to nail down what it means,” a lawyer commented at the time, but no wrongdoing was ever proven.
In fact, by the time the report was published, the investigation had already been closed. Sean Hannity’s legal team noted they had no involvement, and the school backed Patrick’s strong qualifications.
Today, Patrick keeps a low profile on social media. His private Instagram bio features just three things: Wake Forest, a tennis racket emoji, and a ball emoji — a quiet tribute to his passion for the sport and his school pride.
Merri Hannity: Making her mark at Michigan
Following in her brother’s footsteps, Merri Hannity took her tennis talents to the University of Michigan, where she was recruited as a five-star player — an impressive title in the highly competitive world of college athletics.
In a 2020 feature by the Michigan Women’s Tennis program, Merri spoke about her love of the sport and her family’s influence:
“My brother plays at Wake Forest,” she said. “Both my mom and dad are big tennis fans, and that’s how they got us into playing.”
But tennis isn’t her only strength. Merri also excels in academics, earning the prestigious Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award in 2023 — an honor given to student-athletes with a minimum 3.7 GPA.
Her success on and off the court mirrors the hard work ethic that seems to run deep in the Hannity family.
Family support through new beginnings
When Sean Hannity announced his engagement to Fox News co-host Ainsley Earhardt in December 2024, both Patrick and Merri were nothing but supportive.
“Our kids couldn’t be happier,” Hannity and Earhardt told Fox News, emphasizing the close-knit bond between their families.
(Earhardt shares a daughter with her ex-husband, former football player Will Proctor.)
Despite their father’s public profile and high-profile relationship, Patrick and Merri have remained focused on their own paths, balancing family loyalty with personal achievement.
A legacy beyond headlines
While Sean Hannity often dominates political discussions, his greatest accomplishments may well be at home.
Between Patrick’s athletic and academic success at Wake Forest and Merri’s achievements at Michigan, it’s clear that his children are building legacies of their own — rooted in hard work, determination, and family pride.
And just like their dad, they’re doing it all under the bright lights — but always on their own terms.
