Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has long been a polarizing figure in American media, but when it comes to his personal life, the conservative commentator has largely kept things private, especially regarding his family.
Carlson, who left Fox News in 2023, is a father of four and shares all his children with his wife Susan Andrews, whom he met in high school and married in the early 1990s.
While Carlson’s public life has been filled with political commentary and controversy, his children have mostly remained out of the spotlight, with one notable exception.
Here’s what we know about Buckley, Lillie, Hopie, and Dorothy Carlson.
A Family of Six
Carlson and Andrews became parents with the birth of their eldest daughter, Lillie. They later welcomed a son, Buckley, and two more daughters, Hopie and Dorothy, rounding out their family of six.
Though he rarely discusses them publicly, Carlson has emphasized the importance of fatherhood.
“There is nothing more valuable in life” than being a parent, he once said. “Their comfort in your final hours will be worth more than any effort you make on their behalf.”
Buckley Carlson: The Son in Politics
The most visible of Carlson’s children is Buckley Carlson, 28, who has pursued a career in Republican politics. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Buckley earned a degree in government and political science in 2019 and was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity.
Buckley began working on Capitol Hill the same year, starting as a staff assistant for Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and eventually rising to communications director and deputy chief of staff.
In 2022, he was briefly at the center of a political dustup when Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) was reported to have accused Buckley of gaining his position through nepotism. Several high-profile conservatives, including Donald Trump Jr. and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, came to his defense.
As of January 2025, Buckley has taken on a new role as deputy press secretary in the office of Vice President J.D. Vance, according to ABC News.
A Close Call on January 6
In a 2021 interview on The Fourth Watch podcast, Carlson revealed that one of his adult children was inside the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 riots.
“I hated what happened on Jan. 6,” he said. “You know, one of my kids was actually in the building when it happened. I was on the phone in real time.”
Though he didn’t specify which child, The Hill reported it was likely Buckley, given his then-position in Rep. Banks’ office.
Ironically, Carlson would go on to promote false theories about the riot, suggesting government involvement — claims that have been widely debunked.
Hopie and Dorothy Carlson
Less is publicly known about Carlson’s three daughters, though some educational details have emerged. Hopie also attended the University of Virginia and previously studied at St. George’s School, a Rhode Island boarding school that both of her parents attended.
Dorothy, the youngest, has stayed entirely out of public view.
A Career Motivated by Family
Carlson has credited his children with influencing his career decisions. In a 2017 GQ interview, he admitted that supporting four kids — including private school tuition — played a big role in his moves from CNN to MSNBC, and eventually to Fox News, where he hosted Tucker Carlson Tonight until 2023.
“When you have four kids in private schools, you don’t get to be choosy,” he said.
In a 2022 interview, Carlson controversially advised young men to “have more children than you can afford,” underscoring the importance he places on family, even amid criticism.
