‘Fox & Friends’ Meteorologist Janice Dean Exits After 22 Years Amid MS Battle: ‘Symptoms Progressed’

Janice Dean is saying goodbye to her Fox News family after more than two decades on the air.

The longtime Fox & Friends meteorologist announced on Thursday, June 25, that she is stepping away from the morning show after 22 years, revealing that her multiple sclerosis has progressed to the point that she can no longer keep up with the program’s grueling schedule.

In a video message posted to X, Dean, 56, called the show “a pivotal part of my life.”

“For those living with MS, the war is inside of us — we may look fine, but our immune system is attacking the brain, the spinal cord and sometimes the optic nerve,” she said. “We are left with permanent scars, but ones you can only see on MRI imaging.”

“For a long time, I was able to handle the early mornings, the many hours on my feet, and the stress of broadcasting live,” Dean continued, adding that “getting up at 2:30 in the morning” is hard “especially for someone who has multiple sclerosis.”

“Ultimately, my symptoms progressed to the point that I can no longer continue working in my role, and my doctors agreed that stepping away was necessary for my health,” she said.

“Thankfully, I was diagnosed early, and I’ve been on different therapies for over the last two decades,” Dean added. “But there’s no cure for MS, and over time, my symptoms have progressed.”

Dean called her exit her “mostly sunny goodbye,” telling fans, “For every goodbye, there’s always the next hello.”

The announcement set off a wave of support in the comments. “I was just asking about Janice Dean the Weather Machine yesterday … sad to see you go,” one fan wrote, while another follower called her “a ray of sunshine” who would be “missed” on Fox.

A third commenter offered well wishes for her health, writing, “We, as viewers, will miss you but staying healthy is most important! wishing you a healthy, happy future!” Another fan thanked Dean directly, telling her, “the joy you have brought many of us will never fade.”

Dean joined the Fox News network in January 2004 and became a fixture of early mornings on Fox & Friends, where she also became a vocal advocate for the MS community since her diagnosis in 2005.