Emily Compagno is one of the more genuinely unusual careers you’ll find on cable news — an attorney who once cheered for an NFL team, visited troops in a war zone, became a federal managing attorney, and then landed a permanent co-host seat on one of Fox News’ most-watched daytime shows. This article covers everything verifiable about her: her background, career timeline, education, family, personal life, and what’s currently known as of today.
Background: Who Is Emily Compagno?
Emily Compagno is an American attorney, television host, podcast host, and author. She is best known as a permanent co-host of Outnumbered on Fox News, a daytime program she has anchored since January 2021. Before television, she built a serious legal career — working as a criminal defense attorney in San Francisco and later as a federal managing attorney and Acting Director at the Social Security Administration, one of the largest agencies in the U.S. federal government.
What makes her biography different from most media personalities is the layered nature of her résumé. Before she ever argued a case in court, she was cheering professionally for the Oakland Raiders as part of the Raiderettes squad, eventually serving as team captain. She was also selected as one of just five NFL cheerleaders to participate in a USO tour visiting U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Kuwait in 2009. That combination — military family roots, legal career, NFL sideline, and federal government work — set her apart when she transitioned into broadcast media around 2018.
People search for her name regularly because she appears daily on Fox News, comments on major legal and political stories, and in late 2024 released a book — Under His Wings: How Faith on the Front Lines Has Protected American Troops — that hit No. 1 on the New York Times Bestseller list.
Latest Update
As of August 22, 2026
As of August 22, 2026, Emily Compagno continues to co-host Outnumbered on Fox News and host The FOX True Crime Podcast with Emily Compagno on Fox News Audio. No major professional changes have been confirmed. She remains one of the network’s most active on-air personalities, appearing across multiple programs including fill-in hosting duties on other Fox News shows.
📌 Personal Life Note: Multiple third-party sources report that Emily Compagno’s divorce from her first husband, Peter Riley, was finalized by late 2025, and that she subsequently became engaged — confirmed by Emily herself during an August 2024 Fox Business appearance, though she did not publicly name her fiancé at that time. Several outlets name businessman Derek Hedt, a real estate broker in Vancouver, Washington, as the person she married in 2026. However, Emily has not publicly confirmed this marriage or her husband’s identity in any verified interview or official statement as of the publication of this article. The marriage should be treated as widely reported but not officially confirmed by Compagno herself.
On the professional front, her book Under His Wings, published through Fox News Books in November 2024, reached No. 1 on the New York Times Bestseller list and continues to circulate widely. Compagno has spoken about it publicly in multiple interviews and segments, tying the book’s themes of military faith and sacrifice to current news events involving U.S. armed forces. She has also continued appearing in clips that circulate heavily on social media, making her one of the more searched Fox News hosts in mid-2026.
Full Profile
| Emily Compagno — Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Emily Rose Compagno |
| Date of Birth | November 9, 1979 |
| Age (as of Aug 2026) | 46 years old |
| Birthplace | Oakland, California, USA |
| Hometown / Raised | El Cerrito, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | TV Host, Attorney, Author, Podcast Host |
| Employer | Fox News Channel |
| Current Role | Co-host, Outnumbered; Host, FOX True Crime Podcast |
| Education | B.A., University of Washington; J.D., University of San Francisco School of Law |
| Religion | Christian (faith-oriented; confirmed through book and public statements) |
| First Husband | Peter Riley (married 2017; divorced by late 2025) |
| Current Relationship | Engaged confirmed Aug 2024; marriage to Derek Hedt widely reported in 2026 but not officially confirmed by Compagno |
| Children | None confirmed |
| Net Worth (est.) | $2 million – $4 million (unconfirmed; multiple estimates vary) |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (approx. 163 cm) — unconfirmed by Compagno directly |
| Social Media (X) | @EmilyCompagno |
Family and Early Life
Emily Rose Compagno was born on November 9, 1979, in Oakland, California, and grew up in El Cerrito, a small city in the East Bay. Her family has deep ties to military service. Her father served in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, which she has credited publicly for instilling in her a strong sense of discipline, duty, and respect for the armed forces. That background shapes a lot of what she talks about on air and directly influenced the subject matter of her 2024 book.
She has a sister named Julietta Compagno, who is married to a man named Jon Skoog. This is worth flagging because Jon Skoog is frequently and incorrectly described online as Emily’s husband or fiancé. He is her brother-in-law, not her partner. Multiple sources have confirmed this mix-up is one of the most persistent pieces of misinformation about her.
Career Path
Compagno’s career has had four distinct phases, and each one is worth understanding on its own terms rather than treating them as stepping stones to television fame.
Phase 1 — NFL Cheerleader (2007–2010): While working toward her legal career, Compagno cheered for the Oakland Raiders’ squad, the Raiderettes. She worked her way up to captain. During this period, she was selected as an NFL Ambassador, which took her to Beijing and Shanghai to promote the league in China. In 2009, she was chosen as one of just five NFL cheerleaders to join a USO tour to Iraq and Kuwait, visiting American troops on active deployment. That experience stayed with her and later became source material for Under His Wings.
Phase 2 — Criminal Law (2008–2016 approx.): After earning her law degree from the University of San Francisco in 2006, Compagno worked as a criminal defense attorney in San Francisco. She also took on federal government work, serving as a managing attorney and at one point as Acting Director at the Social Security Administration’s legal office — a significant federal role in one of the U.S. government’s largest agencies.
Phase 3 — Fox News Contributor (2018–2021): Compagno joined Fox News as a legal analyst and contributor in 2018, appearing regularly on various programs to offer legal commentary. She also hosted Crimes That Changed America during this period. In January 2021, Fox News elevated her to permanent co-host of Outnumbered.
Phase 4 — Multimedia (2021–Present): Since becoming a permanent co-host, she has expanded into podcasting and publishing. The FOX True Crime Podcast with Emily Compagno launched in February 2023 and debuted in the top 10 true crime podcasts. Her book Under His Wings, released November 2024, reached No. 1 on the New York Times Bestseller list.
| Period | Role |
|---|---|
| 2007–2010 | Oakland Raiderettes cheerleader; captain; NFL Ambassador; USO tour (Iraq & Kuwait, 2009) |
| 2006–2016 (approx.) | Criminal defense attorney, San Francisco; federal managing attorney and Acting Director, Social Security Administration |
| 2018–2021 | Fox News contributor and legal analyst; host of Crimes That Changed America |
| Jan 2021–Present | Permanent co-host, Outnumbered, Fox News |
| Feb 2023–Present | Host, The FOX True Crime Podcast with Emily Compagno |
| Nov 2024 | Published Under His Wings; debuted at No. 1 on NYT Bestseller list |
Age
Emily Compagno was born on November 9, 1979. As of August 22, 2026, she is 46 years old. She will turn 47 in November 2026.
Religion
Compagno has identified publicly as a person of Christian faith. Her 2024 book, Under His Wings, is built around the theme of faith in the lives of American military personnel across generations. She has spoken about her belief system on air, particularly in the context of military sacrifice and service. She has not publicly named a specific denomination.
Spouse and Partner
Compagno was previously married to Peter Riley, whom she wed on September 13, 2017, at Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, Italy — a private ceremony on the Amalfi Coast. Riley has been described in various reports as a real estate professional and technology sales professional in Washington State. Multiple sources report that Riley faced a federal tax judgment of approximately $880,000 linked to failed cryptocurrency and startup investments, though neither Riley nor Compagno made public statements about this. The couple had no confirmed children.
ℹ️ Fact Check: Emily confirmed she was engaged during an August 28, 2024 appearance on Fox Business, but deliberately did not name her fiancé on air. Multiple third-party sources report she married businessman Derek Hedt, a Vancouver, Washington-based real estate broker, in 2026. This marriage is widely reported across several outlets but has not been confirmed by Compagno herself in any verified public statement or interview as of August 22, 2026. Treat this as reported but unconfirmed by the subject.
Net Worth
Emily Compagno’s net worth is estimated at between $2 million and $4 million based on multiple third-party sources. These figures are not confirmed by Compagno herself or by any official financial disclosure. Her income sources include her Fox News salary, podcast revenue, book advances and royalties from Under His Wings, speaking engagements, and prior legal career earnings. No figure should be treated as exact.
Parents
Her father served in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. Her mother’s name and background have not been publicly confirmed in any verified source. She has spoken about her father’s military service on air and in her book but has not discussed her mother in detail publicly.
Height
Emily Compagno’s height is estimated at approximately 5 feet 4 inches (around 163 cm) based on third-party sources. She has not confirmed this measurement directly in any verified interview or official profile.
Education
Compagno holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Washington, where she also earned the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps’ Cadet of the Quarter Award — a recognition that reflects both academic performance and leadership qualities. She then earned her Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law, where she served as President of the Federalist Society and as Articles Editor of the Intellectual Property Law Bulletin. She was a first-generation college attendee in terms of law school distinction — her USF law profile reflects strong academic engagement beyond coursework.
Hometown and State of Origin
Born in Oakland, California, and raised in El Cerrito, California. She later lived in San Francisco during her legal career and in Seattle, Washington, during her marriage. She now lives in New York City, where she works from Fox News’ headquarters.
Official Social Media
Emily Compagno is active on X (formerly Twitter) at @EmilyCompagno. She also maintains an Instagram presence. Her Fox News profile page can be found at foxnews.com.
Reader Questions (FAQ)
Who is Emily Compagno?
Emily Compagno is an American attorney, television host, podcast host, and author. She is a permanent co-host of Outnumbered on Fox News and hosts The FOX True Crime Podcast with Emily Compagno. Before entering media, she worked as a criminal defense attorney in San Francisco and as a federal managing attorney at the Social Security Administration. She is also a former Oakland Raiders cheerleader and a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author.
What happened to Emily Compagno’s husband Peter Riley?
Emily Compagno and Peter Riley married in September 2017 in a private ceremony in Ravello, Italy. Multiple credible sources report that their divorce was finalized by late 2025. Neither party made a public statement about the split. Reports circulated that Riley faced a federal tax judgment of approximately $880,000 connected to failed cryptocurrency and startup investments, though neither confirmed these reports publicly.
Is Emily Compagno married now?
Emily confirmed in August 2024 that she was engaged but did not publicly name her fiancé. Multiple third-party sources report she married a man named Derek Hedt, described as a real estate broker in Vancouver, Washington, in 2026. However, Compagno has not personally confirmed the marriage or her husband’s identity in any verified public statement as of August 22, 2026. This should be treated as widely reported but unconfirmed by the subject directly.
Was Emily Compagno really an NFL cheerleader?
Yes, confirmed. Emily Compagno cheered for the Oakland Raiders’ squad, the Raiderettes, from 2007 to 2010 and served as team captain. She was selected as an NFL Ambassador, representing the league in Beijing and Shanghai. In 2009, she was chosen as one of five NFL cheerleaders to participate in a USO tour visiting U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Kuwait. This is documented in her Fox News biography, her book, and IMDb profile.
What is Emily Compagno’s book about?
Under His Wings: How Faith on the Front Lines Has Protected American Troops is Compagno’s first book, published by Fox News Books in November 2024. It collects first-person accounts from American military service members across generations — from World War I to modern Middle East conflicts — exploring how faith shaped their experiences in combat. The book debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Bestseller list. Compagno drew on her own USO tour experience visiting troops in Iraq and Kuwait while writing it.
Does Emily Compagno have children?
No children from her marriage to Peter Riley have been publicly confirmed. No children from any subsequent relationship have been reported or confirmed. Compagno has not made public statements about this topic, and it should not be assumed either way based on unverified third-party content.
What is Emily Compagno’s net worth?
Third-party estimates place Emily Compagno’s net worth between $2 million and $4 million as of 2026. This is not an officially confirmed figure. Her income includes her Fox News salary, podcast revenue, book royalties and advance from Under His Wings, speaking fees, and prior legal career earnings. Senate or agency-level financial disclosures don’t apply here, so no official figure exists.
Is Jon Skoog Emily Compagno’s husband?
No. Jon Skoog is married to Emily Compagno’s sister, Julietta Compagno. That makes him Emily’s brother-in-law. This is one of the most frequently repeated pieces of misinformation about her online, likely due to the shared surname “Compagno” appearing alongside the Skoog name in news mentions. Multiple verified sources have corrected this error.
Wrap-Up
Emily Compagno’s career doesn’t follow a single straight line, and that’s probably why people keep searching for her. She built a real legal career — not a brief pre-TV stint, but years of criminal defense work and federal government service at a senior level — before pivoting to television in her late thirties. That foundation gives her commentary a different texture than most cable news hosts who came up through journalism rather than courtrooms.
The NFL cheerleader chapter is easy to dismiss as a quirky biographical footnote, but the USO tour to Iraq and Kuwait in 2009 is what she actually took away from it. That experience fed directly into Under His Wings, which became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller fifteen years later. The throughline from that dusty FOB performance stage to a cable news anchor chair to a book about military faith is more coherent than it looks on the surface.
✅ Key Takeaway: Emily Compagno is 46 years old, a practicing attorney turned Fox News co-host, a No. 1 NYT bestselling author, and a former NFL team captain with a USO deployment to Iraq and Kuwait on her résumé. Her divorce from Peter Riley was finalized by late 2025, and she has confirmed an engagement — though the details of any 2026 marriage have not been publicly confirmed by Compagno herself. Her career remains fully active as of August 22, 2026.
She keeps her personal life tightly controlled — the kind of intentional privacy that’s hard to maintain when you appear on live television daily and are routinely searched by millions of people. That gap between what’s visible professionally and what’s guarded personally is exactly what drives the search volume around her name. For now, her professional record is the better documented story, and it’s a genuinely interesting one.
John Wood is the founder and lead editor of Biography Region. He researches and writes accurate, engaging biographies of celebrities, entrepreneurs, influencers, and public figures, delivering well-sourced, reader-focused content that informs and inspires.