If you’ve spent any time watching the afternoon shuffle on cable news, you've definitely seen her. Dana Perino. She’s the one usually sitting in the middle of the "The Five" desk, often acting as the voice of reason when the banter gets a little too heated. She has this way of looking remarkably young while speaking with the authority of someone who’s seen the inside of the Situation Room. Naturally, people get curious. They head to Google to ask: how old is Fox News Dana Perino? It's one of those questions that pops up constantly, partly because she has stayed so consistent in the public eye for nearly two decades. Honestly, looking at her today, she doesn't seem that much different than when she was standing behind the White House podium in 2007. But time, as they say, marches on for everyone—even the most poised political commentators.
The Real Numbers: Dana Perino’s Age Today
Let's get the basic facts out of the way first. Dana Marie Perino was born on May 9, 1972. As we move through 2026, that makes her 53 years old.
She was born in Evanston, Wyoming, but if you listen to her talk about her "roots," she's a Colorado girl through and through. She grew up in Denver and spent a lot of time on her family’s ranch. That rural, Western upbringing is something she references a lot. It’s basically the bedrock of her "down-to-earth" persona that plays so well with the Fox News audience.
A Timeline of the Perino Years
- 1972: Born in Wyoming.
- 1994: Graduated from Colorado State University-Pueblo.
- 1998: Married Peter McMahon (a British businessman she met on a flight—more on that later).
- 2007: Becomes the second-ever female White House Press Secretary at age 35.
- 2009: Joins Fox News after the Bush administration ends.
- 2026: Still a staple of the network at 53.
Fifty-three. It’s an interesting age in the world of television. In an industry that used to be notoriously unkind to women as they moved past forty, Perino has somehow managed to become more prominent. She isn't just a face on the screen; she’s effectively a brand.
Why People Are So Obsessed With Her Age
There is a specific reason why "how old is Fox News Dana Perino" is such a frequent search query. It isn't just idle celebrity gossip. It’s about the disconnect between her youthful appearance and her massive resume.
Think about it. When most people hear "Former White House Press Secretary," they picture someone with graying hair and a weary expression. Perino took that job when she was only 35 years old. She was the first Republican woman to ever hold the position. Because she started at such a high level so young, people feel like they’ve known her forever.
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There's also the "Gutfeld" effect. On The Five, she’s often the target of jokes from Greg Gutfeld about her height (she’s about 5'2") or her seemingly "perfect" life. This playful dynamic makes her feel younger and more relatable, which only fuels the curiosity when she starts dropping deep knowledge about the 1990s Department of Justice or early 2000s environmental policy.
The Peter McMahon Factor: The Famous Age Gap
You can’t talk about Dana Perino’s age without mentioning her husband, Peter McMahon. Their story is actually kind of wild. They met on a plane in 1997. She was 25. He was 43.
That is an 18-year age gap.
At the time, she was worried about what her parents would think. Who wouldn't be? Her dad’s reaction was classic: he basically said an older man was exactly what she needed because she was always in such a rush to get through life. They’ve been married since 1998, which is a lifetime by celebrity standards.
Today, with Peter at 70 and Dana at 53, the age gap is less of a "thing" than it was when they were 25 and 43, but it’s still a detail that fans love to dissect. It adds to that image of her being "wise beyond her years." She’s spent her entire adult life with someone significantly older, which might explain why she navigated the high-pressure world of D.C. politics with such a steady hand.
Career Longevity and the Fox News Machine
When Dana Perino joined Fox News in 2009, she wasn't necessarily a "TV person." She was a "comms person." But she adapted.
Starting as a contributor, she eventually became a co-host of The Five in 2011. The show was originally meant to be a temporary summer replacement. It ended up becoming one of the highest-rated shows in all of cable news. Perino has been there for the whole ride.
Staying relevant for 15+ years on the same network is hard. Staying liked is even harder. She’s managed to avoid most of the major scandals that have rocked the network over the years. She does this by staying in her lane: she’s the "prepared" one. She’s the one with the briefing books and the historical context.
Why She’s Still Here at 53
Honestly, it’s about reliability. In a news cycle that feels like it’s constantly screaming, Perino’s vibe is "let’s look at the facts." It’s a calculated, polished approach that hasn't aged a day since her time in the West Wing.
Actionable Takeaways from Dana Perino’s Path
Whether you agree with her politics or not, there’s a lot to learn from how Dana Perino has managed her career and her public image.
- Own your experience: Perino doesn't hide the fact that she’s "the veteran" in the room. She uses her age and her history in the Bush administration as a badge of authority.
- Adaptability is key: Transitioning from the government to a talk show required a massive shift in personality. She leaned into the humor and the "patter" of cable news without losing her credibility.
- Consistency pays off: By maintaining a consistent look and a consistent tone for decades, she has built a massive amount of "brand equity." People trust her because she hasn't changed who she is to fit a trend.
If you’re looking to follow her career or keep up with her current projects, her podcast Perino on Politics is probably the best place to start. It’s where she drops the "TV host" persona a bit and gets into the weeds of how Washington actually works. At 53, she isn't slowing down—if anything, she’s just getting into the "statesman" phase of her career.