Ainsley Earhardt, a Fox News anchor and commentator, is often asked if she is related to Dale Earnhardt, the iconic NASCAR driver who died in a crash in 2001. Despite their similarly spelled surnames, they are two separate people with no family ties. Here is the truth behind the rumors and some facts about their respective families.
Ainsley Earhardt’s Family Background
Ainsley Earhardt was born on September 20, 1976, in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She is the daughter of Lewie Wayne Earhardt and Dale Earhardt. Her mother’s name is not a coincidence; she was named after her father, who was also named Dale. Ainsley has two older siblings, a brother named Trenton and a sister named Elise.
Ainsley’s father worked as a school teacher and her mother was a homemaker. Ainsley grew up in a Christian household and attended Sharon Elementary School. She later moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where she graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1995. She then attended Florida State University for one year before transferring to the University of South Carolina, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1999.
Ainsley began her career as a reporter for WLTX-TV in Columbia. She then moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she worked for KENS-TV. In 2007, she joined Fox News Channel as a correspondent. She has since co-hosted various shows on the network, such as Fox and Friends, Fox and Friends First, America’s Newsroom, and The Five.
Ainsley has been married three times. Her first husband was Kevin McKinney, whom she married in 2005 and divorced in 2009. Her second husband was Will Proctor, a former Clemson University quarterback, whom she married in 2012 and divorced in 2018. They have one daughter together, Hayden Dubose Proctor, who was born in 2015. Her third husband is Sean Hannity, a fellow Fox News host, whom she married in 2020.
Dale Earnhardt’s Family Background
Dale Earnhardt was born on April 29, 1951, in Kannapolis, North Carolina. He was the son of Ralph Earnhardt and Martha Coleman. His father was a legendary NASCAR driver who won the NASCAR Sportsman Championship in 1956. His mother was a school teacher who supported her husband’s racing career.
Dale had four siblings: two sisters, Kaye and Kathy, and two brothers, Randy and Danny. Randy died of cancer in 2013 and Kaye died in 2015. Dale followed his father’s footsteps and became a professional stock car driver at the age of 17. He made his NASCAR debut in 1975 and won his first race in 1979.
Dale went on to become one of the most successful and popular drivers in NASCAR history. He won a record-tying seven NASCAR championships and 76 races, including the Daytona 500 in 1998. He was known as “The Intimidator” for his aggressive driving style and fierce rivalry with other drivers.
Dale was married three times. His first wife was Latane Brown, whom he married in 1968 and divorced in 1970. They had one son together, Kerry Earnhardt, who also became a NASCAR driver. His second wife was Brenda Gee Jackson, whom he married in 1972 and divorced in 1979. They had two children together: Kelley Earnhardt Miller, who is the co-owner of JR Motorsports; and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is also a NASCAR driver and broadcaster.
His third wife was Teresa Houston Earnhardt, whom he married in 1982 and remained married to until his death. They had one daughter together: Taylor Nicole Earnhardt Putnam, who is an equestrian and animal activist.
Dale died on February 18, 2001, at the age of 49. He was involved in a fatal crash during the final lap of the Daytona 500. His death shocked the racing world and triggered an outpouring of grief from fans and fellow drivers.
Conclusion
Ainsley Earhardt and Dale Earnhardt are not related by blood or marriage. They share a common surname that is spelled differently: Earhardt vs Earnhardt. They also have different family histories and careers: Ainsley is a journalist and Dale was a racer.
However, they do have some things in common: they both hail from the South; they both have Christian faith; they both have been married multiple times; they both have children; they both have lost loved ones; they both have achieved success and fame in their respective fields.
Therefore, while Ainsley Earhardt is not related to Dale Earnhardt, she can still admire and respect him as a fellow human being and a legend in his own right..
