Janice Dean is saying goodbye to Fox & Friends.
The longtime Fox News meteorologist, 56, announced in a video shared on social media Thursday, June 25, that she is stepping away from the morning show as her battle with multiple sclerosis (MS) continues.
Dean, who joined Fox News in 2004 and was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease in 2005, addressed viewers on X, saying she knew many had been wondering about her absence. She previously revealed in November that she was taking a break from work to focus on her family while dealing with unspecified health issues.
“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 said. “Getting up at 2:30 in the morning and performing anything is hard, but especially for someone who has multiple sclerosis.”
She continued, “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. We’re left with permanent scars, but ones you can only see on MRI imaging.”
Dean said she was fortunate to be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis early and has spent the past 20 years managing the disease with various treatments. But as her symptoms gradually worsened—causing sleep problems and increasing stress—she and her doctors agreed it was time to step away from her role for the sake of her health.
Reflecting on her departure, Dean said she will miss her colleagues, the places she visited, the storms she covered and the viewers who welcomed her into their homes each morning. She also thanked her family, friends and fans for their support, describing her farewell as a “mostly sunny goodbye” while expressing hope that their paths may cross again in the future.
According to PEOPLE, Dean revealed in November 2025 she was taking a temporary break from work and social media because of health issues, assuring fans she planned to return. She later reflected that her 2005 multiple sclerosis diagnosis was “the shock of a lifetime,” admitting she initially feared it would end her career at Fox News.
Since then, Dean has become a prominent advocate for the MS community. She is also the author of the 2019 memoir Mostly Sunny: How I Learned to Keep Smiling Through the Rainiest Days and is a mother of two sons with her husband, Sean.
According to the Mayo Clinic, multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, the protective coating surrounding nerve fibers. This damage disrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body and can eventually lead to permanent nerve damage.
Symptoms vary widely but may include numbness, muscle weakness, difficulty walking, vision problems, fatigue and balance issues. Some people experience long periods of remission with few or no new symptoms, while others have steadily worsening disease. Although there is no cure for MS, treatments can help reduce relapses, slow the disease’s progression and manage symptoms.
