Dana Perino: The life and career of a celebrated political commentator
Dana Perino has a decorated career as a political commentator, author, and former White House Press Secretary. She also has a thriving private life with a loving husband. Here is everything you need to know about Dana Perino's career experience and personal life.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Dana Perino is a respected political commentator and author.
- She is a former White House Press Secretary.
- The author has been married to Peter McMahon since 30 September 1998.
- Perino does not have children but is stepmother to her husband's children from previous marriages.
Profile summary
Full name | Dana Marie Perino |
Gender | Female |
Date of birth | 9 May, 1972 |
Age | 53 years (as of 2025) |
Zodiac sign | Taurus |
Place of birth | Evanston, Wyoming, USA |
Current residence | New York, USA |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Religion | Christianity |
Sexuality | Straight |
Height | 5'0" (152 cm) |
Weight | 105 lbs (47 kgs) |
Body measurements | 34-23-34 inches (86-58-86 cm) |
Hair colour | Blonde |
Eye colour | Blue |
Mother | Jan Perino |
Father | Leo Perino |
Siblings | 1 |
Relationship status | Married |
Spouse | Peter McMahon |
School | Ponderosa High School |
University | University of Illinois Springfield, Colorado State University-Pueblo |
Profession | Spokesperson, commentator, journalist, and author |
Net worth | $6 million |
X (Formerly Twitter) |
Dana Perino's bio
Dana was the 26th White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush from 14 September 2007 to 20 January 2009. She was the second woman to hold the position after Dee Dee Myers. Today, she works as a political commentator on Fox News. She co-hosts The Five and America’s Newsroom.
What is Dana Perino's background?
Dana Perino was born on 9 May 1972 in Evanston, Wyoming. She spent most of her childhood in Denver, Colorado, after her family relocated there when she was a toddler. Her paternal lineage includes Italian immigrants. Two of her great-grandparents migrated from Italy.
Perino has fondly written about her family, especially her grandparents, in her book Everything Will Be Okay: Life Lessons for Young Women (from a Former Young Woman), published in 2021. She highlighted her grandfather, Leo E. Perino, a World War II Marine veteran and rancher from Newcastle, Wyoming.
Source: Original
In a 2021 summary for CBS News, Perino shared memories of him teaching her to ride her pony, Sally. He also gave her her first pair of red cowboy boots. These experiences sparked a lifelong love for horses, which she continued to ride throughout her childhood.
Perino even took up barrel racing under her grandfather’s guidance. She described herself as a "pretty good horsewoman." She also enjoyed attending the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas every year with her uncle and cousin.
Who is Dana Perino's mom?
Dana Perino's mother is Janice M. Perino. In 2021, Dana interviewed her on a Fox News podcast. During the talk, Jan shared stories about her early professional life. She had worked in a doctor’s office, at the state hospital in Wyoming, and in the court system.
After moving to Denver, she switched to marketing for a psychiatric hospital. Dana also has a younger sister named Angela, known as Angie. According to her LinkedIn profile, Angie has worked at Experian Health for over a decade.
What is Dana Perino's education?
Perino attended Ponderosa High School in Parker, Colorado, and later earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications from Colorado State University Pueblo (formerly the University of Southern Colorado) in 1994.
Source: Getty Images
She minored in political science and Spanish and was active in the university's forensics team. During her college years, she worked at KTSC-TV, the campus-based Rocky Mountain PBS affiliate, and held a job as a disc jockey at KCCY-FM, working the 2 to 6 a.m. shift.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Perino pursued a master's degree in public affairs reporting at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS). While at UIS, she worked as a daily reporter for WCIA, a CBS affiliate. She covered the Illinois Capitol, building a strong foundation for her future journalism and public affairs career.
Who are Dana Perino's children?
Dana Perino is a stepmother to Peter McMahon's two children from his previous marriage. In 2007, Perino became a step-grandmother after McMahon's daughter gave birth to twins.
Dana and Peter also shared a cherished dog, Jasper, who had been with them for many years. Sadly, Jasper passed away in September 2021, a moment Perino shared with her followers on Instagram.
It is with broken hearts that Peter and I have to let you know that Jasper, America's Dog, died today. A fast-spreading cancer caused him to leave us sooner than we'd ever hoped. We got to send him off - talking about all the fishing he can do in Heaven.
Dana has shared her deep compassion for children. She shared a valuable lesson from the 11 September attacks that she applied during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the 2001 attacks, Perino recognized the importance of reading to children in times of crisis. She became a New York Times bestselling author and was appointed to the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors in 2010 by President Obama.
Today, Perino is a political commentator for Fox News and also co-hosts the network's talk show, The Five. She learned the significance of reading from former First Lady Laura Bush. Bush spearheaded the first National Book Festival in collaboration with the Library of Congress. The event took place just three days before the 9/11 attacks.
First Lady Laura Bush had been a librarian and a teacher before her time in the White House, and Barbara Bush had started a literacy initiative. I remember Laura Bush saying that in times of uncertainty, it is important to keep routines for children, and story time should be a sacred time for families. That always stuck with me.
Perino, along with various other celebrities and authors, uses their large audiences to reassure children during crises. Dana explains:
My goal with Story Time is to hopefully settle children down, open their imaginations, and to give them a sense of normalcy. And while some Americans may not be in a trauma situation, they are certainly facing changed circumstances with schools being closed or being displaced from work. One thing they can keep consistent is story time.
While other celebrity children's book authors have joined in with virtual story time, Perino stands out as the first cable news anchor to lead such a literacy initiative.
Source: Getty Images
Dana Perino's marriage life
Dana Perino's husband is Peter McMahon, a British-American businessman. The couple got married on September 30, 1998. According to McMahon's LinkedIn profile, he has served as the president of GreenSleeve Medical Corp for the past four years.
Before this role, he joined the global supermarket and retail giant Tesco in 2002 as the Director of Supply Chain.
What is the age difference between Dana Perino and her husband?
Peter McMahon, born on June 6, 1954, is 71, while Dana Perino, born on May 9, 1972, is currently 53. Therefore, Dana Perino's age difference with her husband is 18.
How many times has Dana Perino been married?
The American journalist has been married once. She married her husband, Peter McMahon, in 1998, and they have been together ever since. The couple met on a flight bound for Chicago in 1997.
She and McMahon chatted throughout the flight, and Perino found herself drawn to him. In a 2016 interview, she recalled thinking as the plane landed:
OK, Lord, I know I asked you to help me find somebody, but he lives in England, he's 18 years older than me, he's been married twice before. Did I mention he lives in England? This cannot possibly be it!
The attraction between the couple grew, and they began dating. Perino eventually moved to England, and about 11 months after meeting. In a 2018 interview with Yahoo!, the couple reflected on how they met and the early days of their relationship. McMahon shared:
All week, I'd been thinking about Dana. I couldn't stop thinking about her.
Perino agreed, saying:
I spent those 10 days unable to eat, or sleep, or even read.
Who was Dana Perino's first husband?
It remains unclear whether Dana Perino had any serious relationships before meeting Peter McMahon. The TV news star has only publicly confirmed her marriage to the British businessman.
Has Peter McMahon been married before?
Although their union was Dana's first and only marriage, Peter had been married before. It is reported that Peter has previously been married twice. He has two children from the said marriages and subsequent grandchildren.
What is Dana Perino's net worth?
Dana Perino's net worth is estimated to be $6 million. This wealth comes from her successful career as a television personality, political commentator, author, and co-host of Fox News programs.
In addition to her media career, she was the White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush.
Where is Dana Perino today?
Dana Perino is a political commentator for Fox News and co-hosts the network's talk show The Five. She previously hosted The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino and, in early 2021, transitioned to co-anchor America's Newsroom alongside Bill Hemmer.
In May 2023, Perino was honored with an honorary doctorate of humane letters from her alma mater, CSU Pueblo. Perino credits her father, Leo, for sparking her interest in news and politics. He shares the same name as her grandfather. She told the Rocky Mountain News:
He wanted me to have read the newspapers and to have picked out one or two articles to discuss by the time he got home. And then we always watched the evening news together and my Dad and I would always watch the Sunday shows as well.
Perino further commented on this tradition in a Fox News op-ed in 2015:
When I was in third grade, my dad started a tradition with me — I had to read the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post and choose two articles to discuss with him before dinner. I remember looking forward to that. I'd ask questions about the news and give my opinion, and then my dad would draw me out, making me think through my arguments, challenging me to look at issues from another point of view. He'd gently play the Devil's Advocate. That started a lifetime love of the news and throughout my teens we would get all the news magazines at the house and we'd dog ear the pages of articles that interested us so that we could discuss them.
What is Dana Perino best seller?
Dana Perino has written of several books, including her bestseller And the Good News Is...: Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side. The book shares her personal stories and insights from her time in politics and media.
Who is no longer on The Five?
Hosts change on the show all the time, but Juan Williams left The Five in 2021. He said he preferred to work from Washington, D.C., rather than New York.
FAQs
- How old is Dana Perino? Born on 9 May 1972, the media figure is 53 years old as of 2025. Her zodiac sign is Taurus.
- Who was Dana Perino's first husband? She was only married once to Peter McMahon in 1998.
- How old is Dana Perino's husband? Peter McMahon was born on June 6, 1954, and is 71 years old as of 2025.
- What is Dana Perino's husband's illness? Peter McMahon has not publicly disclosed any illness.
- Is Dana Perino ill? No, Perino has not reported any health issues.
- Has Dana Perino been married before? No, she has not been married before. Peter McMahon is her first and only husband.
- What ethnicity is Dana Perino? She is of Italian-American descent.
- Does Dana Perino have siblings? She has one sibling, Angie Perino, who was born on March 21, 1986.
- Is Dana Perino part Italian? Yes, she has Italian ancestry on her father’s side.
Dana Perino has built a lasting legacy in the media over the years, earning a prestigious position at Fox News. She is happily married to her husband and enjoys sharing moments with her family on social media.
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Jackline Wangare (Lifestyle writer) Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Briefly.co.za, where she has worked since mid-2021. She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University. She has more than five years in writing. Jackline graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2019) and a Diploma in Marketing (2015) from Kenyatta University. In 2023, Jackline finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024. Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.
Justine De Lange (Lifestyle writer) Justine De Lange has over 6 years of experience in lifestyle, corporate and freelance writing. She started at Now Media for their lifestyle publication 'Let's Go', then joined 'travSIM' and 'Metavaro'. She now writes for Briefly News as a content writer, working with beats such as studies, services, business tips, and celebrity biographies (joined in 2022). In 2023, Justine finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can contact her directly via JustinedeLange14@gmail.com.
