Longtime Fox News host Steve Doocy has announced that he is stepping down from his full-time hosting role on “Fox & Friends” in order to relocate to Florida—after growing increasingly frustrated with his 3:30 a.m. commute from New Jersey to the network’s Manhattan studio.

Doocy, 68, has appeared as a full-time co-host on the program since its inception in 1998, and his decision to step away from the show’s iconic white couch left both his colleagues and fans stunned, particularly because he shared the news on the same day as his last appearance in the Fox News studio.

The news anchor held back tears as he explained the reasons for his move, while reassuring viewers that he will not be leaving their screens for good.

“After decades of getting up at 3:30 and driving into NYC in the dark, today is the last day I will host the show … from the couch. I am not retiring, I’m not leaving the show. I’m still a host—but it’s time for a change,” he said.

Doocy, who is currently based in New Jersey, where he lives with wife Kathy Doocy, revealed that he plans to move to the Sunshine State and will continue to contribute to “Fox & Friends” from there.

Meanwhile, his colleagues, Brian Kilmeade, Ainsley Earhardt and Lawrence Jones, will carry on in their full-time roles from the studio’s “curvy couch.”

Steve Doocy is switching up his role on “Fox & Friends” and will step back from full-time co-hosting duties and will remotely tune in from Florida.

(Fox News)

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The 68-year-old has been a longtime host of the morning show, having been greeting viewers since 1998.(v)

Although he made clear that he will miss sitting alongside his costars every day, Doocy admitted that he is looking forward to sleeping in and not having to make the drive from his New Jersey home to the office.

He explained, “Do you remember the ’80s Dunkin’ Donuts commercial where the alarm clock goes off at 3:30? ‘It’s time to make the donuts.’

“For the last 30 years when my alarm clock goes off—at 3:30—if it wakes up my wife Kathy, she always says, ‘It’s time to make the donuts.’ And I say, ‘You’re right; it’s time to make the donuts,’ and I get up and go to work.”

Doocy then revealed that AI had informed him that his alarm has gone off before dawn a total of 6,828 times, joking that he’s reached his limit as far as early-morning wake ups are concerned.

“That, ladies and gentlemen, is a lot of donuts. It’s a great job … but the hours suck,” he added.

Beginning on May 2, Doocy will take on a new position as the show’s “coast-to-coast host,” a decision that came after he called up Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott—someone he branded a “friend for over 30 years”—in order to discuss taking on a different role.

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“She gave me a great option—to keep working on this show … just not every day. Essentially it’s the Johnny Carson deal. Remember, Johnny worked his three days in Burbank—and I’ll be based in Florida, which means you may never see me in a necktie again.”

With his move to Florida comes plenty of opportunity to cover new ground, he noted, explaining that he will also be located much closer to President Donald Trump‘s resort at Mar-a-Lago.

Although he will miss being alongside his co-stars, he admitted that he is looking forward to sleeping in and not having to make the drive from his New Jersey home to the office.

(Google Earth)

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Doocy’s new position will allow him to spend more time with his family, something he revealed he was unable to do previously.

(Instagram)

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“I’ll be going from the Carolinas to the Keys. From Middle America to Mar-a-Lago. Call me the coast-to-coast host,” he said.

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Doocy did not reveal where exactly in Florida he and his wife will base themselves; however, property records indicate that the couple already owns a home in Jupiter, FL, which is also home to several members of the Trump family, including Don Jr.; his ex-wife, Vanessa Trump; and Eric and Lara Trump.

The three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom dwelling was last sold in 2014 for $1 million—having been on the market for just one month.

However, while Doocy does appear to have a property in Florida, it’s unclear whether he plans to list his New Jersey abode, which is currently off the market.

That property sprawls across 3,351 square feet and is situated on 1.03 acres. It was built in 1990.

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The news anchor purchased the property in 1994 for $585,000; however, Realtor.com® now estimates that it is worth $1.4 million.

Doocy’s new position will allow him to spend more time with his family—something he revealed he was unable to do previously.

“When my kids were growing up, I never had breakfast with them. I was here. Kathy did everything, but starting tomorrow, I’m going to have breakfast with my grandkids and my children whenever I can,” he explained.

Although Doocy will be stepping back from the Midtown Manhattan studios and spending more time with his family, he assured fans that he wouldn’t be retiring anytime soon.

(John Lamparski/Getty Images)

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Doocy noted that he would keep in touch with his co-hosts and wouldn’t be a stranger.

(Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

He also revealed he is planning a visit to see his son—and fellow Fox News star—Peter Doocy and his daughter-in-law Hillary Vaughn‘s newborn son, George, in Washington, D.C.—and then head to Dallas, to see his daughter, Sally, and her husband, Ali.

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Peter, 37, and Vaughn wed in an intimate ceremony in South Carolina in 2021, two years before celebrating the arrival of their firstborn child, daughter Bridget Blake Doocy, now 2.

The couple then purchased a stunning $1.68 million home, where they can accommodate their growing family.

The five-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom dwelling is in Fairfax, VA, just a 40-minute drive from the White House in Washington, D.C., where Peter works as Fox News’ senior White House correspondent, while his wife serves as a correspondent for Fox Business.

Although Doocy will be stepping back from the Midtown Manhattan studios and spending more time with his family, he assured fans that he wouldn’t be retiring anytime soon.

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“I will continue to join this couch crew for commentary. You have trusted me for all these years and don’t worry, you will still hear my voice and my opinions loud and clear—despite whatever seasonal pollen is killing me,” he said.

Doocy noted that he would keep in touch with his co-hosts and wouldn’t be a stranger, adding, “As for the cast on the couch—who I love and adore—if this was the last day I’d ever work with you again, the waterworks would be flowing, you know me. But after a little vacation, I’ll be back on the show, via the magic of television.”

“I’m transitioning from ‘It’s time to make the donuts’ to ‘It’s time to make the breakfast, Grandpa.’ Now step on it.”