Jennifer Eckhart, a former Fox News and Fox Business associate producer who later became a mental-health advocate and podcast host, has died at age 36. Eckhart died by suicide on September 19, 2026, at her home in Hobe Sound, Florida. She was widely known both for her broadcast career and for the advocacy work she built in the years after leaving television news.
| Full Name | Jennifer Eckhart |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Age at Passing | 36 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications-News, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications |
| Profession | Journalist, TV Producer, Podcast Host, Nonprofit Founder |
Life & Career
- Eckhart began her broadcast career as an entertainment anchor for WUFT-TV, the PBS affiliate in Gainesville, Florida, and later worked as a correspondent for ESPN Radio.
- She went on to spend several years at Fox Business, working as an associate producer, including on The Claman Countdown.
- After leaving television news, Eckhart reinvented her career and public voice. She launched a podcast, REINVENTED with Jen Eckhart, interviewing guests from entertainment, sports, and business — including Sean Paul, Billy Corgan, Kathy Ireland, Dane Cook, Chris Jericho, and Brett Favre — about adversity, career change, and rebuilding one’s life.
- Eckhart founded The Reinvented Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting trauma survivors through animal-assisted healing. Working with mental health experts and partner organizations, the nonprofit aimed to help people navigate their own journeys of healing and resilience through the power of human-animal connection.
- Friends, colleagues, and podcast guests have remembered her as someone who turned a painful chapter of her life into a mission to help others heal.
The Ed Henry Lawsuit
In 2020, Eckhart filed a lawsuit alleging that former Fox News anchor Ed Henry had sexually assaulted her while the two worked together at Fox. Fox News fired Henry shortly after Eckhart’s internal complaint, following an outside investigation. Eckhart’s lawsuit named both Henry and Fox News as defendants; in March 2025, a federal judge dismissed Fox News from the case, finding the network did not have actual notice of the alleged misconduct until Eckhart reported it in 2020. Her claims against Henry personally continued, and in June 2025 the two reached a settlement shortly before the case was set to go to trial. The dismissal of Fox News as a defendant was affirmed on appeal in April 2026. Henry has denied Eckhart’s allegations.
Her Passing
Jennifer Eckhart died on September 19, 2026, at her home in Hobe Sound, Florida. She was found by her mother. Authorities have confirmed her death as a suicide.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jennifer Eckhart was an American journalist and former associate producer at Fox News and Fox Business who later became a podcast host and nonprofit founder.
She was known for her television news career, for her lawsuit alleging sexual assault by former Fox News anchor Ed Henry, and later for her podcast REINVENTED and her advocacy work.
The Reinvented Project was a nonprofit Eckhart founded to support trauma survivors through animal-assisted healing, working alongside mental health professionals and partner organizations.
She died on September 19, 2026, at age 36.
Our thoughts are with Jennifer Eckhart’s family, friends, and everyone touched by the advocacy work she leaves behind. Her efforts to help trauma survivors heal through The Reinvented Project remain a meaningful part of her legacy.
