Did you know that before she made history as the first woman White House press secretary,
Dana Perino was deejaying at a country music station?
Keep watching for what else you may not have known about the Fox News personality.
When it comes to Washington, D.C., politics and news, the word chaos typically comes to
mind.
The center of U.S. politics is often accompanied with the hustle and bustle of lawmakers and
journalists alike.
With that said, you may think that Dana Perino, who made a name for herself within that charged
environment, comes from a political background.
As it turns out, Perino was born in Wyoming and raised in Colorado — both states which
gave her an idyllic childhood that was "positive and calm," as she told Fox News.
Of her rather low-key and nature-oriented childhood, Perino shared with the outlet that
spending summers with her grandfather on his Wyoming ranch helped her understand the impact
of a positive mindset.
Perino explained:
"Ranchers, by their nature, have to be optimistic.
They have to believe that the cattle will survive the winter and that the crops are
going to grow — so I think I have a sunny disposition naturally."
Her experience certainly impacted her professional life, too, as she later released a book entitled
And the Good News Is...
Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side.
Dana Perino knew from an early age that she wanted to pursue a career in news, so when
it came time to vet college options, she knew what she wanted to study.
Where she was hung up, however, was what kind of school she wanted to attend.
Perino recalled her initially wanting the big college campus experience, full of football
games and social opportunities.
But, at her dad's request, she took a tour of the University of Southern Colorado and
moped the entire way there.
Perino told CSU Pueblo Today:
"I pouted the entire way.
I just looked out the window.
I couldn't even meet his eyes.
I was so upset that he was making me go look at that school."
But, all it took for her was one step onto the campus, and Perino was hooked.
She told the publication that she met many professors on that initial tour and quickly
realized it was the university for her.
She went on to earn a degree in mass communication with minors in Spanish and political science.
"Hi, I'm Dana Perino, and I graduated from the University of Southern Colorado in 1994."
From there, Perino pursued her master's degree in public affairs reporting from the University
of Illinois-Springfield.
When Dana Perino wrapped up her time at the University of Illinois-Springfield, she was
convinced she'd jump into a journalism career right away.
Journalism was what she had studied, after all, and it seemed like the obvious path.
But, in a sit-down interview with Cosmopolitan, the former press secretary shared that she
explored a career in politics at the recommendation of a professor.
And, so, she pursued an internship at the Colorado state capitol.
Perino told the outlet:
"I got accepted, and I got the CBS affiliate internship.
While I was there, I started to think I wasn't sure if this was right for me."
What made Perino question her professional path?
She shared with Cosmo that there wasn't much "diversity in news" at the time, and she quickly
realized that, if she really wanted to succeed in broadcast journalism, she'd have to work
her way up through various local markets.
That wasn't for her, so Perino shifted gears and began working for Colorado politicians,
including Scott McInnis and Dan Schaefer.
"What has gotten me through the tough times is a steady hand, a little grit, good decision-making,
and humility."
As noted on her website, she later worked in public relations in California, before
making the move to Washington, D.C.
While Dana Perino seemed to be on track to work in Colorado state politics, she ventured
out west to California to work in public relations.
However, her entire career and personal motivations changed after the tragic events of September
11, 2001.
In an interview with Colorado Politics, Perino recalled the infamous day, sharing that she
quickly called a friend in Washington, D.C., Mindy Tucker, during the chaos.
During their call, Tucker — who, at the time, worked alongside then-Attorney General
John Ashcroft — asked Perino to relocate to D.C.
Perino said she started packing up her San Diego home while she was still on the phone.
Perino told Colorado Politics:
"And I left.
I never went back to that house in San Diego."
As soon as she hit D.C., Perino got to work in the Justice Department before joining the
White House staff.
Perino recalled:
"I remember Andy Card [George W. Bush's chief of staff] talking about integrity and reminding
me that we didn't just work for George W. Bush.
We worked for the people of the United States."
When we think about White House press secretaries, names like Jen Psaki, Sarah Huckabee Sanders,
and Sean Spicer come to mind.
"This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration.
Period."
But did you know that Dana Perino was not only a White House press secretary, but that
her appointment was historic?
Perino worked as press secretary as well as assistant to the president, proving she had
rather unmatched access to the then-commander-in-chief.
Before landing the coveted position, she worked as the associate director of communications
for the Council on Environmental Quality at the White House, a job that, no doubt, helped
her nab the press secretary position.
So, why was Perino's appointment to the job so unique?
Well, Dana Perino was the first Republican woman to be chosen as the White House's press
secretary, a position that, before her, had only been occupied by men.
In the early 2000s, this appointment was not only historic, but incredibly symbolic for
women in journalism and politics.
In total, Perino spent seven years working for the Bush administration, and her contributions
are a standout of her career.
A little-known fact about Dana Perino is that, in 1997, she was on a flight from Denver to
Chicago when she sat next to a cute guy without a ring on his finger.
She told Yahoo! Life that, at the time, she was taking a short hiatus from Washington,
D.C., because, quote, "things ... were pretty gross."
That said, we can't imagine the dating scene being much better.
But, all of that changed when she sat next to a Brit named Peter McMahon — the two
hit it off immediately.
Perino wasn't the only one instantly love struck.
McMahon told Yahoo! Life that he had noticed Perino before they even boarded the flight,
and he was hopeful that their paths would cross.
Of her future husband, Perino recalled thinking,
"Oh, he's cute, and he's not wearing a wedding ring, and he has a British accent."
You may be surprised to learn that, before she was the poised, polished woman behind
the press secretary podium, Dana Perino worked as a disc jockey!
Yes, we're serious.
She shared on her website that the gig was "one of her most unique jobs," as she covered
the country music genre on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Perino also shared the No. 1 song of the time she worked as a deejay: Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy
Breaky Heart."
Of her time working as a deejay, Perino told Cosmopolitan that she balanced the gig with
waiting tables and called the work "exhausting."
While Perino certainly didn't make a career out of spinning country music hits, the job
did help her launch a media career.
After graduating early, she worked on a show called Capitol Journal — her big break.
Perino told Cosmo:
"It was small-ball, junior-bear-cub reporting.
But they gave me a chance."
While Dana Perino squarely established herself as a Republican thinker and figure, she surprisingly
became the central figure of one of former President Barack Obama's bipartisan appointments.
Senator Mitch McConnell urged Obama to appoint Perino to the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
Despite their political differences, Obama agreed and appointed Perino to the role.
Perino said at the time,
"I'm honored by the president's announcement and I'm looking forward to serving on the
bipartisan board, if I'm confirmed."
Perino's appointment was not only a bipartisan display, but it was also in conjunction with
the board's requirements.
As is law, only four of the eight board members can be affiliated with the political party
of the president in office, and Perino certainly fit the bill as a qualified nominee.
It's safe to say that some were surprised Perino took the gig, as she had been vocally
opposed to some of Obama's choices while in office.
However, she did refer to him as a "phenomenal candidate."
Her appointment was certainly a win for bipartisanship.
While you most likely know Dana Perino for her appearances behind the podium or her role
on Fox News programming, you might not know that she also appeared on the famed quiz show
Jeopardy! as a contestant during the series' "Power Players Week."
In addition to Perino, Jeopardy! enlisted the likes of Chris Wallace, Anderson Cooper,
Chuck Todd, and basketball icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to compete against one another in the syndicated
series.
You'd think that spending all that time behind the press podium would've made Perino a standout
winner, but she told Politico of the experience,
"With the press, usually I could guess the questions."
During her round on the show, Perino faced Abdul-Jabbar, who was remarkably confident
before the taping.
When asked about questions regarding political and current events, the Lakers icon told Politico:
"I'm pretty up to date with what's going on.
I read the paper every day."
Similar to other game shows featuring celebrity tournaments, instead of competing for money,
Perino and her fellow contestants battled it out for a $50,000 donation to the charity
of their choice.
Dana Perino has certainly balanced her professional life with philanthropic efforts, and some
may not know that she is the brains behind the Minute Mentoring organization.
In 2009, Perino joined forces with policy expert Dee Martin and public relations professional
Jamie Zuieback to develop a foundation that focuses on mentoring young women, training
them for the workforce, and also giving them access to role models and professional advice.
The unique premise of the organization, however, is that the connections and mentorship sessions
are accomplished "in just minutes," likened to "speed dating" for women leaders and rising
stars.
Perino and her colleagues set up the organization to allow women across the country to host
minute-long mentorship sessions of their own, and the organization's website lays out exactly
what needs to happen to host such an event.
According to the site,
"Past Mentors have included U.S. Senators and Representatives, top corporate women,
and high-profile women in media."
No matter where your politics fall, there is nothing quite like women supporting women.
Dana Perino is certainly no stranger within the news and media industries, but, after
she left the White House, she, of course, didn't grace the C-SPAN screen nearly as often
as she once had.
In a sit-down with Cosmopolitan, Perino explained that she returned to television when Fox News
host Sean Hannity began having her on his show as a guest commentator.
From there, Hannity was adamant that Perino needed a permanent gig at the network.
Perino told the outlet:
"[Hannity] told everyone he thought I was different, and he wanted me to come on board.
And then I got more requests to be on other shows.
I also got a chance to guest host 'Fox & Friends,' and so I really had to come out of my shell."
"One of the best things about being at Fox is that I've always felt that I could fully
be myself."
After Fox News figure Glenn Beck left the network, producers had the 5 p.m. hour to
fill, and that's when Perino's current gig, The Five, debuted.
Perino even made headlines one time after she shared a secret on air that wasn't hers
to tell.
Of the role, Perino shared,
"Before 'The Five,' I'd never given my own opinion in public — I'd always spoken on
behalf of someone else.
I've made the career transition, and I feel like I've found my voice and am the fullest
expression of myself now."
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