Yee-haw! Dana Perino from Fox News is a country girl
The granddaughter of cattle ranchers, Perino has been a country radio DJ — and she can sing the words to almost every Garth Brooks hit
Brad Schmitt
She was born in Wyoming, the daughter of country two-step dancers, and grew up to be — for a short time, anyway — a country radio DJ who still knows all the words to Garth Brooks’ hits.
Turns out Dana Perino of Fox News Channel’s “The Five” is countrier ‘n corn cakes.
That’s probably not a big surprise for the show’s viewers, who often hear country songs played before and after Perino’s segments on the show.
“I appreciate really good writing, and I love clever lyrics and songs that evoke emotions,” said Perino, who served as former President George W. Bush’s White House spokeswoman.
That will serve her well during her visit to Nashville this week.
“The Five” will be doing a live broadcast at 4 p.m. Tuesday from the Wildhorse Saloon. Perino will be joined by co-hosts Jesse Watters, Greg Gutfeld, guest co-host Donna Brazile and country singer John Rich of Big & Rich.
The show has five people discussing current news topics.
Perino, 46, brings with her country roots that go back to birth. She moved with her parents to Parker, Colorado, outside Denver shortly after she was born.
The first songs she remembers hearing were from Kenny Rogers, “The Gambler” and “Islands in the Stream.” And she remembers her parents going two-step dancing every Friday night, swirling and twirling in their Western shirts in the living room to practice before the babysitter got there.
She spent summers and holidays on her grandparents’ cattle ranch in Wyoming riding horses and sometimes getting up with her grandfather at 4 a.m. to move cattle.
“It was so cold you could see your breath,” Perino said. “I remember my grandfather telling me, ‘This is the most beautiful country in the world.’"
She said she learned family values, farming, individualism and love of country in that environment.
In college, Perino worked as a country music DJ for KCCY 96.9 FM in Colorado Springs. She had to play Billy Ray Cyrus’ Achy Breaky Heart every hour on the hour when it first came out.
Despite that, Perino has held onto a love of country music.
Her three favorite Garth Brooks songs —
- The Dance
- Friends in Low Places
- If Tomorrow Never Comes
The three songs she often listens to on her walk to work in New York –
- Walker Hayes’ 90’s Country
- Aaron Watson’s Outta Style
- Lauren Jenkins’ Running Out of Road
Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com or 615-259-8483 or on Twitter @bradschmitt.
Fox News' live 'The Five' in Nashville
What: Fox News Channel's "The Five" will broadcast live with co-hosts Dana Perino, Jesse Watters, Greg Gutfeld, guest co-host Donna Brazile and country singer John Rich of Big & Rich
When: 4 p.m. Tuesday (April 16)
Where: Wildhorse Saloon, 120 2nd Ave. N.
Admission: Free. Doors open at 11 a.m.