Fox News host Laura Ingraham has revealed that laryngitis sidelined her from television as “The Ingraham Angle” celebrated its ninth anniversary.
Ingraham, 63, addressed her absence Friday after viewers noticed she had been missing from her nightly Fox News program for several days.
The longtime conservative commentator explained on social media that problems with her voice forced her to remain off television during an especially busy news week.
“Sorry because of laryngitis I missed the past three days (terrible timing!),” Ingraham wrote Friday.
Laryngitis is inflammation of the voice box that commonly causes hoarseness, throat discomfort or temporary loss of voice, according to medical guidance cited by the reports.
Her illness also prevented her from hosting the program on its ninth anniversary, which fell on Friday, Oct. 30.
Ingraham thanked viewers, her staff and Fox News for supporting the program throughout its nine years on the network.
“Thank you to our loyal viewers, dedicated staff, and @FoxNews!” she wrote in her message.
Ingraham also indicated that she planned to return quickly, telling followers she expected to be “Back from New York on Monday night.”
She ended the post with a simple Election Day message to her audience: “Vote!”
The post included a photograph showing flowers, a card and several specially decorated cookies apparently sent to Ingraham while she recovered.
One cookie featured Ingraham inside a television screen, while another commemorated the program’s anniversary with “The Ingraham Angle 9 Years.”
The illness came at an inconvenient moment for Ingraham and Fox News, with the midterm elections scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Fox has been expanding its political coverage ahead of Election Day as voters prepare to determine control of the House and Senate.
Ingraham’s program remains part of the network’s weekday prime-time lineup and currently airs at 7 p.m. Eastern.
“The Ingraham Angle” debuted in October 2017, giving Ingraham her own nightly program after years as a prominent conservative radio and television commentator.
She had already been associated with Fox News for a decade before receiving the program, joining the network as a contributor in 2007.
The show focuses heavily on politics, Washington and cultural issues while featuring interviews with politicians, administration officials and other newsmakers.
Ingraham has interviewed numerous presidents, members of Congress and White House officials during her years with the network.
She has also hosted Fox News town halls and appears alongside Raymond Arroyo on the Fox Nation program “Laura & Raymond.”
Last year, Ingraham celebrated her program’s eighth anniversary with a retrospective highlighting memorable moments from the show’s run.
Those highlights included interviews with President Donald Trump and other political figures, along with several moments that generated attention beyond Fox’s regular audience.
Before becoming a television personality, Ingraham worked as an attorney and served as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
She later became one of the most prominent personalities in conservative talk radio before making television an increasingly important part of her career.
Ingraham is also the author of several books, including “The Hillary Trap,” “Shut Up & Sing,” “Power to the People” and “The Obama Diaries.”
She graduated from Dartmouth College before earning her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.
Ingraham’s unexpected absence generated questions among regular viewers because it coincided with both her show’s anniversary and the closing days of midterm campaigning.
Her announcement provided a straightforward explanation while indicating that she expected the interruption to be temporary.
Ingraham’s message suggested she was recuperating at home while colleagues continued producing “The Ingraham Angle” in her absence.
Her expected Monday return puts her back on the air one night before the crucial midterm elections across the country.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
