Mekenna Earnhart announced on social media Tuesday that she has joined Houston’s FOX affiliate, describing the move as a homecoming.

“HOUSTON, I am home!” Earnhart wrote. “Reporting in the city that raised me has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. If you know me, you know I never miss an opportunity to brag on my hometown, and now, getting to tell its stories means the world to me.”

The announcement drew a wave of congratulations in the comments, including messages from Houston viewers, new colleagues and former FOX 26 journalists welcoming her. “Congrats! Welcome back to the H. There are some phenomenal journalists at 26, I hope you like it!” wrote former FOX 26 reporter Abigail Dye, who left the station in September 2025. Anchor DaLaun Dillard also welcomed Earnhart, commenting, “Welcome to the team!”

Born and raised in Houston, Earnhart said her interest in journalism began at a young age, inspired by watching Barbara Walters with her mother. She returns to the city after starting her broadcast career in West Texas.

In 2024, Earnhart graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in broadcast journalism. While there, she was involved in UATV, the student-run news station, working as a reporter, anchor, multimedia journalist and producer. Her work earned her a nomination for the Broadcast Education Association’s Best Student Anchor award. She also interned at WKRN in Nashville, Tenn. 

Earnhart launched her professional career as a reporter before later becoming an anchor at KLBK in Lubbock.

Her arrival is the latest addition to the newsroom at FOX 26 Houston. Last month, reporter Karys Belger joined the station after working as a multi-skilled journalist at 11Alive WXIA in Atlanta.