Hey there, friends! So, the news is out—Abby Huntsman has confirmed that she’s stepping away from The View, the beloved daytime talk show, during an emotional episode aired on January 13. As she shared her unexpected decision to leave the hit CBS program, Abby made sure to give a heartfelt shout-out to her BFF and co-star, Meghan McCain. It was a moment filled with gratitude and deep emotion.

Abby Huntsman’s Heartfelt Farewell to The View

During her emotional farewell, Abby took a moment to reflect on her journey. She said, “When I was 19, my first job was booking cars overnight for Good Morning America, and I never imagined I’d end up sitting right here at this incredible table.” The 33-year-old beauty went on to express her gratitude to everyone on the show, particularly her close friend Meghan McCain. She said, “Meghan, we’ve been friends forever, and we will always be friends. This show is something we’ve shared, but our friendship goes beyond this table. I love all of you here.” It was a touching moment that resonated with everyone watching.

Why Abby Huntsman is Leaving The View

Abby, who has been part of The View since September 2018, is stepping down to work on her dad Jon Huntsman Jr.'s campaign for Governor of Utah. She shared during her emotional announcement, “This is always such a hard thing to do, especially at this table because it’s a really special table, the most iconic show, I think, on television, and I’ve worked with the smartest women I’ve ever met.” Reflecting on her time on the show, she added, “But today, I’m saying goodbye. It’s something I’ve thought a lot about.”

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Abby continued to express her admiration for the panel, saying, “This panel is special, and I think it will go down as a crucial time for the show, and I’m so thankful for this opportunity.” She also praised her fellow co-stars, including Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, and Sunny Hostin. She emphasized, “But as you guys know, my No. 1 priority has always been my family. You taught me the first day I got here that family and happiness are always No. 1.”

Family Comes First: Abby Huntsman’s New Chapter

Though Abby has built an incredible career in broadcast television, she isn’t shying away from taking some time off to focus on her family. As a proud mom of daughter Isabel, 2, and 7-month-old twins Ruby and William with her husband Jeffrey Livingston, Abby is ready for this new chapter. At first, when her dad approached her about joining his campaign late last year, she said no. “I thought, no, it’s not the right time,” Abby explained.

It wasn’t until she spent time with her family over the holidays that her perspective shifted. “When you take a step back and think about life, your kids, what you want to do every day that just gets you going, there’s no one I believe in more than my own dad right now to run for politics,” Abby said, holding back tears. “I get emotional because I do love him so much.”

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Back to my Utah roots campaigning with this guy. Democracy in action ❄️ 🏔 🇺🇸
A post shared by Abby Huntsman (@huntsmanabby) on Jan 11, 2020 at 1:18pm PST

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After reconsidering her dad’s offer, Abby admitted her decision was made quickly. “He believes in me to help run that, and it’s going to be a fast race,” she shared. “June is the primary, and that’s what matters, and so, I couldn’t be more excited to go help someone that I love. It’s not often in life that you get these moments to go fight for something you’re so passionate about.”

Abby’s heartfelt farewell to Meghan McCain comes as no surprise since the two are known to be close pals. In fact, the American journalist exclusively told Closer Weekly that they are “very, very close” and even FaceTime almost every night. It’s a bond that will continue long after Abby’s time on the show!