America suffering from clown shortage

It might make you laugh, but this story is no joke. "Fox & Friends" reports the U.S. is suffering from ... a clown shortage.

'Over the past 10 years there has been a drastic decrease in membership at the country's biggest clown organization,' "Fox & Friends" explains.

Say it ain't so! According to the World Clown Association, the country's largest organization of its kind, membership has fallen from 3,500 to 2,500 clowns in the past decade.

KCTV says the reason is rather sad: they're actually dying off.

'As older clowns die, there aren't enough younger clowns enrolling into clown school to take their place. But it looks like so much fun,' KCTV reports.

The association president told New York Daily News, 'What happens is they go on to high school and college and clowning isn't cool anymore. Clowning is then put on the back burner until their late 40s and early 50s.'

So, bad news for those of you planning a birthday party.