Megyn Kelly

Megyn Kelly

Kelly in 2012
Born Megyn Marie Kelly
(1970-11-18) November 18, 1970
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Education Bethlehem Central High School
Syracuse University
Albany Law School
Occupation Journalist
News anchor
Political commentator
Attorney at Law
Employer Fox News Channel
Religion Roman Catholic
Spouse(s) Daniel Kendall (m. 2001; div. 2006)
Douglas Brunt (m. 2008)
Children 3

Megyn Marie Kelly (born November 18, 1970),[1][2] formerly known as Megyn Kendall,[3] is a journalist, former attorney, news pundit, and political commentator on the Fox News Channel. As of 2014, Kelly hosts The Kelly File weekday evenings from the network's New York City headquarters. She previously hosted America Live. Prior to that, Kelly co-hosted America's Newsroom along with Bill Hemmer. From 2007 to 2012, the two also hosted Fox News Channel's New Year's Eve specials, All American New Year. She was included in the 2014 Time list of the 100 most influential people.

Early life

Kelly was born in Syracuse, New York,[4] to Edward Kelly, who taught education at the State University of New York at Albany, and Linda, a homemaker.[2] She is of Italian descent on her mother's side and Irish descent on her father's.[2] Kelly's father died when she was 15 years old.[5]

Kelly attended Tecumseh Elementary School, in DeWitt, New York. At age 9, her family moved to the Albany, New York suburb[4] of Delmar, where she attended Bethlehem Central High School.[6] After high school, she obtained an undergraduate degree in political science at Syracuse University[2] and earned a J.D. from Albany Law School in 1995.[7] Kelly is Roman Catholic.[8]

Career

In law

Kelly was an associate in the Chicago office of law firm Bickel & Brewer LLP, during which time she co-wrote an article for the American Bar Association's journal, Litigation, called "The Conflicting Roles of Lawyer as Director".[9] She later joined Jones Day for nine years, where one of her clients was the credit bureau Experian.[10]

In journalism

In 2003, Kelly moved to Washington, D.C., where she was hired by the ABC affiliate WJLA-TV as a general assignment reporter.[11] While there, she covered significant national and local events, including live coverage of the confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. and Chief Justice John G. Roberts; the retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor; the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist; and the 2004 presidential election.[12] After working as a journalist for WJLA, Kelly then applied for a job at Fox News Channel in 2004.[12] CNN president Jonathan Klein would later regret not gaining Kelly as a reporter in the beginning of her career, as she was "the one talent you’d want to have from somewhere else".[13]

Kelly contributed legal segments for Special Report with Brit Hume and hosted her own legal segment, Kelly's Court, during Weekend Live. She appeared on a weekly segment on The O'Reilly Factor and occasionally filled in for Greta Van Susteren on On the Record, where most of her reporting focused on legal and political matters. She occasionally contributed as an anchor, but more often as a substitute anchor on weekends.[14] On February 1, 2010, Kelly began hosting her own two-hour show, America Live, replacing Fox News' previous show The Live Desk. She has been a guest-panelist on Fox News' late-night satire program Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld. In 2010, viewership for America Live increased by 20%, averaging 1,293,000 viewers, and increased by 4% in the 25–54 age demographic, averaging 268,000 viewers.[15]

Kelly received media attention for her coverage of the results of the 2012 United States presidential election. On November 6, 2012, the night of the election, Fox News projected that Obama would win a second term after part of the results had been released. In response to Karl Rove's opposition to this projection, Kelly asked Rove, "Is this just math that you do as a Republican to make yourself feel better? Or is this real?"[16][17][18]

Kelly left as host of America Live in the beginning of July 2013 for maternity leave and began hosting The Kelly File on October 7, 2013.[19][20] The Kelly File was the highest-rated cable news program of August 2015.[21]

In December 2013, remarks made by Kelly in reaction to a Slate article drew controversy. On The Kelly File, she said, "For all you kids watching at home, Santa just is white, but this person is just arguing that maybe we should also have a black Santa," adding, "But Santa is what he is, and just so you know, we’re just debating this because someone wrote about it." Kelly also stated that Jesus was a white man later in the segment.[22] Soon after, Jon Stewart,[23] Stephen Colbert,[24] Rachel Maddow,[25] Josh Barro,[26] and others satirized her remarks.[27] Two days later, she made additional on-air statements, characterizing her original comments as "tongue-in-cheek",[28][29][30][31][32] and that the skin color of Jesus is "far from settled".[33]

In June 2015, Kelly interviewed Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar, the parents of 19 Kids and Counting fame, in relation to their son Josh Duggar's alleged molestation of five girls in 2002. She later also interviewed two of their daughters, Jill and Jessa.[34]

Moderator of Republican presidential debates

In the first few minutes of the Republican Party presidential debate on August 6, Megyn Kelly questioned if a man with Trump's temperament ought to be elected president.[35] Kelly's moderating generated a range of media and political reactions.[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] Kelly responded to Trump's criticism by saying she would not "apologize for doing good journalism".[48] Trump declined to attend the Iowa January 28 debate that she moderated.[49][50] After the debate and off-camera, Kelly referred to Trump as " Voldemort".[51] Bill Maher complimented Kelly as being "so much better" than the candidates who attended the January 28 debate and argued that she was a more viable candidate for the Republican nomination.[52]

Writing

In February 2016, Kelly signed a book deal with HarperCollins Publishers for a novel, scheduled for release late in the year.[53][54][55]

Accolades

She was included in the 2014 Time list of the 100 most influential people.[56]

Kelly appeared on the cover of the February 2016 issue of Vanity Fair.[57]

Personal life

Kelly married Daniel Kendall, an anesthesiologist, on September 29, 2001.[58] That marriage ended in divorce in 2006.[59][60]

On March 1, 2008, she married Douglas Brunt, President and CEO of Authentium,[61] who became a full-time writer and novelist.[62] They have three children.[63][64]

Politically, Kelly identifies as an independent, and states that she has voted for both Democrats and Republicans.[65]

References

  1. ↑ "Megyn Kelly: Biography and Images". TVNewsroom.org. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Dickinson, Ben (January 20, 2014). "How Fox's Megyn Kelly Got to the Top, And Why She's Probably There to Stay". Elle. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  3. ↑ Hume, Brit (April 23, 2014). "The 100 Most Influential People: Megyn Kelly". Time. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Herbert, Geoff (October 6, 2013). "Syracuse native Megyn Kelly proves women can have it all on Fox News' 'The Kelly File'". The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York). Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  5. ↑ Kurtz, Howard (April 16, 2008). "For Megyn Kelly, a quick rise at Fox". The Washington Post via Times Union (Albany, New York). Archived from the original on June 2, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  6. ↑ Rutenberg, Jim (January 21, 2015). "The Megyn Kelly Moment". The New York Times Magazine. Archived from the original on June 2, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Fact Sheet > Select Prominent Alumni". Albany, New York: Albany Law School. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  8. ↑ Little Sisters of the Poor Named on NOW’s ‘Dirty 100’ List?!. Fox News. July 8, 2014. Event occurs at 3:45. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Well, I am [Catholic]. We follow rules. It’s not a religion for wusses!
  9. ↑ "23 Litigation 1996–1997 Conflicting Roles of Lawyer as Director, The Conflicts". Heinonline.org. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  10. ↑ "ZARY MAREKH, on behalf of herself and others similarly situated, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. EQUIFAX; EXPERIAN, formerly, TRW; TRANS UNION,, (2nd Cir. 2001)".
  11. ↑ "Times Union – Albany NY". Alb.merlinone.net. April 16, 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  12. 1 2 "Megyn Kelly – Biography". Fox News. January 13, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  13. ↑ Rutenburg, Jim (January 21, 2015). "The Megyn Kelly Moment". The New York Times.
  14. ↑ "Howard Kurtz – Megyn Kelly, Fox News's Fast-Rising Anchor". Washingtonpost.com. April 14, 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Megyn Kelly Sees Biggest Year to Year Ratings Increased at Fox News". Business Insider. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  16. ↑ David Taintor (November 8, 2012). "Jon Stewart on Fox News’ election night meltdown". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Post Democalypse 2012 – America Takes a Shower – Karl Rove's Math". The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. November 7, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  18. ↑ Dowd, Maureen (November 10, 2012). "Romney Is President". The New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  19. ↑ "In 17 Years, FNC Has Made 5 Evening Changes; CNN and MSNBC Have Made 75 - TVNewser". Mediabistro.com. September 17, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Hasselbeck ditching 'The View' for 'FOX and Friends'". NY Post. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  21. ↑ O'Connell, Michael (September 1, 2015). "TV Ratings: Megyn Kelly Bests Bill O'Reilly in August, Topping Cable News in Key Demo". Hollywood Reporter.
  22. ↑ "Megyn Kelly says 'Santa is white' remarks were tongue-in-cheek". Fox News. December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  23. ↑ Luippold, Ross (December 17, 2013). "Jon Stewart Hits Back At Megyn Kelly's 'White Santa' Defense". Huffington Post. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  24. ↑ Taibi, Catherine (December 13, 2013). "Stephen Colbert Mocks Megyn Kelly's Santa Comments". Huffington Post. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  25. ↑ Benen, Steve (December 14, 2013). "This Week in God". MSNBC. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  26. ↑ Barro, Josh. "Don't Tell Megyn Kelly, But At Whole Foods, Santa Is Black". Business Insider. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  27. ↑ Gold, Hadas (Dec 13, 2013). "Megyn Kelly absent from show post Santa, Jesus segment". Politico.
  28. ↑ Klein, Ezra (December 12, 2013). "Watch Megyn Kelly insist that a mythical present-giving man who commands flying reindeer is definitely white". Wonkblog (Washington Post). Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  29. ↑ Chotiner, Isaac (December 15, 2013). "Who Cares if Santa Claus is Real? The Megyn Kelly Scandal Is About Race.". The New Republic. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  30. ↑ Hart, Andrew (December 16, 2013). "Bill O'Reilly: Santa Is White". Huffington Post. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  31. ↑ Whitaker, Morgan (December 16, 2013). "Bring on the black Santas!". MSNBC. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  32. ↑ Scott, David Clark (December 15, 2013). "Megyn Kelly said Santa and Jesus are white. Really?". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Today's News: Our Take - Megyn Kelly Stands By 'Santa Is White' Remarks", TV Guide via Stuttgart Daily Leader (December 14, 2013).
  34. ↑ Kissell, Rick (4 June 2015). "Megyn Kelly’s Duggars Interview Draws 3.1 Million Viewers". Variety. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  35. ↑ Epstein, Kayla (2015-08-06). "Trump responds to Megyn Kelly's questions on misogyny – with more misogyny". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  36. ↑ Setoodeh, Ramin; Steinberg, Brian (June 22, 2015). "How Megyn Kelly Became the New Star of Fox News". Variety. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  37. ↑ "Megyn Kelly Wins The First GOP Debate". The Huffington Post. August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  38. ↑ McConville, Kylie (August 6, 2015). "Megyn Kelly Owns GOP Debate & Trump As Fox News Moderator". Bustle. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  39. ↑ Feldman, Josh (August 7, 2015). "Mark Levin Goes Off on Fox, Megyn Kelly over Debate: They Had ‘Ratings Agenda’". www.mediaite.com. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  40. ↑ Blake, Aaron (August 7, 2015). "Conservatives are mad at Fox News and Megyn Kelly. They shouldn’t be.". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  41. ↑ King, Michael (August 8, 2015). "Trump disinvited from event after Megyn Kelly 'blood' comment". USA Today (Atlanta, Georgia). WXIA-TV. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  42. ↑ "Here Are All The Ugly Remarks Trump Has Made About Megyn Kelly". The Huffington Post. August 8, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  43. ↑ Darcy, Oliver (July 8, 2015). "Carly Fiorina Excoriates Donald Trump Over Megyn Kelly Comments: ‘There. Is. No. Excuse.’". TheBlaze.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  44. ↑ Feldman, Josh (2015-08-09). "Omarosa Defends Trump: Megyn Kelly Engaged in ‘Lowest Form of Journalism’". Mediaite.com. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  45. ↑ Donald Trump and Megyn Kelly go back and forth at the Fox News GOP debate, YouTube, August 6, 2015.
  46. ↑ Donald Trump To Don Lemon On Megyn Kelly 'I Don't Respect Her', Blood Coming Out of Her Wherever, YouTube, August 7, 2015.
  47. ↑ "‘Celebrity Apprentice’ Contestant Defends Trump: ‘On Her Knees’ Comment Taken Out Of Context". BB4SP.com. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  48. ↑ Peters, Jeremy W.; Victoraug, Daniel (August 10, 2015). "Megyn Kelly Says She Won’t Be Cowed by Donald Trump". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015.
  49. ↑ Darcy, Oliver (January 26, 2016). "Donald Trump Will Not Participate in Fox News Debate". TheBlaze. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  50. ↑ "Donald Trump Boycotting Republican Debate Because Megyn Kelly Is a Moderator". Us Weekly. January 26, 2016.
  51. ↑ Daily Mail,Friday, Jan 29th 2016 Megyn Kelly admits calling Trump 'Voldemort' after their feud overshadowed presidential debate - but Fox claims she just meant The Donald wasn't being named and she didn't know he is Harry Potter villain
  52. ↑ "Bill Maher: Forget Trump, Megyn Kelly Should Be the GOP Nominee for President". The Daily Beast. January 29, 2016.
  53. ↑ "Megyn Kelly Signs Book Deal". Hollywood Reporter. February 4, 2015.
  54. ↑ Stetler, Brian (February 4, 2016). "Fox's Megyn Kelly strikes a book deal". CNN.
  55. ↑ "Megyn Kelly of Fox News Signs Book Deal". The New York Times. February 5, 2016.
  56. ↑ "Time 2014 100 Most Influential People". Time (Time Inc.). April 23, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  57. ↑ "Blowhards, Beware: Megyn Kelly Will Slay You Now". Vanity Fair. Conde Nest. January 31, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  58. ↑ Gould, Martin (February 3, 2015). "I wanted a wife... so did she'. Ex-husband of Megyn Kelly speaks out about his marriage to the FOX News star and reveals he didn't CHEAT on her - and it 'bugged' him that she hinted he did on air". London: DailyMail.com. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  59. ↑ Bercovici, Jeff (March 17, 2008). "Vows And The Mystery Of The Missing Marriage – Mixed Media". Portfolio.com. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  60. ↑ "Megyn Kelly". NNDB.com (Soylent Communications). Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  61. ↑ Saslow, Linda (March 16, 2008). "Megyn Kelly and Douglas Brunt". The New York Times. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  62. ↑ "Douglas Brunt biography". Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  63. ↑ Green, Stephanie; Glover, Elizabeth (September 25, 2009). "Fox News' Megyn Kelly delivers baby boy". The Washington Times (News World Communications). Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  64. ↑ "Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly gives birth to baby girl". Mail Online (London). Associated Newspapers. April 15, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
  65. ↑ Setoodeh, Ramin; Steinberg, Brian (June 22, 2015). "Fox News Anchor Megyn Kelly Comes Out as an Independent". Variety. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.

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