History of Megyn Kelly in Timeline

Megyn Kelly is an American journalist, attorney, political commentator, and media personality. She hosts 'The Megyn Kelly Show' on Sirius XM and YouTube. She gained prominence at Fox News (2004-2017), hosting programs like 'America Live' and 'The Kelly File,' and later anchored 'Megyn Kelly Today' at NBC News (2017-2018). Time recognized her as one of the 100 most influential people in 2014 and 2025.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1964: Sister's Birth

In 1964, Megyn Kelly's older sister, Suzanne, was born.

1965: Brother's Birth

Around 1965, Megyn Kelly's older brother, Pete, was born.

November 18, 1970: Megyn Kelly Born

On November 18, 1970, Megyn Marie Kelly was born in the United States. She became a journalist, attorney, political commentator, and media personality.

1985: Kelly's Father Dies

In 1985, Megyn Kelly's father died of a heart attack when she was 15 years old. This was a significant life event for her.

1992: Kelly Graduates from Syracuse University

In 1992, Megyn Kelly graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. This was a milestone in her education.

1995: Kelly Graduates from Albany Law School

In 1995, Megyn Kelly graduated from Albany Law School with a Juris Doctor degree, marking a significant achievement in her education.

1996: Kelly Co-Writes Article for ABA Journal

In the fall of 1996, Megyn Kelly co-wrote an article titled "The Conflicting Roles of Lawyer as Director" for the American Bar Association's journal, Litigation, marking an early contribution to legal scholarship.

2001: Marriage to Daniel Kendall

In 2001, Megyn Kelly married Daniel Kendall, an anesthesiologist, in a Catholic ceremony.

2002: Josh Duggar's alleged molestation

In June 2015, Kelly interviewed Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar of 19 Kids and Counting regarding their son Josh Duggar's alleged molestation of five girls in 2002.

2003: Kelly Hired by WJLA-TV

In 2003, Megyn Kelly moved to Washington, D.C., and was hired by ABC affiliate WJLA-TV as a general assignment reporter, marking a transition in her career.

2004: Kelly Joins Fox News

In 2004, Megyn Kelly applied for a job at Fox News, marking a turning point in her career in broadcast journalism.

2004: Kelly Covered 2004 Presidential Election

In 2004, Megyn Kelly, as a reporter for WJLA-TV, covered national and local events, including live coverage of the 2004 presidential election.

2005: Trump's Sexual Comments in Audio Recording

In October, Megyn Kelly had a contentious discussion with Newt Gingrich on The Kelly File regarding Donald Trump's sexual comments in a 2005 audio recording, leading to widespread social media reaction. The event occurred in 2005.

2006: Divorce from Daniel Kendall

In 2006, Megyn Kelly's marriage to Daniel Kendall ended in divorce.

2008: Kelly Marries Douglas Brunt

In 2008, Megyn Kelly married Douglas Brunt, then president and CEO of Authentium, who later became a writer.

2009: Birth of Son Yates

In 2009, Megyn Kelly and Douglas Brunt had their first child, a son named Yates, conceived through in vitro fertilization.

February 1, 2010: Kelly Begins Hosting America Live

On February 1, 2010, Megyn Kelly began hosting her own two-hour afternoon show, America Live, which replaced The Live Desk on Fox News, marking a significant step in her career at the network.

December 2010: Kelly Hosts New Year's Eve Special

In December 2010, Megyn Kelly co-hosted a New Year's Eve special with Bill Hemmer on Fox News, marking a special event in her broadcasting career.

2011: Birth of Daughter Yardley

In 2011, Megyn Kelly and Douglas Brunt had their daughter Yardley, conceived through in vitro fertilization.

2012: Kelly's Coverage of 2012 US Presidential Election Results

In 2012, Megyn Kelly received media attention for her coverage of the results of the United States presidential election, specifically questioning Republican operative Karl Rove's objections to Fox News' projection of Obama winning Ohio.

July 2013: Kelly Leaves America Live

In July 2013, Megyn Kelly left America Live and took maternity leave from Fox News, leading to a change in her broadcasting schedule.

December 2013: Kelly's Comments on Santa's Race

In December 2013, Megyn Kelly commented on a Slate article on The Kelly File, stating that Santa just is white, sparking controversy and satire from various media figures. The comments became a controversy.

2013: Birth of Son Thatcher

In 2013, Megyn Kelly and Douglas Brunt had their son Thatcher, conceived through in vitro fertilization.

June 2015: Kelly Interviews Duggars on The Kelly File

In June 2015, Megyn Kelly interviewed Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their daughters Jill and Jessa regarding their son Josh Duggar's alleged molestation on The Kelly File. The show's Nielsen rating was 3.09 million viewers.

August 6, 2015: Kelly Questions Trump at Republican Debate

On August 6, 2015, at a Republican Party presidential debate, Megyn Kelly asked Donald Trump about his temperament and past insulting remarks toward women, generating media and political reactions and criticism from Trump. This event led to a significant controversy.

2015: Moderated first Republican Party presidential debate

In 2015, Megyn Kelly moderated the first Republican Party presidential debate while at Fox News.

2015: Kelly Identifies as an Independent

In 2015, Megyn Kelly told Variety that she identifies as an independent and has voted for both Democrats and Republicans.

February 2016: Kelly Signs Autobiography Deal with HarperCollins

In February 2016, Megyn Kelly signed an agreement with HarperCollins for over $10 million to write her autobiography.

February 2016: Kelly on Vanity Fair Cover

Megyn Kelly appeared on the cover of the February 2016 issue of Vanity Fair, marking a significant appearance in popular media.

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March 2016: Kelly to Host Prime Time Special on Fox

In March 2016, it was announced that Megyn Kelly would host a one-hour prime time special on the Fox network, interviewing celebrities, marking a special career event.

May 2016: Kelly's Prime Time Special Airs

In May 2016, Megyn Kelly's one-hour prime time special aired on Fox, acquiring 4.8 million viewers but placing third in the ratings. The event took place during a sweeps month.

July 2016: Kelly Confirms Ailes' Harassment

In July 2016, amid allegations of sexual harassment against Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, Megyn Kelly confirmed that she had also been subjected to his harassment. This was a significant event.

September 2016: Kelly to Produce Embeds Comedy

In September 2016, it was reported that Megyn Kelly would collaborate with Michael De Luca to produce Embeds, a scripted comedy about reporters covering politics, to be aired on a streaming service. This marked an expansion of her career into production.

November 15, 2016: Release of "Settle for More"

On November 15, 2016, Megyn Kelly's autobiography, titled "Settle for More", was released.

Settle for More

Check it on Amazon

2016: Clash with Trump during the 2016 Campaign

During the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump referred to Megyn Kelly as "nasty" following a widely publicized debate exchange.

2016: Kelly Moderated Presidential Primary Debates

In 2016, Megyn Kelly moderated several presidential primary debates during the election cycles, which was during her tenure at Fox News.

2016: Kelly Considering Moving to Other Networks

In late 2016, with her Fox contract in its final months, Megyn Kelly was rumored to be actively considering moving to other news networks, indicating potential career changes.

January 6, 2017: Kelly Departs Fox News

On January 6, 2017, Megyn Kelly departed Fox News after the last episode of The Kelly File was aired, marking the end of her tenure at the network.

January 2017: Kelly Leaves Fox News, Joins NBC News

In January 2017, Megyn Kelly left Fox News to join NBC News to host Megyn Kelly Today. This marked a career milestone for Kelly.

June 2, 2017: Kelly Moderates Panel, Interviews Putin

On June 2, 2017, Megyn Kelly interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin, first in a panel discussion at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, marking a significant event in her journalism career.

June 4, 2017: Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly Premieres

On June 4, 2017, the premiere episode of NBC's Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly aired, featuring her one-on-one interview with Vladimir Putin, marking the launch of her new newsmagazine show.

July 2017: Kelly's Non-Compete Clause with Fox

In January 2017, it was reported that Megyn Kelly remained under a non-compete clause with Fox until July 2017, preventing her from working for a competitor until it expired.

September 2017: Megyn Kelly Today Premieres

In September 2017, Megyn Kelly's daytime talk show, Megyn Kelly Today, premiered on NBC, marking another milestone in her career as a talk show host.

2017: Kelly Joins Dateline NBC

In 2017, Megyn Kelly reportedly joined Dateline NBC and continued to report stories for the show into the summer of 2018.

October 23, 2018: Kelly's Blackface Comments on Megyn Kelly Today

On October 23, 2018, Megyn Kelly was criticized for on-air remarks she made on Megyn Kelly Today regarding the appropriateness of blackface as part of Halloween costumes, sparking immediate controversy.

2018: Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly Return Never Materialized

In 2018, after an initial run, NBC decided against bringing back Megyn Kelly's newsmagazine show, Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly, after a hiatus, and the return never materialized.

2018: Kelly Criticizes Lawmakers on Gun Reform

In 2018, following the Parkland shooting, Megyn Kelly criticized lawmakers for their failure to pass meaningful gun reform, citing the NRA's influence and the ineffectiveness of proposed changes.

January 11, 2019: NBC Terminates Kelly's Employment

On January 11, 2019, NBC terminated Megyn Kelly's employment following the blackface controversy, and she was paid the remaining $30 million from her contract.

December 13, 2019: Release of "Bombshell"

On December 13, 2019, the film "Bombshell", depicting Roger Ailes' sexual abuses and resignation from Fox News, was released. Megyn Kelly, portrayed by Charlize Theron, was not consulted for the film, but held a roundtable discussion after viewing a screening.

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September 10, 2020: Kelly Launches Devil May Care Media

On September 10, 2020, Megyn Kelly announced the launch of Devil May Care Media, her media production company, marking a new venture in her career.

September 28, 2020: The Megyn Kelly Show Premieres

On September 28, 2020, the first episode of The Megyn Kelly Show, her podcast, premiered, marking the beginning of her independent media career.

2020: Kelly voted for Donald Trump

In April 2024, Kelly revealed that she voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

July 6, 2021: The Megyn Kelly Show to Move to Sirius XM

On July 6, 2021, it was announced that The Megyn Kelly Show would move to Sirius XM on September 7, marking a new distribution platform for her podcast.

September 7, 2021: The Megyn Kelly Show Moves to Sirius XM

On September 7, 2021, The Megyn Kelly Show moved to Sirius XM, broadcasting weekdays on the Triumph talk radio channel, marking a new phase in her podcast's distribution.

2022: Death of Sister, Suzanne Crossley

In 2022, Megyn Kelly's older sister, Suzanne Crossley, died from a heart attack following a battle with opioid addiction.

2022: Sister's Death

In 2022, Megyn Kelly's older sister, Suzanne, passed away.

June 2023: Kelly Explains Shift in Opinion on Preferred Pronouns

In June 2023, Megyn Kelly explained that she had shifted her opinion from supporting "preferred pronouns" to opposing them, citing concerns about their connection to gender-affirming care for minors and their impact on women's rights and children's safety.

July 2023: The Megyn Kelly Show's YouTube Viewership Surpasses Major News Outlets

In July 2023, The Megyn Kelly Show's YouTube channel achieved 116.8 million views, exceeding major news outlets such as NBC News (78 million) and CBS News (83 million).

November 30, 2023: Kelly to Star in "Mr. Birchum"

On November 30, 2023, Megyn Kelly revealed on her show that she would star alongside Danny Trejo, Roseanne Barr, and Adam Carolla in "Mr. Birchum", a new Daily Wire adult animated comedy series.

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December 6, 2023: Kelly Co-hosts Republican Primary Debate on NewsNation

On December 6, 2023, Megyn Kelly, along with Elizabeth Vargas and Eliana Johnson, co-hosted the fourth Republican primary debate on NewsNation, marking her return to moderating a presidential debate since 2015.

March 2024: Kelly Discloses Catholic Annulment Process

In March 2024, Megyn Kelly disclosed that she was undergoing the Catholic annulment process for her marriage with Daniel Kendall.

April 2024: Kelly Reveals Vote for Trump in 2020 and Intention to Vote for Him Again

In April 2024, Megyn Kelly revealed that she voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election and intended to vote for him again in 2024, driven by issues like transgender policies and cultural changes affecting her children, despite their past turbulent relationship.

October 2024: Kelly Criticizes Taylor Swift for Endorsing Kamala Harris

In October 2024, after Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, Megyn Kelly criticized Swift during an on-stage interview with Tucker Carlson, accusing Swift of "alienating half her fan base."

November 4, 2024: Kelly Publicly Endorses Donald Trump

On November 4, 2024, Megyn Kelly publicly endorsed Donald Trump at a rally in Pittsburgh, citing his policies on women's rights, border security, immigration, and transgender athletes, and posted a selfie with him on X (formerly Twitter).

2024: Kelly Moderated Presidential Primary Debates

In 2024, Megyn Kelly moderated several presidential primary debates during the election cycles, which was during her tenure at Fox News.

2024: Debut of "Mr. Birchum"

The adult animated comedy series "Mr. Birchum", starring Megyn Kelly, debuted in early 2024.

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January 2025: Megyn Kelly's YouTube Channel Reaches 3.2 Million Subscribers

As of January 2025, Megyn Kelly's YouTube channel has surpassed 3.2 million subscribers, positioning it as one of the top ten podcasts in the U.S.

January 17, 2025: Kelly to Attend Trump's Second Inauguration

On January 17, 2025, Megyn Kelly announced on her show that she would attend Donald Trump's second inauguration on January 20 and deliver remarks at his rally the night before.

February 18, 2025: Kelly Announces Launch of Second Podcast

On February 18, 2025, Megyn Kelly announced the launch of a second podcast, AM Update with Megyn Kelly, set to premiere on February 19, which will summarize major headlines.

May 6, 2025: Kelly's Podcast Ranks 3rd in Top Right-Wing Podcasts

On May 6, 2025, Kelly's podcast ranked 3rd in Top Right-Wing podcasts by subscribers for Q1, and had the most YOY % growth at 176%, making her the only female in the top 10.