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. Prior to her current role, Kelly held prominent positions at Fox News from 2004 to 2017, where she hosted "America Live" and "The Kelly File," and at NBC News from 2017 to 2018, anchoring "Megyn Kelly Today." In 2025 she launched MK Media, a podcast and video network. She was recognized as one of Time's 100 most influential people in 2014 and 2025.

Sections (4)

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

1964: Birth of Sister, Suzanne

In 1964, Megyn Kelly's older sister, Suzanne, was born. Suzanne passed away in 2022.

1965: Birth of Brother, Pete

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

November 18, 1970: Megyn Kelly's Birth

On November 18, 1970, Megyn Kelly was born in Champaign, Illinois, to Edward Francis Kelly and Linda (née DeMaio).

1985: Death of Father

In 1985, Megyn Kelly's father died of a heart attack when she was 15 years old.

1992: Graduated from Syracuse University

In 1992, Megyn Kelly graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.

1995: Graduated from Albany Law School

In 1995, Megyn Kelly graduated from Albany Law School with a Juris Doctor degree.

1996: Co-wrote "The Conflicting Roles of Lawyer as Director"

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.

2001: First Marriage

In 2001, Megyn Kelly was first married to 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 that happened in 2002.

2003: Joined WJLA-TV

In 2003, Kelly moved to Washington, D.C., and was hired by WJLA-TV as a general assignment reporter.

2004: Applied for job at Fox News

In 2004, Kelly applied for a job at Fox News, contributing legal segments and hosting "Kelly's Court" during Weekend Live.

2004: Joined Fox News

In 2004, Megyn Kelly began working at Fox News, where she hosted programs such as America Live and The Kelly File.

2004: Covered 2004 Presidential Election

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

2005: Trump's sexual comments in an audio recording

In October 2016, a contentious discussion between Kelly and Newt Gingrich on The Kelly File regarding Trump's sexual comments in a 2005 audio recording gained widespread social media reaction.

2006: Divorce from Daniel Kendall

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

2008: Registered as Independent

In 2008, Megyn Kelly has been a registered independent.

2008: Marriage to Douglas Brunt

In 2008, Megyn Kelly married Douglas Brunt, then president and CEO of Authentium.

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: Began hosting America Live

On February 1, 2010, Kelly began hosting her own two-hour afternoon show, America Live, on Fox News.

December 2010: Hosted New Year's Eve special

In December 2010, Kelly hosted a New Year's Eve special with Bill Hemmer on Fox News.

2010: Hosted America Live

From 2010 to 2013, Kelly hosted America Live on Fox News and co-anchored America's Newsroom with Bill Hemmer.

2011: Birth of Daughter Yardley

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

2012: Coverage of 2012 Presidential Election Results

During the 2012 United States presidential election, Megyn Kelly received media attention for her coverage of the results, notably questioning Karl Rove's objection to Fox News' projection that Obama would win Ohio.

July 2013: Left America Live and Took Maternity Leave

In July 2013, Kelly left America Live and took maternity leave from Fox News.

December 2013: Santa Claus and Jesus Comments

In December 2013, Kelly commented on the race of Santa Claus and Jesus on The Kelly File, sparking controversy and satire.

2013: The Kelly File

From 2013 to 2017, Megyn Kelly's show The Kelly File aired, focusing on breaking news and political events.

2013: Birth of Son Thatcher

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

2014: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2014, Megyn Kelly was named one of Time's 100 most influential people.

June 2015: Interviewed Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar

In June 2015, Kelly interviewed Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar of 19 Kids and Counting regarding their son Josh Duggar's alleged molestation, which drew significant viewership.

August 6, 2015: Republican Party Presidential Debate

On August 6, 2015, during a Republican Party presidential debate, Kelly questioned Donald Trump about his temperament and past insulting comments towards women, leading to a media and political reaction and criticism from Trump.

2015: Voting History

In 2015, Megyn Kelly told Variety that she had voted for both Democrats and Republicans.

2015: Moderated first Republican Party presidential debate

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

February 2016: Book Deal with HarperCollins

In February 2016, Megyn Kelly signed an agreement with HarperCollins to write an autobiography, in a deal worth more than $10 million.

Settle for More

Check it on Amazon

February 2016: Cover of Vanity Fair

Megyn Kelly appeared on the cover of the February 2016 issue of Vanity Fair.

March 2016: Announced Prime Time Special on Fox

In March 2016, Kelly announced that she would host a one-hour prime time special on the Fox network, featuring interviews with celebrities from various fields.

May 2016: Aired Prime Time Special on Fox

In May 2016, Kelly's one-hour prime time special aired on Fox, acquiring 4.8 million viewers but placing third in the ratings.

July 2016: Confirmed Harassment by Roger Ailes

In July 2016, amidst allegations of sexual harassment against Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, Kelly confirmed that she herself had been subjected to his harassment.

September 2016: Collaboration on Embeds

In September 2016, it was reported that Kelly would collaborate with Michael De Luca to produce Embeds, a scripted comedy about reporters covering politics, to be aired on a streaming service.

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 2016 campaign

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

2016: Moderated Presidential Primary Debates

In both the 2016 and 2024 election cycles, Megyn Kelly moderated several presidential primary debates.

2016: Rumors of moving to other news networks

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

January 6, 2017: Departed Fox News

On January 6, 2017, Kelly departed Fox News after the last episode of The Kelly File was aired.

January 2017: Joined NBC News

In January 2017, Kelly left Fox News and joined NBC News to host Megyn Kelly Today.

June 2, 2017: Interviewed Vladimir Putin

On June 2, 2017, Megyn Kelly interviewed Russian president Vladimir Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

June 4, 2017: NBC's Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly Premiere

On June 4, 2017, the premiere episode of NBC's Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly aired, featuring Kelly's one-on-one interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

July 2017: Non-compete clause with Fox

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

September 2017: Megyn Kelly Today Premiered

In September 2017, Kelly's daytime talk show, Megyn Kelly Today, premiered on NBC.

2017: Joined Dateline NBC

In 2017, Megyn Kelly joined Dateline NBC, reporting stories for the show.

2017: Left Fox News and Joined NBC News

In 2017, Megyn Kelly left Fox News and joined NBC News, where she anchored Megyn Kelly Today.

October 23, 2018: Blackface Controversy on Megyn Kelly Today

On October 23, 2018, Kelly faced criticism for on-air remarks she made on Megyn Kelly Today regarding the appropriateness of blackface as part of Halloween costumes.

2018: Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly Return Cancelled

After an initial run of eight episodes in the summer of 2017, NBC planned to bring back Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly for the summer of 2018, but this return never materialized.

2018: Left NBC News

In 2018, Megyn Kelly left NBC News.

January 11, 2019: Termination from NBC

On January 11, 2019, Megyn Kelly's employment with NBC was terminated, and she was paid the $30 million due for the remainder of her contract.

January 2019: Left NBC News

In January 2019, Kelly left NBC and transitioned to independent media.

September 10, 2020: Devil May Care Media Launch

On September 10, 2020, Megyn Kelly announced the launch of her media production company, Devil May Care Media, which included a podcast called The Megyn Kelly Show.

September 28, 2020: The Megyn Kelly Show Premiere

On September 28, 2020, The Megyn Kelly Show podcast premiered, marking the beginning of Kelly's venture into independent media production.

2020: Voted for Donald Trump

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

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

On July 6, 2021, it was announced that The Megyn Kelly Show podcast would move to Sirius XM on September 7, 2021, and be broadcast on the talk radio channel Triumph.

September 7, 2021: The Megyn Kelly Show begins on Sirius XM

On September 7, 2021, The Megyn Kelly Show began broadcasting on Sirius XM's Triumph channel, with a video simulcast available to Sirius XM subscribers.

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, leaving behind three children and a grandson.

July 2023: YouTube Channel Viewership Growth

In July 2023, The Megyn Kelly Show's YouTube channel reached 116.8 million views, surpassing major news outlets like NBC News and CBS News in viewership.

November 30, 2023: Revealed Role in 'Mr. Birchum'

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

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December 6, 2023: Moderating Republican Primary Debate

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

2023: Shift in Preferred Pronouns Opinion

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

March 2024: Disclosure of Annulment Process

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

April 2024: Revealed 2020 Vote and Support for 2024

In April 2024, Megyn Kelly revealed that she voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election and would vote for him again in 2024, driven by issues like transgender issues and cultural changes affecting her children.

November 4, 2024: Public Endorsement of Donald Trump

On November 4, 2024, the day before the 2024 presidential election, Megyn Kelly publicly endorsed Donald Trump at a rally in Pittsburgh, citing his policies on women's rights, border security, immigration, and transgender athletes.

2024: Criticism of Taylor Swift's Endorsement

In 2024, after Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris before the 2024 presidential election, Megyn Kelly criticized the endorsement, accusing Swift of "alienating half her fan base."

2024: Moderated Presidential Primary Debates

In both the 2016 and 2024 election cycles, Megyn Kelly moderated several presidential primary debates.

2024: Debut of 'Mr. Birchum'

Megyn Kelly starred in Mr. Birchum, which debuted in early 2024.

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January 2025: YouTube Channel Success

As of January 2025, Megyn Kelly's YouTube channel has over 3.2 million subscribers and ranks among the top ten podcasts in the U.S.

January 17, 2025: Announcement of Trump Inauguration Attendance

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: Launch of AM Update with Megyn Kelly

On February 18, 2025, Megyn Kelly announced the launch of her second podcast, AM Update with Megyn Kelly, which premiered on February 19 and features a daily digest format summarizing major headlines.

March 10, 2025: IHeartRadio Podcast Award

On March 10, 2025, Megyn Kelly won the IHeartRadio podcast award for Best Political Podcast.

March 2025: Launch of MK Media

In March 2025, Megyn Kelly launched MK Media, a podcast and video network focused on news and entertainment, with an initial lineup of shows.

May 6, 2025: Podcast Ranking

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

June 2025: Launch of After Party with Emily Jashinsky

In June 2025, the first additional show, After Party with Emily Jashinsky, was launched by MK Media.

August 2025: Remarks on the Gaza War

In August 2025, during a discussion with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene about the Gaza war, Megyn Kelly stated that while children in Gaza are "starving and hurting," she blames Hamas, accusing them of stealing aid and using the suffering of children for propaganda.

August 2025: Gun Reform Discussion on The Megyn Kelly Show

In August 2025, in response to the Minneapolis Catholic school shooting, Megyn Kelly argued on The Megyn Kelly Show that broad gun reform would be ineffective in the United States, advocating for targeted interventions for individuals with serious mental health concerns.

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