History of Megyn Kelly in Timeline
Megyn Kelly is an American journalist, attorney, political commentator, and media personality. Known for her roles at Fox News (2004-2017) where she hosted shows like 'America Live' and 'The Kelly File,' and NBC News (2017-2018) with 'Megyn Kelly Today,' she currently hosts 'The Megyn Kelly Show' on Sirius XM and YouTube. In 2025, she launched MK Media, a podcast and video network featuring independent creators. Kelly was recognized as one of Time's 100 most influential people in both 2014 and 2025.
1964: Sister's Birth
In 1964, Megyn Kelly's older sister, Suzanne, was born. She passed away in 2022.
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. She is an American journalist, attorney, political commentator, and media personality.
1985: Father's Death
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 degree in political science.
1995: Graduated from Albany Law School
In 1995, Megyn Kelly graduated from Albany Law School with a Juris Doctor degree, where she had been an editor of the Albany Law Review.
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, while working as an associate attorney in Chicago.
2001: First Marriage
In 2001, Megyn Kelly married Daniel Kendall in a Catholic ceremony.
2002: Josh Duggar Allegations
In June 2015, Megyn 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: Hired by WJLA-TV
In 2003, Megyn Kelly moved to Washington, D.C., where she was hired by the ABC affiliate WJLA-TV as a general assignment reporter.
2004: Started at Fox News
In 2004, Megyn Kelly began working at Fox News, where she hosted programs including America Live and The Kelly File.
2004: Covered 2004 Presidential Election
In 2004, Megyn Kelly, working for WJLA-TV, covered national and local events, including the 2004 presidential election.
2005: Trump's sexual comments in a 2005 audio recording
In October, a contentious discussion between Megyn Kelly and Newt Gingrich on The Kelly File regarding Donald 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 Independent
In 2008, Megyn Kelly became a registered independent.
2008: Marriage to Douglas Brunt
In 2008, Megyn Kelly married Douglas Brunt, who was then president and CEO of Authentium.
2009: Birth of son Yates
In 2009, Megyn Kelly and Douglas Brunt's son, Yates, was born.
February 1, 2010: Began 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.
December 2010: Hosted New Year's Eve Special
In December 2010, Megyn Kelly co-hosted a New Year's Eve special with Bill Hemmer on Fox News.
2010: Hosted America Live
From 2010 to 2013, Megyn 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's daughter, Yardley, was born.
July 2013: Left America Live
In July 2013, Megyn Kelly left America Live on Fox News and took maternity leave before starting her new program.
December 2013: Santa Claus Controversy
In December 2013, Megyn Kelly commented on a Slate article on The Kelly File, stating that Santa Claus "just is white," which led to satire and discussion about the race of Santa and Jesus. She later clarified her comments were "tongue-in-cheek."
2013: Hosted The Kelly File
From 2013 to 2017, Megyn Kelly hosted The Kelly File, a program focused on breaking news and political events, which aired on Fox News.
2013: Birth of son Thatcher
In 2013, Megyn Kelly and Douglas Brunt's son, Thatcher, was born.
2014: Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2014, Megyn Kelly was named one of Time's 100 most influential people.
June 2015: Interviewed the Duggars
In June 2015, Megyn 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. She also interviewed two of their daughters, Jill and Jessa.
August 6, 2015: Republican Party Presidential Debate
On August 6, 2015, Megyn Kelly asked then-presidential candidate Donald Trump about his past insulting remarks towards women during a Republican Party presidential debate, which resulted in a range of media and political reactions, including criticism from Trump. Trump declined to attend the Iowa January 28 debate that she moderated.
2015: Moderation of first Republican Party presidential debate
In 2015, Megyn Kelly moderated the first Republican Party presidential debate while at Fox News.
2015: Voting history
In 2015, Megyn Kelly told Variety that she had voted for both Democrats and Republicans.
February 2016: Book deal with HarperCollins
In February 2016, Megyn Kelly signed an agreement with HarperCollins to write an autobiography for more than $10 million.
February 2016: Appeared on Vanity Fair Cover
Megyn Kelly appeared on the cover of the February 2016 issue of Vanity Fair.
March 2016: Announced Primetime Special
In March 2016, it was announced that Megyn Kelly would host a one-hour primetime special on the Fox network, featuring interviews with celebrities.
May 2016: Aired Primetime Special
In May 2016, Megyn Kelly's one-hour primetime special aired on the Fox network. It acquired 4.8 million viewers and placed third in the ratings.
July 2016: Confirmed Harassment by Roger Ailes
In July 2016, amidst allegations of sexual harassment on the part of Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, Megyn Kelly was reported to have confirmed that she herself was also subjected to his harassment.
September 2016: Producing Embeds
In September 2016, it was reported that Megyn Kelly would be collaborating 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 autobiography "Settle for More"
On November 15, 2016, Megyn Kelly's autobiography, "Settle for More", was released.
2016: Clash with Donald Trump
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 2016 and 2024, Megyn Kelly moderated several presidential primary debates.
2016: Rumored to be Considering Moving to Other News 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.
January 6, 2017: Departed Fox News
On January 6, 2017, Megyn Kelly departed Fox News after the last episode of The Kelly File was aired.
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, Megyn Kelly's one-on-one interview with Vladimir Putin aired as the premiere episode of NBC's Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly.
July 2017: Non-compete Clause
In January 2017 People reported that Megyn 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, Megyn Kelly's daytime talk show, Megyn Kelly Today, premiered on NBC.
2017: Joined Dateline NBC
In 2017, after an initial run of eight episodes in the summer, Kelly continued to report stories for Dateline NBC during the summer of 2018, continuing her work for the show.
October 23, 2018: Blackface Controversy
On October 23, 2018, Megyn Kelly was criticized for on-air remarks she made on Megyn Kelly Today related to the appropriateness of blackface as part of Halloween costumes.
2018: Criticism of lawmakers after Parkland shooting
In 2018, Megyn Kelly criticized lawmakers for their failure to pass meaningful gun reform following the Parkland shooting, citing the NRA's influence as a barrier.
2018: Left NBC News
In 2018, Megyn Kelly left NBC News after hosting Megyn Kelly Today.
2018: Planned Return of Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly Cancelled
In the summer of 2018, NBC decided to bring back her newsmagazine show Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly after a hiatus for football and the Winter Olympics, but only periodically. However, this return never materialized.
January 11, 2019: Employment Terminated by 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
In January 2019, Megyn Kelly left NBC and later transitioned to independent media with her podcast and online platforms.
2019: Release of "Bombshell" film
In 2019, the film "Bombshell" about Roger Ailes' sexual misconduct and resignation from Fox News, was released, with Charlize Theron portraying Megyn Kelly. Kelly confirmed and disputed parts of the film after viewing it.
September 10, 2020: Launch of Devil May Care Media
On September 10, 2020, Megyn Kelly announced the launch of her media production company, Devil May Care Media.
September 28, 2020: Premiere of The Megyn Kelly Show podcast
On September 28, 2020, the first episode of Megyn Kelly's podcast, The Megyn Kelly Show, premiered.
2020: Vote for Donald Trump
In April 2024, Megyn Kelly revealed that she voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.
July 6, 2021: Announcement of podcast move to Sirius XM
On July 6, 2021, it was announced that The Megyn Kelly Show podcast would move to Sirius XM.
September 7, 2021: The Megyn Kelly Show broadcasts on Sirius XM
On September 7, 2021, The Megyn Kelly Show began broadcasting weekdays at 12 noon ET on Sirius XM's talk radio channel Triumph, with a video simulcast for subscribers.
2022: Death of sister Suzanne Crossley
In 2022, Megyn Kelly announced that her older sister, Suzanne Crossley, had died from a heart attack following a battle with opioid addiction.
2022: Sister's Death
Megyn Kelly's older sister, Suzanne, who was born in 1964, passed away in 2022.
June 2023: Shift in opinion on preferred pronouns
In June 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.
November 30, 2023: Announcement of 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.
December 6, 2023: Co-hosting Republican primary debate on NewsNation
On December 6, 2023, Megyn Kelly co-hosted the fourth Republican primary debate on NewsNation with Elizabeth Vargas and Eliana Johnson. This marked her return to moderating a presidential debate since 2015 during her time at Fox News.
March 2024: 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: Revealed Vote for Donald Trump
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.
October 2024: Criticism of Taylor Swift
In October 2024, Megyn Kelly criticized Taylor Swift after Swift endorsed Kamala Harris, accusing Swift of "alienating half her fan base" and objecting to Tim Walz's LGBTQ policies.
November 4, 2024: Public endorsement of Donald Trump
On November 4, 2024, Megyn Kelly publicly endorsed Donald Trump at a rally in Pittsburgh, expressing support for his policies. She posted a selfie with Trump on X (formerly Twitter) with an endorsement.
2024: Moderated Presidential Primary Debates
In 2016 and 2024, Megyn Kelly moderated several presidential primary debates.
2024: Debut of Mr. Birchum
In early 2024, Mr. Birchum, a new Daily Wire adult animated comedy series starring Megyn Kelly, debuted.
January 2025: YouTube Channel Subscribers
As of January 2025, Megyn Kelly's YouTube channel has over 3.2 million subscribers and is one of the top ten podcasts in the U.S.
January 17, 2025: Attendance and Remarks at Trump's Inauguration
On January 17, 2025, Megyn Kelly stated on her show that she would be attending Donald Trump's second inauguration on January 20 and would be delivering remarks on stage 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 a second podcast, AM Update with Megyn Kelly, which premiered on February 19. This podcast follows a daily digest format.
March 10, 2025: IHeartRadio podcast award for Best Political podcast
On March 10, 2025, Megyn Kelly won the IHeartRadio podcast award for Best Political podcast.
March 2025: Launch of MK Media podcast and video network
In March 2025, Megyn Kelly launched MK Media, a podcast and video network focused on news and entertainment, which included shows like 'Next Up with Mark Halperin' and others.
May 6, 2025: Podcast ranking in Top Right-Wing podcasts
On May 6, 2025, Megyn Kelly's podcast ranked 3rd in Top Right-Wing podcasts by subscribers for Q1, with the most YOY % growth at 176%.
2025: Launched MK Media
In 2025, Megyn Kelly launched MK Media, a podcast and video network featuring commentary and news programs from independent creators.
2025: Shift in Political Standing
In 2025, Megyn Kelly opened up about her shift in political standing over the years on The Megyn Kelly Show.
Mentioned in this timeline
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Taylor Swift is a highly successful American singer-songwriter recognized for...
Vladimir Putin is a Russian politician serving as President of...
Tucker Carlson is an American conservative political commentator best known...
Fox News Channel FNC is a conservative American news and...
CBS is a major American commercial broadcast television and radio...
Trending
4 months ago Sam Howell Trade Rumors: Seahawks Considering Offers, Steelers Potential Landing Spot
8 minutes ago Zach Wilson Featured in Dolphins' Preseason Discussions and Game Odds for August 16, 2025
4 months ago Packers Could Make a Bold Quarterback Trade with Malik Willis: A Perfect Scenario
3 months ago Akshay Bhatia Contends at Charles Schwab with New Mental Approach, Achieving Top Rankings
Robert Joshua Dobbs is an American professional football quarterback currently playing for the San Francisco ers in the NFL Drafted...
9 minutes ago Raphinha transfer request amidst Barcelona dressing room chaos and WAGs war tension.
Popular
Adam Schiff is an American politician and lawyer currently serving...
The Kennedy Center Honors are annual awards presented since recognizing...
Ken Paxton is an American politician and lawyer serving as...
A blue moon is defined in several ways most commonly...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
Olive Garden is a prominent American casual dining chain known...