History of Megyn Kelly in Timeline
Megyn Marie Kelly is an American journalist and media personality known for her talk shows and podcast, "The Megyn Kelly Show," broadcasted on SiriusXM's Triumph channel. Her career includes prominent roles as a talk show host at Fox News (2004-2017) and NBC News (2017-2018). She maintains an active online presence through her Instagram and YouTube channel.
November 18, 1970: Megyn Kelly is born
Megyn Kelly was born on November 18, 1970.
1985: Loss of Megyn Kelly's Father
Megyn Kelly experiences the loss of her father, Edward Francis Kelly, to a heart attack in 1985.
1992: Megyn Kelly Graduates from Syracuse University
Megyn Kelly graduates from Syracuse University with a degree in political science in 1992.
1995: Megyn Kelly Earns Law Degree
Megyn Kelly earns her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Albany Law School in 1995.
1996: Megyn Kelly Co-Authors Legal Article
Megyn Kelly co-authors an article titled "The Conflicting Roles of Lawyer as Director" for the American Bar Association's journal, Litigation, in the fall of 1996.
2001: Megyn Kelly's First Marriage
Megyn Kelly married anesthesiologist Daniel Kendall in a Catholic ceremony in 2001.
2003: Megyn Kelly Starts at WJLA-TV
Megyn Kelly relocates to Washington, D.C., in 2003 to work as a general assignment reporter for WJLA-TV, an ABC affiliate.
2004: Megyn Kelly Joins Fox News
Megyn Kelly is hired by Fox News in 2004, initially contributing legal segments to various shows.
2006: Megyn Kelly's First Marriage Ends
Megyn Kelly's marriage to Daniel Kendall ended in divorce in 2006.
2008: Megyn Kelly Marries Douglas Brunt
Megyn Kelly married Douglas Brunt, then the CEO of cybersecurity firm Authentium, in 2008.
February 1, 2010: "America Live" with Megyn Kelly Launches
Megyn Kelly starts hosting her two-hour afternoon show, "America Live," on February 1, 2010, replacing "The Live Desk."
December 2010: Megyn Kelly Co-Hosts New Year's Eve Special
Megyn Kelly teams up with Bill Hemmer to co-host a New Year's Eve special in December 2010.
2012: Megyn Kelly Challenges Election Coverage
Megyn Kelly gains attention for her coverage of the 2012 U.S. presidential election, notably challenging Fox News' decision desk's early projection of Obama's win in Ohio.
July 2013: Megyn Kelly Takes Maternity Leave
Megyn Kelly departs from "America Live" in July 2013 to begin her maternity leave.
October 2013: The Kelly File Premieres
In October 2013, Megyn Kelly begins hosting her own nightly program, "The Kelly File," after returning from maternity leave.
December 2013: Megyn Kelly's "Santa Is White" Remark
Megyn Kelly sparks controversy in December 2013 with her on-air remarks about Santa Claus and Jesus being white, which she later claimed were "tongue-in-cheek."
2014: Time 100 Most Influential People
Megyn Kelly is recognized for her influence in 2014, earning a spot on TIME magazine's list of the 100 most influential people.
June 2015: Megyn Kelly Interviews the Duggars
Megyn Kelly interviews Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar from the reality show "19 Kids and Counting" in June 2015, regarding allegations of molestation against their son, Josh Duggar. The interview also includes two of their daughters, Jill and Jessa.
August 6, 2015: Megyn Kelly Moderates GOP Debate
Megyn Kelly receives both praise and criticism for her moderation of the Republican Party presidential debate on August 6, 2015, particularly for her pointed questions towards then-candidate Donald Trump.
2015: Megyn Kelly's Political Views
Megyn Kelly identified as an independent, stating in 2015 that she had voted for both Democrats and Republicans.
February 2016: Megyn Kelly Signs Book Deal with HarperCollins
In February 2016, Megyn Kelly secured a book deal worth over $10 million with HarperCollins to write her autobiography.
February 2016: Megyn Kelly Featured in Vanity Fair and Honored by Variety
Megyn Kelly was featured on the cover of Vanity Fair's February 2016 issue. In 2016, she also received Variety's Power of Women honor for her work addressing child abuse.
March 2016: Announcement of Fox Network Special
In March 2016, it was announced that Megyn Kelly would host a one-hour primetime special on Fox, interviewing celebrities from "politics, entertainment, and other areas of human interest".
May 2016: Fox Network Special Airs
Megyn Kelly's primetime special aired on Fox in May 2016, during sweeps month. It garnered 4.8 million viewers but placed third in the ratings.
July 2016: Megyn Kelly Alleges Sexual Harassment Against Roger Ailes
Amidst allegations of sexual harassment against Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, it was reported in July 2016 that Megyn Kelly confirmed she was also a victim of his harassment, leading to Ailes' resignation.
October 12, 2016: Megyn Kelly Affirms Catholic Faith
On her Fox News show, Megyn Kelly stated that she is a lifelong Catholic on October 12, 2016.
November 15, 2016: "Settle for More" Release
Megyn Kelly's autobiography, titled "Settle for More," was released on November 15, 2016.
2016: Megyn Kelly Explores Opportunities Outside Fox News
In late 2016, rumors circulated that Megyn Kelly was considering leaving Fox News as her contract neared its end.
January 6, 2017: Megyn Kelly Departs Fox News
Megyn Kelly's last episode of "The Kelly File" aired, marking her departure from Fox News on January 6, 2017.
January 2017: Megyn Kelly Departs Fox News
Megyn Kelly departs from Fox News in January 2017 after several years of hosting "The Kelly File."
January 2017: Megyn Kelly Joins NBC News
The New York Times reported in January 2017 that Megyn Kelly would be joining NBC News in a "triple role" which included hosting a daytime talk show and a Sunday-night newsmagazine.
June 2, 2017: Megyn Kelly Interviews Vladimir Putin
Megyn Kelly interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 2, 2017, in a panel discussion and a one-on-one interview at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
June 4, 2017: Premiere of "Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly"
On June 4, 2017, the premiere episode of NBC's "Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly" aired, featuring her interview with Vladimir Putin.
July 2017: Potential End of Non-Compete Clause
Sources suggested that a non-compete clause in Kelly's Fox News contract might expire in July 2017, potentially allowing her to work for competitors.
September 2017: "Megyn Kelly Today" Premieres
Megyn Kelly's daytime talk show, "Megyn Kelly Today," premiered on NBC in September 2017.
September 2017: Megyn Kelly Today Debuts
September 2017 marks the launch of "Megyn Kelly Today," her program on NBC News during the third hour of the "Today" show.
2017: Megyn Kelly's Salary and "Sunday Night" Hiatus
Megyn Kelly reportedly earned between $15 million and $20 million annually at NBC. After an eight-episode run, her newsmagazine show, "Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly," went on hiatus.
October 2018: "Megyn Kelly Today" Cancelled
Following a controversial segment about blackface, "Megyn Kelly Today" is canceled in October 2018.
October 23, 2018: Megyn Kelly's Blackface Comments Spark Backlash
On October 23, 2018, Megyn Kelly faced criticism for her comments on "Megyn Kelly Today" defending blackface in Halloween costumes. She later apologized for her remarks.
October 26, 2018: "Megyn Kelly Today" Canceled by NBC
NBC canceled "Megyn Kelly Today" on October 26, 2018, following the controversy over Kelly's blackface comments. It was reported that she had considered focusing on her correspondent role.
2018: Megyn Kelly's Stance on Drug Legalization, Immigration, and Gun Control
Megyn Kelly expressed her support for drug legalization and accepting more legal immigrants in 2018. However, she opposed Muslim immigration in Europe. Following the Parkland school shooting, she criticized the NRA's influence and lawmakers for inaction on gun control.
2018: Megyn Kelly Continues Reporting for "Dateline NBC"
Although initially planned, the return of "Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly" in summer 2018 didn't happen. Kelly continued reporting for "Dateline NBC."
January 11, 2019: Megyn Kelly's Employment at NBC Terminated
Megyn Kelly's employment with NBC ended on January 11, 2019, but she received the remaining $30 million on her contract.
January 2019: Megyn Kelly Leaves NBC News
Megyn Kelly leaves NBC News in January 2019, following the cancellation of her show.
December 13, 2019: "Bombshell" Film Release
"Bombshell," a film about Roger Ailes' sexual abuse scandal at Fox News, premiered on December 13, 2019, with Charlize Theron portraying Megyn Kelly.
September 10, 2020: Megyn Kelly Launches Devil May Care Media and Podcast
On September 10, 2020, Megyn Kelly launched her media company, Devil May Care Media, and announced her podcast, "The Megyn Kelly Show."
July 6, 2021: "The Megyn Kelly Show" Moves to SiriusXM
On July 6, 2021, it was announced that "The Megyn Kelly Show" podcast would move to SiriusXM.
September 7, 2021: "The Megyn Kelly Show" Premieres on SiriusXM
"The Megyn Kelly Show" debuted on SiriusXM's Triumph channel on September 7, 2021, with a video simulcast for subscribers.
June 2023: Megyn Kelly Publicly Criticizes Transgender Individuals and Issues
In June 2023, Megyn Kelly sparked controversy for her public criticism of transgender individuals and issues. This included publicly reversing her stance on preferred pronouns and making inflammatory statements about figures like Dylan Mulvaney, Ava Kris Tyson, and Rachel Levine. She also targeted the writers of the children's show Transformers: EarthSpark for including a non-binary character.
November 30, 2023: Megyn Kelly Announces Role in "Mr. Birchum"
Megyn Kelly revealed on November 30, 2023, that she would be starring in "Mr. Birchum," a Daily Wire animated series set to premiere in early 2024.
December 6, 2023: Megyn Kelly Co-Hosts Republican Primary Debate
Megyn Kelly returned to moderate the fourth Republican primary debate on NewsNation alongside Elizabeth Vargas and Eliana Johnson on December 6, 2023.
March 2024: Megyn Kelly Seeks Annulment
Megyn Kelly revealed that she was in the process of obtaining a Catholic annulment from Daniel Kendall in March 2024.
2024: "Mr. Birchum" Premiere
The Daily Wire's adult animated comedy series "Mr. Birchum," is scheduled to premiere in early 2024.