History of Nancy Grace in Timeline
Nancy Grace is an American legal commentator and television journalist known for her strong opinions and advocacy for victims' rights. She gained prominence as the host of 'Nancy Grace' on HLN (2005-2016), a nightly show covering celebrity news and current affairs, often focusing on crime and justice. Before that, she hosted 'Closing Arguments' on Court TV. Grace has also authored a book criticizing aspects of the criminal justice system and was involved in the reality show 'Swift Justice with Nancy Grace'. Her style is characterized by emotional intensity and a focus on high-profile cases.
October 23, 1959: Nancy Grace Born
On October 23, 1959, Nancy Ann Grace was born. She is an American legal commentator and television journalist.
1977: Graduation from Windsor Academy
In 1977, Nancy Grace graduated from Windsor Academy in Macon.
1979: Murder of Nancy Grace's fiancé
In 1979, Nancy Grace's fiancé was murdered, an event she often cites as the impetus for her career as a prosecutor and victims' rights advocate.
1996: Offer from Court TV
In 1996, Nancy Grace accepted an offer from Court TV founder Steven Brill to do a legal commentary show alongside Johnnie Cochran.
1996: Court TV's Closing Arguments
In 1996, Nancy Grace began hosting "Closing Arguments" on Court TV.
1997: Reprimand by Supreme Court of Georgia
In 1997, Nancy Grace was reprimanded by the Supreme Court of Georgia for withholding evidence and making improper statements in an arson and murder case, leading to the overturning of the conviction.
2004: Host of Closing Arguments
In 2004, Nancy Grace began hosting "Closing Arguments" on Court TV.
May 21, 2005: Nancy Grace parodied on Saturday Night Live's Saturday TV Funhouse
On May 21, 2005, Nancy Grace, voiced by Amy Poehler, was parodied on Saturday Night Live's Saturday TV Funhouse segment in a Divertor sketch where Grace said "[Name of celebrity in question] should fry."
2005: Show Began
David Carr wrote in the New York Times article that Since her show began in 2005, the presumption of innocence has found a willful enemy in the former prosecutor turned broadcast judge-and-jury
2005: Nancy Grace Show Debut
In 2005, Nancy Grace began hosting "Nancy Grace", a nightly celebrity news and current affairs show on HLN.
2005: Objection!: How High-Priced Defense Attorneys Published
In 2005, Nancy Grace's first book, Objection!: How High-Priced Defense Attorneys, Celebrity Defendants, and a 24/7 Media Have Hijacked Our Criminal Justice System, was published by Hyperion. It became a New York Times bestseller.
March 2006: Article questions Nancy Grace's account of her fiancé's murder
In March 2006, an article in the New York Observer suggested Nancy Grace embellished the story of her college fiancé's 1979 murder in her book Objection! to better support her image. The Observer cited contradictions between the events and Grace's statements.
November 21, 2006: The Smoking Gun Exposes Pending Litigation
On November 21, 2006, The Smoking Gun exposed pending litigation on behalf of the estate of Melinda Duckett, asserting a wrongful death claim against CNN and Nancy Grace. The attorney for the estate alleges that Grace's aggressive questioning traumatized Duckett so much that she committed suicide.
December 5, 2006: Tommy McCoy released on parole
On December 5, 2006, Tommy McCoy, the murderer of Nancy Grace's fiancé Griffin, was released on parole from the Georgia Department of Corrections. He originally received ten years for aggravated assault and life imprisonment for murder.
March 2007: Nancy Grace responds to Keith Olbermann's comments
In March 2007, Nancy Grace responded to Keith Olbermann's claims from a Rolling Stone interview in which he suggested she should be in therapy rather than on television because she embellished the story of her fiancé's murder. Grace stated she would not waste her time on a war of words with someone she had never met.
April 2007: Nancy Grace marries David Linch
In April 2007, Nancy Grace married David Linch, an Atlanta investment banker, in a small, private ceremony. They had met while she was studying at Mercer University in the 1970s.
May 22, 2007: Nancy Grace appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
On May 22, 2007, Nancy Grace appeared in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Screwed", the season 8 finale, playing herself opposite Star Jones.
June 19, 2007: Last Show on Court TV
On June 19, 2007, Nancy Grace did her last show on Court TV.
June 26, 2007: Nancy Grace announces pregnancy
On June 26, 2007, Nancy Grace announced on her HLN talk show that she was pregnant with twins, expected in January 2008.
2007: End of Court TV's Closing Arguments
In 2007, Nancy Grace ended hosting "Closing Arguments" on Court TV.
2007: End of Trial Coverage Show
In 2007, Nancy Grace stopped hosting the solo trial coverage show on Court TV.
January 2008: Nancy Grace expecting twins
In January 2008, Nancy Grace was expected to give birth to twins, as announced on June 26, 2007. However, she gave birth in November 2007.
August 11, 2009: The Eleventh Victim released
On August 11, 2009, Nancy Grace's first fiction novel, The Eleventh Victim, was released by Hyperion. The mystery thriller follows Hailey Dean, a young psychology student whose fiancé is murdered before their wedding.
August 10, 2010: Death on the D-List published
On August 10, 2010, Nancy Grace's novel, Death on the D-List, was published by Hyperion. It became a New York Times Bestseller.
September 13, 2010: Premiere of Swift Justice with Nancy Grace
On September 13, 2010, "Swift Justice with Nancy Grace" premiered, which she hosted while still hosting Nancy Grace.
November 8, 2010: Settlement Reached with Duckett Estate
On November 8, 2010, Nancy Grace reached a settlement with the estate of Melinda Duckett to create a $200,000 trust fund dedicated to locating Trenton.
May 2011: Grace Leaves Swift Justice
In May 2011, Nancy Grace left the show Swift Justice with Nancy Grace due to productions moving from Atlanta to Los Angeles.
July 5, 2011: Highest Ratings for Nancy Grace Show
On Tuesday, July 5, 2011, Nancy Grace's show on HLN had its highest ratings ever in the 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. hour slots after the controversial verdict finding Casey Anthony not guilty.
September 2011: Jackie Glass Takes Over Swift Justice
In September 2011, Judge Jackie Glass took over Nancy Grace's place on Swift Justice with Nancy Grace.
September 19, 2011: Dancing with the Stars premiere
On September 19, 2011, Nancy Grace began her run as a contestant on the thirteenth season of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with Tristan MacManus.
November 8, 2011: Nancy Grace eliminated from Dancing with the Stars
On November 8, 2011, Nancy Grace and her partner Tristan MacManus were eliminated from Dancing with the Stars, placing 5th overall in the competition after lasting for 8 weeks, one week shy of the semi-finals.
November 22, 2011: "Vodka Mom" Case
On November 22, 2011, Toni Annette Medrano accidentally killed her 3-week-old son while sleeping on the couch with him. Nancy Grace infamously dubbed Medrano "Vodka Mom" while covering the case.
2011: New York Times Article Criticism
In a 2011 New York Times article, David Carr criticized Nancy Grace's handling of several cases and her erosion of respect for basic rights.
January 4, 2012: Lawsuit against CNN settled
On January 4, 2012, a lawsuit against CNN, which was brought by the family of Medrano, was settled. The lawsuit stemmed from the suicide of Medrano after a segment on Nancy Grace's show. Personal injury attorney Michael Padden stated that the case was settled in principle two weeks prior and was resolved through negotiation.
April 2012: Nancy Grace appeared on Raising Hope
In April 2012, Nancy Grace appeared as herself on the last two episodes of the second season of the TV show Raising Hope.
June 6, 2012: Medrano Charged with Manslaughter
On June 6, 2012, Toni Annette Medrano was charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter in connection to the death of her infant son after she fell asleep with him while intoxicated.
2012: End of Swift Justice Production
In 2012, Swift Justice ceased production.
January 6, 2013: Nancy Grace discusses marijuana legalization on CNN
On January 6, 2013, Nancy Grace conducted an interview with Brooke Baldwin on CNN's News Room, during which she discussed the legalization of marijuana in Colorado. Much of Grace's dialogue from the sketch on Saturday Night Live was lifted directly from this interview, including the phrase 'I've got a sneaking suspicion that you are pro-pot. And I don't like it.'
January 2014: Negative Depiction of Recreational Marijuana Users
In January 2014, Nancy Grace sparked controversy with her negative portrayal of recreational marijuana users, stating they were "fat and lazy."
April 8, 2014: Nancy Grace discusses Ultimate Warrior's death
On April 8, 2014, following the death of WWE Hall of Famer The Ultimate Warrior, Nancy Grace hosted Diamond Dallas Page to discuss Warrior's death. Grace claimed there were 'rumors of steroid and drug use' surrounding his death, despite an autopsy concluding he died of natural causes without drugs or alcohol in his system. Grace also mentioned a list of wrestlers who died young, linking their deaths to drug abuse, even if unrelated.
2014: Ellen Abbot in Gone Girl based on Nancy Grace
In 2014, it became widely acknowledged that the character Ellen Abbot in the film Gone Girl was based on Nancy Grace. Grace stated that she was 'very flattered' and that she 'laugh[ed] out loud at it,' calling Gone Girl her new favorite portrayal.
October 11, 2016: Guest Appearance on The Jim Norton and Sam Roberts Show
On October 11, 2016, Nancy Grace was a guest on "The Jim Norton and Sam Roberts Show", where she was criticized for capitalizing on others' tragedies. They addressed her handling of The Ultimate Warrior's death and the Duke lacrosse case.
October 13, 2016: Last Show Hosted
On October 13, 2016, Nancy Grace hosted her last show at the end of her contract.
2016: Murder in the Courthouse published
In 2016, Murder in the Courthouse was published by BenBella Books.
2016: End of Nancy Grace Show
In 2016, Nancy Grace's nightly celebrity news and current affairs show "Nancy Grace" on HLN ended.
January 10, 2017: Crime Stories with Nancy Grace Podcast launch
On January 10, 2017, Nancy Grace began hosting a daily podcast on Crime Online called "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace".
June 2017: Nancy Grace on Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry
In June 2017, Nancy Grace appeared on Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry on the E! TV show. During the reading, Grace believed Henry communicated with her deceased father and fiancé, providing her with closure. She found many of Henry's statements about personal details difficult to explain away.
April 2018: Analysis of Nancy Grace's reading by Tyler Henry
In April 2018, Susan Gerbic published "Nancy Grace Should be Ashamed of Herself!" analyzing Nancy Grace's reading by Tyler Henry. The analysis detailed how Grace was likely fooled by cold and hot reading techniques used by psychics.
July 13, 2019: Premiere of Injustice with Nancy Grace
On July 13, 2019, a true crime series titled "Injustice with Nancy Grace" began on Oxygen TV channel, hosted by Nancy Grace. The episodes focus on criminal cases, highlighting unjust accusations, bungled investigations, arcane evidence, new motives, and shocking sentences.
2023: Honorary Doctorate of Letters
In 2023, Nancy Grace was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Jacksonville State University.
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