Kelly Wright
Former Co-Anchor FOX & Friends Weekend, Emmy Award Winning Journalist, Radio and Television Celebrity, Christian Gospel Recording Artist, Ordained Minister, Motivational Speaker, Author & Actor
As the former co-Anchor of “FOX & Friends Weekend”, television personality, professional speaker, singer and minister, Kelly Wright is touching lives with a powerful and passionate message of faith, hope, and love. He challenges people to develop an abiding faith in God and their God-given abilities to believe the unbelievable, achieve the unachievable, and fulfill their impossible dreams. It is a message Kelly Wright has learned firsthand and he is helping others to do the same.
Born to a teenage mother who had been raped by a trusted member of the community in Hagerstown, Maryland, Kelly’s future appeared to be bleak. Choosing to keep her only child, his seventeen year old mother, June Overton, was unable to complete her high school education, but focused on rearing her illegitimate son. For many years she kept the rape a secret in order to keep Kelly from being negatively labeled.
Despite his single-mother’s best efforts to keep Kelly away from negative influences in life, Kelly’s childhood innocence began to fade. While growing up in Washington, D.C., Kelly experimented with sex, gangs, and drugs. These risky behaviors followed him through college, military service, and ultimately led to Kelly living out of his car as a homeless man.
The tough times of his prodigal ways produced a hunger for success and a thirst for making the right choices. With determination, persistence and faith Kelly rose from poverty to succeed as a disc jockey, broadcast journalist, minister, singer and a popular keynote speaker. Kelly chronicles some of his experiences in his book, “Message to My Sons - A Father’s Story.” The book is a motivational tool for anyone who encounters adversity.
Kelly has worked with some of the most recognized stations and television programs in the United States; The 700 Club, WWOR-TV (New York City & New Jersey), WRAL (Raleigh), and WAVY (Norfolk, Virginia Beach). Kelly has also been featured as a guest on numerous radio shows to share his faith and discuss important issues ranging from violence to racism: WLIB Radio in New York, The Bob Law Show on MBM (Mutual Black Network), The Tom Pope Show, FOXY 107/104 (Raleigh-Durham), “Joy in the Morning” on 103 JAMZ in Norfolk, Virginia, and many more.
As a singer, Kelly has released Contemporary Christian/ Gospel albums. He has performed as the headlining act at the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem. Kelly has also performed at the world famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem, Sylvia’s Restaurant, and other popular New York nightclubs. Kelly has been the opening act for James Brown, The Mississippi Mass Choir, and Vicki Winans and has been featured on programs that included Shirley Caesar, the Williams Brothers, Ron Kenoly, CARMAN, Larnelle Harris, and Helen Baylor. During his years as a student at Oral Roberts University, Kelly sang with Carlton Pearson and the Souls A’Fire Choir. Kelly’s moving rendition of the National Anthem has been performed for numerous civic and sporting events; The Durham Bulls, The Norfolk Tides, The Aggie-Eagle Football Classics, Desert Storm Homecoming in New Jersey, NJ Special Olympics, and the March of Dimes Walk.
AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST
In 2001, Kelly was the recipient of two Emmy Awards in the Washington, D.C. Region. The prestigious awards are in honor of his efforts in Benin, West Africa. Kelly co-produced and reported on an historical racial reconciliation conference in the West African nation that served as the cradle of the transatlantic slave trade. The conference was designed for the President of Benin and descendants of slave merchants and traders to apologize to descendants of slaves for the misdeeds of the past. Kelly’s series, Noble Desire: “A Time for Healing” chronicled the events of the conference as a documentary and news series. His efforts are also discussed in “Delving into the Divide”, a book written by the Pew Center for Civic Journalism.
Kelly has also received other prominent awards; the best featured reporter by National Association of Black Journalists in New York City, the National Headliner’s Award (New York area), Associated Press Awards (New York/New Jersey), and numerous civic and community service awards. Kelly championed the campaign for colon cancer screening when he shared his polyp surgery with viewers. His special on colon cancer received an Excel Award.
Kelly has reported on some of the most talked about stories in the United States. Following the first O.J. Simpson trial, Kelly got an in-depth interview with Simpson. In New York, Kelly reported on sensational trials; John Gotti, Any Fisher, the Howard Beach Racial Murder case, the Central Park Jogger Rape Case, Leona Helmsley, and more.
Kelly also reported top entertainment stories featuring; John Travolta, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Bill Cosby, Mick Jagger, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Robin Williams, Whitney Houston, Chevy Chase, Muhammad Ali, the Grammy Awards and more.
As an actor, Kelly has performed in numerous stage plays and musicals. He has been featured as defense attorney in the television show, The Prosecutors, which airs on the Discovery Channel. He has also appeared as an FBI Agent in the show, The FBI Files, which also airs on the Discovery Channel.
As a public speaker, Kelly specializes in talking to audiences about:
*Overcoming Adversity
*Racial Reconciliation
*Diversity Appreciation in Corporate America
*Right Choices for Youth
*Fatherhood
*Family life
*Men’s Conferences
*Faith for Living
