These days, veteran journalists keep popping up in every major news network. Meet Kelly O’Donnell, the political respondent, and anchor for NBC Nightly News, Today, Meet the Press, and MSNBC. Throughout her career as a journalist, Kelly has stuck her neck out to ask difficult questions against the president, White House, and Capitol.
Her reputation speaks for itself as well as the Journalism Hall of Fame is concerned. To find out more about Kelly O’Donnell’s illness, age, sister, and husband, be sure to read till the end.
Who is Kelly O’Donnell?
Kelly O’Donnell first graced us with her presence as a reporter and news anchor on WJW TV in the early 1990s. She had just graduated and lived in Cleveland, Ohio before she got another job to air her opinions as a regular panelist on The Chris Matthews Show.
The program was later axed, shaping her career as a regular host on Weekend Today and Dateline NBC. O’Donnell would grow into a force to be reckoned with in the early 2000s when she served as the White House and Capitol Hill political correspondent for NBC News. Her ratings went up all through former presidents George W. Bush regime, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump’s presidency.
It doesn’t just stop there; Kelly was also first on the scene to report on various historical occurrences. These include the September 11th attack, the death of Pope John Paul II, the O.J Simpson trial, and many more.
She even reported live from Baghdad and Qatar with the 3rd Infantry Division during the Iraq war.
Kelly O’Donnell Illness & Health Update
To mark her 26th anniversary for the time she’s spent with NBC, Kelly uploaded two pictures of herself on Instagram. One was a throwback photo of her first day on the job, and the other was her current image, still growing on the job.
There have been many allegations about Kelly O’Donnell’s illness, but the search results reveal nothing conclusive. There have been no health updates either. If anything, she looks healthier in her current picture than the one taken over two decades ago. We’re not one to over-speculate, but we reckon it’s got something to do with her success. Nonetheless, be sure to check in with us on Kelly O’Donnell’s illness.
Age and DOB.
Kelly O’Donnell recently turned over to 58 years old on May 17th. Since she hardly lets the public in on her personal life, it’s difficult to imagine how she spent her birthday.
We do, however, recognise her date of birth as May 17th, 1965, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Weight Loss.
Most journalists admit that their careers can be pretty stressful. Over the years, some have given in to the pressure and resigned, while others still soldier on at the expense of their health.
Kelly O’Donnell, like any other news reporter, has been exposed to such nuances. However, she proved triumphant with her career ever positive and her weight loss journey as negligible.
Only very few people can notice her mild weight loss, mostly hidden through conservative dresses and coats. In the air, she flaunts her body which measures 39-28-38 inches for her breasts, waist, and hips, respectively.
Notable sources report that her bra size is 36C, her dress size 12, and her shoe size at 8. At the moment, the NBC News anchor stands at 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 78 kgs.
Education and Early Life.
Kelly is a Cleveland native, born and raised. After graduating from her local high school, the NBC News host enrolled at Northwestern University, graduating in 1987 with a Bachelor’s degree in Education.
Her alternative major while at the institution was also Journalism and Public Policy. She emerged the best student and received an Alumnae Award much later in 2014.
Kelly’s journalism career has been nothing short of exemplary. As a result, the veteran journalist has been the recipient of several awards, including Emmy’s. She also celebrated her induction into the Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame and the Ohio Radio/Television Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Kelly O’Donnell Sister and Family.
From her Wikipedia bio, Kelly O’Donnell has Irish roots as typical with most redheads. Her father, Josh O’Donnell, is still a businessman, whereas her mother, Kristien, identifies as a professional dancer.
Growing up with her sister Jenny, her mother took them both dancing to get them to take up after her. However, becoming part of a troupe was never really their thing as both became journalists.
While we’re on the subject of family, there have been a few Netizens who question whether Norah O’Donnell is related to Kelly. The truth is, both are reputable journalists in their capacity and only share their profession, not blood. Norah is a news anchor at CBS News.
Is She Married to Her Husband?
A deep dive into Kelly O’Donnell’s personal life reveals that she is, in fact, married to a professional photographer named J. David Ake. Over the past, he has worked as assistant chief of the bureau of photos in The Associated Press.
His resume also features his roles on Reuters, France Press, and United Press International Offices. For his work, David received the National Press Photographers Association Award and the White House News Photographers Association Award.
While it’s unclear how they met, we believe it was somewhere in their line of work as journalists. The couple travels very often while chasing major stories in New York, Washington, the UK, and beyond.
She has often used some of his photos and given him credit where due. However, with them constantly being career-driven and constantly travelling, the couple fell short of having children.
