Kiran Chetry | |
|---|---|
| किरण क्षेत्री | |
 Chetry in 2010 | |
| Born | Kiran Carrie Chetry (1974-08-26)August 26, 1974 (age 50) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Kiran Kshetri |
| Education | University of Maryland, College Park |
| Spouse | Chris Knowles (div. 2013) |
| Children | 2 |
Kiran Carrie Chetry (Nepali:किरण क्षेत्री,pronounced[kiɾʌɳt͡sʰet̪ri], born August 26, 1974) is aNepalese American former television broadcast journalist who, until 2011, was acable news anchor forCNN'sAmerican Morning. From 2001 to 2007 she reported—and then anchored—cable news atFox News.
Kiran was born in Patan Hospital (Shanta Bhawan),Patan,Nepal. Seven months later, she moved with her parents and family to the United States. Her surname,Chetry, refers to the traditionalcaste of rulers and soldiers amongHindus in theMiddle Hills of Nepal, and Kiran's father Hom Chetry belongs to this community. Kiran's mother Nancy is of German, Ukrainian, and Dutch ancestry.[1] Her parents met while Nancy was aPeace Corps Volunteer in Nepal.
Kiran grew up inGaithersburg, Maryland and attendedMontgomery Blair High School inSilver Spring, Maryland, where she served in student government, danced on the pom squad,[2] and competed on the swim team.[3] Upon graduation she enrolled at theUniversity of Maryland, College Park's College of Journalism, where she joined the Alpha Pi chapter ofDelta Delta Delta sorority[4] and received herBachelor of Arts inbroadcast journalism.
Chetry began her career in 1995 at News 21 inRockville, Maryland. The next year she moved toWICU-TV inErie, Pennsylvania, where she was the mainanchor and healthreporter. (She met her future husband Chris Knowles there who was the prime-time news anchor.) She received the Best Enterprise Reporting award from thePennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association in 1997 for her series "Young and Hooked," which looked at teensmoking. In 1999, Chetry moved from WICU-TV toKXTV inSacramento, California to work as a morning anchor and reporter.
In 2001, Chetry joinedFox News Channel as a general reporter, first appearing on March 8, 2001, in a story about eatingice cream.[5] The following year, in 2002, she was awarded the Making our Mark (MOM) Award from the Association of Nepalis in the Americas.[6] At Fox News, she worked as a rotating anchor forFox News Live and the early morning news programFox & Friends First. In late 2005, she became a regular co-host on the network's weekend morning news program,Fox & Friends Weekend.
In 2006, Chetry madeMaxim magazine's top-ten list of TV's sexiest news anchors, placing third on the list: she was ranked as America's sexiest female anchor and the world's second-sexiest female anchor.[7]
In early 2007, as Chetry's contract with Fox News neared the end of its term, the network negotiated with Chetry's agent to renew her contract. Her contract was expected to be renewed with her continuing to co-hostFox & Friends Weekend. However, talks ended whenFox News claimed in a February 15, 2007, letter to Chetry's agent, that Chetry had demanded "that Fox News include a clause in her new agreement that would have been detrimental to other Fox News Talent." The cable news network added that it would not renew her contract and that she was free to leave before her contract's expiration.[8] Chetry exercised that option. Chetry allegedly wanted a clause in her contract that would have hadGretchen Carlson, a co-anchor ofFox & Friends, fired.[9] Chetry's agent countered that the allegation of Chetry's wanting Carlson fired was "absolutely false".[10] Another source said that the clause in question merely requested a written clarification of whether Chetry would become aFox & Friends co-host and, if so, when. If that were not to happen by a certain date, then Chetry would have a window to exit her new contract.[11]
CNN hired Chetry following her release from Fox News.[12] On February 16, 2007, Chetry began work as aCNN anchor and correspondent. That day, she served as a co-host onAmerican Morning in the morning and, after being hired by CNN, anchoredAnderson Cooper 360 that evening. She went on to substitute as an anchor forPaula Zahn Now andCNN Newsroom.[5]
On April 4, 2007, CNN's PresidentJonathan Klein announced Chetry as the new co-anchor ofAmerican Morning, beginning on April 16, 2007. Her last day onAmerican Morning and at CNN was July 29, 2011.[13]
In August 2014, she co-anchored withErrol Barnett a few late-night telecasts forCNN International.
She is an infomercial presenter for Nutribullet.
Chetry was married to Chris Knowles, a formerFox News Channel and weekend weathercaster atWPIX-TV; they divorced in 2013[citation needed] and have two children, a son and a daughter.[14] Chetry is aChristian.[15]
Kiran Chetry of the Fox News Channel placed third on the list of "TV's Sexiest News Anchors" as compiled by the editors at Maxim.
