Where is Amy Carter, Jimmy Carter’s daughter, now?

On January 9, 2025By Littum

After decades out of the public eye, former President Jimmy Carter’s family — including his youngest child, Amy Carter, who was just nine years old when her father was elected — is back in the spotlight again for his state funeral. Amy, now 57, lives in the Atlanta area with her family; husband John Joseph “Jay” Kelly and sons Hugo (b. 1999) and Errol (b. 2010).

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Amy Carter makes a heart with her hands as her father’s casket is carried into the US Capitol Rotunda.

Here’s what you need to know about her life after the White House:

She attended Brown University, Memphis College of Art and Tulane University.

After her father’s presidency, the Carters moved back to Georgia, where Amy finished high school at Woodward Academy. She then went to Brown University, but reportedly stayed academically dismissed after his sophomore year “for not keeping up with his courses” in 1987. Amy denied reports that she has been expelled or dismissed, saying“They told me to take a semester off. I wasn’t expelled. I don’t have to reapply to get back in.”

She subsequently graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Memphis College of Art in 1991, and then a Master’s degree in Art History from Tulane in 1996.

Amy was politically active in the 80s protesting apartheid.

Ron Galella Archive - Archive photos 2010

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Carly Simon, Abbie Hoffman and Amy Carter in March 1987.

Carter was arrested during the 80s for protests against the CIA and the apartheid regime in South Africa. “Amy is a very shy girl, unlike the image you see projected in the news media,” Carter said then. “But she believes very strongly in what she’s doing.”

In another interview he said said“she has been arrested four times for trying to bring some recognition to the seriousness of apartheid and the Nicaragua war. She represented the same thing that I felt. But not because I felt it. Because she believed it.”

She wrote a children’s book with her father.

President Carter and Amy Carter photo shoot for their new children's book

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Former President Carter and his daughter Amy Carter in August 1995.

In 1995 Jimmy and Amy released The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer, based on a story Jimmy used to tell her when she was a child. “Once upon a time there was a little boy named Jeremy who lived with his mother in a small house near the sea. His mother just made a living for the two of them by doing laundry for some of the wealthy families in their town. Jeremy loved her very much…” Amy did the illustrations for the book.

The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer

She taught art at the Paideia School.

According to New York Times“she has been teaching art part-time at the Paideia School, a private school in Atlanta that her two sons have attended.”

She married twice.

Amy Carter is getting married to Jim Wentzel…

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Amy Carter married Jim Wentzel, September 1996.

Amy married James “Jim” Wentzel in September 1996; they divorced in 2005 and have a son, Hugo Wentzel (b. 1999).

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Amy and her husband John Joseph “Jay” Kelly in 2023.

In 2007, she remarried John Joseph “Jay” Kelly, and they have a son, Errol (b. 2010).

Her son Hugo was in the reality TV competition Claim to fame.

Man standing outdoors at night with a floral background.

ABC

Hugo was eliminated in the seventh episode.

Hugo competed on the second season of Claim to famea reality competition series featuring relatives of famous faces.

While Amy has yet to comment publicly on her father’s passing, Hugo took to Instagram to pay tribute to him. “He was the most selfless person I’ve ever met in my entire life, and I’m not even kidding when I say he’s probably one of the most selfless people in history. I’m so, so grateful to be his grandson,” Hugo wrote.

He continued, “I wanted to highlight him as an incredible grandfather and someone who made time for his family even while he was doing all the AWESOME things. When I was younger (and sick) he personally taught me how to fly fish, hunt , cooks and cuts down several Christmas trees. I remember in middle school he came with the whole intelligence service just to spend time with me. He took so much time out of his days to teach me life lessons (and take care of the family without stop), even while accomplishing the coolest things in history. He would always tell me to always believe in myself and never stop working. He was an incredible governor (sic), president, business owner and most importantly family dad. I love you so much dad. I’ll do anything to keep your legacy alive.”

Amy spoke at her mother’s funeral in November 2023.

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Amy at her mother Rosalynn’s funeral in November 2023.

“My mother spent most of her life in love with my father,” she said. “Their partnership and love story was a defining feature of her life. Because he is unable to speak with you today, I will share some of his words about loving and missing her.”

She then read a letter that Jimmy wrote to Rosalynn while he was serving in the Navy: “My dear, every time I’ve ever been away from you, I’ve been thrilled to return to find how wonderful you are. While I’m gone, I try to convince myself that you really aren’t as cute and beautiful as I remember. But when I see you, I fall in love with you. Does that seem strange to you? It doesn’t for me. Goodbye, honey. See you tomorrow.”

You can see her full tribute here.

preview for The Life of President Jimmy Carter

Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals and a variety of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish cultural website. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.