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Bob Kelly (US Journalist )
Is Bob Kelly still married? That is one of the most searched questions about this beloved Philadelphia television personality — and the answer might surprise you more than a two-jelly-donut delay on the Schuylkill Expressway.
Bob Kelly is not just a traffic reporter. He is a Philadelphia institution. Born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kelly has spent decades becoming the friendly, familiar voice and face that thousands of commuters across the Delaware Valley trust every single morning. Whether you are stuck behind a tractor-trailer on the Conshy Curve or crawling through a Jammo on I-95, chances are Bob Kelly already warned you about it.
His journey is genuinely remarkable. He started as a rock-and-roll radio disc jockey, spinning records at 102.9 WMGK and working alongside the legendary Jerry Blavat. Then traffic changed everything. He moved to KYW News Radio, then to CBS 3 Philadelphia, where he made broadcast history by becoming the very first traffic anchor in the entire country to report live in front of a green screen. Thirteen years later, FOX 29 came calling — and Philadelphia’s “Dean of Traffic” found an even bigger stage.
Today, Bob Kelly FOX 29 age and career questions fill search results daily, which tells you everything about how much Philadelphians care about this man. He is an Emmy Award winner, a Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame inductee, a community champion, a fundraiser, a father of six, and yes — a husband.
| Full Name | Bob Kelly |
| Date of Birth | February 11, 1963 |
| Place of Birth | Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White-American (Irish-American) |
| Profession | Journalist, Traffic Anchor, Feature Reporter |
| Employer | FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF-TV) |
| Education | Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism, Temple University; Graduate of North Catholic High School, Philadelphia |
| Career Start | Radio Disc Jockey, 102.9 WMGK Philadelphia (with Jerry Blavat) |
| Current Role | Traffic Anchor & Feature Reporter — Good Day Philadelphia, FOX 29 (weekdays 4–10 a.m.) |
| Notable Segments | Kelly’s Classroom, Breakfast with Bob, Town Takeover, A Very Kelly Christmas, Kelly Drives, Tailgate Takeover |
| Marital Status | Married to Carrie Howard Kelly (second wife); previously married to Colleen (divorced March 2008) |
| Children | Six children — daughters Kristen and Madison (from first marriage); four sons including Austin (with Carrie) |
| Grandchildren | Two |
| Awards | Emmy Award Winner; Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame Inductee |
| Estimated Net Worth | $1 million – $5 million (estimated; not officially confirmed) |
| Salary | Estimated $52,631 – $113,155 annually (not officially confirmed) |
| Siblings | Not publicly available |
| Residence | Malvern, Pennsylvania, United States |
Early Life and Education
Bob Kelly was born on February 11, 1963, in Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He did not just grow up there — he grew into it. Every street, every shortcut, every neighborhood landmark became part of who he is. Northeast Philly shaped his personality, his humor, and his deep connection to the people he serves every morning on television.
Growing up, his neighborhood took Christmas seriously. Houses were decorated top to bottom every December. That tradition stayed with him and later inspired one of his most beloved TV segments, “A Very Kelly Christmas,” where he broadcasts live from the front lawns of Philadelphia’s best-decorated homes.
Bob Kelly's Education Background
For high school, Bob attended North Catholic High School in Philadelphia — a local institution that reflects his deeply rooted community values. After graduating, he enrolled at Temple University, one of Philadelphia’s most respected universities, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism.
That degree pointed him straight toward the microphone. Fresh out of Temple, all Bob wanted to do was play rock and roll on the radio. And that is exactly what he did — launching a career that would eventually make him one of the most recognized faces in Philadelphia broadcasting history.
Ethnicity, Nationality & Early Interests
Bob Kelly is an American national, born and raised on the streets of Northeast Philadelphia. He belongs to White-American ethnicity with Irish-American heritage — something that fits perfectly with his 15-plus years of co-hosting the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
From a young age, Bob was drawn to music and radio. He loved rock and roll and dreamed of being on the airwaves. That passion led him to his very first radio job at 102.9 WMGK Philadelphia, where he worked alongside the legendary Philadelphia DJ Jerry Blavat, known as “The Geator.” It was the beginning of a broadcasting career that nobody could have predicted would one day make him the most trusted traffic voice in the entire Delaware Valley.
Bob Kelly's Career at FOX 29 and Beyond
Bob Kelly did not plan to report traffic. He planned to play music. Fresh out of Temple University, he landed his first on-air gig at 102.9 WMGK and worked his way up and down Philadelphia’s most popular radio stations. Life was good — until the music industry began to change. Live DJs were being replaced by prerecorded content, and the energy Bob loved about radio was fading fast.
His agent saw the shift coming and gave him advice that changed everything: “Traffic is going to be huge. It’s live — you can never prerecord it. What if you DJ that?”
Bob listened. He joined KYW News Radio with “Traffic on the 2’s” and brought his radio personality — the humor, the catchphrases, the warmth — straight into traffic reporting. Philadelphia noticed immediately.
Bob Kelly at CBS 3 Philadelphia
In 2001, CBS 3 Philadelphia came calling. Bob made the jump from radio to television and did not just adapt — he innovated. When CBS 3 planned to put him in a small box on screen with a network logo behind him, Bob pushed back with a bigger idea.
“Do you want me to have fun with this? Let me do it like the weather — give me a green screen, give me some cars and fancy maps.”
CBS 3 agreed. And with that, Bob Kelly became the very first traffic anchor in the entire country to report live in front of a green screen — a format that was soon adopted by traffic reporters across America. He spent 13 years at CBS 3, building a loyal audience and earning the nickname “The Dean of Traffic” through his iconic catchphrases: Jammo, Two Jelly Donut Delay, and the Conshy Curve.
Bob Kelly FOX 29 Age and Career Today
In October 2014, FOX 29 Philadelphia offered Bob Kelly something CBS 3 could not — the freedom to do more than just traffic. He took it without hesitation.
At FOX 29, Bob Kelly’s age and decades of experience brought a new energy to Good Day Philadelphia, the station’s flagship morning show. He reports traffic weekdays from 4 to 10 a.m. and hosts several community-driven segments that have become morning staples across the Philadelphia area:
- Kelly’s Classroom — spotlighting local schools every Tuesday
- Breakfast with Bob — visiting a different Philadelphia breakfast spot every Thursday
- Town Takeover — exploring Philadelphia neighborhoods and South Jersey suburbs every Monday
- A Very Kelly Christmas — his beloved December tradition of broadcasting live from decorated homes
- Tailgate Takeover — taking viewers behind the scenes at Eagles game day
In February 2022, Bob launched his own weekly half-hour show, “Kelly Drives,” airing every Thursday at 6:30 PM — taking viewers on rides through the Philadelphia area to discover hidden gems and interesting local spots.
He has also co-hosted the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade for more than 15 years, and has entertained fans live on the Jumbotron at Eagles, Flyers, and Sixers games. Bob Kelly is not just a traffic anchor anymore — he is a full Philadelphia media personality, recognized everywhere from Malvern to Manayunk.
Salary and Net Worth
Bob Kelly has spent decades earning his place at the top of Philadelphia morning television. That kind of experience and loyalty to a market does not come cheap — and FOX 29 knows it. At present, Bob’s estimated annual salary ranges from $52,631 to $113,155, reflecting his dual role as both a traffic anchor and a feature reporter on Good Day Philadelphia.
That range may seem wide, but it accounts for the full scope of what Bob does. He is not simply reading traffic updates from a desk. He is out in the community every single week — visiting schools, exploring breakfast spots, hosting his own show, and covering everything from I-95 collapses to neighborhood Christmas lights. That kind of on-the-ground, live television work commands serious value in a major market like Philadelphia.
Over a career that spans radio, CBS 3, and now FOX 29, Bob Kelly has built genuine financial stability. His estimated net worth currently sits between $1 million and $5 million. That wealth has been built steadily — not overnight — through more than three decades of consistent, respected work in Philadelphia broadcasting.
Beyond his base salary, Bob’s income comes from multiple streams. Hosting Kelly Drives, co-hosting the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade, community appearances, and his long-standing presence as one of Philly’s most beloved media figures all contribute to his overall financial picture. He is not a celebrity chasing viral moments — he is a working broadcaster who has quietly built a career most journalists would envy.
Personal Life and Family
Before the life Bob Kelly lives today, there was a first chapter. He was previously married to his first wife, Colleen — whose last name has never been made public, a privacy Bob has always respected. Together, the two had two daughters: Kristen and Madison.
Kristen followed a path rooted in community, just like her father — she is currently a kindergarten teacher in Upper Merion, Pennsylvania. Madison’s current career has not been publicly shared.
The marriage ended in March 2008. Bob has spoken about it openly but without drama. His focus, he said, remained entirely on his daughters. No public disputes, no headlines — just two parents choosing to put their children first. That quiet dignity says a great deal about the man Philadelphia wakes up with every morning.
Is Bob Kelly Still Married? His Life With Carrie Howard Kelly
Yes — Bob Kelly is still married. And by every account, it is a partnership built on shared values, community love, and genuine teamwork.
His current wife is Carrie Howard Kelly, a Certified Child Life Specialist at Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children — one of the region’s most respected pediatric hospitals. Carrie did not arrive at that career by accident. The family’s personal experience with the hospital — specifically their son Austin’s medical treatment there — moved Carrie so deeply that she joined the hospital’s staff afterward, dedicating her professional life to helping other families going through the same fear and uncertainty she once felt herself.
Bob and Carrie currently reside together in Malvern, Pennsylvania, a quiet suburb of Philadelphia. Bob has described his home life with warmth and humor. He jokingly calls his blended family “The Brady Bunch” — and given the size of his household, it is easy to see why.
Bob Kelly's Children and the BK5K Legacy
Bob Kelly is a proud father of six children — two daughters from his first marriage and four sons with Carrie. One of those sons, Austin, became the quiet inspiration behind one of the family’s most meaningful contributions to the Philadelphia community.
In 2016, Bob and Carrie launched the BK5K FOR CHILD LIFE — an annual fundraising event combining a Kids Fun Run and an Adult 5K race. The mission was clear and personal: raise enough funds to build a playroom and sensory space for children receiving treatment at Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children. The event also works to make local families in Chester County, Delaware County, and the Main Line aware of how close and accessible that world-class hospital actually is.
Bob also has two grandchildren, making his already lively household even more full of life. He has spoken about the mix of ages in his family with characteristic humor — at one point noting that three of his children had recently become licensed drivers, all around the same time.
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Bob Kelly
Key questions answered about the FOX 29 Philadelphia traffic anchor and his personal life
Bob was previously married to his first wife, Colleen. That marriage ended in March 2008. He and Carrie are currently together and reside in Malvern, Pennsylvania. In 2016, the couple co-founded the BK5K FOR CHILD LIFE — an annual fundraising event supporting children's hospital care in the Philadelphia region, inspired by their son Austin's treatment at Nemours.
Despite his decades in broadcasting, Bob Kelly at FOX 29 shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to anchor Good Day Philadelphia weekdays from 4 to 10 a.m. and hosts multiple community segments across the Philadelphia area. His age and experience are precisely what make him one of the most trusted voices in Delaware Valley media.
Carrie works at Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children — a role she took on after their son Austin received care there. She and Bob co-founded the BK5K FOR CHILD LIFE fundraiser in 2016 to give back to the hospital and raise awareness among families in Chester County, Delaware County, and the Main Line about its accessibility.
His two daughters are named Kristen and Madison. Kristen is currently a kindergarten teacher in Upper Merion, Pennsylvania. His son Austin inspired the family's BK5K FOR CHILD LIFE charity event. Bob also has two grandchildren. He jokingly refers to his large blended family as "The Brady Bunch."
This estimate reflects his long career in Philadelphia broadcasting — from radio at 102.9 WMGK, to 13 years at CBS 3, to his current role at FOX 29. Additional income from hosting Kelly Drives, co-hosting the Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade, and community appearances contributes to his overall financial standing. This figure has not been officially confirmed by Bob Kelly himself.
He joined FOX 29 in October 2014 after 13 years at CBS 3 Philadelphia. At FOX 29, he anchors the morning traffic desk and hosts several beloved community segments including Kelly's Classroom, Breakfast with Bob, Town Takeover, and his own weekly show Kelly Drives, which airs Thursdays at 6:30 PM.
Both institutions are deeply rooted in Philadelphia — perfectly matching Bob's lifelong connection to his hometown. Fresh out of Temple, he landed his first radio job at 102.9 WMGK and worked alongside the legendary Philadelphia DJ Jerry Blavat, known as "The Geator." The rest, as they say, is Delaware Valley history.
Based on industry estimates for traffic anchors and feature reporters in a major market like Philadelphia, his annual salary is estimated to range from $52,631 to $113,155. This figure is a third-party estimate only and has not been officially confirmed by Bob Kelly or FOX 29.
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