If you grew up in the late seventies, you probably remember Amy Carter as the little girl with the glasses and the Siamese cat who basically grew up on the White House lawn. She was the nation’s kid. But once her father, Jimmy Carter, left office, she did something almost unheard of for a presidential child in the modern age: she disappeared. Not in a scary way, but in a "I’m choosing to live a normal life and you can’t stop me" kind of way.
Because she’s so private, people are constantly asking: is Amy Carter married now, or did she just vanish into the Georgia woods?
Honestly, the confusion is understandable. If you Google her, you’ll see names like James Gregory Wentzel and John Joseph "Jay" Kelly floating around. Some sites say she's still with her first husband; others say she’s remarried. Let’s clear the air. Amy Carter is currently married to her second husband, John Joseph "Jay" Kelly. They’ve been together since 2007.
The First Marriage: Amy and James Wentzel
Before we get into her current life, we have to look at the wedding that actually made headlines back in the day. In September 1996, Amy married a computer consultant named James Gregory Wentzel.
They met while she was a graduate student at Tulane University. The wedding was classic Carter—unpretentious, held at the family estate in Plains, Georgia. In a move that was very "Amy," she refused to be "given away" by her father. She told the press at the time that she "belonged to no one." It was a small, private affair, but since she was the former First Daughter, the media still caught wind of it.
The couple had a son together, Hugo James Wentzel, born in 1999. You might actually recognize that name if you watch reality TV; Hugo appeared on the second season of the ABC show Claim to Fame in 2023.
But, as happens with many "college sweetheart" stories, the marriage didn't last forever. Amy and James quietly divorced in 2005. Because they weren't chasing the spotlight, the split happened without any of the typical tabloid drama you'd see with a Kennedy or a Trump.
Who is Amy Carter Married to Now?
After her divorce, Amy stayed under the radar. But in 2007, she married John Joseph "Jay" Kelly.
This is where the "Is Amy Carter married now" searches usually get messy. Jay Kelly is even more private than Amy is. He isn't a politician. He isn't a celebrity. He’s just a guy who happened to marry a woman whose father was once the most powerful man in the world.
Together, they have a son named Errol Carter Kelly. Unlike his half-brother Hugo, Errol has stayed almost entirely out of the public eye. The family lives a quiet life, reportedly in the Atlanta area, though some sources suggest they've spent time in Maryland as well.
Why the Privacy Matters
You have to realize how intentional this is. Most presidential kids—think Chelsea Clinton or the Bush twins—stay in the orbit of public life. They write books, they appear on The Today Show, or they run foundations.
Amy Carter chose the opposite.
Aside from showing up for major family events, like the funeral of her mother, Rosalynn Carter, in late 2023, or her father’s 100th birthday celebrations and subsequent passing in early 2025, she doesn't do interviews. She doesn't have a public Instagram. She’s an artist and a board member for the Carter Center, but she does that work behind a desk, not a microphone.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her "Vanishing"
There’s a common misconception that Amy Carter is "hiding" because of her rebellious years. If you remember the 80s, she was the "radical" daughter. She was arrested at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1986 for protesting CIA recruitment. She was basically the poster child for student activism.
People think she retreated because she was embarrassed or "forced" into a quiet life. That’s just not true.
If you look at the way Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter lived their lives—building houses for Habitat for Humanity and living in a $160,000 house in Plains—it makes sense. Amy just inherited the "down-to-earth" gene. She didn't want the fame; she wanted the freedom.
A Glimpse of Amy in 2026
So, what does her life look like today?
She’s in her late 50s now. When she appeared at her father's funeral in January 2025, observers noted she looked much like her mother—graceful, composed, and very much the matriarch of her own small family unit.
- Current Spouse: John Joseph "Jay" Kelly (married since 2007).
- Children: Hugo Wentzel (from her first marriage) and Errol Kelly.
- Career: She is a trained illustrator (she even illustrated a children's book for her dad called The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer) and remains an active member of the Carter Center Board of Counselors.
She’s basically living the dream of anyone who was once famous: she kept the legacy but ditched the paparazzi.
What You Can Learn From Her Story
Amy Carter’s life is a masterclass in setting boundaries. Even in a world where everyone is "on" 24/7, you can choose to be "off."
If you’re looking to find her on social media to see what she’s eating for brunch, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you're looking for an example of how to handle a high-profile legacy with dignity and zero thirst for clout, she’s the one to watch.
Next Steps for You:
If you're interested in the Carter legacy, don't look for gossip. Instead, check out the Carter Center’s annual reports or their work in global health. That’s where you’ll find Amy’s influence—not in the headlines, but in the actual work. You can also watch Hugo Wentzel’s season of Claim to Fame if you want a rare, modern look at how the family interacts behind closed doors.