Whether she’s interviewing superstars and legends backstage at the Grand Ole Opry, chatting it up with a fan she meets on the street, or talking through a television screen to a few million folks on QVC, Nan Kelley has an uncanny ability to connect with people. Born and raised in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, southern hospitality and the ability to shoot the breeze with anyone about anything were not just taught, they were practically encoded in her DNA. “I grew up in a beauty shop, and you pick up the gift of gab around the shampoo bowl,” admits Kelley. "I think Dolly Parton's character in the movie Steel Magnolias was based on my momma!” admits the former Great American Country television personality.
Nan took her first steps toward a television career when her love of the stage and talents on it earned her a Miss Mississippi crown and an opportunity for a small-town girl to see the world. She globe-trotted for several years for the Department of Defense entertaining troops in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Middle East, Alaska, and Europe. She found her breakthrough opportunity in Nashville, Tennessee, and made Music City her permanent home. Nan was chosen as the lovable sidekick to host Gary Chapman for the Tonight Show-esque series Prime Time Country, produced by the dick clark company for The Nashville Network. She has been welcomed in homes across the country ever since.
Nan was a fixture on one of the most popular and longest running shows in all of entertainment, The Grand Ole Opry, as the television host of Opry Live. In 2005, she started a tenure with the Scripps family of networks that led her to becoming a major personality on Great American Country (GAC) through her longtime position as host of the popular Top 20 Country Countdown. In addition, she hosted many specials for the network, including the Academy of Country Music and the CMA Red Carpet shows. Nan has appeared on the Travel Channel, DIY, the Hallmark Channel, the Armed Forces Network, Circle TV network, and hosted Winter Wonderland and Best Places to Live and Work on the former Fine Living Network. She was also the host of Country Stars At Home on HGTV and was a show host on the Shop at Home network and JTV. Currently, Nan calls QVC her TV home as a brand ambassador for the fine jewelry line Affinity Gems.
She and husband Charlie, a four time Grammy-nominated musician/producer, produced and hosted the series Authentic America for Circle TV network. The two created Circle's 1st original series and traveled the backroads of America on motorcycles, seeking out lesser-known-attractions, fun adventures, cool eateries, and most importantly, the interesting people of this great nation. The couple also produced the GAC specials Hit Exchange, featuring Trace Adkins and super group Exile and From the Deck with Nan Kelley with guests Ronnie Dunn and Kip Moore. They have a busy voice over business as well and have lent their talents to dozens of TV spots and corporate media, including The Home Depot, Infinity, Walmart, Kleenex, and Bass Pro Shops, to name a few.
Within the last few years, Nan created the One Pan Nan brand, her food-loving alter ego. Charlie gave her the nickname years ago when they first got married because of all the southern casseroles she was serving him and the name stuck. With a blog and a cookbook featuring recipes from Nan, family, and friends, her mission is to help busy families have more time around the dinner table and less time over the sink with the dirty dishes. She's represented the popular national food brand Red Gold Tomatoes as a spokesperson, as well as Cuisinart kitchen appliances and Le Creuset on QVC. When she’s not on the road or in the studio, Nan and Charlie spend time on the backroads on motorcycles and at home in Nashville with their four-legged family- a senior Boston terrier rescue (Sebastian) and a cool cat named Casey (aka Super).
