You remember the girl in the treehouse, right? The nine-year-old with the glasses reading books at a state dinner while world leaders toasted? That was Amy Carter. She was the nation's little sister back in the late seventies. But then, the cameras stopped clicking as much, and she grew up, went to college, got arrested at protests (classic Amy), and eventually vanished into a very private life in Atlanta.
Naturally, people are curious. They want to know what the former First Daughter is up to now that she’s in her late fifties. Specifically, the question that pops up constantly is: how many kids does Amy Carter have?
The answer is two.
It’s not a complicated number, but the story behind her family is a bit more layered than a simple tally. Amy hasn't exactly been doing the reality TV circuit or posting "get ready with me" videos on TikTok. She’s lived a life that is almost aggressively normal, despite having a father who is arguably the most famous centenarian on the planet right now.
The First Son: Hugo James Wentzel
In 1996, Amy married James Wentzel. They met while she was working at a bookstore—very on-brand for the girl who read during state dinners. A few years later, in July 1999, they welcomed their son, Hugo James Wentzel.
If that name sounds familiar lately, it’s probably because Hugo is the one member of that specific branch of the family who has stepped into the spotlight a tiny bit. He actually appeared on the reality show Claim to Fame a couple of years back. Honestly, it was a bit of a shock for Carter watchers. Seeing Amy’s son on a competition show felt like a glitch in the "private Carter life" matrix.
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During his time on the show, Hugo spoke pretty affectionately about his "Pop-Pop" (Jimmy Carter) and gave us a rare glimpse into the family dynamic. He’s now in his mid-twenties, making his way in a world where his grandfather is a literal icon of humanitarianism.
The Second Child: Errol Carter Kelly
After Amy and James Wentzel divorced in 2005, she eventually found love again. In 2007, she married John Joseph "Jay" Kelly. This is where the records get a little quieter because, well, Amy is a pro at staying under the radar.
She and Jay have one son together: Errol Carter Kelly.
Born around 2010, Errol is still a teenager. Unlike his older half-brother Hugo, Errol hasn't done any reality TV stints or high-profile interviews. He is mostly seen—if he’s seen at all—at major family events. For instance, he was there during the somber but beautiful tributes for his grandmother, Rosalynn Carter, in late 2023.
Seeing the family gathered together during those moments in Plains and Atlanta was a reminder of how much the Carter clan has grown. Amy, once the "baby" of the family, is now the mother of two grown or nearly-grown men.
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Why the Confusion?
People get mixed up about Amy’s family for a few reasons. First, there’s another Amy Carter who works at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. That Amy has two kids named Henry and Charlotte. If you’re Googling quickly, it’s super easy to conflate the two, but they are definitely different people.
Second, the Carters have a lot of grandkids and great-grandkids. Jimmy and Rosalynn had four children: Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy. Between those four, there are 12 grandchildren and even more great-grandchildren. It’s a literal army of Carters.
Amy is the youngest of the four siblings, and since she was the only one who grew up in the White House as a child, the public feels a strange sense of "ownership" over her story. We want to know how the "White House kid" turned out.
Living in Atlanta: The Quiet Life
Today, Amy lives in the Atlanta area. She’s not out here chasing clout. She’s been involved in the Carter Center, sure, and she illustrated a children's book her father wrote called The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer (try saying that five times fast).
But mostly? She’s a mom.
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She’s spent the last two decades focusing on raising Hugo and Errol. While her brothers were more active in the family business or even flirting with politics, Amy chose a path of art and advocacy, mostly behind the scenes. She earned her master's in art history from Tulane, and that quiet, academic vibe seems to have stuck.
What to Remember About Amy Carter's Family
If you're trying to keep the facts straight, here’s the quick rundown of the family tree for the youngest Carter:
- Total Children: Two.
- Hugo James Wentzel: Her eldest, born in 1999 during her first marriage.
- Errol Carter Kelly: Her youngest, born around 2010 during her current marriage to Jay Kelly.
- Current Status: Still living privately in Georgia, occasionally appearing for significant family milestones or Carter Center events.
It’s kinda refreshing, isn't it? In an era where every celebrity kid is trying to be an "it girl" or a "nepo baby" influencer, Amy Carter’s kids are just... living. One went on a game show once; the other is a teenager just being a teenager.
The next time someone asks you about the Carter family legacy, you can tell them it’s not just about the Habitat for Humanity houses or the Nobel Peace Prize. It’s also about a girl who grew up under the harshest spotlight imaginable and managed to build a quiet, normal life for her two sons.
If you're interested in the broader Carter legacy, the best thing to do is look at the work of the Carter Center in Atlanta. They continue to handle everything from monitoring international elections to nearly eradicating Guinea worm disease. Amy’s life might be private, but the impact of her family remains very much in the public eye.