If you’ve spent any time listening to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show or scrolling through the lightning-rod sports site OutKick, you know Clay Travis doesn't exactly shy away from the spotlight. He's loud, he’s opinionated, and he's basically built an empire on being the guy who says the thing you’re not supposed to say. But behind the scenes of the Nashville-based media whirlwind is a woman who, quite honestly, might have a more interesting resume than her husband.
Lara Travis is a lot more than just a "media wife."
Actually, she’s a former NFL cheerleader, a licensed attorney, a Master’s degree holder, and the person Clay credits for the very existence of his business. While Clay is out there battling it out on X (formerly Twitter) or TV, Lara has been quietly checking off major life milestones—some of which took twenty years to complete.
The Law School Twist You Didn't Expect
Most people know that Clay and Lara met at Vanderbilt Law School. It’s the classic "met in the library" origin story. They were in the same 1L class (that's first-year law students for the non-legal folks) back in the early 2000s.
But here is where the story gets kinda wild.
Lara didn't just graduate and start practicing right away. In fact, she didn't finish law school with her class. After that first year, she decided the lawyer life wasn't for her. She stepped away, pivoted, and eventually earned a Master’s Degree in Guidance Counseling. For years, she worked as a school counselor, helping kids navigate the messy world of growing up while Clay was busy eating pudding for 50 days to get NFL Sunday Ticket in the Virgin Islands.
Then, life happened. Three sons, a massive media company, and two decades passed.
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In a move that’s honestly pretty inspiring, Lara went back to Vanderbilt. She finished those final two years of law school while managing a household of three boys. In October 2023, Clay announced on air that Lara had officially passed the bar exam. Think about that for a second. Twenty-two years after starting, she walked back into the classroom and finished the job.
From the Sidelines to the Courtroom
Before she was Lara Travis, she was a dancer and a cheerleader. We’re not talking about high school spirit squad stuff either. Lara was a Tennessee Titans cheerleader.
She’s actually written for OutKick before, specifically defending the profession. In a 2018 piece, she pushed back against the idea that cheerleading is "anti-feminist" or degrading. She talked about the discipline, the community service, and the sheer athletic talent required to dance at that level.
"I had danced all four years of college... I studied dance at the Alvin Ailey School in New York City... When I tried out for the Tennessee Titans cheerleaders, it was to continue my passion for dance."
It’s a perspective you don’t hear much in the mainstream media. She viewed the role as an ambassador for the team and the city of Nashville. It’s funny when you think about it: one spouse was on the field cheering for the Titans, and the other was in the stands (or on the radio) screaming about their play-calling.
The Secret Architect of OutKick
If you ask Clay Travis how he became a multi-millionaire media mogul, he’ll point to two people: his stepfather-in-law, Larry, and Lara herself.
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Back in 2011, Clay was at a crossroads. He had been fired from FanHouse and was feeling like a failure as a provider. He has admitted to laying in bed at night wondering if he should just give up on the whole media thing and go back to practicing law full-time.
It was Lara’s family—specifically her father Larry—who pushed Clay to stop working for other people and start his own site. Lara backed the play. It was a massive risk. They had two young kids at the time and very little financial security.
She wasn't just "supportive" in the Hallmark movie sense; she was the one who helped manage the chaos so he could build the brand. Clay has often joked that he’s a disaster at basic life tasks, like loading a car for a trip. Lara is the one who keeps the wheels from falling off the Travis family bus.
Life in Nashville With Three Boys
The Travis household is, by all accounts, a chaotic boy-mom ecosystem. They have three sons: Fox, Lincoln, and Nash. (Yes, Lincoln is named after the President).
They live in the Nashville area, and while Clay is a public figure, Lara tends to keep a slightly lower profile, though she does pop up on social media and occasionally in Clay’s columns. She’s often the "relatable" foil to Clay’s bombast. For example, she once wrote a guest post for OutKick titled The 10 Things I Hate About Traveling With Clay Travis.
She didn't hold back.
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She detailed how he refuses to help with luggage, manages to lose his phone every ten minutes, and generally acts like a "toddler" when they’re on the road. It gave fans a glimpse into the reality of being married to a guy who is "on" 24/7. It turns out, even if you're a famous conservative firebrand, you still have to take out the trash and deal with your wife being annoyed that you didn't pack the kids' socks.
Why Lara Travis Matters to the Brand
You can’t really understand Clay Travis without understanding the influence Lara has on his worldview.
He often cites his experiences as a "suburban dad" and his wife’s experiences as a mother and former educator when he’s discussing education policy or the state of American culture. Whether she’s practicing law now or focusing on the family, her transition from the world of dance and counseling to becoming a licensed attorney in her 40s has become a part of the "Travis family lore."
It’s a reminder that even the most polarizing figures in media usually have a "sane" half keeping them grounded. Lara isn't just a spectator in Clay's career; she’s been the strategist and the backbone since they were both broke students at Vanderbilt.
Key Takeaways on Lara Travis:
- Educational Pivot: She holds a Master’s in Guidance Counseling and finally earned her J.D. from Vanderbilt over two decades after starting.
- Athletic Background: A former Tennessee Titans cheerleader and a lifelong dancer who trained at the prestigious Alvin Ailey School.
- Business Impact: Her family was the primary catalyst for Clay starting OutKick in 2011.
- The "Normal" One: She often provides the grounded, humorous reality-check to Clay’s public persona.
To see Lara's perspective firsthand, you can look up her archived articles on OutKick where she dives into the realities of the cheerleading industry and the "joys" of being married to a sports media personality.