Amy Carter was just nine years old when she moved into the White House. People remember her as the kid with the glasses reading books at state dinners. She was the focal point of a media circus she never asked for. So, naturally, when she grew up and stepped out of the spotlight, everyone started wondering: what happened to her? Specifically, who did Amy Carter marry, and where is she now?
She didn't marry a politician. She didn't marry a celebrity or a high-powered CEO. In 1996, Amy Carter married James Gregory Wentzel.
It wasn't a "wedding of the century" type of deal. There were no cameras from major news networks. No glossy magazine spreads. Honestly, it was about as far from a "First Daughter" wedding as you can get. They tied the knot at the pond on her family’s estate in Plains, Georgia. It was quiet. It was private. It was exactly how Amy wanted it.
The Man Behind the Name: James Gregory Wentzel
Who is James Gregory Wentzel? He wasn't a household name then, and he isn't one now.
When they met, Jim Wentzel was working as a computer consultant. The two crossed paths in Atlanta while Amy was attending Tulane University and working toward her master's degree in art history. At the time, Jim was a manager at Chapter 11, which was a popular bookstore chain in the Atlanta area. It’s kinda poetic if you think about it—the little girl who couldn't stop reading at the White House dinner table ended up falling for a guy who spent his days surrounded by books.
Jim grew up in Herndon, Virginia. His father, James Wentzel, was a high-ranking official at the Legal Services Corporation in Washington, D.C. So, while he wasn't a public figure, he wasn't entirely a stranger to the world of D.C. bureaucracy. But Jim himself? He seemed to share Amy’s desire for a life lived away from the flashbulbs.
The couple stayed together for decades, raising their son, Hugo James Wentzel, who was born in 1999. For a long time, they were the picture of a stable, quiet life. They lived in the Atlanta area, and Amy focused on her art and her work with the Carter Center.
A Change in Status
Life happens. People change.
If you’re looking for the most current answer to "who did Amy Carter marry," you have to look at the present. Amy and Jim Wentzel eventually divorced. It wasn't a tabloid scandal. There were no messy court battles leaked to the press. It just happened, much like the rest of her life—quietly.
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Later, Amy remarried. Her current husband is John Joseph "Jay" Kelly.
Jay Kelly is an associate professor at the University of North Georgia. Again, we see a pattern. Amy chooses partners who are grounded in academia or professional fields rather than the limelight. Together, they have a son, Errol Carter Kelly.
Why We Are Still Obsessed With Amy’s Life
It’s weirdly fascinating. Why do we care so much about who a former president's daughter married forty years after her dad left office?
Maybe it's because Amy was the first "real" kid in the White House in a long time. Before her, it was mostly grown-up children or teenagers. Amy was a child. We saw her play in a treehouse on the White House grounds. We saw her get criticized by the press for reading during a formal dinner (which, let's be real, is every bookworm's dream).
When she became an activist in the 1980s, getting arrested at anti-apartheid protests and CIA recruitment rallies, she became a symbol of a specific kind of American rebellion. She was the "First Daughter" who didn't play by the rules.
But then? She vanished.
She didn't write a tell-all book. She didn't become a TV correspondent. She didn't run for office. She just... lived. That's rare. In a world where everyone is trying to be an influencer, Amy Carter’s refusal to be "known" makes her infinitely more interesting.
The Low-Profile Lifestyle
The wedding to Jim Wentzel was a massive signal to the world. She chose her mother's maiden name for her bank accounts for a while to stay anonymous. When she got married, she didn't even want a traditional ceremony. She didn't want to be "given away." She told her father, Jimmy Carter, that she belonged to herself.
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Jimmy Carter, ever the supportive dad, walked her to the ceremony but didn't "give" her to anyone. That’s a pretty bold move for a Southern wedding in the mid-90s.
It tells you everything you need to know about the type of person Amy is. She values autonomy. She values privacy. She values the reality of a relationship over the performance of one.
Comparing the Two Chapters of Her Married Life
If we look at her time with James Wentzel versus her life now with Jay Kelly, the common thread is a total lack of pretension.
- James Wentzel Era: This was the era of motherhood and art. Amy illustrated The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer, a children's book written by her father. She was a mom. She was an artist. She was an Atlanta local.
- Jay Kelly Era: This is the current chapter. She is still very much involved in the Carter Center. She is still a private citizen. Her husband, Jay, is an academic. They live a life that is intellectually rich but publicly thin.
It’s a masterclass in how to exit the public stage gracefully.
Most people in her position would have cashed in. Can you imagine the Netflix documentary deal she could have landed? "Amy Carter: The Rebel in the White House." But she didn't do it. She didn't want it.
The Family Legacy
Despite her privacy, Amy remains a cornerstone of the Carter family. When Jimmy Carter entered hospice care, the family drew closer. Amy has always been there for her parents, particularly in their later years.
Her son with Jim, Hugo, actually stepped into the spotlight briefly on the reality show Claim to Fame. It was a shock to many, simply because the family had been so quiet for so long. On the show, Hugo spoke incredibly highly of his grandfather, calling him "the G.O.A.T." It was a rare, sweet glimpse into the family dynamic that Amy has worked so hard to protect.
What We Can Learn From Amy's Choices
There is a lesson here about the "right" to be forgotten. In the digital age, we think everything is public property. We think we are owed the details of a celebrity's divorce or a politician's daughter's marriage.
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Amy Carter proves that you can be the most famous child in the world and still grow up to be a regular person. You just have to want it enough to say "no" to the microphones.
She married for love, not for PR. When those marriages shifted, she handled them with dignity. She didn't use her name to get ahead. She used her education and her talent.
Summary of the Facts
If you need the quick version for a trivia night or just to settle a bet, here are the hard facts:
- First Marriage: Amy Carter married James Gregory Wentzel in September 1996.
- The Meeting: They met while both living and working in Atlanta; he worked at a bookstore, and she was in grad school.
- Children: Amy and Jim have one son, Hugo James Wentzel.
- Current Status: Amy and Jim divorced.
- Second Marriage: Amy is currently married to John Joseph "Jay" Kelly, a professor.
- Second Child: She and Jay have a son named Errol.
Moving Forward: Respecting the Privacy of Public Figures
If you're looking to dive deeper into the Carter family history, the best place to start isn't the gossip columns. Look at the work of the Carter Center. This is where Amy has spent a significant portion of her adult life—not as a figurehead, but as a board member contributing to global health and human rights initiatives.
For those interested in the historical context of the Carter presidency and how it shaped the lives of his children, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta offers a detailed look at their time in Washington. It provides a more nuanced view than any tabloid ever could.
The reality is that Amy Carter's story isn't about who she married as much as it is about her choice to remain herself. In a world of "Main Characters," she chose to be the author of her own private life.
Actionable Insights for History and Celebrity Enthusiasts:
- Research the Carter Center: If you want to see the real impact of the Carter family, look into their work on Guinea worm disease eradication. Amy has been a part of this legacy.
- Visit Plains, Georgia: To understand the environment Amy chose for her wedding and her life, visit the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. It explains the "small-town" values she carried into her adult life.
- Support Independent Bookstores: In honor of how Amy and her first husband met, consider supporting local booksellers like the ones Jim Wentzel managed in Atlanta.
Amy Carter is a reminder that the most interesting thing you can do with fame is walk away from it. She did exactly that, and by all accounts, she’s lived a much richer life because of it.