Nancy Grace: A Journey From Tragedy To Television Stardom

Nancy Grace's remarkable journey is a testament to resilience and courage. Born on October 23, 1958, in Macon, Georgia, she faced a life-altering tragedy at the young age of 19 when her fiancé, Keith Griffin, was murdered. This devastating event ignited her passion for justice and propelled her into a career in law, ultimately leading her to become a prominent legal analyst and television personality.

With a strong educational background, including degrees from Mercer University and New York University, Nancy Grace carved out a niche for herself in the world of criminal justice. She served as a special prosecutor at the Fulton County District Attorney's Office in Atlanta, where her unwavering commitment to victims' rights and her tenacity in the courtroom made her a force to be reckoned with. Her ability to articulate complex legal issues to the public caught the eye of media executives, and soon she was hosting her own shows.

Throughout her career, Grace has been known for her no-nonsense approach and her willingness to tackle controversial topics. From high-profile murder cases to discussions about the modern justice system, she has sparked conversations and debates across various platforms. Despite stepping down from her flagship show in 2016, her influence continues as she engages audiences through her radio show and other media projects.

Table of Contents

• Who Is Nancy Grace?
• Early Life
• TV Career
• HLN
• New Show, Podcast
• Other Projects
• Husband and Children
• Quick Facts

Who Is Nancy Grace?

Nancy Grace was on track to become an English professor in 1979 when her fiancé, Keith Griffin, was shot to death. As a result of the event, Grace began a life in the field of criminal justice. After obtaining her degree in constitutional and criminal law from New York University, Grace found her way to the Fulton County District Attorney's Office in Atlanta, where she served as a special prosecutor. Due to her take-no-prisoners courtroom approach, Court TV hired her to host a live trial coverage show, Closing Arguments. She later co-hosted Cochran and Grace and Swift Justice with Nancy Grace. As one of TV's most followed legal analysts, she became host of the top-rated show, Nancy Grace. In 2016 she stepped down from her on-air duties.

Early Life

Nancy Grace was born in Macon, Georgia, on October 23, 1958. At age 19, she was poised to enter the academic world as an English professor, but in a twist of fate that would change the course of her life, her fiancé, Keith Griffin, was shot and killed. Afterward, Grace gave up her academic plans and instead set her sights on a career in criminal justice. She went on to earn bachelor's and Juris Doctor degrees from Mercer University and an advanced legal studies degree from New York University’s School of Law.

TV Career

Grace's reputation for handling high-profile cases caught the attention of Court TV, and executives signed her on to host Closing Arguments, the network’s live daily trial coverage show. She later co-hosted Cochran and Grace with renowned O.J. Simpson lawyer Johnnie Cochran and found success with the daytime show Swift Justice with Nancy Grace, earning an Emmy Award nomination for the latter.

HLN

In 2005, Grace began hosting a prime-time legal-analysis show called Nancy Grace on CNN Headline News (now the Headline News network, or HLN). She continued on with her Court TV work until 2007 and with Swift Justice until 2011. By then, Nancy Grace had gained steady momentum and its host enjoyed growing fame and popularity, chiefly due to her aggressive coverage and discussion of controversial topics of the day, such as the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping, the Duke University lacrosse team rape case, and the Caylee Anthony case.

New Show, Podcast

Since Grace left her show in 2016, she hasn't missed a beat. The TV personality has been taking time out to work behind the scenes, immersing herself in her radio crime show on Sirius XM, launching her website crimeonline.com, and writing her mystery thriller Hailey Dean book series.

Other Projects

Grace is the author of three books: Objection! How High-Priced Defense Attorneys, Celebrity Defendants, and a 24/7 Media Have Hijacked Our Criminal Justice System (2005), The Eleventh Victim (2009, fiction) and Death on the D-List (2010, fiction).

Husband and Children

Grace married Atlanta investment banker David Linch in 2007, and gave birth to twins, Lucy and John, later that year.

Quick Facts