Kelli Michelle (Lee) Phillips Phillips MediaSource and Co-Host of Texas Country Reporter TV Show

Kelli Lee first appeared on television and in print at the age of 14 in commercials and ads for various businesses in the Corpus Christi, Texas, area where she grew up. She later became interested in pageants and competed in both the Miss Texas USA and Miss Texas America events.

At 18, Kelli became the youngest local host of Evening Magazine in the country when she was hired by KENS- TV in San Antonio while still a student at the University of Texas in Austin. Interviewing for that position was quite a surprise for Kelli because her mother heard the station was looking for the perfect host for its show and secretly sent in her daughter’s picture and resume. Kelli was the last candidate interviewed and was immediately hired for the job. She quickly expanded into working in radio on KTFM and KTSA in San Antonio and fell in love with the instant contact aspect offered by live radio. In 1989 she moved to Beaumont where she worked in sales and as a deejay at 94.1 and 106.1 radio stations. She also worked in television as a spokesperson for various businesses.

In 2003, Kelli became the morning news person as a member of the KFDM Morning Show with Dan Gresham and James Brown. She soon added the noon news program to her duties and, in 2007, became the anchor of the Live at Five program and co-anchor of 6 News at Ten. When longtime 6PM news anchor Larry Beaulieu retired in 2011, Kelli was chosen to replace him on the program. Until recently, when she left KFDM to join her husband, Bob, as co-host of the weekly syndicated show “Texas Country Reporter,” Kelli was seen by more people every weekday than any other television personality in Southeast Texas.

Together, Kelli and Bob work with several charitable organizations including Gift of Life and ARC of Southeast Texas. Kelli is a frequent emcee in the area for events such as The Women’s Live Well Conference and the annual Alzheimer’s Association Luncheon, among others. In 2014, Kelli was named Quota International’s “Person of the Year.”

Kelli has two sons, both students at The University of Texas. The couple split their time between a ranch in Medina, which is also home to Escondida Resort and Spa, and a home in Dallas. Together, Bob and Kelli operate Phillips MediaSource, Phillips Productions and Texas Country Tours.