Kelli and Bob Phillips are American journalists who have spent their adult lives communicating with their audiences via television, radio, books, video series and social media. They are best known as the co-hosts of the “Texas Country Reporter” TV show, the longest running independently produced program in American television history, where the couple travel the back roads of Texas in constant search of stories to share with their viewers, readers and listeners. The show is syndicated on the TCR Network in every television market in Texas and nationally on the RFD-TV television network. Kelli and Bob continue their long journey and are available for appearances on a limited basis.
Kelli and Bob Phillips
Kelli (Lee) Phillips first appeared on television and in print at the age of 14 in commercials and ads for various businesses near her home on the Texas Gulf Coast. 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. 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 2003, after moving to Beaumont, TX., Kelli became the anchor of the Live at Five program and co-anchor of 6 News at Ten on KFDM-TV. When longtime 6PM news anchor, Larry Beaulieu, retired in 2011, Kelli was chosen to replace him on the program. In 2016, Kelli left the news business and joined her husband, Bob, as co-host of TCR.
Contact: kelli@bobphillips.com
Bob Phillips started his professional career while still a college student when he was hired by KDFW-TV in Dallas at the age of 18 and a first semester freshman. He later received both his BFA and MLA degrees from SMU. He was a TV news cameraman, film editor, assignments editor, reporter, producer and anchor during his 16 years at KDFW. During that time, he did general assignments reporting and also covered the political beat where he followed stories from city council meetings to the state legislature to national political conventions. He covered The Dallas Cowboys as a photographer and was on the sidelines of every game they played, during the 1970s and early 80s. He also shot game footage for NFL Films and later worked at WFAA-TV in Dallas.
In the early 70s, Bob and a group of journalists at KDFW started the program “4 Country Reporter,” as a way to cover news in small towns and out of the way places. The program quickly became a feature show about the lives of everyday Texans. It was an instant success with Bob as its producer and host. In 2022, the show that is now called “Texas Country Reporter” and is seen by more than a million people each week on 26 different television stations in 19 Texas markets (and nationally on RFD-TV) celebrated its 50th anniversary. The program is now produced by Phillips Productions, LLC, a subsidiary of Texas Monthly Magazine.
For more than 35 years, Bob has been a Professor of Communications at Amberton University in Dallas where he has lectured on Public Relations, Media Relations, Critical Analysis of Media and other forms of communications. He has also consulted many Fortune 1000 companies, colleges and universities, not-for-profit organizations and other businesses on the subject of corporate communications. Through the film and video production company he founded in 1987, Bob has produced many award-winning films, videos, commercials and other content on behalf of his clients.
Contact: bob@bobphillips.com
Bob and Kelli are also represented by Crown Speakers Bureau (crownspeakers.com)