When you think of Amy Carter, you probably still see that little nine-year-old girl with the glasses, reading a book at a formal White House state dinner. It’s an image frozen in time. But time, as we know, moves on. Jimmy Carter’s youngest child is no longer the kid with the treehouse on the South Lawn or the college activist being arrested for protesting the CIA. Today, she’s a private citizen, an artist, and a mother who has spent decades deliberately staying out of the cameras' reach.
Because she’s so private, people constantly wonder about her life in Atlanta. Specifically, one of the most common questions that pops up is: how many children did amy carter have?
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It’s not as straightforward as a quick Google snippet might suggest, mainly because her family life has spanned two different marriages and a lot of quiet years. Honestly, the answer is two. Amy Carter has two sons.
The Family Amy Carter Built
Amy’s journey into motherhood didn't start until long after her father left the Oval Office. She was 28 when she married James Gregory Wentzel in 1996. Interestingly, she refused to have her father "give her away" at the ceremony, famously stating that she belonged to no one. That’s Amy for you—independent to the core.
From that first marriage, Amy had her first son, Hugo James Wentzel. He was born in 1999. If that name sounds familiar lately, it’s probably because Hugo is the only member of that immediate branch who has dipped his toes into the world of reality TV.
Eventually, Amy and James Wentzel divorced in 2005. A few years later, in 2007, she married John Joseph "Jay" Kelly. It was during this second marriage that she had her second child, Errol Carter Kelly.
Hugo James Wentzel: The Grandson in the Spotlight
Hugo is currently in his mid-twenties and has become the unofficial "face" of the younger Carter generation for many people. While his mother avoided the spotlight like the plague, Hugo took a different path. He appeared on the ABC reality show Claim to Fame in 2023.
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The show is basically a guessing game where contestants try to figure out which celebrity the others are related to. Hugo did a pretty good job keeping his "Papa" (as he calls Jimmy Carter) a secret for a while, but eventually, the peanut clues gave him away.
Watching Hugo on screen gave us a rare glimpse into Amy's life as a mom. He spoke incredibly fondly of his grandfather and his mother. It’s clear that despite the fame, Amy raised her boys with a sense of normal family values. Hugo has mentioned that he spent a lot of time with Jimmy and Rosalynn in Plains, doing regular grandkid stuff like fly-fishing and cooking, even if the Secret Service was standing in the woods nearby.
Errol Carter Kelly: The Private Son
If Hugo is the public-facing son, Errol is the complete opposite. Born around 2010, Errol is still quite young and has been kept almost entirely out of the public eye. You won’t find him on reality shows or giving interviews to People magazine.
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This makes sense given Amy’s own history. After being scrutinized by the press for every book she read or every time she roller-skated through the East Room, she clearly made a conscious choice to give her children a level of privacy she never had. Errol lives a quiet life in the Atlanta area, and his family works hard to keep it that way.
Why the Number Matters to History
It’s kind of fascinating to look at the Carter family tree. Jimmy and Rosalynn had four children—Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy. Between them, they produced 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Amy’s two sons represent the youngest of that immediate inner circle. When Jimmy Carter entered hospice care and eventually passed at age 100, the family’s closeness became the central story. Amy was a constant presence at her father’s side during those final months in Plains, and her sons were right there with her.
What We Get Wrong About the Carter Kids
A lot of people assume the "White House kids" are all part of some elite, untouchable social circle. But Amy Carter’s life—and the lives of her children—really breaks that mold.
- They aren't "political" in the traditional sense. While Amy was a fierce activist in her youth, she didn't run for office. Neither have her sons.
- They are surprisingly "normal." Hugo is a bodybuilder and a fitness influencer. Errol is a student. They aren't living on the public dime; they're out there working and going to school like anyone else.
- Privacy is their currency. You’ve probably noticed there are very few "paparazzi" shots of Amy Carter. She doesn't do the talk show circuit. She shows up for her father’s legacy projects and then goes home.
The Legacy Amy is Passing Down
So, when we ask how many children did amy carter have, we’re really asking about the continuation of a specific American legacy. It’s a legacy that values human rights, quiet dignity, and a very Southern kind of modesty.
Amy has spent her adult life as an artist and a board member for the Carter Center. She’s illustrated her father’s children’s books and worked on social justice causes, usually behind the scenes. Her two sons are the heirs to that "lead with love" mentality that Jimmy Carter was so famous for.
Whether Hugo continues his career in the media or Errol chooses a life of total anonymity, they both carry the "Carter" name (either as a middle name or through their lineage) into a new era.
If you're looking for more information on the Carter family as they navigate their legacy in 2026, the best place to start is the Carter Center's official archives. They offer the most accurate look at the family’s ongoing humanitarian work without the tabloid fluff. You might also want to look into the Christie's American Collector Sale, where Amy recently shared personal items from her parents' estate to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. It's a rare chance to see the personal side of a family that usually keeps its doors closed.