Chanley Shá Painter is an American journalist, attorney, and former beauty queen. She works as a legal correspondent and overnight anchor for Fox News Channel, where she covers high-profile legal cases and breaking news. Before joining Fox News in February 2024, Chanley worked as a legal correspondent for Court TV and served as a deputy prosecutor in Arkansas.
Chanley Painter Wikipedia
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Chanley Shá Painter |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | June 10, 1984 |
| Age | 41 years old (as of January 2026) |
| Place of birth | Conway, Arkansas, United States |
| Current residence | New York City, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Zodiac sign | Gemini |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Weight | 128 lbs (58 kg) |
| Hair colour | Brown |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Body measurements | 32-23-34 inches |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | James Anderson |
| Children | Not publicly disclosed |
| Parents | Michael Painter and I’Lisa Painter |
| Siblings | Chelsa Painter (older sister) |
| Alma mater | University of Central Arkansas, Clinton School of Public Service, University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law |
| Profession | Journalist, attorney, legal correspondent, former beauty queen |
| Net worth | $300,000 – $3 million (estimated) |
Who is Chanley Painter?
Chanley Painter is a multi-talented professional who has built an impressive career combining law, journalism, and media.
She gained national attention when she was crowned Miss Arkansas USA in 2009 and placed in the Top 10 at the Miss USA pageant.
Her unique background includes winning the Arkansas State Old-Time Fiddle Championship in 2004 and earning a black belt in martial arts.
Chanley was born and raised in Conway, Arkansas, where she graduated from Conway High School. She comes from a supportive family that encouraged her diverse interests.
Her parents, Michael and I’Lisa Painter, along with her older sister Chelsa, supported her through various pursuits ranging from music to law.
How old is Chanley Painter? Age and birthday
Chanley Painter is 41 years old as of January 2026. She was born on June 10, 1984, in Conway, Arkansas, United States. Her zodiac sign is Gemini.
Chanley Painter’s height, weight, and body measurements
Chanley Painter stands 5 feet 7 inches tall (170 cm) and weighs approximately 128 pounds (58 kg). Her body measurements are 32-23-34 inches.
She has brown hair and dark brown eyes. Her athletic build reflects her martial arts background and disciplined lifestyle, which translates well to her professional television appearance.
Chanley Painter education
Chanley Painter’s educational background is remarkable. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Arkansas in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She was a Presidential Scholar at UCA and maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout college.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Chanley enrolled in a joint degree program that allowed her to earn two advanced degrees simultaneously.
She received a Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service and a Juris Doctor with high honors from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law. She served on the Law Review Editorial Board and completed both degrees in just four years.
Career
Early career in law
Chanley Painter started her professional career as a deputy prosecutor in Arkansas courts. She worked in both prosecutorial roles and private practice, gaining valuable courtroom experience.
She is licensed to practice law in both Arkansas and Tennessee. Her legal background provided the foundation for her later success in legal journalism.
Beauty pageant success
In 2009, Chanley was crowned Miss Arkansas USA at age 24. She went on to compete at the Miss USA 2009 pageant held in Las Vegas, where she placed in the Top 10.
During the competition, she impressed judges and audiences with her poise, intelligence, and memorable evening gown performance. She stood 5’9″ in heels and became known as one of the most talented contestants in pageant history.
Television journalism career
Chanley made the transition from law to journalism in 2016. She got her start as a legal analyst for Nexstar Media Group, working at KARK-TV, the NBC affiliate in Little Rock, Arkansas.
She then became a multimedia journalist, covering various news stories while leveraging her legal expertise.
In February 2019, Chanley joined Court TV as a legal correspondent when the network relaunched.
She covered major high-profile trials, including the Bryan Kohberger case, Johnny Depp’s defamation trial, and the Amber Guyger murder trial. Her legal background allowed her to provide in-depth analysis that resonated with viewers.
In 2021, Chanley received the Scripps Give Light Award for her leadership, dedication, and hard work in legal journalism. This recognition highlighted her exceptional reporting and community impact.
Fox News Channel
In February 2024, Fox News Channel announced that Chanley Painter had joined the network as an overnight anchor and legal correspondent.
She began her new role on February 26, 2024. At Fox News, she covers breaking news, legal developments, and high-profile court cases. She appears on various programs including “Fox & Friends” and provides field reporting from locations across the country.
Acting and other talents
Chanley appeared in the 2016 Christian film “God’s Not Dead 2,” playing the role of V.P. of Teachers Union. She is also an accomplished fiddle player, having won the Arkansas State Old-Time Fiddle Championship in 2004.
She founded and managed Chanley and the Ready Boys Band, an old-time fiddle group. She has played violin and fiddle for over 15 years and also plays mandolin.
She holds a first-degree black belt in Grandmaster Han’s World Youn Wha Ryu martial arts. She is also a graduate of the Conway Citizens Police Academy and has completed handgun training.
What is Chanley Painter’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Chanley Painter’s net worth is estimated at $300,000 to $3 million. She earns an estimated annual salary of $100,000 to $300,000 from her work at Fox News Channel.
She built this fortune through television journalism, her legal career, modeling work, and previous pageant earnings.
Her diverse income streams include television journalism at Fox News, previous earnings from Court TV, legal practice fees from her time as an attorney, and modeling assignments. The Fox News position represents her highest-paying role in her career.
Is Chanley Painter married? Husband, relationship status, and children
Chanley Painter is married to James Anderson, a businessman who prefers to stay out of the public spotlight. Multiple sources report they married in 2020, though some accounts say 2022.
IMDb lists their marriage date as 2020. Chanley keeps her personal life extremely private and rarely shares details about her marriage publicly.
James Anderson is described as a successful businessman, though specific details about his profession and background remain limited. The couple lives in New York City, where Chanley works for Fox News.
There is no publicly available information about whether the couple has children, as Chanley maintains strict privacy regarding her family life.
Before her marriage, Chanley focused on building her career in law and journalism. Her relationship with James appears to be her most significant public romantic relationship.
Chanley Painter’s family
Chanley Painter was raised in Conway, Arkansas, by her parents Michael and I’Lisa Painter. Her father Michael and mother I’Lisa provided strong support throughout her diverse career pursuits.
She has an older sister named Chelsa Painter. The two sisters grew up together in Conway, supporting each other’s dreams and ambitions.
Her father encouraged her to enter beauty pageants when she was young, though she initially waited until age 15 to compete in local pageants.
The family emphasized values like hard work, faith, and community service. Chanley’s parents supported her through law school, her pageant career, and her transition into journalism.
Social media presence
As of January 2026, Chanley Painter has approximately 27,000 followers on her main Instagram account (@chanleysha).
She uses the platform to share professional updates, behind-the-scenes moments from Fox News, and occasional personal photos.
Her Instagram bio describes her as “Award-Winning Journalist, OldTime Fiddle Champ, BlackBelt, Former MissAR, Top10 MissUSA.”
She also maintains a second Instagram account (@chasethecasewithchanleysha) with around 11,550 followers, focused on her legal journalism work.
On social media, she shares content related to court cases, news coverage, and her work at Fox News. She maintains a professional presence and rarely shares intimate personal details online.
Chanley is also active on X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @ChanleySPainter, where she shares professional updates and engages with viewers.
Fast facts about Chanley Painter
- Chanley Painter won the Arkansas State Old-Time Fiddle Championship in 2004 at age 19.
- She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a perfect 4.0 GPA and summa cum laude honors.
- She earned two graduate degrees simultaneously in just four years—a Master of Public Service and a Juris Doctor.
- She holds a black belt in Grandmaster Han’s World Youn Wha Ryu martial arts and has skills in fighting forms and board breaking.
- She placed in the Top 10 at the Miss USA 2009 pageant, representing Arkansas.
- She appeared in the 2016 Christian film “God’s Not Dead 2” as the V.P. of Teachers Union.
- She founded and managed an old-time fiddle band called Chanley and the Ready Boys Band.
- She is licensed to practice law in both Arkansas and Tennessee.
- She won the 2021 Scripps Give Light Award for excellence in legal journalism.
- She graduated from the Conway Citizens Police Academy and completed handgun training courses.
Read more: Is Devan Kaney Married? Husband, age, height, net worth, career
Wrapping up
Chanley Painter is a remarkable example of how diverse talents and dedication can lead to success in multiple fields.
From winning beauty pageants and fiddle championships to practicing law and becoming a respected journalist, she has built a career that showcases her intelligence, discipline, and versatility.
At 41 years old, she continues to make an impact as a legal correspondent for Fox News Channel, covering the most important legal stories of our time.
References
- Arkansas Magazine. “Arkansas Native Chanley Painter a Woman of Many Talents”.
- Fox News. “Chanley Painter | Fox News”.
- IMDb. “Chanley Painter – Biography”.
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “Law degree helps lawyer-turned-reporter land network job”.
- Business Wire. “FOX News Channel Names Chanley Painter Overnight Anchor”.
- Arkansas Online. “The story of the fiddling pageant contestant”.
- Clinton School of Public Service. “Miss Arkansas USA”.
- Instagram. “Chanley Shá Painter (@chanleysha)”.
Disclaimer: The information on Megapicsly.com is collected from trusted sources. However, we do not guarantee accuracy or completeness of celebrity profiles, net worth estimates, or biographical data. Readers should verify information independently. For corrections or inquiries, contact us at info@megapicsly.com.
