Jody Kelly, the oldest female competitor to ever appear on The Amazing Race, has died at age 85. Kelly and her granddaughter Shannon appeared in Season 16 of CBS‘ international travel competition back in 2010. They made it to the second round of eliminations, winning the hearts of the people and earning Jody Kelly the title of “world’s coolest grandmother” along the way. While her official cause of death hasn’t been shared with the public, Kelly’s family has stated that she passed away “suddenly but peacefully” in Bemidji, Minnesota, earlier this month.
Jody Kelly: The Amazing Race’s Oldest Female Competitor Dies
The Amazing Race Season 16 aired on CBS between February and May 2010. Following the show’s usual format, the season had competitors traveling the world in teams of two as they competed to win $1 million. Kelly and her granddaughter Shannon were one of eleven teams of travelers to start the season. The pair would make it to the second round of eliminations before dropping out of the race in Puerto Varas, Chile, but not before winning the hearts of the audience.
PEOPLE Magazine would award Jody Kelly the title of “world’s coolest grandmother” after a cow kicked her in the head during a roadblock in Episode 2. Kelly, who came out of the incident no worse for wear, described the roadblock as proof that people her age “can still do physical things.” Being 71 years old at the time, Jody Kelly also earned her position as The Amazing Race’s oldest female competitor, beating out Merideth and Gretchen from Season 7.
Jody Kelly is survived by four children, eleven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Her death was first made public via a Facebook post on September 6th, where her daughter, Kelly Foster, released the following statement:
I lost my mother yesterday. Jody Kelly was 85 years old and so full of life, joy, and learning. She always had a smile for everyone she interacted with and loved meeting people and having new adventures. She was so active and was always thinking of how to get in her exercise for the day. She carried exercise bands if she traveled and made it a point to do something physical every day.”
Kelly Foster
Her full obituary, published in the Austin American-Statesman, did not state an official cause of death but said that Kelly had passed away “suddenly but peacefully” while attending a Spanish language immersion camp in Minnesota. She was described as a “world-class athlete” who stayed healthy and fit until the end.
