Carolyn Hax is a writer and columnist for one of the largest daily newspapers in the United States, “The Washington Post.” The advice column she writes is called “Carolyn Hax,” formerly known as “Tell Me About It.” Carolyn, who was raised in Connecticut, earned a degree from Harvard University in American literature and history. She began working for newspaper firms shortly after graduating. She started working for “The Washington Post” in the early 1990s. She began writing a regular column for “The Washington Post” in 1997, and over time, she gained a sizable readership by gradually winning over readers. Additionally, “The Washington Post” syndicates the column to 200 additional newspapers nationwide. “Tell Me About It: Lying, Sulking, and Getting Fat and 56 Other Things Not to Do While Looking for Love” was Carolyn’s debut book, written in 2001. She has also contributed essays to several other news outlets. Her ex-husband, Nick Galifianakis, also contributed cartoons to the advice articles, and they kept working together on them long after their divorce. She presently resides in Massachusetts with her spouse, Ken Ackerman.
Early Life & Childhood
On December 5, 1966, Carolyn Hax was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Out of the four sisters in the family, she was the youngest. Her father is currently retired from his position as research director at “Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation.”
She endured a great deal of suffering as a child. In interviews and her editorials, she brought up this subject. Her family was struggling financially, so she had to live in a “crack-infested neighborhood” while she was in third grade. She also didn’t have any specific career ambitions and didn’t do well academically in school.
She was a shy child who spent a very long period having difficulty making friends. After completing her studies at the “Hopkins School,” she went on to get a BA from Harvard University in 1984. Her interests were unrelated to her career goals; her subjects were American literature and history. She aspired to be a writer for print media.
Career of Carolyn Hax
Carolyn Hax began her career as an intern for many newspapers in the late 1980s. She began her career at the “Army Times,” where she held the positions of associate editor and news editor.
In the early 1990s, she joined ‘The Washington Post’ as a copy and news editor. Newspaper advice columns were not regarded with the same gravity as other news stories or writings back then.
She eventually found the confidence to approach the editor in 1997 and request that he launch a new advice column. She lacked any specific writing or journalism degrees. She therefore had a hard time persuading the editor that she could handle a column by herself.
Eventually, she was permitted to begin her column. She decided to offer advice as a friend rather than as a specialist. Originally published twice a week, the column was then expanded to three times a week. It began as a weekly corner.
At first, it was called “Tell Me About It” and had Nick Galifianakis cartoons. It casts a lighthearted shadow over even the readers’ gravest worries. Carolyn’s easygoing advice made the piece very well-liked by the readers.
It was originally written with readers under 30 in mind. The majority of the conversations focused on their romantic lives, families, relationships, and other common problems that young people face. But as time went on, the column began to address nearly every aspect of society.
After starting in “The Washington Post,” the column gained popularity and was published in about 200 newspapers across the nation. Carolyn eventually turned it into a daily piece and achieved a certain level of national notoriety.
In the early 2000s, Carolyn was motivated to write her first book by the column’s success. Her first book, “Tell Me About It: Lying, Sulking, and Getting Fat and 56 Other Things Not to Do While Looking for Love,” was published in 2001.
She wrote novels, editorials, and essays for newspapers in addition to other works. The book “Mommy Wars: Stay-at-Home and Career Moms Face Off on Their Choices, Their Lives, Their Families” featured one of her most well-known essays, “Peace and Carrots.”
Moreover, she is the host of the weekly web chat program “Carolyn Hax Live.” Several carefully chosen transcripts from the program are also published in the newspaper. Since its launch in 2003, the program has achieved nearly the same level of success as her daily column.
Individual Life of Carolyn Hax
Before beginning her weekly column in 1997, Carolyn Hax got to know “The Washington Post” cartoonist Nick Galifianakis. Eventually, they began dating after falling in love. Carolyn was 27 years old when they were married. But in 2002, everything went south in their relationship, and they got divorced.
She wed her childhood friend Ken Ackerman in November of 2002. Given that she was expecting twins at the time of her second marriage to Ken, her readers responded angrily to it. But afterward, Carolyn used her blog to communicate with her followers and explain her circumstances.
She presently resides in Massachusetts with her spouse, their three children, and their family dog. Following their divorce, Nick and Carolyn remained amicable and continued working together on “The Washington Post.”
Readers occasionally express dissatisfaction with the responses Carolyn offers them. She occasionally gets threats and hate mail as well. She is unfazed by this, though.
The net worth of Carolyn Hax
The estimated net worth of Carolyn Hax is about $1 million.