


Watros attributed her casting in the role to executive producer Jill Farren Phelps, with whom she previously worked with during her time on Guiding Light.

They further confirmed her first airdate as November 15, 2013. Entertainment Weekly further confirmed that Kelly was a former school teacher whose son was killed in a hit-and-run car accident, and that she'd interact with Billy Abbott ( Billy Miller), whose character recently lost his own child on-screen, and that they would meet in a support group for grieving parents. Soap Opera Digest confirmed Watros' debut for sometime in November 2013. Watros' arrival was said to have "profound influence" on several of the characters connected to the canvas. In September 2013, Entertainment Weekly broke news that former Guiding Light and Lost actress Cynthia Watros had joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in the recurring role of "Kelly". Watros credited her casting in the role to executive producer Jill Farren Phelps, with whom she previously worked on Guiding Light.
