Kevin Bludso

Kevin Bludso (born 1965) is an American chef, restaurateur, and television personality.

Early life
Bludso was born in 1965 in Compton, California. His father was a police officer at the Los Angeles Police Department; his mother was a postal service worker. While on summer vacation, Bludso lived with his aunt, Willie Mae Fields, in Corsicana, Texas. Fields introduced him to Texas-style barbecue; at the age of 9 or 10, Bludso was allowed to help with the cooking. He studied business at the Dallas-based Bishop College.

Career
Prior to entering the food industry, Bludso worked as a correctional officer for thirteen years. He opened Bludso's BBQ in 2008, serving as its pitmaster. Based in Compton, the restaurant shut down in September 2016, following a dispute with the landlord. Bludso also owns restaurants in Hollywood and Melbourne, Australia. Since 2020, Bludso serves as a judge on the Netflix series The American Barbecue Showdown.

Personal life
As of September 2020, Bludso resides in Texas. He is a fan of the Dallas Cowboys.

Television appearances

 * Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (2013, 2023)
 * Bar Rescue (2015 - present)
 * Fire Masters (2019)
 * BBQ Brawl (2019)
 * The American Barbecue Showdown (2020-Present)