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| Keith Whitley By: Renee Snowden
Jessie Keith Whitley, born July 1, 1955, is one of Kentucky’s Celebrities. Whitley was born at Sandy Hook, Kentucky. Whitley instantly got off to a musical start. At the age of six, he began playing the guitar. At the age of eight, he appeared on the Buddy Starcher’s regional TV show. A few years later he met up with Ricky Skaggs and the two became friends and later played together, in which Ralph Stanley noticed them and hired them both for his band. Whitley stayed with Skaggs for a year and then left and later went back. As time went on he later met Lorrie Morgan. The two became married in 1986. Whitley seemed to have it all as he was married to a rising star and he himself was rising as well. Unfortunately in 1989, he died of alcohol poisoning. |
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| Kentucky Celebrities
We have added a new section to our online page. Each week we will be adding a new profile of a Kentucky Celebrity. If you have someone in particular from Kentucky that you would like us to add, e-mail rsnowden@breathittonline.com |
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| Farah Fath By: Renee Snowden
Farah Fath is mostly known as Mimi Lockhart on “Days Of Our Lives.” However, most of you all probably had no idea that she was actually born in Lexington, Kentucky. Fath was born on May 1, 1984. At age five, Fath knew that she wanted to be an actress and became a child model. In 1995 she was crowned “Miss Kentucky Preteen.” Besides her famous role in “Days Of Our Lives,” Fath has also been in Pringles commercials and Duncan Hines commercials. In 1999 Fath moved to L.A. to participate in an International Model and Talent Convention and two weeks later she landed the role of Mimi Lockhart on “Days Of Our Lives.” |
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| Jesse Stuart By: Renee Snowden 10-6-04
Jesse Hilton Stuart is a well-known author to many. Stuart was born August 8, 1907 in Greenup, Kentucky. He was the son of Mitchell and Martha Hilton Stuart. Stuart had very little education due to the fact that he helped his father out on the farm in which they lived, and Stuart eventually had to drop out of school. At age fifteen Stuart returned to school. A teacher gave him a book by Robert Burns, in which Stuart felt drawn too. After graduation Stuart graduated and went to work for a circus but later ended up at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. He later graduated and returned to Greenup, Kentucky and became a teacher and later became superintendent. In 1933 he compiled a book of his poems called, “Man With A Bull Tongue Plow.” Here are a few other books by Stuart: “Taps For Private Tussie,” The Thread That Runs So True,” and “A Penny’s Worth of Character.” |
| Wynonna and Naomi Judd By: Renee Snowden
10-14-04 They are so well known as the famous country music artists but Wynonna and Naomi Judd are from right here in Kentucky. It all began in Ashland, Kentucky where Naomi Judd became pregnant, and gave birth to Wynonna. Naomi married her high school sweet heart and moved to California, where she later had another girl, Ashley. Naomi divorced and her and Wynonna and Ashley returned to Kentucky in 1976. Having no television or telephone, Wynonna put her spare time to learning to play the guitar. It wasn’t long until Wynonna and Naomi both had a common interest in music and they moved to Nashville in 1979. Things changed for these two ladies on March 2, 1983, when they met with RCA Records. It wasn’t until a year later that they produced their first album, “The Judds.” After that their records kept coming, as well as the awards. |
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| Muhammad Ali By: Renee Snowden 10-25-04
On January 17, 1942, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr, was born in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1963 he changed his name to Muhammad Ali. He began boxing at age twelve. He later me Fred Stoner who gave him the confidence that he needed to fulfill his dream of being a professional boxer. At the age of 18 he won an Olympic Gold Medal. From then on, Muhammad Ali was on the road and in the ring. There was no stopping him. Muhammad Ali has been lucky enough to have met several famous people along the way but a few are as follows: President Bill Clinton, Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandela, and Pope John Paul II. Muhammad has also been in several films. Here are a few: When We Were Kings and The Greatest. |
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| Martha Layne Collins By: Renee Snowden 11-8-04
Martha Layne Collins was born in Shelby County, Kentucky in 1936. Collins attended college in Lexington and then graduated from the University of Kentucky. In 1971, she decided to give politics a try. Collins became active in the gubernatorial and congressional campaigns. She was elected the clerk of the Kentucky Supreme Court in 1975. In 1979, she was elected lieutenant governor, chairing the National Conference of Lieutenant Governors. Martha Layne Collins became the first woman governor for Kentucky in 1989. |
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| Duncan Hines By: Renee Snowden 12-9-04
For many of us when we hear the name Duncan Hines, we automatically think of cake mix. That is only normal, however, have you ever taken the time to stop and think why it’s called that? Duncan Hines was actually a man who was born on March 26, 1880 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. After his mother’s death at an early age, he lived with his grandparents. This is where he got his knowledge of cleanliness and cooking experience. Hines entered the printing and advertising business in 1905. He also worked as a traveling salesman for 33 years. Hines has also written several books on foods and dining. In 1947 a public relations representative approached Hines about starting a food product under his name. At first he did not like the idea, however, he later changed his mind and it became a great hit. |
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| Patty Loveless By: Renee Snowden 12-17-04
Patty Loveless a great country music singer was born right here in Kentucky. Loveless was born in Elkhorn City, Kentucky on January 4, 1957. She spent many years in Pikeville, Kentucky. Loveless’ father was a coal minor which unfortunately led him to have health problems. Her and her family of seven then moved to Louisville, Kentucky in order for her father to get medical help. He had gotten black lung disease. Loveless always had an ear for music and at age fourteen Porter Wagoner heard her. Being impressed with Loveless, Wagoner introduced her to Dolly Parton. Both Wagner and Parton began working with Loveless. Her first album was released in 1987. Patty Loveless has certainly came a long way and is one of the top Country Music Female singers. |
| Abraham Lincoln By: Renee Snowden
As many of you know that Abraham Lincoln was the President of the United States of America. However, some of you may not know that he has roots in Kentucky. On February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln was born in Hardin, Kentucky. He was actually born in a log cabin, as his father was a carpenter. Lincoln attended school for a short period of time in Kentucky but at age seven moved to Indiana with his family. Lincoln grew up loving books. He was a constant reader, which at times upset his father, who had to work in the fields alone. Not only was Lincoln President of the United States of America, he also had many other adventures. In 1830, he made a flatboat trip to New Orleans. He later moved to Illinois. While in Illinois, he worked several jobs. Including a few are store operator and postmaster. |
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| Crystal Gayle By: Renee Snowden PHOTO HERE
Who would have guessed that the famous Crystal Gayle came from the coal-mining town of Paintsville, Kentucky? That’s right folks; Crystal Gayle was born in Kentucky on January 9, 1951. Having Loretta Lynn has a sister; Crystal Gayle grew up with a talent for music. Along the way she was lucky enough to come across and sing with a couple already famous musicians, such as Conway Twitty, Patty Loveless, etc. Crystal signed her first recording contract while she was still in school. Her debut, “I’ve Cried The Blue Right Out Of My Eyes,” was actually written by her sister Loretta Lynn. It reached the top 20 in the top national country music charts. After a couple decades, people began to recognize that Crystal had a wonderful voice. It wasn’t long after that until her career hit the top of the records and was being listened to all over the world. She has won lots of awards, here are a few just to mention: 18 #1's, 28 Top 5 singles, 33 Top 10 singles, and 45 singles to peak in the Top 40. Kevin Scott Richardson By: Renee Snowden PHOTO HERE Kevin Richardson, known to all as one of the Backstreet Boys, is actually from Lexington, Kentucky. He was born on October 3, 1971. Brian, who is also a member of the band, is the cousin of Richardson. Richardson grew up on a farm doing normal things a child would do such as riding his dirt back and horses. He was also a member of his school’s drama club. He also sang in church, sometimes with his mother. Richardson also provided music for weddings, restaurants, etc. Theater productions were also a part of his life. Some productions include "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Barefoot In The Park". Walt Disney hired Richardson to play the character of Aladdin on stage shows and in parades. It was then that he heard about a group called Backstreet Boys that were having auditions for a singer. It turns out that Richardson was just what they were looking for. Lila Diane Sawyer By: Renee Snowden Lila Diane Sawyer was born on December 22, 1945 in Glasgow, Kentucky. Sawyer originally came to Kentucky to help President Richard Nixon write his memoirs. Sawyer attended Wellesley College, in Wellesley, Massachusetts in 1967. She later attended the University of Louisville Law School, in Louisville, Kentucky before choosing a career in broadcasting . After being here Sawyer decided to stay and report for CBS news. Sawyer became the first woman to be a correspondent for 60 Minutes in 1984, however, she decided to go to ABC to co-host Prime Time Live in 1989 and later Turning Point in 1994. In January of 1999 she became the co-host of Good Morning America. PHOTO HERE |
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