Jayne Kennedy Interview: From CBS Sports & Hollywood Fame to Heartbreak, Resilience & Redemption

The life of Jayne Kennedy is one of triumph, heartbreak, and resilience. 🌟 In this deeply moving interview, Jayne shares with John Cato her most unforgettable moments that are in her new memoir "Plain Jayne" including:

🏈 Breaking barriers as the first Black woman to co-anchor CBS Sports with Brent Musburger

🌳 Her family history from slavery to triumph, and the tragedy of her grandmother being shot to death when her fahter was only 10 years old

🎶 The emotional story of her father’s funeral, with her high school friends singing in his honor

✈️ A mysterious connection to Egypt revealed by psychics and her own travel to Egypt and the African Continent

🙏 Watching her daughter being blessed spontaneously by 100 pastors and Coretta Scott King

🌊 Surviving a near-death experience in the ocean in Hawaii while filming The Dean Martin Show

🎭 Getting her break on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and performing with Bob Hope

🍴 Cooking dinner for Smokey Robinson and her special friendship with Muhammad Ali

📺 Roles on Starsky & Hutch, and The Love Boat with John Amos

💔 The stolen sex tape scandal that nearly destroyed her career for 20 years

✨ The miracle moment with a pastor that helped her start rebuild her life

📚 Writing her book after 42 publisher rejections, with help from Robin Roberts to land Disney as her publisher

🏛️ Discovering that her photo was displayed in the Smithsonian Institution

🏆 Receiving a Legacy Award that deeply touched her daughters

💖 A personal talk with Oprah Winfrey about guiding her children through the public pain she dealt with around the stolen sex tape

This is more than a Hollywood story—it’s a journey of faith, courage, survival, and redemption that will inspire anyone who believes in second chances.

👉 If you loved classic TV, sports history, or need a powerful reminder of resilience, Jayne Kennedy’s story will stay with you forever.

#JayneKennedy #ClassicTV #CBSSports #MuhammadAli #SmokeyRobinson #OprahWinfrey #Trailblazer #Resilience #Faith #hollywoodhistory #plainjaynebook

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Hosted by John Cato, actor, voiceover artist, and moderator for over 20 years for the television and movie industry. John's background brings a unique insight and passion to the podcast.

00:00 Introduction
0:03:00 Jayne discusses how she grew up and her hurdles to get the audition to be the CBS Sports Anchor with Brent Musberger
0:24:08 Jayne talks about her family history from slavery and her massive family reunion
0:27:32 Jayne tells a very emotional story of her grandmother being shot dead when her father was 10 years old
0:32:52 Jayne tells and emotional story about her father's funeral and all of high school friends showing up and singing
0:35:54 John tells a wild story that connects to Jayne's wild story of her connection to Egypt
0:37:35 Jayne tells the story of a two different possible psychics relating to her a connection to Egypt and Jayne's trip to Egypt
0:51:06 Jayne talks about an incredible experience with her daughter Savannah being blessed by about 100 pastors and Coretta Scott King
0:53:18 Jayne tells an unbelievable near death experience in Hawaii when she was part of the Dean Martin Show
0:59:06 How Jayne got her first break on Rowan and Martin's Laugh In
1:03:52 Jayne talks about cooking for Smokey Robinson and getting her break with Bob Hope
1:06:47 Jayne talks about her special relationship with Muhammad Ali
1:13:51 Jayne talks about her quick appearance on Starsky and Hutch
1:14:55 Jayne talks about working with John Amos on the Love Boat and the Model episode on the Love Boat
1:17:31 Jayne talks about borrowing her costume from the Dean Martin show to do a magazine cover for JET magazine
1:18:55 Jayne talks about the stolen sex tape scandal that nearly destroyed her and changed her life for over 20 years
1:30:25 Jayne talks about a miracle moment with a pastor that helped her start to bring her life back
1:39:50 Jayne's view of destiny from her book and following your dreams
1:41:17 Jayne tells the story of receiving a Legacy award and the effect it had on her daughters
1:44:39 Jayne talks about finding out her picture is in the Smithsonian Institution
1:49:22 Jayne has a personal talk with Oprah Winfrey about how to talk to her children about the stolen sex tape
1:53:55 Jayne talks about being rejected by 42 publishers and how Robin Roberts of Good Morning America helped her get Disney as her publisher