The Blue People of Kentucky Nearly Created Their Own Big Blue Nation

Meet the Blue Fugates of Troublesome Creek!

The Blue People of Kentucky

We have a lot of things to be proud of here in Kentucky. Our horses, basketball, hospitality, and food just to name a few. I think we can also be kind of proud of the outrageous things associated with our state.  I don’t know how many times I’ve read about something kind of “out there” or unusual, only to discover that the story was connected somehow to Kentucky.

I guess all you can say is we know how to keep things interesting.

Our great state is associated with the word and/or color blue a great deal:

  • Kentucky is nicknamed the Blue Grass State
  • One of the most popular songs of all time is titled “Blue Moon of Kentucky”
  • Those of us who are huge UK fans proudly refer to ourselves as “Big Blue Nation”
  • Then of course, there’s the Battle of Blue Licks

Of course you’ve heard of these.  But have you read about the Blue People of Kentucky?

In a clear case of Kentuckians keeping things interesting again, it seems there was a woman in Kentucky, Luna Fugate who was “blue all over.”  One of her relatives described Luna as, “the bluest woman I ever saw.”  In 1975, Luna Fugate’s grandson (Benjamin “Benjy” Stacy)  was born.  Like his great-grandmother, the baby was born with a blue tinge. Methemoglobinemia is the name of the condition which causes the skin to take on a lovely shade of blue.

As talk of a blood transfusion took place, Benjy’s grandmother told doctors not to panic, that he simply looked like the “blue Fugates of Troublesome Creek.”

The Blue People of Kentucky aren’t limited to Benjy and Luna.  In fact an entire family from isolated Appalachia were blue.   Apparently, their ancestral line began six generations earlier with a French orphan, Martin Fugate.

Martin Fugate came to Troublesome Creek (near Hazard) from France in 1820 and… well… he happened to be blue. He married a Kentuckian named Elizabeth Smith, who also carried the blue gene, so to speak.   Four of their seven children were blue.

Like many small communities of that time, a lack of railroads and limited travel into or out of the community caused it to remain very small and very isolated. Cousins married cousins and, like spilled paint from a can, the blue gene spread.

Luna, of course, came from the Fugate line.  One of Martin and Elizabeth Fugate’s blue boys, Zachariah, married his aunt. One of their sons, Levy, married a Ritchie girl and had eight children, one of these children was Luna.

Luna married John E. Stacy and they had 13 children. Luna lived a long life, dying at the age of 84.

Apparently the arrival of coal mining in Kentucky in 1912 led to the Fugates moving away from Troublesome Creek.  Thereby causing the blue people begin to disappearing.

Read more about the Blue Fugates of Troublesome Creek (It’s a must read!).

The Blue People of Kentucky

Photo Credit for the picture at the top of the page.

Kentucky’s Bravest Little Citizen, Lane Goodwin

Sending Thumbs AND Prayers Up for this Inspirational Fighter

Allen Craig Thumbs Up for Lane Goodwin

Allen Craig Giving Thumb’s Up for Lane Goodwin

Unless you live a life without newspapers, internet, or social media (and some do… I’m not knocking it!) – you’ve undoubtedly heard of Lane Goodwin. Lane’s a brave, spiritual, and inspirational 13-year-old boy from Beech Grove, Ky.  He happens to be battling a rare form of cancer… a particularly nasty form.  Although he was diagnosed more than two years ago with an aggressive form of the disease, his family members say he never complains or feels sorry for himself.

Lane believes that he is where he is because it’s where God would have him be.  If that fact, alone, doesn’t move you, I”m not sure you can be moved.

Lane’s “sign” to his family, to let them know he’s alright has always been a thumb’s up.  This precious sign is now spreading, not only the nation, but the world and men and women are touched by Lane’s story and are photographing themselves giving HIM a thumb’s up.

Just a few of the celebrities, athletes, and fellow-heroes who have done this wonderful, wonderful thing for Lane include:

  • Allen Craig (of the St. Louis Cardinals, Lane’s favorite baseball team – I’m loving this kid more and more by the minute!)
  • The Kentucky Wildcat
  • John Calipari
  • Johnny Depp
  • Turtle Man
  • Darius Miller (UK Wildcat, NBA)
  • Anthony Davis (UK Wildcat, NBA)
  • Troy Landry, Chase Landry, and Jacob Landry from Swamp People
  • Jason Aldean
  • Various UK Basketball Players
  • Duckmen
  • Don Mattingly and the L.A. Dodgers
  • John Rich
  • Garth Brooks
  • Trisha Yearwood
  • Tennessee Titans
  • American soldiers
  • The Oak Ridge Boys
  • Joe Nichols
  • Katherine Heigl
  • Jake Owen (gave a double thumb’s up)
  • Hank Baskett (NFL)
  • Donald Driver (NFL)
  • Larry the Cable Guy
  • Evansville IceMen
  • Paula Deen
  • Many more!

School teams around the country, disc jokeys, nurses, doctors, children, adults… people everywhere are giving this precious little boy thumb’s up.

I hope you’ll all keep Lane Goodwin and his wonderful (also brave & inspiring) family in your hearts and prayers.  Take photos of yourself giving a thumb’s up and post them on his Facebook wall or tweet them with the “hastag” #ThumbsUpForLane.  By all means, “Like” his facebook page.  As you can imagine, each of these little things everyone does means the world to this young man and his family.

If you happen to know anyone in the entertainment industry or an athlete (UK, U of L, St. Louis Cardinals, Colts…) please send the story to them and allow them to also have the blessing of touching a very special family.

Fiction Fridays’ at Waveland State Historic Site Beginning June 29

Author of The Kentucky Chronicles, Robert Monahan, Will Be the First Featured Author

Waveland State Historic Site

Kentuckians have a lot to be proud of and a billion and one reasons to walk with a distinctive swagger. Accomplishments of fellow Kentuckians is something we should be the most proud of.  Our beautiful state has produced, and continues to produce, truly outstanding authors (among athletes, actors, actresses, singers, musicians…).  I’m thrilled to see a program taking shape at Waveland State Historic Site (Lexington) that’ll highlight our home-grown authors.

Kentucky author Robert Monahan will kick off special “Fiction Fridays” on June 29 at Waveland State Historic Site in Lexington.

“Fiction Fridays” are free special events highlighting Kentucky authors whose fictional works include regional settings and topics, hosted by the Friends of Waveland on the historic grounds surrounding the Waveland Mansion.

The June 29 event will include Monahan and his series “The Kentucky Chronicles.” Monahan’s exciting fiction series features the beautiful Bluegrass area along with various Kentucky industries including thoroughbred breeding and racing, hemp farming, coal mining and bourbon distilling. The stories depict a plethora of unique characters, many of whom are involved in the suspense thrilling aspects of murder, kidnapping, romance, and revenge, while taking the reader on a whirlwind journey of world-wide adventures.

“I find the historic sites of Kentucky to be very inspirational, and walking the grounds at Waveland takes me right back to my childhood,” Monahan said.

Monahan will read from his books and discuss his writing process and the importance of bringing his experiences in Kentucky into his works.

“Fiction Fridays” run from noon to 1:30 p.m. on the last Friday of the month on the grounds or in the cabin at Waveland, 225 Waveland Museum Lane, off Nicholasville Road.

Books will be available for purchase on site and those wishing to read ahead may pick up a copy at The Morris Book Shop, 882 E. High St. in Lexington. Participants are encouraged to bring a lunch. Tours of the Waveland Mansion will be available on the hour at the regular price through 4 p.m.

Six miles south of downtown Lexington, Waveland State Historic Site stands as one of Kentucky’s most dignified and gracious antebellum mansions. Completed in 1848 by Joseph Bryan, a grandnephew of Daniel Boone, Waveland is open to the public and guests are encouraged to enjoy the beautiful grounds the site has to offer. For more information, call the park at 859-272-3611.

Learn more about Waveland State Historic Site on Kentucky State Park’s Website.

Robert Monahan’s Kentucky Chronicle Books:

The Real Hatfield-McCoy Feud: Walk the Grounds they Walked!

Visit the Scene of Feud in Pike County, Kentucky

Hatfields & McCoysOne of my favorite television destinations, The History Channel, recently aired an outstanding and wildly successful miniseries, Hatfields & McCoys. Apparently viewers tuned in to this miniseries as though they were being paid to do so!  I’m really not surprised, though. For one thing, it was a History Channel production – everything they touch is pure gold.  For another thing, the Hatfields and McCoys are a fascinating part of our country’s history – especially in this neck of the woods.

In Kentucky, we grew up hearing about the Hatfields & McCoys so much that for the better part of my childhood, I thought they were family.

If you’re a history buff like I am or simply interested in this very colorful part of history, a trip to beautiful Pike County, Kentucky might be right up your alley.  Visiting the place where it all played out can help you visualize this 19th century conflict between the rival Kentucky and West Virginia families. Each historical site features a marker telling tragic stories from the infamous feud, serving as a reminder of how dangerous sheer unadulterated hatred can be!

Many tourists each year travel to eastern Kentucky to see the areas and historic relics that remain from the days of the feud. Improvements to various feud sites have been completed, and historical markers commemorate many key locales. Research by local historians has been compiled in an audio compact disc called the “Hatfield–McCoy Feud Driving Tour.” The CD provides a self-guided driving tour of the restored feud sites. It includes maps and pictures as well as the audio CD.

You can order the CD by visiting www.tourpikecounty.com or by calling 800-844-7453.

Hillbilly Days Festival

You might also wish to attend the annual Hillbilly Days festival in Pikeville, Ky., which each April draws thousands of visitors to the area of the feud for a weekend of regional entertainment, food, contests and celebrations. You can get more information on the festival at www.hillbillydays.com.

Dils Cemetery

The Dils Cemetery is located at the mouth of Chloe Creek and the By-Pass Road in Pikeville, Kentucky. Historians are always fascinated by cemeteries – and Dils Cemetery is an especially interesting one. This Cemetery is listed on the Naitonal Register of Historic Places as part of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud Historic District. Buried in the cemetery are: Randolph McCoy, the head of the McCoy clan, his wife, Sarah, their daughter, Roseanna (who ran away with Johnse Hatfield), their son, Sam and his wife, Martha.

But there’s even more historical significance: The cemetery is the first known cemetery in Eastern Kentucky to be integrated. Col. Dils let his freed slaves and their descendants be buried in the cemetery.

About the Hatfield & McCoys

The feud involved two families of the Kentucky and West Virginia mountains along the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River. The bitter conflict stemmed from many causes, but the origins have been traced to divided loyalties during the Civil War and even a Romeo-Juliet romance between members of the rival clans.

The McCoys, who lived in Pike County, Ky., mostly sided with the Union during the Civil War, while the Hatfields, from neighboring Mingo County, W.Va., were aligned with the Confederates. The first real violence in the feud was the 1865 slaying of returning Union soldier Asa Harmon McCoy, generally believed to have been committed by members of the Hatfield family.

Between 1880 and 1891, the feud claimed a dozen members of the two families, becoming headline news around the country and compelling the governors of both Kentucky and West Virginia to call up their state militias to restore order. The governor of West Virginia once even threatened to have his militia invade Kentucky. Kentucky’s governor responded by sending his chief military aide to Pike County to investigate the situation. Besides a dozen who died, at least 10 persons were wounded in that decade.

The feud has entered the American vocabulary as a metaphor for any parties to a bitter rivalry. More than a century later, the story of the feud has become a modern symbol for the perils of family honor, justice and vengeance. Over the years, the feud has been the subject of several film portrayals, and this week separate feature-film and miniseries productions are debuting on U.S. movie and TV screens.

 

Pike County’s history is very intriguing and the Hatfields and McCoys have a lot to do with it. Click the link to learn more.

 

Books About the Hatfields & McCoys:

For more information about travel in Kentucky, visit www.kentuckytourism.com.

Black History Events Scheduled in Kentucky

John James Audubon State Park will honor Black History Month with a Kentucky Chautauqua Performance: Reverend Newton Bush, “Freedom at a Terrible Price” on February 11, 2012

February is, of course, Black History Month. Several agencies within the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet will be holding events during February in honor of the month long celebration.

Below is a listing of these events:

John James Audubon State Park, Henderson

Kentucky Chautauqua Performance: Reverend Newton Bush, “Freedom at a Terrible Price”

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2 p.m., Audubon Museum

In 1864 Kentucky became the last state to allow slaves to enlist in the Union Army. The Rev. Newton Bush, like many other slaves, risked his life to escape. He traveled to Camp Nelson and enlisted in the Army to fight for his freedom, the freedom of loved ones, and to preserve the union. Those like Bush soon found that even though they were risking their lives to fight for freedom, this alone did not ensure they would be treated with any more respect and dignity than they received as slaves. This Kentucky Chautauqua performance (by actor Robert Bell) is presented in conjunction with the Kentucky Humanities Council and the John James Audubon Museum. Free. Call 270-827-1893.

My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Bardstown

Lecture, Luncheon and Kentucky Chautauqua Performance

Friday, Feb. 24, 11 a.m.

Pen Bogert, a preservation administrator in Bardstown, will share his research on slaves at the Federal Hill Plantation. Robert Bell will portray the Rev. Newton Bush, an African-American Union soldier, in “Freedom at a Terrible Price.” This Kentucky Chautauqua performance is sponsored in part by the Kentucky Humanities Council. Lunch will also be served. The cost is $15 a person and reservations are required. Call 1-800-323-7803 for reservations and information.

Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort

Family History Workshop

Feb. 11 at 10:30 a.m.

The Kentucky Historical Society will present “Entangled Lives,” a dialogue between descendants of a master and a slave with Ann Neel and Pam Smith. This is a free program, but advance registration is required. To reserve a space, email KHSRefDesk@ky.gov before Feb. 10. Smith will also discuss her Kentucky family lines that connect with President Thomas Jefferson’s sister, Lucy Jefferson Lewis, of Livingston County, Ky., and intersect with the noted conservationist, Thomas Wallace, editor of the Louisville Times during the 1930s and ’40s. Smith will instruct the group on how to trace slavery and slaveholding in their own families through pictures, oral histories, census and probate records, information from research trips, and results from DNA testing. It will take place at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, 100 W. Broadway, Frankfort.

Kentucky Humanities Council, various locations

Kentucky Chautauqua Programs

Several Kentucky Chautauqua programs related to African-American history in Kentucky will be presented during February. These programs, sponsored by the Kentucky Humanities Council, feature actors who portray characters from Kentucky history. They include Anna Mac Clarke, portrayed by Haley McCoy, and her experience as an African-American woman in the Army during World War II; the Rev. Newton Bush, an African-American Union soldier, portrayed by Robert Bell; and “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing!,” By Daryl Harris, a musical history of African-Americans in Kentucky. Here are the programs:

  • Feb. 2, Anna Mac Clarke, military pioneer, Martin County Historical and Genealogical Society, Inez
  • Feb. 9, Anna Mac Clarke, military pioneer, Bluegrass Heritage Museum, Winchester
  • Feb. 9, The Rev. Newton Bush, “Freedom at a Terrible Price,” Big Sandy Community and Technical College, Prestonsburg
  • Feb. 9, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” Daryl Harris, McCracken County Public Library, Paducah
  • Feb. 21, The Rev. Newton Bush, “Freedom at a Terrible Price,” Paul Sawyier Public Library, Frankfort
  • Feb. 28, The Rev. Newton Bush, “Freedom at a Terrible Price,” Woodford County Public Library, Versailles

Eddie Montgomery’s Steakhouse: The Next Kentucky Restaurant You HAVE to Visit

Eddie Montgomery's Steak House

Eddie Montgomery’s Steakhouse in Harrodsburg, Kentucky has to be seen to be believed. The place is gorgeous and the food is just as impressive. Whatever you do, you HAVE to order the Fried Green Tomatoes. Read on for something extra special about this appetizer.

As I mentioned in my last post (an open love letter to Double Dogs in Bowling Green, Kentucky!), Saturday, my husband and I actually ate out twice.  As a food blogger who cooks often (and loves every second of it), this was kind of a departure from the norm.  But, hey, when someone else has to do the dishes and other people take care of the clean up, you won’t find this gal complaining – especially when the food is as extraordinary as it was in each of the places we visited.

I’ve already told you all about Double Dogs, now I’m anxious to tell you all about our supper at Eddie Montgomery’s Steakhouse in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.  First of all, I have to point out that I am the biggest Montgomery Gentry fan in the world.  I have all of their cds, I know all of the songs by heart, and I was in the front row (waving my arms, swaying, and singing out loud) when Eddie and Troy were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. What a night!

Needless to say, I was beyond excited at the thought of eating in Eddie Montgomery’s Steakhouse.  He’s half of the greatest Country Music duo (or group or anything) of all time, he’s a fellow Kentuckian AND he’s a UK fan. He’s what we call a “sure thing” in these parts.

I have no idea what I was expecting, but what I experienced surpassed my every expectation.  As we turned onto Lucky Man Way (don’t you love it?), my jaw completely dropped.  The restaurant is absolutely stunning. And so big!   My jaw just continued to stay on the ground as we walked into the gorgeous restaurant – it’s even more impressive inside, and that’s really saying something.  Country music and UK fans will think they’ve died and gone to Heaven. If you happen to be like us (crazy fanatics for Country Music and UK), you’ll pinch yourself a couple thousand times.

Before I get to the food (and what food it was!), let me urge you to give yourself plenty of time to look around the restaurant and gift shop. Take in the entire experience, look at the gorgeous architecture inside and out, and.. by all means… check out all of the wonderful pictures on the walls!  Eddie Montgomery’s colorful, outrageous personality comes through in every nook and corner and you’ll want to have time to soak it all in.

Now, onto the food!

We ordered Fried Green Tomatoes as an appetizer and they were brought out almost immediately.  I was terribly preoccupied with the UK game on one of the many (many, many) television screens, as well as with my gorgeous surroundings – so, oddly enough, I didn’t catch the name of our server. She was, however, extremely friendly and had a colorful personality, like Eddie Montgomery, himself.  The woman was on her game and I even told my husband at one point, “I’ll bet she knows as much about the food as the chef does!“  She was able to make outstanding suggestions and even gave us extra information about dishes we were considering.  It’s a pet peeve when you ask a server a question and they look as lost as Judas.  Then they back away, stammering, “I dunno… I’ll go check…”

That certainly didn’t happen with this lady. I was blown away by her expertise.

Eddie Montgomery Steakhouse Fried Green Tomatoes

The Fried Green Tomatoes and Eddie’s outstanding dip.  I took the picture after I’d already eaten one. I never claimed to have any self control.

I was even more blown away by the food!  The fried green tomatoes were absolutely perfect – and they were served with an AMAZING dip that our server said was one of Eddie’s own recipes.  I could have put that dip on one of my shoes and eaten it.  It was Heavenly.

A bread basket (with real butter blended with honey, thank you very much) was brought to our table and refilled as necessary. LOVE that.  The bread was out of this world delicious. Our server said that if diners preferred, they could have regular butter instead of the honey butter – but I can’t imagine why anyone would do such a thing. The honey butter was creamy perfection and a perfect accompaniment to the delicious rolls.

I ordered a steak, baked potato, and grilled asparagus.  I assume my husband ordered something, but, quite frankly, I was in an “Oh My God, This Is All SO Amazing” zone,  so I can’t say for certain what went on across the table.  I found myself so deep in elation that the sound of Dick Vitale’s voice seemed angelic.  Until the plate was empty, then it was business as usual.

Eddie Montgomery Steakhouse Steak

The star of the show: An exceptional steak in an exceptional restaurant. Note the creamy, pale real butter served with the baked potato. No yellow margarine here.

The steak was one of the best steaks I’ve ever had. It, alone, would have been worth the trip. Fortunately, it was accompanied by a flawless baked potato (served with sour cream and real butter – I’m a stickler for special details like  butter, I can be in an amazing restaurant but somehow think a little less of the entire situation if I’m served canary-yellow margarine).  The asparagus was also very flavorful and just crunchy enough.  I HATE when asparagus wilts like a weakling.  This grilled asparagus was perfect… like everything else.

Eddie Montgomery Steakhouse dessert: Bread PuddingThe Bread Pudding! SO rich, so delicious, so perfect.

For dessert, we ordered Bread Pudding. YUM! Apparently the flavor of bread pudding changes, depending upon the day or night you’re there. We lucked out big time because we were served bread pudding with chocolate chips and caramel drizzled on top. Can you say rich deliciousness?!?!

The whole experience was perfection and have told everyone I know (and even those I don’t know) that Eddie Montgomery’s Steakhouse is a MUST SEE restaurant and the food is something you’re going to fall head over boots in love with.  There’s nothing about the place I didn’t love and can’t wait to go back soon.

I urge you to check out the website, plan out your trip, and see what happens when a good ole Kentucky Boy makes a lifelong dream come true.


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Kentucky Restaurant Reviews
When writing Kentucky Restaurant Reviews, I try, very hard, to accentuate the positive, while spending as little time with the negative as possible.  However, in fairness to my readers, the negative can’t be glossed over or ignored. However, when a “negative” is addressed by a restaurant, I always go back and edit the original post. It’s my pleasure to do so!  A few of my pet peeves when it comes to restaurants are:

  1. Crummy sides. I hate for a restaurant to rest on the laurels of their meat and/or main dishes. If it’s on your menu, it should be able to stand on it’s own, as if it were the ONLY thing on the menu.
  2. Unfriendly servers. If you read a restaurant review on Genuine Kentucky and the server is not mentioned, rest assured that they either weren’t very friendly or weren’t exactly on the ball. Or both!
  3. Unfriendly hosts and hostesses.  Hello?!  You’re paid to be friendly. Your job exists to welcome visitors and make them feel like you’re glad to see them.
  4. Off brand condiments.  I LOVE to see a restaurant owner who cares enough about his/her guests to serve them Heinz or Hunt’s, Red Gold at the very least.  Off brand Ketchup is gross.  It screams “Someone’s cutting corners!!!”
  5. Overcooked fries.  Come on, take them out before they’re brown.  Brown fries aren’t cool.
  6. Watery soft drinks. Servers should be taught that if you see the beverage come out of the machine and there is NO fizzle, DO NOT serve it to the guests. Blech.
  7. Servers who “Push the Wrong Button.”Servers charging the wrong price for menu items is becoming an alarming trend. A server can get annoyed with a customer and, bam, “accidentally” hit the wrong button.  A word to anyone who eats out: Examine your ticket. For example, if the restaurant offers 1/2 off Sushi, make certain your server doesn’t charge you the full price.
  8. I am, by nature, a very friendly guest when I visit restaurants.  I always, always leave tips.  When the service is good, I don’t just tip, I over tip! My oldest daughter is the same way. One sweetheart of a server in Olive Garden once got a $10 tip from us for lunch.  She made us smile, so we wanted to make her smile. It’s really as simple as that.
  9. Real butter is always better than Margarine.
  10. Options, Please.  As someone with a vegetarian daughter, I love for restaurants to offer completely meatless dishes.  Bonus points for the restaurants, like Denny’s, with Boca Burgers on their menu.

Lake Barkley Hosts Chautauqua Appearance of Grandpa Jones

Grandpa Jones
Beautiful Lake Barkley State Resort Park will host a Kentucky Chautauqua presentation June 18 about country musician and comic Grandpa Jones.

Born Louis Marshall Jones in Henderson County, Ky., to sharecroppers, Jones was a singer, banjo picker, song writer and later in life television star on “Hee Haw.” Grandpa Jones was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1978. He never retired and died in 1998.

David Hurt portrays Grandpa Jones for Kentucky Chautauqua, a program sponsored by the Kentucky Humanities Council. Hurt has played the guitar and banjo across the state and has acted at Stage One in Louisville and in Lexington theaters.

The June 18 appearance at Lake Barkley will begin at 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public. For more information, call the park at 1-800-325-1708.

Lake Barkley State Resort Park is the largest state resort park in Kentucky and features a lodge, cottages, the Windows on the Water Restaurant, a seasonal campground, 18-hole golf course, fitness center with indoor pool, marina, fishing, tennis courts, hiking trails, gift shop, and recreational and nature programming. The park is located at 3500 State Park Road in Cadiz. From I-24, take the Highway 68 exit west toward Cadiz.

The Best of The Amazing Race’s Kynt and Vyxsin: Videos and Quotes

Kynt and Vyxsin, the Dating Goths from Kentucky

How can Kynt and Vyxsin NOT have their own reality show. There are gazillions of less-colorful, less-interesting, less-fascinating, and less-compelling people on air right now. With these two, whenever they’re on the screen, you sit as still and quietly as possible – afraid to miss the next thing they say.

They, along with Gary and Mallory, make all of us Kentuckians really proud. Below is kind of a tribute to this dye-namic duo. They’re helping to make this the most entertaining season of The Amazing Race ever. Thanks to the show for bringing them back – feel free to do so as often as you like!

Kentucky Pride

Kent Slaps Australian Surfer Greeter’s Bum

Get Me Children!

Amazing Race 18: A New Approach

$2.00 vs $30

The Amazing Race Season 12 Intro

Kynt: Do you like our dance, dear?

Kynt:Vyxsin, help me! I need you to go get children.

Kynt: I had it up to here with that old man (Ron) last time. I can’t wait to knock him out of this. (YES! Success!)

Vyxsin: It’s like World War III over here between us, and I don’t get it…

Vyxsin: And I don’t understand why he’s being so personal about everything, it’s making me kind of bananas.

Kynt: I feel like, right now, the internet is reaffirming information that we’d already decoded…

“An Evening with Rosemary Clooney” Ticket Sales Begin

Rosemary ClooneyTicket sales have begun for “An Evening with Rosemary Clooney,” a Chautauqua performance and cocktail party hosted by The Friends of Audubon on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 6 p.m. in the Audubon Museum.

Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased at John James Audubon State Park in Henderson. The event will be a fundraiser for the Audubon Theater Project and will feature an actress portraying Kentucky-native and Grammy Award winning artist Rosemary Clooney. Live music, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, prize raffles and an inspirational film montage of Clooney’s career are all part of this event honoring one of Kentucky’s most treasured entertainers.

Rosemary Clooney was born in Maysville, Ky., in 1928. In 1945, she and her sister Betty won a spot on Cincinnati, Ohio’s radio station WLW as singers. After her first recordings with Tony Pastor’s big band, she broke out on her own with a hit single “Come On-a My House” in 1951. From duets with Marlene Dietrich to her role in the 1954 movie “White Christmas” with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen, Clooney was always in good company throughout her career. By 1956, she had her own half-hour syndicated television musical-variety show “The Rosemary Clooney Show.”

Rosemary Clooney, an entertainer in every sense of the word, continued to perform even late into her life. She sang a duet of “Green Eyes” with Barry Manilow on his 1994 album, “Singin’ with the Big Bands.”

She also guest-starred on ER, the television medical drama starring her famous nephew, George Clooney in 1995. Rosemary Clooney died in June 2002 from lung cancer. She is buried in Maysville, Kentucky.

For more information, call the park at (270) 827-1893.

Louisville Native Jennifer Lawrence, aka Oscar Nominee!

Jennifer Lawrence

Louisville, Kentucky native Jennifer Lawrence is causing quite a stir in Hollywood. The beautiful young actress has been nominated for an Oscar (Best Actress) for her role in Winter’s Bone. She reminds me a little of Renee Zellweger. If she goes on to have a career similar to Zellweger’s, she’ll soon have more movie offers than she can keep up with!

Winter’s Bone Synopsis: An unflinching Ozark Mountain girl named Ree (Jennifer Lawrence) hacks through dangerous social terrain as she hunts down her drug-dealing father while trying to keep her family intact.

Winter’s Bone, which was released in early 2010, won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and earned Jennifer Lawrence several awards including Best Newcomer Actress at October’s Hollywood Awards.

Winter’s Bone was listed on IMDB as one of the 10 best films of 2010.

The talented 20 year old actress has several exciting upcoming movies:

  • The Beaver, directed by the amazing Jodie Foster.  Co-stars include Jodie Foster, Mel Gibson and Anton Yelchin (2011).
  • X-Men: First Class (2011).
  • House at the End of the Street (2012). Co-stars include Elizabeth Shue and Max Thieriot

Jennifer Lawrence is the second youngest Oscar nominee for best actress in a leading role. The Oscars will air February 27, 2011 on ABC and I know every Kentuckian in the world will join me in pulling for this amazing young actress. Win or lose, being nominated is an incredible honor. An honor, I have a feeling, that she should get used to.

Winter’s Bone Trailer:

X Men First Class Trailer: