“Where Is Jayne Kennedy Now? Inside the Trailblazing Sportscaster’s Life, Legacy & Stunning Comeback”

Jayne Kennedy—the barrier-breaking sportscaster, actor andformer Miss Ohio—is back in the spotlight with a candid new memoir, “Plain Jayne,” and a nationwide book tour that begins this week. Published by Andscape Books, the 384-page autobiography hits shelves today, offering the first full account of the 73-year-old icon’s rise from small-town Ohio to network-TV history, as well as the highly publicized tape scandal that nearly derailed her career in the early ’90s. Trailblazer revisits her roots Raised in Wickliffe, Ohio, Kennedy devotes a large section of the book to the family values that shaped her ambition. “Wickliffe would always be my home base, my safe haven,” she writes—a sentiment she expanded on during a hometown launch event in Cleveland, where she received an NABJ Lifetime Achievement Award and spoke about staying “Harrison Strong,” a nod to her family name. Key moments chronicled in “Plain Jayne” • Winning Miss Ohio USA in 1970, the first Black woman to hold that crown • Beating 2,000 applicants—and 15 blond finalists—to join CBS’s “The NFL Today” in 1978, becoming the first Black female sportscaster on U.S. network television • Landing a Muhammad Ali exclusive that secured her full-season contract • Navigating the fallout from a leaked intimate videotape after her 1982 divorce • Building a 40-year marriage with actor Bill Overton and raising four daughters • Launching the theatrical production “The Journey of the African American” and a new lifestyle brand, Not Done Yet West Coast celebration at CAAM Fans in Los Angeles can meet Kennedy on 16 October when the California African American Museum hosts an author talk, Q&A and book-signing. Pre-signed copies will be available on-site, and Kennedy is expected to discuss the resilience that powered her career and her commitment to mentoring young journalists and athletes. Why her story matters now Kennedy’s return comes as sports media grapples with diversity pledges and as Gen Z audiences rediscover vintage NFL footage on TikTok. By laying bare both triumphs and trauma, “Plain Jayne” positions itself as required reading for: • Sports-broadcasting students seeking a blueprint for breaking barriers • Black women navigating male-dominated industries • Pop-culture historians tracing the roots of modern influencer culture • Book-club readers craving an unfiltered narrative of fame, faith and family SEO takeaways for readers and researchers Search interest for “Jayne Kennedy memoir,” “Plain Jayne book,” and “first Black woman sportscaster” has surged as publication day approaches. Early reviews praise Kennedy’s conversational tone and archival photos that span beauty-pageant stages, Hollywood sets and NFL sidelines. Retailers report brisk pre-orders, particularly for the audiobook narrated by Kennedy herself. Next stops on the book tour • Sept 8 – New York City, Schomburg Center • Sept 15 – Chicago, DuSable Museum • Oct 16 – Los Angeles, CAAM (flagship event) • Nov 2 – Atlanta, Auburn Avenue Research Library Bottom line More than four decades after changing the face of Sunday football, Jayne Kennedy is rewriting her own narrative—one that merges sports history, celebrity culture and Black womanhood into a compelling comeback story. “Plain Jayne” isn’t just nostalgia; it’s a masterclass in perseverance that resonates in 2025 and beyond.