Ask American Profile

What happened to Jane Robelot of CBS This Morning? We thought she was good. She had a baby, went back to work, and all of a sudden, was gone.
—Avis R., Iowa

Jane Robelot moved to Atlanta, where she anchors three newscasts at WGCL-TV. “My husband and I decided that Atlanta provided a great opportunity for us professionally and also gives us a great town, close to my mom in South Carolina, to raise our child,” she says. “It was a lifestyle decision that’s proven to be a very good one.” She anchored CBS This Morning from 1996 until 1999, winning two national Emmys during her time at CBS. Robelot was born in Greenville, S.C., and graduated from Clemson University with a degree in economics. She began her career as a reporter and anchor in Spartanburg, S.C., and as a sports director in Clemson. She was an anchor at WCAU-TV in Philadelphia before joining CBS. She is married to CBS News cameraman Mario De Carvalho. They have one son.

Please give an update on the talented singer, songwriter Don McLean. Where is he now and will he release any new CDs? His song Winterwood is a personal favorite.
—Alice N., Washington

Don McLean continues to tour and make albums. He recently formed Don McLean Records, which released two albums earlier this year. Don McLean Sings Marty Robbins pays tribute to the legendary country singer. Starry, Starry Night is a full concert recorded at the Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas, which was filmed and shown on PBS. Your personal favorite, Winterwood, is included on this double CD, along with many other McLean hits. Born in New Rochelle, N.Y., in 1945, McLean gained worldwide and nearly instant fame with the now-classic song American Pie, which was released in 1971. The eight-and-a-half minute song remains popular. His follow-up hit, Vincent, about artist Vincent Van Gogh, is played daily at Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum. McLean lives with his wife and children in Maine. In addition to touring, he’s working on a children’s album, a country album, and a new musical for Broadway.

Please tell me about Mary Wickes. She’s great in everything she does.
—Dean E., Pennsylvania

Sadly, Mary Wickes died in October 1995 in Los Angeles of cancer at age 85. The beloved stage, screen, and television actress was probably best known for her comedic character roles in a career that began in the 1930s and spanned more than 60 years. A native of St. Louis, Mo., Wickes made her professional acting debut on Broadway in 1934. Her big Broadway break came with her comedic turn as Nurse Preen in The Man Who Came to Dinner, a role she reprised in the 1942 film version. Later film roles included Sister Mary Lazarus in the Sister Act movies and Aunt March in Little Women in 1994.

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