Ask American Profile

Kellie Coffey, Taylor Dayne, David Letterman

Country singer Kellie Coffey is one of my favorites. Where did she get her start? I read that Reba McEntire helped her. Is that true?
—Fred C., Tennessee

Though Coffey thinks of Reba McEntire as one of her musical heroes, the two of them have no professional connection. Coffey did, however, sing background for Barbra Streisand both on her Millenium album and at her New Year’s 2000 concert in Las Vegas. Another star connection—Coffey attended the same high school as Toby Keith. The Moore, Okla., native says she’s been singing for as long as she can remember. Her gift became apparent when she started singing in church, and she soon started voice and piano lessons. At 9, she sang in public for the first time at the Oklahoma Opry, belting out the Tanya Tucker hit, Promenade. She loved singing with a band and having an audience. After graduating from Oklahoma University, Coffey pursued a musical career in Los Angeles, starting out as a singing waitress. “I was a much better singer than waitress,” she recalls. “Those poor people I waited on!” Eventually she established herself professionally, writing and singing for the TV show Walker, Texas Ranger, then doing jingles and other TV and film work. She started making trips to Nashville, hoping to make it as a country music artist. She has. Her first album was released in December 2001. Her first single, When You Lie Next To Me, led to a Top New Female Vocalist nomination by the Academy of Country Music, and she is currently on tour with Kenny Chesney. She and her husband, Geoff, live in Nashville.

My husband and I attended a Taylor Dayne concert recently, and enjoyed her as much now as in the late ’80s. Will she be doing any more concerts in the near future, and will she be doing any new material for a CD?
—Sara R., Pennsylvania

The dance song diva continues to tour and is recording songs for her next CD, which she’ll release later this year. The 40-year-old Long Island, N.Y., native has been singing professionally since graduating from high school. Born Leslie Wonderman, she started out as a lead singer in a couple of rock bands before going solo. Her dance-oriented take of Tell It to My Heart led to a record contract, and the song immediately became a hit. Dayne continued to make one hit after another, racked up Grammy nominations and platinum records, but took a four-year hiatus from music after leaving her record company in 1994. She then turned to acting, appearing in the film Love Affair with Warren Beatty. In 2001, she made her Broadway debut in Aida. Dayne started her own production company in 1998 and released her first album in four years, Naked Without You. On the personal front, she is the mother of twins—a boy and a girl.

A friend says David Letterman has been married for years. Another friend says otherwise. Is he married or not?
—Jerry M., Texas

Listen to the friend who says otherwise, David Letterman isn’t married and hasn’t been for many years. He was married once, to his college sweetheart, from 1969 to 1977, and he had a long-term relationship with a writer who worked with him on his TV show. More recently, there were references to his serious romantic involvement with a Late Show staffer, but he’s extremely private about his personal life. The Indianapolis native has no children, though he’s said in a few interviews that he’d like a family one day. Letterman, who turned 56 April 12, lives in Connecticut.

Upload Your Own Stories, Photos and Videos

Every week, American Profile magazine brings you stories that celebrate the people and places that make America great. Now we want to hear your stories and see your photos, videos and even audio.

 Start Uploading Now!

 

Discuss this Article