Ask American Profile

Josh Turner, Bill Kurtis, Jane Wyman

A friend of mine just turned me on to a great song by Josh Turner titled Long Black Train. Can you please tell me more about this young man?
—Shirley W., Texas

Turner, 26, a native of Hannah, S.C., got the inspiration for the song after listening to the Hank Williams box set while a student at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. “As I was walking home, I noticed there was something unusually dark about that night,” Turner says. “All of a sudden, I got this vision of a wide open space, out on the plains. There was a train running out in the middle of nowhere, and people were standing beside the tracks, just watching it go by.” It occurred to him that the train was a metaphor for temptation, and people could decide whether or not to board it. Turner, who was heavily influenced by Johnny Cash, always knew he wanted to be a country singer. As a teen, he sang Diggin’ Up Bones at a church benefit and was so convincing that many people thought he was lip-synching to a Randy Travis record. There was little doubt in his mind that after high school, he would move to Nashville and become a star. Turner, who is married, landed a record deal after MCA executives only heard two songs. When he’s not singing, you can find him hunting in his deer stand.

Would you tell me something about Bill Kurtis on American Justice? Did he ever work on another show or movie?
—Joan L., Indiana

Bill Kurtis, 63, has been on many shows during his successful 35-year career, including a stint as anchor of CBS Morning News and a contributor to CBS Reports. He began his television career in Kansas and worked in Chicago before joining CBS. He left CBS in 1985, returning to WBBM-TV in Chicago as an anchor. That same year, he traveled to the far ends of the earth for the Peabody Award-winning documentary series The New Explorers. In 1990, he founded Kurtis Productions and began producing programs such as Investigative Reports and Cold Case Files for A&E, as well as anchoring American Justice. Kurtis, who grew up in Independence, Kan. (pop. 9,846), graduated from the University of Kansas and earned a law degree at Washburn University. He has two adult children and divides his time between Chicago, where he lives with his longtime partner Donna LaPietra, and his 10,000-acre ranch outside of Sedan, Kan. (pop. 1,342). Kurtis has worked closely with residents of Sedan to restore their historic downtown.

What can you tell me about Jane Wyman? Is she still living, and if so, where? Does she still have a fan club?
—Irene N., Arizona

Actress Jane Wyman, 90, is still with us, living in California. Born Sarah Jane Fulks in St. Joseph, Mo., she first attempted a film career as a child, but had no luck. Still, show business seemed to be her destiny. She broke into the business as a singer on radio and worked her way up to winning an Oscar for her performance in the 1948 movie Johnny Belinda. She was married three times, most famously to former President Ronald Reagan. They had two children, Maureen and Michael. Maureen died from cancer in 2001 at age 60. Wyman retired from acting after her TV series Falcon Crest went off the air. She’s a talented painter, and until recently was involved in fund raising for the Arthritis Foundation. Known as a very private person, Wyman told a Falcon Crest fansite in 1998 that she would no longer be acting, and would avoid any kind of nostalgic looks at her long career. “That’s not for me,” she said. “I’m a today lady.”

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