Ask American Profile

Bobbie Battista, Charley Pride, Oprah, John Travolta

I would like to know what happened to Bobbie Battista who was on CNN News?
—Robert J., Wisconsin

She recently joined other former CNN staffers to form a media relations firm, Atamira Communications. Battista, who broke new ground at CNN when she hosted TalkBack, an interactive talk show, says she saw the move as a natural transition and a way to use the knowledge she accumulated over her 20 years in broadcasting. Battista says she doesn’t really miss broadcast news that much—except for the daily coverage of politics. “I do miss getting my hair and makeup done every day, though,’’ she jokes. Atamira Communications, which she formed with former CNN staffers David Bernknopf and her husband, John Brimelow, assists executives, corporations and politicians through media training and communications consulting. While at CNN, Battista anchored CNN Today, World News and Prime News. Battista and Brimelow live in Atlanta with their dog, Maggie, and cat, Timmy.

I’d like to know what country singer Charley Pride is doing.
—A.S., Ohio

Charley Pride, 66, is still working, though he does mix in some playing when he gets near a golf course. Unfortunately, he had to take an unexpected break from the road after undergoing emergency surgery in May for a blood clot in his brain. He plans on resuming his schedule as soon as he’s able. He recently released an album, Comfort of Her Wings, with the title song written by Darryl Worley of Have You Forgotten? fame, and has another album, 20 Classics, coming out next month. He’s also got another album in the works; in other words, he’s a very busy man. “I am fortunate at this point in my life that thanks to all the success I have enjoyed, I could sit back, but what keeps life interesting is to be able to do what you love,” he says. “I have three loves in my life. The number one love of my life is my wife, Rozene, and my family. The other loves in my life are music and baseball.” Pride, a native of Sledge, Miss. (pop. 529), played baseball with the Memphis (Tenn.) Red Sox before he became a country music star, and every spring he shows up to train with the Texas Rangers. His other sport is golf, which he plays about three times a week.

This year I am celebrating my 50th birthday, along with John Travolta and Howard Stern. What other celebrities are reaching 50 in 2004?
—Michael W., New Mexico

Oprah Winfrey threw herself a big 50th birthday celebration on Jan. 29, saying that she wanted to make everybody jealous and wishing they were turning 50. “What I know for sure as I crest this major milestone: My life is bigger than I can ever know or imagine. Finally, I feel grown—more like myself than I’ve ever been,” she wrote in her magazine, O. Other notable half-century markers in 2004: from movies: Rene Russo (Feb. 17), director Ron Howard (March 1), Jackie Chan (April 7), Dennis Quaid (April 9), Ellen Barkin (April 16), Rick Moranis (April 18), Kathleen Turner (June 19), director James Cameron (Aug. 16), and Denzel Washington (Dec. 28); from music: Nancy Wilson of Heart (March 16), Ricky Skaggs (July 18), Elvis Costello (Aug. 25), Yanni (Nov. 4), and Annie Lennox (Dec. 25); from TV: Jerry Seinfeld (April 29), Al Roker (Aug. 20), The Sopranos’ Lorraine Bracco (Oct. 2); and from sports: Tony Dorsett (April 7), Marvin Hagler (May 23), Chris Evert (Dec. 21).

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