Ask American Profile

We would like to know what happened to Billy Gilman. He made Music Through Heartsongs: Songs Based on the Poems of Mattie J.T. Stepanek. What is he doing now?
—Peggy K., Wisconsin

Singer Billy Gilman, 17, met Mattie Stepanek after the two appeared on Larry King Live. Stepanek became a best-selling author at age 11 with a collection of poetry, written to help him cope with muscular dystrophy. They forged a friendship, which led to the 2003 release of Heartsongs, an album featuring Gilman singing Stepanek’s poems put to music. Unfortunately, Stepanek died last year at age 13. As for Gilman, he’s been out of the spotlight because his voice was changing. He spent the down time "just being a kid" in his hometown of Hope Valley, R.I. (pop. 1,649). Now, with his voice change complete, he’s resuming a career that began in 2000 when the 11-year-old broke through with the hit One Voice. Gilman’s new album, Everything and More, debuts this month, and he’s gearing up for a summer tour. "I’m excited to be back out there performing," he says. "There’s something for everyone on the new album. There’s bluegrass and traditional country as well as some pop and rock-flavored country." For more on Gilman’s collaboration with Mattie Stepanek, visit our archives at www.americanprofile.com to read the June 29, 2003 cover story.

Whatever happened to Jackie "Moms" Mabley?
—Douglas S., Mississippi

Comedian Jackie "Moms" Mabley died on May 23, 1975, somewhere around the age of 81 (there is some dispute as to her birthdate). She was born Loretta Mary Aiken and endured a great deal of tragedy as a young girl, losing both her parents to accidents. She later changed her name because her brother was embarrassed to have a sister in showbiz, but after playing the "chitlin circuit," Mabley ended up one of the most successful black comedians, earning as much as $10,000 a week during her heyday. She recorded nine albums, and her first on Chess Records, The Funniest Woman in the World, went gold. She starred in a 1974 film called Amazing Grace. She died shortly after the movie’s release.

Matt Lauer and his wife just had a baby not too long ago. Was it a boy or a girl?
—Joan C., Michigan

Matt Lauer and his wife, Annette, had a daughter, Romy, in October 2003. Their son, Jack Matthew, was born in June 2001. Lauer, 47, has been co-anchor of NBC News’ Today since 1997, although he joined Today in 1994 as a news anchor. New York-born Lauer attended Ohio University before launching his career in 1979 as a producer at WOWK-TV in Huntington, W.Va. He gained experience hosting a number of weekly information and talk programs in Boston, Philadelphia, Providence, R.I., and Richmond, Va., before moving to New York, where he and his family currently reside.

Toby Keith Hits With Honkeytonk U.

Toby Keith’s new studio album, Honkytonk University, was released earlier this month. As part of the album’s launch, the Oklahoma singer-songwriter planned to promote the album via satellite from the Middle East, where he was scheduled to entertain U.S. troops as part of a USO tour. Keith also planned to broadcast a live performance from the Middle East via satellite during the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. The album’s title song, Honkytonk U, already has become a Top 10 hit on Billboard’s country chart.

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