Ask American Profile

Doris Day, Stephanie Abrams, Lawrence Welk Show

I would like to know what Doris Day is doing now.
—Donna M., Florida

Singer/dancer/actress Doris Day has added a fourth career to her resume with her work with animals and her non-profit organizations, the Doris Day Animal Foundation, established in 1998, and the Doris Day Animal League, established in 1987. The Cincinnati native traces her love for animals to her teenage years when she was in a car accident, leaving her on crutches for more than a year. "Tiny, my dog, never left my side, understood my moods and gave me the kind of companionship that only a dog can bestow." After 39 films and two television series—The Doris Day Show recently was released on DVD—Day continues to receive movie, TV and singing offers, and she jokes that she might decide to make a movie, "just to take a rest." Married four times, Day, 81, lives in Carmel, Calif., and has been divorced since 1981. Her only child, son Terry Melcher, died last year at age 62.

I would like as much information as you can provide about Stephanie Abrams on The Weather Channel.
—Tim Z., Indiana

Stephanie Abrams, who was born in Miami and raised in West Palm Beach, Fla., joined The Weather Channel in 2003 after working at the ABC affiliate in Tallahassee, Fla. Inspired by her math- and science-oriented father and Hurricane Andrew’s 1992 presence, Abrams found meteorology to be a natural fit. The admitted weather geek studied geography at the University of Florida and meteorology at Florida State. "Being at the Weather Channel is so cool because it’s all weather, all the time. Everyone there is into it," says Abrams, 26, who is single and lives in Atlanta. "I love that my job is always changing and I’m always learning. There are so many different scenarios with so many different outcomes and I enjoy meeting people when I do the live shots and events." When she’s not working, Abrams enjoys the outdoors, playing tennis, camping and hiking.

Lawrence Welk Stars Still Perform Regularly

The Lawrence Welk Show stars Guy Hovis and Ralna English married in 1969 and divorced in 1984, and are not still married as reported in a previous edition of American Profile. "We know that we weren’t meant to be married, but certainly were meant to sing together, and we’re truly family," says English, adding that they did a great job parenting their daughter, Julie, 27. A native of Haskell, Texas (pop. 3,106), English hasn’t married again, but is dating a man who is "very high profile" in Arizona, where she now lives. She still regularly performs concerts and devotes much of her time to Childhelp USA in its efforts to prevent child abuse. She’s releasing a Christmas album later this year. "I truly love my life," English says. Hovis, 63, and his wife Sarah—"but everyone calls her ‘Sis’"—married in 2002.  A native of Tupelo, Miss. (pop. 34,211), Hovis moved to Jackson, Miss., in 1991 and runs the state office of U.S. Sen. Trent Lott. "It’s basically constituent services. Anyone who has problems with the federal agencies calls," explains Hovis, who wanted to get off the road after 25 years. He still performs, though, and laughs, "Little did we know The Lawrence Welk Show was going to never die. Ralna and I have worked more this year than we have in 10 years. I always tell the joke that when I started on the show in 1970, we were the kids who sang for the senior citizens and now we are the senior citizens!"

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