The incomparable Jayne Kennedy ("Plain Jayne: A Memoir") joins us for an intimate conversation about a career that defied expectations and left an indelible mark on both sports broadcasting and American culture. Raised in small-town Ohio and catapulted to national attention through beauty pageants and professional ambitions, Kennedy soon found herself in early 1970s Hollywood — landing a succession of parts on TV variety shows, commercials, and film. But it was her move to CBS’s The NFL Today in 1978 that cemented her place in television history.
For two groundbreaking seasons, Kennedy sat alongside Brent Musburger, Irv Cross, and Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder on what was then the most influential NFL pregame show in America. As one of the first women — and among the very first Black women — to co-anchor a national sports broadcast, she brought poise, charisma, and depth to a space long dominated by men.
Kennedy reflects candidly on what it was like to navigate the high-pressure world of network television, from the excitement of breaking barriers to the behind-the-scenes tensions that eventually led to her controversial departure in 1980.
In a conversation that spans both triumphs and challenges, Kennedy shares how her time on The NFL Today shaped her career, the lessons she carried into later endeavors, and why her story still resonates in today’s conversations about representation in media.
PLUS: Your chance to win a copy of "Plain Jayne" via this week's trivia question!
