By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Books & Books Coral Gables will host an intimate and inspiring evening on Saturday, September 20, at 7 p.m., featuring Jayne Kennedy, the trailblazing actress, sports broadcaster, and television icon, in conversation with Hall of Fame sportscaster Lesley Visser. The event celebrates the release of Kennedy’s long-awaited memoir, Plain Jayne, published September 2 by Andscape Books.
Kennedy’s appearance is part of the Books & Books Literary Foundation’s ongoing author series, which brings high-profile literary voices to South Florida audiences. Tickets are free with RSVP, and signed copies of the memoir—available in standard and limited-edition formats—can be purchased at the event or in advance through the store’s website.
A life in the spotlight—and in the struggle
Few public figures have straddled glamour and grit as powerfully as Jayne Kennedy. Crowned Miss Ohio USA, Kennedy broke into national consciousness as a model, actress, and eventually a pioneering presence in sports broadcasting. From 1978 to 1980, she co-anchored The NFL Today on CBS, becoming one of the first Black women to hold a prominent national role in sports media.
Yet Plain Jayne: A Memoir offers more than just a highlight reel of career achievements. In a candid, conversational voice, Kennedy explores the challenges behind the headlines—navigating racism, sexism, betrayal, and the intense scrutiny that came with being one of the most photographed women of her era.
The book traces her journey from small-town Ohio to the studios of Hollywood, from early beauty pageants to groundbreaking television appearances, and from personal heartbreak to professional triumphs. For the first time, she opens up about the toll of fame and the inner strength it took to persist.
A map of empowerment
Kennedy’s story isn’t just her own. Plain Jayne resonates as a cultural document of a woman who quietly redefined the rules for those who came after her. Jemele Hill, award-winning sports journalist, calls it “an inspiring reminder of the value of resilience and integrity.” Actress Sherri Shepherd writes, “Despite the public scandal and setbacks, Jayne emerges triumphant—as a history-maker and way maker.”
The memoir has drawn praise from sports broadcasting legends Bob Costas and Ernie Johnson Jr., as well as prominent television figures like Tamron Hall, Tavis Smiley, and Deborah Roberts, who describe Kennedy as both a mentor and muse. It’s not just her beauty or charisma they highlight—it’s her courage, her advocacy, and her ability to break through glass ceilings with grace.
Indeed, Kennedy was inducted into the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, where her work is permanently displayed in the Television and Media Landscape exhibit. Plain Jayne provides the backstory behind that legacy.
In conversation with a kindred trailblazer
Joining Kennedy onstage will be Lesley Visser, herself a pioneer in sports journalism. Visser was the first woman assigned to cover the NFL for a daily newspaper in 1976 and later became the first female inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. She writes in the foreword that Kennedy “pulled up a folding chair” at the table of a male-dominated industry—and in doing so, created space for others to follow.
The pair’s onstage dialogue is expected to move beyond the memoir into issues of representation, power, and identity in sports and entertainment. It’s a rare opportunity to hear from two icons whose stories reflect—and have shaped—the changing landscape of American media.
Event details and book availability
The event will take place in person at Books & Books’ Coral Gables location on Aragon Avenue. Seating is limited, and early arrival is encouraged. Copies of Plain Jayne are available for purchase now at the bookstore and online, both in hardcover ($28.99) and signed hardcover editions.
At 384 pages, the memoir is richly illustrated with photos and memorabilia from Kennedy’s five-decade career. From her work on the syndicated Greatest Sports Legends television series to her chart-topping Love Your Body fitness videos, Kennedy’s influence touches popular culture, fitness, fashion, and politics.
‘Nothing plain about Jayne’
In a cultural moment that is increasingly reckoning with questions of visibility, representation, and voice, Plain Jayne arrives as both a personal narrative and a historical reckoning. It offers a backstage pass to one of the most dynamic—and misunderstood—careers in American media. As journalist and producer George Schlatter put it, “Despite the title, there was nothing plain about Jayne.”
Whether you remember her from the NFL studio or from the cover of Ebony magazine, Jayne Kennedy’s story will surprise, move, and inspire. Her voice has been a long time coming—and now it’s loud, proud, and beautifully unfiltered.
This Post Has One Comment
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! “We steal if we touch tomorrow. It is God’s.” by Henry Ward Beecher.