Getty/CNNPhyllis George and her daughter, CNN reporter Pamela Brown.
Legendary news reporter, sportscaster, and former Miss America Phyllis George died on Friday at the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital. She was 70.
George’s cause of death stemmed from complications due to a blood disorder she contracted in her mid-30s, according to USA Today. Previously married to former Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown, she is survived by her two children, her son, Lincoln Brown, and daughter, Pamela Ashley Brown.
Pamela followed in her mother’s reporting footsteps and is CNN’s senior White House reporter, working alongside network anchors Wolf Blitzer, Don Lemon, and Anderson Cooper. Pamela is married to husband Adam Wright and recently gave birth to a daughter, Viviene on February 10. They welcomed their first child, a son named Benny, in June 2018.
Even though Pamela and Lincoln’s parents divorced after 17 years of marriage in 1996, Geroge and Brown both continued living in Kentucky and remained friendly. “Phyllis was a great asset to Kentucky,” Brown told The Courier Journal on Saturday.”We had a great partnership,” Brown said. “I think we enjoyed every single day.”
Brown said their two kids had been with George in recent weeks providing care and support. “We’re sorry to lose her. She’s been a big part of our lives.”
Pamela Called Herself & George A ‘Mother-Daughter Power Duo’
Pamela and her older brother Lincoln issued an official statement following her mother’s death via The Hollywood Reporter. They said:
For many, Mom was known by her incredible accomplishments as the pioneering female sportscaster, 50th Miss America and first lady. But this was all before we were born and never how we viewed Mom. To us, she was the most incredible mother we could ever ask for, and it is all of the defining qualities the public never saw, especially against the winds of adversity, that symbolize how extraordinary she is more than anything else. The beauty so many recognized on the outside was a mere fraction of her internal beauty, only to be outdone by an unwavering spirit that allowed her to persevere against all the odds.
In 2019, Pamela wished her mother a happy Mother’s Day with a throwback photo on Instagram. She captioned the picture, “Learned how to work the phones from a young age from my momma! @dancinmomma625 #motherdaughterpowerduo.”
Pamela Considers the Constant Comparisons To Her Mother A Compliment
Growing up with a mother as accomplished as George, who was crowned Miss America in 1971, broke barriers as female working on The NFL Today from 1975 to 1984 and co-anchored the CBS Morning News, would be intimidating for many young daughters. But for Pamela, who was born on November 29, 1983, it was inspirational.
In 2016, she discussed with Kentucky.com of her future working with CNN. “I would like to still be in the business and have my own show one day, ” Pamela said, “and still keep up the reporting.”
After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. broadcast journalism, Pamela started out her career working at WJLA-TV, ABC’s affiliate in Washington D.C. and NewsChannel8. In 2013, she was hired at CNN as a correspondent for their morning program, New Day.
When the now senior White House reporter was asked if she ever gets tired of hearing how much she looks like her famous mother, her answer was a simple no. “I think it’s the biggest compliment,” Pamela said. “I’m never tired of it.”
Phyllis George, former Miss America and First Lady of Kentucky, dies of rare blood disease at age 70
Phyllis George, Miss America of 1971, a broadcast television pioneer and former First Lady of Kentucky, died Thursday at the University of Kentucky medical center of a rare blood disorder. She was 70.
George, who lived in Lexington, was married to former Gov. John Y. Brown who served as governor from 1979-1983. They divorced in 1998.
She is survived by her two children, Lincoln Tyler George Brown, a Lexington entrepreneur, and Pamela Ashley Brown, a White House correspondent for CNN. Pamela was born when John Y. and Phyllis lived in Kentucky’s Governor’s Mansion. She was also grandmother to Pamela’s two children, Benny Wright, 2, and Vivienne Wright, 8 weeks.
Gov. Andy Beshear released this statement regarding her death:
“I was blessed to know Phyllis and her family. Her connection with Kentucky runs deep. As First Lady of the Commonwealth, she was beloved for her vision and oversight in renovation and reviewing the state treasure that is the Governor’s mansion and her efforts to promote folk art in America. Our thoughts and prayers are especially with her children, Lincoln and Pamela.”
Lincoln, Phyllis George, and Pamela (Family photo provided)
George was diagnosed with polycythemia vera, a rare blood cancer that was diagnosed 35 years ago.
Born in Denton, Texas, George was a trailblazer. After being named Miss Texas and then Miss America in 1971, she became the first woman to co-host NFL Today’s pregame show. She also covered horse racing events, hosted the entertainment show, People, and co-anchored the CBS Morning News show. She was married briefly to Hollywood producer Robert Evans.
She married Kentucky Fried Chicken owner John Y. Brown in 1979 and was a key player in his election as Governor in 1979. As First Lady, she founded the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, championed Kentucky’s craftsmen and artisans, set up Kentucky-made boutiques in major department stores around the county, and renovated the crumbling Governor’s Mansion. She also was a founding member of the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship.
As a businesswoman, she founded Chicken by George, which was sold to Hormel Foods in 1988, created Phyllis George Beauty, and wrote six books, including Never Say Never – Yes You Can, inspirational stories from high-profile personalities in 2002. Among her mantras expressed in the book: “Say yes to yourself,” “Trust your instincts,” “Learn to laugh at yourself.”
“Just as Kentucky embraced Phyllis for the glamour and graciousness she extended to everyone she met, she wholeheartedly embraced Kentucky for its people, its artisans, and its natural scenic beauty,” a death notice by the family said. “She could just as easily sit down on the front porch swing at the house of a basketmaker on some little country road in small town Kentucky as she could host a dinner for four U.S. Presidents at the Kentucky governor’s mansion.”
Pamela Brown once told the NKyTribune: “Mom was always encouraging me to do whatever I wanted. But being around her had an influence on me, and probably helped push me in the direction I took.”
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