“A woman like no other finally shares her true journey. Jayne had no script to follow on the road to becoming one of the most recognizable women in entertainment. A true multi-hyphenate, Jayne broke down seemingly impenetrable walls in daytime TV, late night, sports, variety shows, and even movies. Jayne’s legacy lives and her words serve a timeless, empowering message to all women. Beautiful and brilliant!”
—Tamron Hall
“From small-town Ohio, to the glitz and glamor of 70’s Hollywood, to the fast-paced newsroom of The NFL Today, Jayne Kennedy takes readers on a captivating journey through her remarkable life and career. Told with honesty, candor, and sharp insight, Plain Jayne is a once in a lifetime memoir by an extraordinary woman, who is one of the inspirations behind my own TV career.”
—Deborah Roberts, 20/20 Co-Host and award-winning ABC News Correspondent
“Jayne Kennedy is an icon. Her willingness to candidly share her struggles and triumphs is an inspiring reminder of the value of resilience and integrity. For those of us women who chose to pursue a career in sports, we are indebted to Jayne for fighting important battles that made our paths a little less rocky.”
—Jemele Hill, author and sports journalist
“The courage it must have taken for Jayne to commit to paper this unflinchingly candid recollection of her private life and professional career is both inspiring and empowering. This book demonstrates how Jayne cleared a path for every African American female entertainer and entrepreneur who has come after her. She shows us all that even with clipped wings, Black Swans can soar!”
—Sherri Shepherd
“Despite the title of this moving memoir, there was nothing plain about Jayne. Not only was she young, beautiful and talented, but had humor and a real connection to the audience. I hope that all producers have a Jayne Kennedy in their résumé. . . . I’m sure glad she’s in mine.”
—George Schlatter, Creator of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In
“When Jayne Kennedy joined The NFL Today, she was among the trailblazers for women and people of color who covered sports. The pressure and the often-cruel backlash Kennedy faced are part of the life story of a woman who has a hard-earned place in the history of sports television.”
—Bob Costas
“The word iconic is grossly overused in our modern-day lexicon, but Jayne Kennedy has earned that distinction on so many fronts, in so many ways. What I love about Jayne is that unlike countless others, she was never seduced by her iconography. As she writes, ‘Plain Jayne’ is just fine. But plain is not to be confused with bland. I enjoyed reading every single sentence of this book, learning even more about the backstory of a boss woman like no other.”
—Tavis Smiley, broadcaster and bestselling author
“Plain Jayne is not just retracing the footsteps of a broadcasting pioneer. It is illuminating the often razor-thin line between professional excellence and personal pain. Its honesty is both refreshing and brutal, and its message of perseverance, faith, and forgiveness is timeless and inspiring.”
—Ernie Johnson Jr., host of Inside the NBA and author of Unscripted: The Unpredictable Moments That Make Life Extraordinary
“From her early childhood, to Hollywood, to cohost as the first woman of color on a national sports broadcast, Jayne’s courage and beauty, inside and out, shines throughout. Her story about family, success, heartbreak, and love is an inspirational read. The many women who have followed in her footsteps owe her a debt of gratitude.”
—Robert Fishman, CBS Sports Director, (1975–2023)
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