Cheryl started as Miss Starkville.. Miss Mississippi and then Miss America. She use to sing at my church while I was in high school in Starkville. Not only did she have one hell of a voice… She was drop dead gorgeous…. And even nicer in person… every guy that knew her was in love with her. She brought down the house every time she sang. Great memories of growing up in Starkville after watching this…
Miss USA 2002, Shauntay Hinton was born in Starkville, Mississippi. She won Miss USA 2002 as Miss District of Columbia USA because she was going to school in DC. Shauntay Hinton is the first and only Miss USA to be born in Mississippi. Miss USA 2020 from Mississippi, Asya Branch was born in Michigan.
He was a solid MC who was affable and kind and could sing & dance. Too bad even today companies feel they gave to put someone who is aging well but put them out to pasture.😏
Cheryl was the third Miss Mississippi to win the Miss America title, she stood out from all the other girls in the top ten, what a beautiful voice she has and swim suit was all hers! Mississippi has won 4 Miss America titles so far, very proud of our state!
Back in 1979, I originally picked Miss New York. Mississippi was great in talent though. She ended up on the front page of the National Enquirer with her "Jesus lengthed my leg right before my eyes" story. But watching the talent portion, Mississippi had that "it" factor that was missing from the other girls.
Miss West Virginia looks scared too death during talent. You can actually hear it in her voice. I think the flautist is terrific. But, Cheryl, wow.....
I was there in Convention Hall for all 4 nights of competition. She was my favorite, so I was thrilled when she was crowned Miss America. Brings back a ton of great memories of that special trip to Atlantic City and the East Coast.
Tim Cassidy was a really nice looking young man !! Tall handsome great hair for 1979. He passed away young in the early 90’s because of AIDS someone mentioned in comments. Wow 😞 RIP Tim✝️😔
During evening gown competition, Mary Ann Mobley as the announcer, was hollering out the name of the next girl while the current one was still in the middle of posing on camera.
Mississippi Cheryl Pruitt is a gospel singer and her name is Cheryl Pruitt Blackwood. What a talent. I lived in Mississippi from my 20s until my 40s and I miss the people. Good people!
What a wonderful talent by the winner Cheryl Prewitt, Miss Mississippi! Did you notice the amazed look on Bert Parks face after she finished singing? They picked the right winner!
@@micesuhenderson2342 Thanks. I had not heard of him until I watched this although I originally watched this when it aired but forgot him. I was looking him up and saw he had died as well as a brother of his near his age. Only one brother is still living. Sad he died so young.
Poor Bert Parks hosting his 25th Miss America pageant . What he didn’t know was that it would be the last time also. The Miss America Organization dismissed him later that week in September ,1979 as host. They wanted a fresh new look along with a younger host for the incoming decade of the 80’s. Parks was the 60’s & 70’s and they wanted to keep the pageant fresh and in step with the new decade of the 80’s ultimately Gary Collins would Carry the pageant thru most of the 80’s. Husband of Miss America 1959 Mary Ann Mobley. Parks was very bitter about it. He passed in 1992.
I watched this telecast live in 1979. The MAO chose to not include on this video copy the segment where Bert did a short interview with the finalists. In particular, Miss Mississippi revealed that God had grown her shortened leg bone (that was shortened from an horrific car accident in childhood) to match her other leg. Cheryl was in a body cast for many months from the incident that nearly ended her life.
I had seen this also when it was telecast but never knew the story of her leg until I just watched an old episode of "It's A Miracle" that she was on and at the end is when they revealed she was Miss America so I came here to watch it again. Amazing story.
liked the harp solo and miss new york you dont see the baton performance in pop culture much anymore like you did, and she did it well and her whole head and posture screamed dancer looked so nice if you like that asthetic
@@lucaadjani5246, she didn’t at the time, I don’t think. But she does now. Look up her video “My Miss America Journey” (the channel is Salem Family Ministries).
@@emmarose4234 From the video I saw, she talked about her journey to Miss America. She talked about how confident she was when it came to talent, but was so sure about Swimsuit. When she didn't get Talent win, she said that she lost to a baton twirler and her tone was very sarcastic.
Homely is not a word I would use to describe her but beauty pageants are not just about looks. It is about poise, personality, talent and so forth. She is a wonderful singer and she had a beautiful gown and looked great in swimsuit. Also she is quite inspiring considering the tragedy went through as a child with the car accident that put her in a body cast and caused her leg to be shortened.
It's no wonder the organization fired Bert Parks after this pageant. He was awful. He almost announced the new Miss America before announcing the runners-up.
He was believed to have alcohol issues affecting his ability to carry the show. He returned a decade or so later and totally flubbed his reading off of formers. You could smell the alcohol on his breath from your tv at home. RIP.
While Cheryl may not have been the most beautiful of all, she still had that extra something special that stood out from the rest. She had a special expressive quality and carried herself like a winner. She definitely won the swimsuit competition in my opinion, and talent competition--she was amazing!
THANKS for your channel. I LOVE it!!!!!
Cheryl started as Miss Starkville.. Miss Mississippi and then Miss America. She use to sing at my church while I was in high school in Starkville. Not only did she have one hell of a voice… She was drop dead gorgeous…. And even nicer in person… every guy that knew her was in love with her. She brought down the house every time she sang. Great memories of growing up in Starkville after watching this…
Miss USA 2002, Shauntay Hinton was born in Starkville, Mississippi. She won Miss USA 2002 as Miss District of Columbia USA because she was going to school in DC. Shauntay Hinton is the first and only Miss USA to be born in Mississippi. Miss USA 2020 from Mississippi, Asya Branch was born in Michigan.
The Glory Days of the pageant!
This was Bert Parks's last Miss America Pageant as Master of Ceremonies.
He was a solid MC who was affable and kind and could sing & dance. Too bad even today companies feel they gave to put someone who is aging well but put them out to pasture.😏
Thank God the audio came back on miss miss right in time!
Cheryl was the third Miss Mississippi to win the Miss America title, she stood out from all the other girls in the top ten, what a beautiful voice she has and swim suit was all hers! Mississippi has won 4 Miss America titles so far, very proud of our state!
Ya She slays it, brings me to tears evtime. The poor girl that follows her haha
Back in 1979, I originally picked Miss New York. Mississippi was great in talent though. She ended up on the front page of the National Enquirer with her "Jesus lengthed my leg right before my eyes" story. But watching the talent portion, Mississippi had that "it" factor that was missing from the other girls.
Don’t forget… her mike went dead for several seconds when she moved away from the piano…. And she never panicked….
Miss New York was awesome with the baton twirling!!
They all have those perms. 😂. But it’s refreshing to see this attainable beauty. They look like you and me because none probably had plastic surgery.
Many years I didn't pick the winner by the end of the three competitions - but this year I did. She just stood out from the rest.
Miss West Virginia looks scared too death during talent. You can actually hear it in her voice. I think the flautist is terrific. But, Cheryl, wow.....
I was there in Convention Hall for all 4 nights of competition. She was my favorite, so I was thrilled when she was crowned Miss America. Brings back a ton of great memories of that special trip to Atlantic City and the East Coast.
Check out her TH-cam channel!
Salem Family Ministries!!!
Tim Cassidy was a really nice looking young man !! Tall handsome great hair for 1979. He passed away young in the early 90’s because of AIDS someone mentioned in comments. Wow 😞 RIP Tim✝️😔
During evening gown competition, Mary Ann Mobley as the announcer, was hollering out the name of the next girl while the current one was still in the middle of posing on camera.
A Miss America who kept her poise and did not do the "ugly cry"
Mississippi Cheryl Pruitt is a gospel singer and her name is Cheryl Pruitt Blackwood. What a talent. I lived in Mississippi from my 20s until my 40s and I miss the people. Good people!
Actually, Cheryl Prewitt Salem.
Is it me or did the pageant seem to have more dance numbers during those years?
Where is the interview competition? It should have definitely been included!
What a wonderful talent by the winner Cheryl Prewitt, Miss Mississippi! Did you notice the amazed look on Bert Parks face after she finished singing? They picked the right winner!
You can tell she gave her all. ❤️
I agree. His reaction was like "well, I guess she has won!"
I think Bert Parks knew Cheryl had it in the bag after that talent performance. WOW!!!!
RIP Phyliss George . I would to see the Miss America pageant that Dawn Wells was in . I believe the 1959 pageant .
It shows this was put online 2 years ago but in case you didn't find it here ist he link. It was 1960. th-cam.com/video/LFrRMdtqhpE/w-d-xo.html
this pageant used to be such a big deal every year. Do they even have this anymore?
When I saw this when it aired, I thought Miss Kansas and Miss Ohio were beautiful! They look like they could be sisters.
Tim Cassidy - such a beautiful young man, so sad that horrible disease took his life when he was so young.
What happened to him?
What happened
Can you tell us about him?
Tim Cassidy died of AIDS related complications in the early 1990s
@@micesuhenderson2342 Thanks. I had not heard of him until I watched this although I originally watched this when it aired but forgot him. I was looking him up and saw he had died as well as a brother of his near his age. Only one brother is still living. Sad he died so young.
Poor Bert Parks hosting his 25th Miss America pageant . What he didn’t know was that it would be the last time also. The Miss America Organization dismissed him later that week in September ,1979 as host. They wanted a fresh new look along with a younger host for the incoming decade of the 80’s. Parks was the 60’s & 70’s and they wanted to keep the pageant fresh and in step with the new decade of the 80’s ultimately Gary Collins would Carry the pageant thru most of the 80’s. Husband of Miss America 1959 Mary Ann Mobley. Parks was very bitter about it. He passed in 1992.
He knew… he was PISSED… he didn’t want that plaque…
I swear she knew it was her. It’s all over her face before it was announced. And the usual “omg, I won” is not there.
I watched this telecast live in 1979. The MAO chose to not include on this video copy the segment where Bert did a short interview with the finalists. In particular, Miss Mississippi revealed that God had grown her shortened leg bone (that was shortened from an horrific car accident in childhood) to match her other leg. Cheryl was in a body cast for many months from the incident that nearly ended her life.
I had seen this also when it was telecast but never knew the story of her leg until I just watched an old episode of "It's A Miracle" that she was on and at the end is when they revealed she was Miss America so I came here to watch it again. Amazing story.
So sad that the interview section is out of this copy if it was because someone testified to the healing power of God!! Such a shame!
liked the harp solo and miss new york you dont see the baton performance in pop culture much anymore like you did, and she did it well and her whole head and posture screamed dancer looked so nice if you like that asthetic
How Cheryl Prewitt missed being a double preliminary winner is beyond me. How in the world did she miss a talent preliminary award?😳
NY won talent. She was fabulous. Finals night she dropped her baton, but prelim night she owned it.
Cheryl was okay with it. She thought Kelli was really good. She said so in a video she posted to TH-cam.
@@emmarose4234 Really? I didn't get that impression.
@@lucaadjani5246, she didn’t at the time, I don’t think. But she does now. Look up her video “My Miss America Journey” (the channel is Salem Family Ministries).
@@emmarose4234 From the video I saw, she talked about her journey to Miss America. She talked about how confident she was when it came to talent, but was so sure about Swimsuit. When she didn't get Talent win, she said that she lost to a baton twirler and her tone was very sarcastic.
Miss West Virginia was later Mrs America 1984
Also participated in Dreamgirl USA in 1986.
Pageant circuit is a business BIG TIME!!!
The camera work at the end was awful.
Poor directing for the camera, indeed.
Miss America is a real big deal 🤝
She was a normal girl even a bith shy.
What a bygone era
I'm sorry but I think Cheryl is homely
Homely is not a word I would use to describe her but beauty pageants are not just about looks. It is about poise, personality, talent and so forth. She is a wonderful singer and she had a beautiful gown and looked great in swimsuit. Also she is quite inspiring considering the tragedy went through as a child with the car accident that put her in a body cast and caused her leg to be shortened.
U r clueless…
It's no wonder the organization fired Bert Parks after this pageant. He was awful. He almost announced the new Miss America before announcing the runners-up.
Its nice and I enjoy it but, but, they really really are just Young Women mostly.
Not even 28 yrs.
Beautiful smart poised
I honestly did not think her talent was that great.
Bert Parks was in decline. It was time for him to go.
He was believed to have alcohol issues affecting his ability to carry the show. He returned a decade or so later and totally flubbed his reading off of formers. You could smell the alcohol on his breath from your tv at home. RIP.
They gave him an award only to fire him.
muy viejas
52:37 Thinking she cannot hear the orchestra...
The first runner up was more beautiful, IMO.
It's not a beauty pageant.
It's based on talent.
While Cheryl may not have been the most beautiful of all, she still had that extra something special that stood out from the rest. She had a special expressive quality and carried herself like a winner. She definitely won the swimsuit competition in my opinion, and talent competition--she was amazing!