Free Republic

It was a cold, solemn day on the Texas ranch. A biting, prairie wind was staved off with a thick, fur coat wrapped around an American music icon. Former President Lyndon B. Johnson had said before he died that at his burial he wanted the Rev. Billy Graham to pray and Anita Bryant to sing. Bryant, once Miss Oklahoma and a Miss America second runner-up, was known in 1973 as the vivacious spokeswoman for Florida orange juice and the Sunshine State. She nervously tried to get her voice ready to sing for a worldwide satellite television audience at the president’s...

Miss Oklahoma, Olivia Jordan, was crowned the 64th Miss USA on Sunday night but that wasn’t the most entertaining part of the night. Rather it was a very interesting answer from Miss Nevada, Brittany McGowan, during the Q&A portion of the pageant. McGowan -- who had already tripped over her dress during the evening gown competition -- was asked by a judge what she would do to improve race relations in the United States. She appeared taken aback by the question but still tried to reply saying: “What I would do to improve race relations in the U.S. is get...

An unhappy crowd booed Miss USA judge Cesar Nunez when he asked Miss Oklahoma a question about Arizona’s immigration law on Sunday night’s pageant.Now some are wondering if Woolard's answer cost her the crown. The "The Office" star asked Woolard if she supported Arizona’s law, which requires police to verify a person's immigration status if there's "reasonable suspicion" that the person is in the country illegally. Woolard said she supports the law, saying she is against illegal immigration, but is also against racial profiling.While many Americans are opposed to gay marriage, Prejean claimed she was victimized for her answer.In perhaps...

LAS VEGAS - A 22-year-old aspiring teacher from Oklahoma was crowned Miss America on Saturday night, the first time the storied but struggling pageant was held outside Atlantic City, N.J. Jennifer Berry, a student at the University of Oklahoma, outlasted 51 other women to become Miss America 2006, earning a $30,000 college scholarship and a yearlong speaking tour in the process.