Anita Bryant

She sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic for the funeral burial service of Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States of America.

Anita Bryant was born on March 25, 1940 in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, USA as Anita Jane Bryant.

Former Miss Oklahoma and Miss America runner-up 1958.

Her 1959 hit record of "Till There Was You" (Pop #30), was the first successful recording of a Pop standard from the 1957 Broadway show "The Music Man'. The Beatles would later include this song in their act. Other hits include "Paper Roses" and "In My Little Corner Of The World" , both were Top 10 hits in 1960.

From 1960 to 1967, Bryant served as a commercial spokeswoman for the Coca-Cola soft drink company. Her nickname was "The Coca-Cola Girl.".

Bryant recorded the "Hawaiian Wedding Song" by Charles E. King, Al Hoffman and Dick Manning for her "In My Little Corner of the World" album released in January, 1961. Later that same year, Elvis Presley performed the very same song in his film Blue Hawaii (1961) which was released in November, 1961.

From 1968 to 1980, she appeared in 76 television commercials as a spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission.

Became a far-right activist in the 1970s and campaigned against gay rights, helping to remove a law in Florida that prevented discrimination against people based on their sexuality. However, this resulted in a huge backlash against her which damaged her reputation and destroyed her show-business career. To this day, the gay community views Bryant's name as synonymous with bigotry and homophobia.

Recipient of the Orange Cluster Award from the Florida Citrus Commission in 1971.

In 1977, following her homophobic campaigning, she was "pied" (hit in the face by a cream pie) by gay activists while being interviewed on television. The incident was caught on camera and Bryant became one of the first people to be "pied" as a political act.

By 1978, following her highly publicized anti-gay campaigning, gay activists in the country had ensured a boycott on Florida Citrus Commission due to their use of Bryant as their spokesman. The ban was supported by many celebrities, including Barbra Streisand , Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli, Bea Arthur, Paul Williams, John Waters, Carroll O'Connor, Mary Tyler Moore, and Jane Fonda. .

Recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation in 1986.

Inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame in 1988.

Along with Joey Heatherton and Loni Anderson, Bryant sang "Thanks For The Memory" with new lyrics written by Kathryn Stone at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in North Hollywood, California for a memorial service honoring the memory of Bob Hope. [August, 2003].

The Oklahoma City Freedoms Foundation Chapter honored Bryant with a merit citation for her years of supporting American troops. [November 2010]

Bryant sang the National Anthem at the gubernatorial inaugural ball held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in honor of Mary Fallin. [January 2011]

Bryant gave the introduction for Governor Mary Fallin to speak at the Good News Festival hosted by Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. [August 2015]

On March 22, 2019, Oklahoma governor John Kevin Stitt issued a citation declaring March 25, 2019(her 79th birthday) to be "Anita Bryant Day". The move was publicly condemned by gay activists and the press due to Bryant's past activities as an anti-gay campaigner.