The Original Dancing With the Stars

My late Uncle Jack Kenner was the original dancing with the stars professional dancer. In the 1960's when Elvis was busy in Hollywood filming movies, Priscilla Presley found herself with a lot of free time on her hands.

To help combat her boredom, she sought out my Uncle Jack to teach her how to ball room dance. Jack was very well know in the Memphis area as a terrific dance coach. Because of her natural talent and previous ballet experience as a young girl, Priscilla became a terrific dancer.

That is why when I saw her on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars", I knew she would be great. I was so proud how she overcame her nerves and showed the world that beautiful dance does not see age.

It is a personal expression in each one of us. Elvis became famous for his dance moves too. Elvis' Jailhouse Rock dance segment from the movie is legendary and considered by most to be the first music video. That was more than 20 years before anyone ever heard of MTV.

But to the Christian community, he was vulgar and a dangerous influence to teenagers. The Catholic weekly paper, "America", published "Beware Elvis Presley," an article calling his hip-shaking, "nauseating stuff ... not only suggestive, but downright obscene."

She's a Little Bit Country & I'm a Little Bit Rock-n-Roll

My big first crush after my 5th grade teacher was when I was 15 years old. Her family name was synonymous with all that was good to me. Her stage name was Marie Osmond. I say stage because her full name was Olive Marie Osmond named after her incredible mother.

Growing up just outside Detroit in Warren, Michigan I remember spending my Friday nights with Marie. That is I watched Marie religiously along with her brother Donny on the "Donny & Marie" show.


I was attracted to her sweet spirit and her sense of humor. And she met all my physical characteristics of beauty - brown hair and brown eyes. Plus she could sing! She was truly America's sweetheart at that time.

I'd spend hours in front of my bedroom mirror with a hairbrush singing "Puppy Love" or "Go Away Little Girl" as I dreamt of being Donny Osmond. Actually, I grew so in love with Marie that I wanted to marry her. So I couldn't exactly be her brother when you think about it.

As the years went by, my love for Marie continued. After I graduated from high school and went on to Michigan Christian College, I felt I strong desire to let Marie in on my plans.
In my young mind, I thought if I only could get to Utah and profess my love for her, she would want to marry me. So that is what I did, I packed up everything and moved to Provo, Utah.