Kellye Cash Biography

Many people recognize Kellye Cash, if not by sight, by her reign as Miss America 1987.  Others have become acquainted with this gregarious Tennessean through her extensive travels and numerous appearances around the country.    

As the first child of retired Navy Captain and Mrs. Roy Cash, Jr., Kellye learned at an early age to adapt to new surroundings.  After all, her father's career as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot took them all over the country and even overseas.  Her Christian upbringing included a younger brother, Carey, and a famous uncle, Country music legend Johnny Cash.

During her junior year of college, a fraternity sponsored her in the Miss Memphis State Pageant.  Her "first runner-up" position spurred her on, and her ten years of classical piano and voice training helped her win the Miss Milan Pageant in March 1986, Miss Tennessee 1986, and Miss America 1987.  Following her year as Miss America, during which she participated in numerous civic and religious programs, Kellye returned to college and, simultaneously, launched her career as a Christian music artist and speaker.

Kellye resides in Milan, Tennessee with her husband, Todd Sheppard, and 3 children, Brady, Cassidy and Tatum.  Kellye and Todd direct and teach the college and career department at their local church where Kellye is also very involved in the music department as a pianist and singer.  Kellye was elected to the Tennessee Republican State Executive Committee twice and campaigns for conservative political candidates and issues.  She makes approximately 100 appearances each year at charitable and political events, pageants, churches, crusades, youth camps, and ladies' conferences and occasionally takes roles in professional theater.  Kellye hasrecently played the part of Patsy Cline in eight productions and/or tours of the musical, "Always...Patsy Cline" and for nine months starred as the "Narrator" in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in Branson, Mo. 

Kellye has just completed another production and tour of “Always…Patsy Cline” to sold out performances all over the Southeastern United States. She has recorded 6 CD’s 4 Christian and 2 Country.