Eartha Kitt Passes

Eartha Kitt

Sultry singer/actress EARTHA KITT, who enjoyed a prolific and somewhat controversial career that spanned more than six decades, died on CHRISTMAS DAY at 81. She had been suffering from colon cancer.

A native of SOUTH CAROLINA, KITT spoke four languages and sang in seven. She who started her career as a dancer in the late ’40s, then went on to achieve success as a singer/performer on BROADWAY, in the movies and nightclubs. The EMMY Winner was deemed one of the first African-American sex symbols, along with LENA HORNE. Her biggest hit was, ironically enough considering the date of her passing, "SANTA BABY."

She created a different kind of stir in the in the '60s, when she publicly criticized the VIETNAM War at the WHITE HOUSE in front of First Lady LADY BIRD JOHNSON. Her career hit the rocks after that, only to recover when PRES> JIMMY CARTER invited her back to THE WHITE HOUSE to perform.

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