Grandma Lee
| Grandma Lee | |
|---|---|
 Grandma Lee performing in 2009 | |
| Birth name | Frances Lee Myers |
| Born | May 29, 1934 Oklahoma City,Oklahoma,U.S. |
| Died | April 24, 2020(aged 85) Jacksonville, Florida,U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up comedy |
| Alma mater | Otterbein University |
| Years active | 1997–2020 |
| Spouse |
Ben Strong
(m.1958; died 1995) |
| Children | 4 |
Frances Lee Strong[1](néeMyers;May 29, 1934[2]– April 24, 2020), better known by her stage nameGrandma Lee,was an Americanstand-up comedianwho was a talent show contestant onAmerica's Got Talentin 2009. She began performing when she was in her 60s and became known for her off-color humor.[3]
Early life[edit]
Frances Lee Myers was born inOklahoma City,Oklahoma,[4][5][6]and grew up inCape Girardeau, Missouri,where her father was a collegedean.After he died when she was 12, the family fell apart, and she eventually landed in a children's home inKentucky.[7]In 1956, she graduated with a degree in English education fromOtterbein UniversityinOhio.[8][9]
Career[edit]
After college in 1958, Myers married a careerU.S. Marine,Ben Strong.[8]The couple moved around the world as he fulfilled his military duties, raising four children.[10]She taught for a semester before realizing the profession was not for her.[4]While living inClevelandin the late 1950s, she worked as a newspaper reporter at theCleveland Press.[6][9]
Lee Strong and her husband were living inHomestead, Florida,in 1992 whenHurricane Andrewdestroyed their home. They moved toJacksonville,where Ben died of cancer in 1995. They had been married for 37 years. Strong later took abuyoutfromBellSouth,where she was working as a phone operator.[10]
Strong began doingstand-up comedyin 1997,[9]performing atopen micnights at The Comedy Zone in Jacksonville.[11]InTampain 2004, she reached the final rounds of auditions forLast Comic Standing.[12][13]
In 2009, Strong rose to prominence as a contestant onthe fourth seasonof the reality seriesAmerica's Got Talent,when she advanced to the final round.[14][15]She amused audiences with her distinctive raunchySouthernhumor. She also flirted with judgesPiers MorganandDavid Hasselhoff.[15]One of ten finalists, Strong was not selected for the final five during the two-hour finale.[16]She toldPeople,"[My] material is based on the truth. I go up there and wing it… but I had to clean it up for the show. I won’t say a cuss word or anything to jeopardize [myself]. I can do clean or edgy."[17]
Death[edit]
Strong died at age 85 on April 24, 2020, at an assisted living facility inJacksonville.[18][19]
References[edit]
- ^
- "Senior Moments".Tampa Bay Times.June 3, 2010.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
Potty-mouthed Frances Lee Strong made a name for herself on America's Got Talent last year zinging raunchy jokes about judge Piers Morgan and has since done standup comedy around the nation.
- "Obituary for Kevin Ray Strong at Teahen Funeral Home".www.teahenfuneralhome.com.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
- "Senior Moments".Tampa Bay Times.June 3, 2010.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
- ^Katsilometes, John (May 4, 2010)."Closing in on 76, Grandma Lee is speaking the universal language".Las Vegas Sun.Archived fromthe originalon March 21, 2018.RetrievedApril 21,2011.
- ^Nunez, Mike (November 16, 2016)."Like the reality show, Grandma Lee's 'Got Talent'".Florida Today.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
- ^abKennedy, Patti (Winter 1998)."Frances Lee Myers Strong '56 comes to the comedy spotlight late in life".Towers.Office of College Relation of Otterbein College. pp. 10–11.RetrievedApril 26,2020.
- ^"Grandma Lee".NBC.com.Archived fromthe originalon September 8, 2009.
- ^abSilverman, Sandy (May 10, 2010)."It is Never Too Late to Live Your Dream!".VegasNewsChannel.com.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
- ^Sickler, Linda (October 1, 2015)."Forget baking cookies or watching the kids, Grandma Lee is here to make you laugh".Savannah Morning News.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
- ^abHarrington, Jeana (Fall 2009)."This Grandma's Wit and Verve has taken her to the Big Time".Towers.Office of Marketing & Communications of Otterbein College. p. 27.RetrievedApril 26,2020.
- ^abcMaile, Kelly (July 2, 2015)."Grandma Lee to bring the humor".Kent Record-Courier.RetrievedApril 25,2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^abBull, Roger (September 1, 2009)."Jacksonville's Grandma Lee shows she's 'Got Talent' — tonight on NBC".The Florida Times-Union.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
- ^Crumpler, David (November 20, 2012)."Jacksonville comedian Grandma Lee to perform at The Comedy Zone".The Florida Times-Union.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
- ^"Princess Superstar, The Audition, Jay Anthony and more".Orlando Weekly.December 15, 2005.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
- ^Belcher, Walter."Comics Wait Hours For Shot at 15 Minutes".The Tampa Tribune.METRO-6.RetrievedApril 25,2020– viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Harris, Vincent (March 7, 2018)."At 83, Grandma Lee Keeps Her Comedy Sharp".Free Times.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
- ^abDavis, Dillon (March 30, 2015)."'America's Got Talent' finalist Grandma Lee draws hearty laughs during Muskegon performance ".MLive.com.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
- ^Bull, Roger (September 17, 2009)."Grandma Lee loses on 'America's Got Talent'".The Florida Times-Union.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
- ^"Will comedian Grandma Lee win America's Got Talent?".Punchline.September 3, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon January 25, 2010.RetrievedAugust 14,2010.
- ^"'AGT' Star and Comedian Grandma Lee Dead at 85 ".TMZ.April 24, 2020.RetrievedApril 25,2020.
- ^Mier, Tomas (April 24, 2020)."America's Got Talent Finalist Grandma Lee Dies at 85: 'Heaven Just Got a Whole Lot Funnier'".People.RetrievedApril 25,2020.