Anita Bryant, a former Miss Oklahoma and well-known singer, passed away at the age of 84. Her family confirmed her death in a statement shared with The Oklahoman on Thursday, noting she died on December 16 at her home in Edmond, Oklahoma. The cause of her death was not provided.
Born in Barnsdell, Oklahoma, Bryant began singing at a young age and even hosted her own local TV show when she was just 12 years old. She earned the title of Miss Oklahoma in 1958 and quickly launched a successful music career with hits such as “Till There Was You,” “Paper Roses,” and “My Little Corner of the World.”
In the late 1960s, Bryant became a prominent figure in entertainment, joining Bob Hope on USO tours to perform for troops abroad. She also performed at the White House and sang at both the Democratic and Republican national conventions in 1968. In addition to her singing career, she became a famous spokesperson for products like Florida orange juice.
In the late 1970s, Anita Bryant’s life and career took a significant turn. A devout Christian, she spearheaded a campaign in Florida to overturn a Miami-Dade County ordinance that aimed to protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation. With support from figures like the Rev. Jerry Falwell, Bryant became a vocal opponent of gay rights, drawing widespread criticism in return.
In response, activists organized boycotts against products she endorsed, created T-shirts mocking her, and even invented a drink named after her—a variation of the screwdriver that swapped orange juice for apple juice.
As a result, her entertainment career began to decline, her marriage to her first husband, Bob Green, ended in divorce, and she eventually filed for bankruptcy.
In her later years, Bryant led Anita Bryant Ministries International. Her second husband, Charles Hobson Dry, a former NASA astronaut, passed away last year. Bryant is survived by her four children, two stepdaughters, and seven grandchildren, as stated by her family.
