Phyllis George, former Miss America and TV personality, dies at 70

She also covered horse racing, hosted the entertainment show “People” and co-anchored the “CBS Morning News.”She came to count among her friends Norman Vincent Peale, who officiated at her wedding to Brown, Bill and Hillary Clinton, George and Barbara Bush and Sir Elton John.But it was her 1979 marriage to Brown, a self-made millionaire and Kentucky Fried Chicken magnate, that brought her to Kentucky and thrust her into the political spotlight when he decided, just 10 days after their New York wedding, to run for governor in his home state.Though it would later end in divorce, the marriage of the handsome couple with "his and her matching dimples" brought a splash of celebrity and national attention to the race that swept Brown into office as Kentucky's 55th governor.The Washington Post described them as "Phyllis of the multimillion-dollar smile, and John Y., of the multimillion-dollar checkbook" in a 1979 story about Brown's campaign.And while Brown's personal fortune helped him win a crowded Democratic primary and go on to win the 1979 general election, observers credited George's radiant charm and celebrity appeal for giving Brown the edge in his first bid for public office."She won it for him, there's no doubt about that," said Terry McBrayer, who was among the Democrats who lost to Brown. In early 1985, after her four years as Kentucky's first lady, she became a co-host with Bill Kurtis of "CBS Morning News," a disappointing run for George that lasted only eight months.After taking off about 10 years to raise the couple's two young children, Lincoln and Pamela, Brown would return to television and cable work, hosting interviews, shopping shows and promoting crafts.She told The Courier Journal she was happy with the new roles and her new life in New York, where she lived in an apartment overlooking Central Park."I've gone through a lot," she said in the 1998 interview.