Comedian Ellen DeGeneres and gospel artist Kirk Franklin are celebrating their birthdays today, January 26.
Ellen DeGeneres, 57
Image courtesy of Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com
Comedian, television host, actress, writer and television producer Ellen DeGeneres turns 57 today. DeGeneres started her career as a stand up comedian and toured nationally in the 1980s. She was named Showtime's Funniest Person in America in 1982. DeGeneres appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1986.
DeGeneres made her first regular television appearance on the FOX sitcom Open House. She earned her own series, Ellen, on ABC which ran from 1994 to 1998. After its cancellation, she returned to TV in 2001 with the CBS series The Ellen Show. In 2003, she launched her own daytime talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She won 4 Daytime Emmy's for Outstanding Talk Show Host.
DeGeneres served as a judge on Season 9 of American Idol. She hosted the Grammy's in 1996 and 1997. She also hosted the Emmy's in 2001 and 2005 and hosted the Academy Awards in 2007 and 2014.
DeGeneres is currently married to actress Portia de Rossi.
Kirk Franklin, 45
image courtesy of INFphoto.com
Gospel musician, choir director and author Kirk Franklin turns 45 today. Franklin started Kirk Franklin and The Family in 1992, signing with GospoCentric. They released their self titled debut album in 1993. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart for 42 weeks. Whatcha Lookin' 4, The second album from Kirk Franklin and The Family went two times platinum.
Franklin wrote the song "Joy," which was recorded by Whitney Houston and The Georgia Mass Choir for the film The Preacher's Wife. After a lawsuit filed by The Family in 2000, Franklin launched his solo career. In 2001, he did the scoring and production of the soundtrack for Kingdom Come.
In 2002, Franklin released The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin which topped the Gospel Albums chart for 29 weeks and was certified platinum. His 2005 album, Hero went on to be certified Gold. Franklin is currently the host and co-executive producer of the BET gospel singing competition series, Sunday Best.
Franklin has won a total of seven Grammy Awards in his career so far. He is married to Tammy Collins and has four children.
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