Kinky Friedman, known for his satirical and often provocative style, has passed away at 79. A post on his social media announced, “Kinky Friedman stepped on a rainbow at his beloved Echo Hill surrounded by family & friends. Kinkster endured tremendous pain & unthinkable loss in recent years but he never lost his fighting spirit and quick wit. Kinky will live on as his books are read and his songs are sung.”
Richard Samet “Kinky” Friedman earned a cult following for his unique take on country and Western music. He released numerous albums, starting with “Sold American” in 1973, a record that laid the foundation for his career. Known as the “governor of the heart of Texas,” he even toured with Bob Dylan during the “Rolling Thunder Revue” and made history as the “first full-blooded Jew” to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Apart from his musical endeavors, Friedman was a prolific writer. He wrote detective novels and contributed as a columnist for Texas Monthly. He also ventured into politics, running for Governor of Texas in 2006 with the campaign slogan “My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy,” securing 12.6 percent of the votes among six candidates.
Born in Chicago and raised in Texas, Friedman studied psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. His passion for music led him to form King Arthur & the Carrots and later Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys. He described the latter as a “country band with a social conscience, a demented love child of Lenny Bruce and Bob Wills.”
Reflecting on his life, Friedman once wrote, “Somewhere in heaven, I’m sure there’s a quiet corner with a big easy chair, a bright floor lamp, a big stack of biographical books, and a few old dogs wagging their tails to the faint smell of cigar smoke.”
Boy Stuns Prom in Red Ballgown and Lipstick – Teachers Can’t Hold Back the Tears
A boy named Korben dreamed of wearing a ball gown to prom from a young age. Four years later, his parents made that dream come true. When Korben showed up in his red ball gown and lipstick, his teachers and classmates were moved to tears.
Prom is a special event marking the end of high school, and everyone wants it to be memorable. Korben, who is 16, had an unforgettable night thanks to his supportive mom. She shared pictures of his prom outfit on Twitter, and her post quickly went viral. Many celebrities and fans liked and shared it, celebrating Korben’s unique and heartfelt choice.
Korben’s mom, Nina Green, shared that her son had always loved wearing dresses. As a teenager, he even performed as the “sassy” drag queen Miss Frou Frou. But for prom night, Korben had a new idea.
He wanted to attend prom as himself, but in a dress. This way, he could show off his feminine side while being true to who he is. Nina explained:
“He wanted to be himself, combining his masculine and feminine sides. He planned to wear a tuxedo on top and a dress on the bottom, inspired by Billy Porter.”
When Korben arrived at his school prom, wearing his unique outfit, everyone went wild with excitement. His classmates and teachers at Archbishop Sancroft High School in Harleston, Norfolk, cheered loudly for him.
Nina Green shared that many teachers were emotional as they watched Korben step out of the car. They were moved by his bravery and confidence. Nina said, “As soon as he got out of the car, everyone started cheering, and I was crying. Some of the teachers were crying too because he was being true to himself.”
Korben had asked to wear a dress to his prom when he was just 12, and his parents made sure to remember his request. When prom night arrived, they helped him get ready just the way he wanted and supported him both in person and online.
Korben looked fantastic in his ball gown, which had a flowing skirt, a sparkly jacket, a bow tie, and a matching small bag. Nina, his mom, took lots of photos of him before he left for prom and shared them on Twitter to show her support.
Nina Green was thrilled to share Korben’s prom look on Twitter and tagged Billy Porter and Michelle Visage from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” to get their opinions. Michelle Visage responded with excitement, saying, “Ohhhhhhhh yes! You are an amazing, beautiful mom and your child is a STAR.”
Michelle wasn’t the only one impressed. The tweet quickly went viral, with many people praising Korben’s fabulous prom outfit and expressing how happy they were for him.
Since Nina Green’s post about Korben’s prom outfit was shared, it has received over 4,000 retweets, more than 8,000 comments, and over 110,000 likes from celebrities and everyday people alike. One admirer commented:
“Looks fabulous! I absolutely love the gown/tux combo. I hope my son is still as confident and comfortable with himself at that age. Never lose your sparkle.”
Kirk Wills, who implied they made the dress, added, “I couldn’t be more proud of Korben; he rocked the look without a doubt. It was an honor to make this subtle look for his big night and see him rock his entrance.”
Although there were some negative comments, many people defended Korben. One fan responded, “Some people should have listened to their parents or grandparents: ‘If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.’ If he wants to wear a dress, then that’s his choice, and his choice only. He’s not harming anyone.”
Korben’s mother, Nina, later shared her gratitude in a post, admitting she hadn’t expected such a positive response when she first shared the pictures. She wrote:
“The support and positivity have been overwhelming and have completely overshadowed the few negative comments, which we ignore. It’s his life, and I’m letting him live it.”
Korben realized how important it was to have the courage to be himself. He said, “It sends a message—you can be who you want to be.”
The following day, Nina and Korben attended Pride in London. There, a fan approached them, recognizing Korben as the boy in the red dress and telling him he was “amazing.”
These moments became unforgettable memories for Korben as he moved on to the next chapter in his life. Through this experience, Korben’s parents demonstrated the importance of allowing children to be themselves without imposing their own beliefs.
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