Eartha Kitt Dies at 81

The unmistakeable voice of Eartha Kitt.  She died Christmas day at the age of 81, after a fight with colon cancer. Before moving to Harlem and starting her career in show business, Kitt grew up the child of rape in the cotton fields of 1930s South Carolina. 

"I'm not only illegitimate – but I don't even have a race. . . not that I want a race! I was given away by my mother. See, I don't be lieve my mother gave me away because she wanted to, she gave me away because she had to – see, she was very young when conceived me, and she was conceived by one of the cotton plantation owners' sons. So therefore you're illegitimate, and you're a bastard child, and you recall that your whole life."

Kitt's career as a singer, dancer and actress spanned six decades, and won her two Emmys. But her politics also got her effectively blacklisted in the United States. After she denounced the Vietnam War during a white house luncheon, Kitt was investigated by the FBI and CIA, and spent nearly 11 years performing almost exclusively overseas. She continued performing until last year. We'll take you out with more from Eartha Kitt, who died yesterday at the age of 81.

Click here for the full newscast for Friday, December 26, 2008