Shawn Southwick King is an American singer, actress, TV host, and producer. She is better known as the eighth wife of the renowned radio and television host, and longtime CNN host, since 1997. It is interesting to note that she is the only one to have lasted into the two-digits. Get the lowdown about the 5 feet 11 inches beauty below.
Who Is Shawn Southwick King?
She was born Shawn Ora Engemann on the 5th day of November 1959 in Studio City, Los Angeles, California. Her father, Karl Engemann was a long-time business associate of the Osmond Family. He managed Marie Osmond for 35 years and was also the head of the A&R at Capitol Records. Besides, Marie is Shawn’s childhood friend. Her mother was named Jerri and she was a singer who sang with the Ray Conniff Singers and was also a studio singer for a number of famous musicians such as Elvis Presley and .
Shawn has a younger sister, Shannon who is also a singer and an older brother, Paul who became a pop musician. Their uncle, Bob Engemann is one of the pioneer members of the 1960s trio, The Lettermen.
Coming from a family with a firm root in the entertainment and showbiz industry, it wasn’t surprising that she took the high calling very early. As such, she spent her early years performing as a singer; both soloist and backup singer and was surrounded by show biz professionals and the elite class.
Shawn Southwick King was in the 1977 class of North Hollywood High School, California and also attended Brigham Young University which is a private institution in Provo, Utah. Outside of singing, Shawn dabbled into acting after college. She featured mostly on prime-time TV shows where she found popularity but also had roles in such films as Monaco Forever (1984), Rover Dangerfield (1991), Christmas Eve (2015) alongside and Straight (2018) with Larry King.
Prior to her TV acting days, however, she played Pam Flinders in the 1974 production of Saturday’s Warrior about the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, as a teenager. She is a member of the religious sect.
Obviously crafted for the limelight, Shawn Southwick King equally found success as a TV show host. She was a co-host on The Spectacular World of Guinness Records along with David Frost and from 1990 to 1996, she hosted the USA Network’s weekly entertainment news and features TV show known as Hollywood Insider.
In 1975, she released the song, For Your Love with her brother, Paul; the sibling duo was billed as Christopher Paul and Shawn. The song made it to the national chart record at #91. Since then, specialized in the country genre, she has released other songs including a CD, In My Own Backyard for Lofton Creek Records in 2005 and sang the titular track, Gotta Love the Holidays on a 2012 compilation CD to support the Larry King Cardiac Foundation. In addition, Shawn Southwick King also sang backup in recording sessions for renowned artists like Neil Diamond, Bobby Sherman, and Tennessee Ernie Ford.
In 2008, she checked into rehab for an alleged addiction to prescription drugs but has been successfully treated.
Is She Still Married to Larry King?
Before Shawn got married to Larry King, she was the wife of Daniel Southwick. The two tied the knots on October 24, 1980, and had a son, Danny Southwick together. Danny was born on the 28th of September, 1981 and is a professional football player.
Following her divorce from Southwick, she wedded King on September 5, 1997, in the most unusual venue – his hospital room in LA where he awaited surgery. Three days after their nuptials, he underwent heart surgery to clear a clogged blood vessel. Together, they are parents to two sons: Chance Armstrong (b. March 9, 1999) and Cannon Edward (b. May 22, 2000).
Despite being together for such a long period, their union has not been without its challenges from infidelity to neglect. Both parties have cast blames and accusations on each other but have sailed through the storm valiantly.
The height of it was in 2010 when they separated and subsequently filed for divorce on April 14. On July 7, 2010, however, they retracted their decision, filed for petitions to dismiss the case stating that their family, children, and love for each other overrule whatever personal differences they might have, thus officially reconciling.
In 2012, after leaving CNN, Larry launched Ora TV, named after his wife, with his partner, . On the platform, he produces his new show, Back & Forth and Shawn often cohosts podcasts with him.
