Everything about Ernestine Campbell, Little Richard's wife
American singer/pianist Little Richard is considered a pioneer in rock music. With massive hits like Tutti Frutti, Long Tall Sally, and Good Golly Miss Molly, he was a household name for decades, especially in the mid-1950s. Little Richard's wife, Ernestine Campbell, also attracted a considerable fanbase because of their marriage. This biography reveals what led to their divorce.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Profile summary
- Who is Little Richard's ex-wife?
- How did Ernestine Campbell and Little Richard meet?
- Why did Ernestine Campbell and Little Richard divorce?
- Was Little Richard gay?
- Is Ernestine Campbell still alive?
- Ernestine Campbell and Little Richard's children
- What caused Little Richard's death?
- What does Little Richard's son do?
- How old was Little Richard when he died?
- Was Little Richard ever married?
- Was Little Richard an Adventist?
- Who were Little Richard’s parents?
- Little Richard's net worth
- Facts about Ernestine Campbell
Reports claim Little Richard's wife initiated their separation and subsequent divorce. The challenges Ernestine Campbell faced with her newfound fame are believed to be the main reason she parted ways with the singer. Since these rumors have never been confirmed, this article only summarizes what has been widely reported about her marriage to the music icon.
Profile summary
| Full name | Ernestine Campbell |
| Other name | Ernestine Harvin |
| Gender | Female |
| Born | 1935/36 |
| Died | 9 May 2010 |
| Age | 74 or 75 (at death) |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Dark brown |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Former spouse | Richard Wayne Penniman (1959 - 1963) |
| Children | Danny Jones Penniman (adopted) |
| Profession | Secretary |
| Native language | English |
Who is Little Richard's ex-wife?
Ernestine Campbell (also known as Ernestine Harvin) was his only wife, and their marriage lasted for around four years between 1959 and 1963.
How did Ernestine Campbell and Little Richard meet?
It is reported that Ernestine was a secretary from Washington, DC, when she met Richard Wayne Penniman (aka Little Richard) at an evangelical rally in 1957. The duo would later walk down the aisle in July 1959 and divorce in 1963.
Why did Ernestine Campbell and Little Richard divorce?
Campbell claimed Little Richard’s fame and demanding music career consumed much of his time, leaving limited space for family. She also pointed out that his sexuality strained their relationship.
Source: UGC
Was Little Richard gay?
In 2017, Little Richard gave a rare interview for 3ABN, a Christian network, where he admitted that his marriage to Ernestine Campbell fell apart due to his sexuality and being neglectful.
Richard denounced same-sex relationships and homosexuality in the interview. He called it "unnatural affections" and said he believed it was wrong.
The singer went further to say:
When I first come in show business they wanted you to look like everybody but yourself. And, anybody that comes in show business they gone say you gay or straight…You’ve got to live the way God wants you to live…He can save you.
The music icon also wrote in his 1984 autobiography, The Life and Times of Little Richard:
I talk about my life as a homosexual and a drug addict because I think it is right to tell people what God has done for me.
Is Ernestine Campbell still alive?
Little Richard's wife died on 9 May 2010, aged 74 or 75. Ernestine Campbell's age remains unconfirmed because her birthdate was never made public.
Source: UGC
Ernestine Campbell and Little Richard's children
The couple adopted a son named Danny Jones Penniman in 1984, and he was their only child. In the 1980s, Little Richard was close with Danny's biological mother, Creola Jones, and her family.
Their friendship grew when he took a break from his music career and dedicated himself to the church. Richard would attend masses in Los Angeles, and Danny remembered being in second grade when he saw him visiting his neighborhood.
After Danny's father died, his mother asked Richard to take him in so he wouldn't turn out like his siblings. Danny had six sisters and three brothers, living in a poor neighborhood, doing whatever.
Jones went to live with his dad, Richard, in Tennessee. He later joined the singer on the road as his bodyguard and worked together until Little Richard's death on 9 May 2020.
Danny grew up listening to Richard tell him things he only understood in adulthood. The singer would say something, and Jones had to figure it out as life went on. Some of the wisdom his dad gave him through the years were statements like:
You control the money; don't let the money control you.
What caused Little Richard's death?
The rock n roll legend died of bone cancer. His family said in a statement through their lawyer, Bill Sobel:
Little Richard died in Tullahoma, Tennessee, of bone cancer. He was loved by his family and adored by millions.
Source: UGC
Richard Wayne Penniman fell sick for two months and took his last breath, surrounded by his brother, sister, and son.
In his final years, the music legend mainly focused on his life in the church. Danny confirmed his passing and has since gone private.
What does Little Richard's son do?
Little Richard and Ernestine Campbell’s adopted son, Danny Jones Penniman, is an American singer and rapper. He pursued a career in the entertainment industry to continue Little Richard’s musical legacy.
How old was Little Richard when he died?
The singer died on 9 May 2020 at 87 in Tullahoma, Tennessee. He was born on 5 December 1932 in Macon, Georgia, USA.
Was Little Richard ever married?
Richard was only married once, despite having had several high-profile relationships. His one-time partner, Audrey Robinson (aka Lee Angel), stated that the duo shared an 'unconventional relationship,' likely stemming from his extravagant lifestyle. Nevertheless, their romance never led to marriage.
Like some other teen sex symbols of that era, Little Richard also had a sexual relationship with an underage girl, Audrey Robinson, who was 16 when she met the then-24-year-old.
Source: UGC
Was Little Richard an Adventist?
As a child, he attended Pentecostal, Baptist, and African Methodist Episcopal churches with his family. Richard also studied theology at Oakwood College (a primarily black SDA college) in Huntsville, Alabama, and was ordained a minister in 1970.
The singer resumed evangelical activities in 1977. As a minister, he officiated at weddings for Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Cyndi Lauper, and other celebrities.
His faith was so ingrained that it sometimes overwhelmed his music career. During his interview with 3ABN, Richard shared his homosexual testimony and returned to the church in his later years.
The singer married a woman but had relationships and encounters with men for the better part of his life. Throughout the 1970s, Little Richard traveled back and forth between Christian and secular music and struggled with homosexuality and even drugs.
After denouncing homosexuality, he once said:
If God can save an old homosexual like me, he can save anybody.
Little Richard’s last photos in public were probably of him and Brenda Lee at governor Bill Lee’s residence in Nashville, Tennessee, where the two received the Distinguished Artist award at the 2019 Governor’s Arts Awards.
Source: UGC
Richard arrived in a wheelchair, dressed in a sharp suit and sunglasses. He seemed frail and was very quiet and calm. He did not discuss his health, but people could sense he was sick, and it was just a matter of time. That was the last time Richard ever appeared in public.
Who were Little Richard’s parents?
The renowned musician was born to Charles Penniman and Leva Mae Stewart and grew up in a low-income family of 12 children.
Little Richard's net worth
The musician had an estimated net worth of $40 million at his death.
Facts about Ernestine Campbell
- She left the limelight after divorcing Little Richard.
- Ernestine and Little Richard never had a biological child.
- The African-American couple adopted a White American boy.
- She and Little Richard loved their adopted son, Danny.
- She left Danny with Little Richard after their divorce.
Many doubted Little Richard's wife when she claimed the musician's sexuality was one of the reasons their marriage ended. Years later, the singer confirmed Ernestine Campbell was telling the truth. Nonetheless, Little Richard denounced homosexuality in the later years of his life and dedicated himself to serving the Lord.
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Peris Walubengo (Lifestyle writer) Peris Walubengo is a content creator with 5 years of experience writing articles, researching, editing, and proofreading. She has a Bachelor of Commerce & IT from the University of Nairobi and joined Briefly.co.za in November 2019. The writer completed a Google News Initiate Course. She covers bios, marketing & finance, tech, fashion & beauty, recipes, movies & gaming reviews, culture & travel. You can email her at perisrodah254@gmail.com.
Justine De Lange (Lifestyle writer) Justine De Lange has over 6 years of experience in lifestyle, corporate and freelance writing. She started at Now Media for their lifestyle publication 'Let's Go', then joined 'travSIM' and 'Metavaro'. She now writes for Briefly News as a content writer, working with beats such as studies, services, business tips, and celebrity biographies (joined in 2022). In 2023, Justine finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can contact her directly via JustinedeLange14@gmail.com.
