Maryline Blackburn, woman who beat Sarah Palin for Miss Alaska title, to perform at inaugural balls
By KORIN MILLER
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Monday, January 19th 2009, 6:22 PM
Former Miss Alaska Maryline Blackburn, who beat Sarah Palin for the crown, is set to perform at two inaugural balls Tuesday.
The woman who edged out the former veep candidate for the title of Miss Alaska 1984 is slotted to perform at not one, but two inaugural balls in Washington, D.C.
Maryline Blackburn, who eventually traded in her tiara for a career as a professional singer, plans to celebrate Barack Obama's ascension to the presidency with gigs at swanky bashes hosted by star musicians Ludacris and Dionne Warwick.
Meanwhile Palin is back in Alaska battling conservation groups over petroleum drilling.
Think that'll tick off the former veep nominee? You betcha.
"I'm just so excited," Blackburn told the Daily News in between rehearsals on Monday. "Once again I'm part of history."
Blackburn saw an increased profile during the presidential race thanks to her connection to Palin - and the exposure has (literally) paid off.
"People have been trying to figure out, 'Who is this woman?' " she says. "I've gotten tons of e-mails and CD sales have gone up." Business is "great," her manager notes.
"Now I'm singing for this wonderful man who will be our next president," she says.
Despite their Miss Alaska connection, Blackburn wasn't exactly on Team Palin during the election.
Says the singer: "It was all about Obama, baby."
nydailynews.com
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