Country girls of One Life to Live

June 22, 5:41 PMOne Life to Live ExaminerJennifer Snelling

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Watching Kassie DePaiva’s Blair battle it out with Todd over the custody of her kids in her aunt’s mansion in Llanview, Pennsylvania might not call to mind Southern Baptist church services or bluegrass music at the Grand Ole Opry. The closest Blair might ever get to Kassie DePaiva’s Kentucky roots is the slight southern lilt that slips out in her voice.

Kassie DePaiva, however, clings to her country roots. Born in Morganfield, approximately two-and-a-half hours west of Louisville, she began her performance career in church, school and 4-H, and became “a Kentucky girl who grew up to live and work furiously in New York while -- at all times, during everything -- country music continued to live in her heart.”†

Though DePaiva is best known for her acting career, it is in New York City that she continues to sing and record her music. She can often be found on stage in New York’s exciting nighttime scene, belting a country ballad solo or with her musically inclined ABC costars. Kassie’s musical influences include fellow Kentuckian Loretta Lynn, the famed “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

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Though she has moved from “bluegrass” to “big apple” she hasn’t forgotten the rich history and legacy of her home state. In May 2009 she donned her Derby hat and attended Kentucky Derby 135 with her husband, sister, and a close friend. (Fancy hats and roses? That’s more Llanview style!)

Kassie DePaiva returned to Nashville (where she began her career in country music as a backup singer when she was a teenager) in June with ABC costars Kathy Brier (One Life to Live’s Marcie McBain) and Bobbie Eakes (All My Children’s Krystal Carey) to perform in the CMA Music Fest.

Bree Williamson (Jessica Brennan) has also been tipping her hat to country music as part of ABC Daytime and SOAPNet’s music initiative. She will be attending Country Fest (along with several other ABC Daytime stars), which takes place from June 25-28 in Cadott, Wisconsin.

† Quoted from her official website, kassiedepaiva.com.