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Ernestine Campbell, Little Richard ex-wife

Ernestine Campbell is a former Washington, D.C. secretary. She is most known as the ex-wife of Little Richard, an American musician, singer, and songwriter.

Author:Iram Martins
Reviewer:Elisa Mueller
Jul 20, 2021
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Ernestine Campbell is a former Washington, D.C. secretary. She is most known as the ex-wife of Little Richard, an American musician, singer, and songwriter.
She was only married to the artist for a short time, yet she garnered enough notice and celebrity. In reality, she is still referred to as his ex-wife in the media and by the general public.
Despite her celebrity, however, virtually little information about her is available in the media. Ernestine's divorce remains a mystery. How is her life now that she's moved on from her high-profile relationship? Is she married? Does she have any children?
This article has provided you with information on her work, age, marital relationships, and much more.

Ernestine Campbell Early And Personal Life

Ernestine Campbell, Little Richard's ex-wife, was born in the United States on October 31, 1935.
Ernestine Harvin is her given name. She hasn't said much about her parents, although she hails from a well-to-do Navy family. She is related to Doris Campbell and Freka Diedra Merrell.
Campbell and her parents moved around a lot when she was growing up. She has visited numerous cities in the United States, including Diamond Bar, Lynchburg, and Los Angeles, among others.
Her sun sign is absent, as is her birth month. There is no information provided on her early life, childhood, siblings, parents, and so on. She did, however, remain with her parents and siblings before her wedding.
Ernestine always attempted to keep her personal life hidden from the public and the media. Ernestine also completed her college and high school education at a prominent institution.

Ernestine Campbell Age

Ernestine Campbell was 83 years old when she died. Her husband, Little Richard, died on May 9, 2010, at the age of 87. On December 5, 1932, he was born in Macon, Georgia, United States. He passed away on May 9, 2020.

Ernestine Campbell Body Measurements 

Ernestine stands around 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 65 kg. Her eyes are a dark brown hue, and her hair is black.
Similarly, she has a shoe size of 5.5. (UK). Furthermore, there are no additional data about her physical measurements.

Ernestine Campbell Family

Our efforts to learn more about her family were futile because no such information is publicly available. As a result, Ernestine's parents' identities remain unknown.
It is also unknown whether she has any siblings. Nonetheless, this area will be updated as soon as new information becomes available.

Ernestine Campbell Did Not Have A Child On Her Own

Despite being married for almost four years, she had no children of her own. She and her ex-husband Penniman, on the other hand, adopted a one-year-old child named Danny Jones.
Richard, on the other hand, was quite close to his son, and they were frequently seen together as he grew up. According to accounts, Richard and Danny spent so much time together that he appeared to be his father's bodyguard.
Furthermore, when asked why Ernestine didn't have any children, she stated that she never thought they needed one. Harvin claimed in the book "The Life and Times of Little Richard" that she does not regret not having a child and is content being close to her spouse. She stated,
“I don’t regret that we didn’t have children because we always had each other. We’re still very close. It doesn’t matter who comes or goes, I’m usually in touch with him and he stays in touch with me.”
Ernestine with his ex-husband Little Richard
Ernestine with his ex-husband Little Richard

Ernestine Was Married To Richard Wayne Penniman

Ernestine was married to musician and composer Richard Wayne Penniman, nicknamed Little Richard, as previously reported.
On July 12, 1959, the former husband and wife married in California. Their wedding was a spectacular affair attended by many of their friends and family members.
Ernestine and Richard initially met during an evangelistic demonstration in October 1957. The pair hit it off immediately away and began dating shortly after.
During the first several years of their marriage, the married couple was quite close. She even said on several occasions that she had a nice marriage with Richard and a regular sexual connection.
Despite all of their closeness and chemistry, their marriage eventually began to break apart. The couple split in 1964, about four years into their marriage.
Furthermore, she claimed that he had become a neglected spouse since he had still altered his sexual orientation to gay.
Robinson and Harvin, on the other hand, disputed Penninman's assertions that he was gay. She carried on with her life after the divorce and eventually wedded Mcdonald Campbell on March 23, 1975, in Santa Barbara, California.
Little Richard had a relationship with Lee Angel as well.

All About Ernestine Ex-husband Little Richard

Richard Wayne Penniman, better known as Little Richard, the self-proclaimed "Architect of Rock 'n' Roll," toured with famous vaudeville performer Spencer "Snake" Anthony in his early days.
Richard's early ensembles included the then-unknown vocalist James Brown (the Godfather of Soul), a fourteen-year-old pianist named Billy Preston, and the famed and iconic rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix.
His first recording session was at WGST in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, with a local band headed by Billy Wright.
This session resulted in a local song named "Every Hour," which received extensive playing on Atlanta's WERD radio station, the country's first entirely Black-owned radio station.
Billy Wright, Little Richard's hero, reportedly described him as "the most amazing performer he had ever seen." Wright, in fact, was the one who wore Pancake 31 makeup.
Little Richard admits to imitating Wright's love of thick makeup and crazy stage antics.
With a sexually ambiguous public character and personal life, he would leave his mark with later successes such as the provocative "Tutti Frutti" and "Good Golly Miss Molly."
Unbeknownst to many admirers, Richard overcame crippling drug addiction and went on to become an ordained pastor.
Beginning in the 1980s, he saw a rebirth in popularity as he landed modest acting jobs in which he wowed audiences old and new with his distinctive comic timing.
Little Richard, as varied and youthful as ever, continues to enchant fans across the world with his amazing stage presence and theatrical antics.
He is now a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the American Songwriters Hall of Fame, and he is still one of the world's most popular artists.
Several honors have been bestowed upon him during his lifetime.
He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
Similarly, in 2003, 2006, and 2009, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Apollo Theater Hall of Fame, and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
At the Grammys in 1993, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Little Richard
Little Richard

Death Cause Of Little Richard

Little, actual name Rich Penniman, was a flamboyant piano-playing rock and roll pioneer. Danny Penniman, his son, confirmed his father's death.
According to Richard's guardian, he had been suffering from a number of health issues in recent years, including a stroke and a heart attack. All of this was accompanied by hip issues.
On December 5, 1932, in Macon, Georgia, the United States, Little was born Richard Wayne Penniman. He died on May 9, 2020, in Tullahoma, Tennessee, in the United States, at the age of 87.
Little was the third child of Leva Mae (née Stewart) and Charles “Bud” Penniman, who had twelve children in all. His father was a church deacon and a brick builder who also ran a nightclub called the Tip In Inn and sold bootlegged moonshine on the side.

The Reason Behind Ernestine Campbell And Richard Penniman’s Divorce

Ernestine and Richard divorced after just around 4 years of marriage, which was unexpected. According to Harvin, her marriage was terminated due to her ex-celebrity husband's status.
Furthermore, Richard confessed that he was a negligent husband, which caused their marriage to fail. Furthermore, he stated that his sexuality may be one of the reasons.

Ernestine Married For The Second Time To Mcdonald Campbell

Harvin was married more than once. She remarried following her divorce from her first spouse. She had a hiatus of almost 9 years after her divorce in 1964 before deciding to walk down the aisle for the second time.
She married Mcdonald Campbell this time. On March 23, 1975, the couple married in Santa Barbara, California. However, the pair has made few public appearances since their marriage. Unfortunately, there are no current updates about their relationship.

Ernestine Campbell Career And Professional Life

Few people are aware that Campbell has previously held a high position. She is said to be a former Washington, D.C. secretary. She has also served in the Navy in addition to this post.
Ernestine is from a Navy family, as described in the book The Life and Times of Little Richard. In reality, she had previously worked for the Department of Navy.

Ernestine Campbell Net Worth And Social Media

Ernestine is a shy and secretive individual. She is not active or accessible on any social media platforms. She always kept out of the public spotlight and away from the media.
Ernestine's occupation and net worth are unknown. Her ex-husband, Little Richard, on the other hand, has a net worth of $40 million.
Ernestine Campbell
Ernestine Campbell

10 Facts About Ernestine Campbell

  • Ernestine Campbell was well-known as Richard Wayne Penniman's wife. Richard, also known as Little Richard, was a singer, songwriter, and musician from the United States.
  • Harvin was of ordinary height; she had not revealed her height to the public. Her height will be provided after we receive confirmation from a reliable source.
  • Harvin was a native of the United States.
  • After conducting our investigation, we discovered that no information about her parents is accessible, nor is it known whether she has any siblings.
  • Richard Wayne Penniman started his career in the industry in the mid-1950s.
  • His music performances were integrated between African Americans and White Americans.
  • In 1962, little Richard abandoned rock and roll music to experience his new phase of life.
  • Penniman and Harvin adopted Danny Jones, a one-year-old son, from a deceased church member.
  • She remarried following her divorce from her first husband, Richard Wayne Penniman.
  • She had a 9-year break before deciding to walk down the aisle for the second time.
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Iram Martins

Iram Martins

Author
Iram Martins is a seasoned travel writer and explorer with over a decade of experience in uncovering the world's hidden gems. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management from the University of Lisbon, Iram's credentials highlight his authority in the realm of travel. As an author of numerous travel guides and articles for top travel publications, his writing is celebrated for its vivid descriptions and practical insights. Iram’s passion for cultural immersion and off-the-beaten-path adventures shines through in his work, captivating readers and inspiring wanderlust. Outside of his writing pursuits, Iram enjoys learning new languages, reviewing films and TV shows, writing about celebrity lifestyles, and attending cultural festivals.
Elisa Mueller

Elisa Mueller

Reviewer
Elisa Mueller, a Kansas City native, grew up surrounded by the wonders of books and movies, inspired by her parents' passion for education and film. She earned bachelor's degrees in English and Journalism from the University of Kansas before moving to New York City, where she spent a decade at Entertainment Weekly, visiting film sets worldwide. With over 8 years in the entertainment industry, Elisa is a seasoned journalist and media analyst, holding a degree in Journalism from NYU. Her insightful critiques have been featured in prestigious publications, cementing her reputation for accuracy and depth. Outside of work, she enjoys attending film festivals, painting, writing fiction, and studying numerology.
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