Alumni Spotlight – Tammy Little Haynes  

By Brittney Kimber

From Miss Alabama in 1984 to Ms. Senior World 60s in 2021, Tammy Little Haynes has performed for some of the world’s leaders and top entertainers for decades. She credits her experiences at Jax State for helping her step out of her comfort zone and into a career as an entertainer.   

“In the fall of 1979, I started at JSU. The youngest of four children, I decided to use my scholarships I won in the Alabama Junior Miss program,” Haynes said. “I was Jackson County’s Junior Miss 1979 and a finalist at the state program. JSU was the perfect size campus for the small-town girl from Section, Alabama, and I certainly fit right in to contributing to the Friendliest Campus in the South!”

Haynes became involved in Fraternity and Sorority Life at Jax State, pledging Alpha Xi Delta and was a Kappa Alpha Southern Belle.

“I hit the socializing scene wide open! I was clueless about Greek Life, but it didn’t stop me from participating in Sorority Rush,” Haynes said. “In the spring of 1980 after attending JSU football games and seeing the Marching Southerners for the first time, I knew I wanted to be a Marching Ballerina. We didn’t even have a band at my high school or a dance line, but I didn’t see that as an obstacle.”

Haynes said her time as a Marching Ballerina prepared her for the same discipline and drive she experienced competing in Miss Alabama.

“The tryout (Marching Ballerinas) along with the practices was the most grueling training I have ever experienced. I have great respect for members of a marching band,” Haynes said. “Being a Marching Ballerina required a lot of self-discipline and certainly pushed my physical abilities to the limit.”

While at Jax State, Haynes competed each June in Miss Alabama for five years, perfecting her craft and developing a love of performing.

"I competed in my first Miss Alabama preliminary because I was asked to compete and I could win a scholarship for college. I had a wonderful time meeting all the contestants,” Haynes said. “It was definitely a learning process, and fortunately, I was persistent. I was wise enough to observe and learn what I could do to be a better version of myself.”  

Haynes took a year off from her studies to work in Birmingham for a theatre production of Grease, something she had never experienced before but loved the performance aspect. 

“I returned to JSU in 1983 and won Miss Alabama in June of 1984,” Haynes said. “From that point on, I never looked back from the world of entertainment. I competed at Miss America and was chosen to be a Miss America Showstopper and traveled across the U.S performing at corporate conventions. I learned I could be paid to do something I love, entertaining an audience!”

Haynes expanded her career into the music industry. She had a country music band, toured with The Tennessee River Boys (Diamond Rio) and Ty Herndon, among others.

“I moved to Nashville, worked on Music Row, was in a show at the Roy Acuff Theatre where a musical agent asked me to do a six-month contract entertaining on a cruise ship,” Haynes said. “While there, I invested in my own solo show, became a headliner, and moved to New York City. The Rapp agency managed my career. I performed in New York and the Pocono and Catskills mountain resorts, and I traveled the world entertaining on numerous cruise lines.

I have entertained for President Reagan at three events and visited with President Bush in the White House after singing the National Anthem at his political rally where he responded that I settled the issue of having The Star-Spangled Banner as our National Anthem. He stated I had perfect pitch! What a compliment that was!”

Haynes said being Miss Alabama was the stepping stone to her career as an entertainer. In addition to dining with Presidents of the United States, she was able to sing with great entertainers such as Bob Hope while traveling the world and experiencing different cultures.  

In 1991, Haynes returned to her hometown of Section, Alabama.  In recent years, she earned the titles of Ms. Senior Alabama and Ms. Senior World 60s. She approached the platform as a way to raise awareness of ALS.  

“A friend asked me to compete in Ms. Senior Alabama. I said, ‘Why would I want to do that?  The last pageant I was in was Miss America,’” Haynes said. “But I looked at the program and decided if I won, I could use my year of service as a platform for ALS awareness. My father passed away from ALS in 2001, five months after being diagnosed.

After winning the title of Ms. Senior Alabama 2021, I competed and won Ms. Senior World 60s. I used a year of service to educate the public about ALS and its military connection, as well as raise funds to help families in the everyday battle of ALS and help fund research. On December 26, 2021, my brother-in-law also passed away from ALS.”

Haynes said competing in Ms. Senior Alabama also allowed her to reconnect with herself.

“Competing in Ms. Senior Alabama reintroduced myself to Tammy. I was a woman, like many, who lost themselves along the way while raising their children. I am now more health conscious and attempt to make time for myself,” Haynes said. “I still enjoy singing and speaking at events and dancing. Veterans are very special to me, and I work as a community liaison for Hospice. I love being with my family and playing with my three grandsons.”    

She said she cherishes the time she had a Jax State, where she learned to step out in faith to experience things she otherwise did not have access to, and to accept the challenges.

“The unknown can be exciting and help prepare you for a journey that you could never imagine. Relationships made along the way are what makes places special. JSU will always hold a sacred place in my heart,” Haynes said.

“Mrs. Lovett was very patient with my inability to write a paper correctly. Laughter shared with friends as I dressed up and acted like a Gamecock at a JSU Pep Rally taught me the joy of not taking myself seriously! Interviews with Coach Abbott to be a Diamond Doll and the discipline required to develop the skill of marching and dancing as a Marching Ballerina gave me the confidence and satisfaction to not be afraid to try. College life was a time of transition for me. I didn’t know what direction I was taking at the time, but somehow I landed safely and have had a wonderful life. Gaining experience has to begin somewhere. I achieved great things by having the courage to try. Some might say ignorance is bliss. I say you never know until you try!”