Latane Brown was the first wife of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Sr. and the mother of his oldest son, Kerry Earnhardt. She married Dale as a teenager in 1968, before he became a NASCAR star.
Latane and Dale divorced in 1970. She later married Jackie Lynn “Jack” Key, who adopted and helped raise Kerry. Latane spent most of her later life outside the public spotlight. She died on July 10, 2021, at age 69.
Latane Brown’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Latane Betty Brown Key |
| Known as | Latane Brown |
| Date of birth | November 17, 1951 |
| Birthplace | Cabarrus County, North Carolina |
| Nationality | American |
| Father | Hoyt Allen Brown |
| Mother | Robbie Lee Crook Brown |
| First husband | Dale Earnhardt Sr. |
| Marriage year | 1968 |
| Divorce year | 1970 |
| Second husband | Jackie Lynn “Jack” Key |
| Children | Kerry Earnhardt and reportedly Janene “J.J.” Key |
| Grandchildren | Bobby, Jeffrey, Blade, and Kayla |
| Profession | Not publicly documented |
| Date of death | July 10, 2021 |
| Age at death | 69 |
| Burial place | Reportedly Carolina Memorial Park |
| Known for | Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s first wife and Kerry Earnhardt’s mother |
Latane Brown’s Early Life
Latane Betty Brown was reportedly born on November 17, 1951, in Cabarrus County, North Carolina.
She grew up around the Kannapolis area. Her family had long ties to this part of North Carolina.
Very little information is publicly available about her childhood.
Latane Brown’s Parents
Latane’s parents were reportedly Hoyt Allen Brown and Robbie Lee Crook Brown.
Few details about their lives or careers are publicly available.
Did Latane Brown Have Siblings?
Reliable information about Latane’s siblings is not publicly available.
It is not known whether she had brothers or sisters.
Latane Brown’s Education
Latane’s educational background has not been publicly documented.
There is no reliable information about the schools she attended, college education, or any degree.
What Did Latane Brown Do for a Living?
Latane’s profession is not reliably known.
Most public information about her focuses on her family and her early marriage to Dale Earnhardt Sr.
She spent much of her later life away from public attention.
Who Was Dale Earnhardt Sr.?
Dale Earnhardt Sr. was an American professional stock-car driver and one of NASCAR’s best-known figures.
He won seven championships in NASCAR’s top series.
Dale became known as The Intimidator because of his aggressive racing style. He was also closely associated with the black No. 3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.
His father, Ralph Earnhardt, was also a stock-car driver.
Most of Dale’s major racing success came after his marriage to Latane had ended.
Latane Brown and Dale Earnhardt Married as Teenagers
Latane and Dale married in 1968.
Reports say Latane was 16 and Dale was 17.
Dale was still in the early stages of his racing life and had not yet become a NASCAR star.
Latane and Dale Earnhardt’s Son
Latane and Dale had one child together.
Their son, Kerry Earnhardt, was born on December 8, 1969.
Kerry was Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s first child.
Latane Brown and Dale Earnhardt’s Divorce
Latane and Dale divorced in 1970, when Kerry was still very young.
Their marriage lasted about two years.
A reliable reason for their divorce has not been publicly established.
Latane Brown’s Second Husband
After divorcing Dale, Latane married Jackie Lynn Key, commonly known as Jack Key.
Jack became an important part of Latane and Kerry’s family life.
He reportedly worked as a manager for Hardee’s restaurants.
Jack Key Adopted Kerry Earnhardt
Jack adopted Kerry after marrying Latane.
Kerry then grew up using the name Kerry Key.
For much of Kerry’s childhood, Jack was the main father figure in his life.
Kerry later returned to using the Earnhardt surname.
Jack Key’s Relationship With Kerry
Kerry has spoken positively about the man who raised him.
Jack reportedly took him hunting and golfing. He also supported Kerry when he became interested in racing.
Jack helped with Kerry’s first late-model race car and worked as part of his racing crew.
Kerry later credited Jack with helping shape the person he became.
Kerry’s Relationship With Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Kerry reportedly had little or no contact with his biological father between about the ages of five and 16.
He later reconnected with Dale during his teenage years.
Their relationship eventually included a shared interest in racing.
Did Latane Brown Have a Daughter?
Later reports and family information identify Janene “J.J.” Key as Latane’s daughter with Jack Key.
An earlier source said it was unclear whether Latane had children with her second husband.
Because the earlier and later reports differ, J.J. is best described as Latane’s reported daughter unless stronger family records are used for confirmation.
What Happened to Jack Key?
Jack remained part of Latane’s family for many years.
He reportedly died on March 15, 2007, at age 56.
A reported obituary for Jack identified Kerry Earnhardt as his son and J.J. Key as his daughter.
Kerry Earnhardt Became a Race-Car Driver
Kerry eventually followed his biological father into motorsports.
Dale Sr. reportedly formed Chance Racing for Kerry and his half-brother, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Kerry later raced for a team co-owned by former NFL quarterback and sports analyst Terry Bradshaw.
His career included seven NASCAR Cup Series starts and four ARCA race wins.
Kerry Earnhardt’s Family
Kerry became a father at a young age.
His children identified in the supplied sources include:
- Bobby Dale Earnhardt
- Jeffrey Earnhardt
- Blade
- Kayla
Kerry later married Rene Earnhardt, who reportedly worked in veterinary medicine.
Kerry and Rene also became business partners.
Jeffrey Earnhardt Continued the Racing Tradition
Latane’s grandson Jeffrey Earnhardt became a professional race-car driver.
His career continued a long family connection with motorsports.
The racing line includes Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Kerry Earnhardt, and Jeffrey Earnhardt.
The Earnhardt Collection
Kerry and Rene co-founded a family lifestyle brand called The Earnhardt Collection.
The business was inspired by their interest in outdoor living.
The commercial use of the Earnhardt name later became part of a legal dispute involving Dale Sr.’s third wife, Teresa Earnhardt, and Kerry.
The dispute concerned Kerry rather than Latane directly.
Latane Brown as a Grandmother
Latane became a grandmother through Kerry and was reportedly known in the family as Mawmaw Tane.
Later family accounts describe her as being close to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her reported grandchildren include Bobby, Jeffrey, Blade, and Kayla.
Latane Brown’s Interests
Family information provides a few details about Latane’s interests.
She reportedly liked:
- The color purple
- Disney’s Dopey
- Sun Drop
- Law & Order
- NASCAR races
- Mountains
- Beaches
- Plants
- Birds
- Butterflies
- Wind chimes
She also enjoyed spending time outdoors and in her yard.
Latane Brown Enjoyed Traveling
Latane reportedly enjoyed traveling but did not like flying.
She preferred traveling by car, train, or boat.
She also enjoyed attending family events and NASCAR races.
Latane Brown in 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story
Dale Earnhardt’s life was dramatized in the 2004 television movie 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story.
Barry Pepper played Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Actress Lori Beth Sikes, also known as Lori Beth Edgeman, reportedly portrayed Dale’s first wife.
The movie is a dramatization, so its scenes should not be treated as a complete historical record of Latane’s life.
Dale Earnhardt’s Life After Their Divorce
Dale continued racing after his marriage to Latane ended.
He eventually became one of NASCAR’s most successful drivers and won seven championships in the sport’s top series.
He also remarried and had more children.
His third and final wife was Teresa Earnhardt.
One of his other children, Dale Earnhardt Jr., also became a major NASCAR driver.
Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s Death
Dale Earnhardt Sr. died on February 18, 2001.
He suffered fatal injuries in a crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500.
He was 49 years old.
Latane and Dale had been divorced for more than 30 years by the time of his death.
What Happened to Latane Brown After Dale Earnhardt?
Latane built a new family life after divorcing Dale.
She married Jack Key, raised Kerry with him, and reportedly had a daughter, J.J. Key.
Unlike Dale, Latane did not live a highly public life.
She remained connected with her children, grandchildren, and the wider family while mostly staying away from media attention.
When Did Latane Brown Die?
Latane Brown died on July 10, 2021.
She was 69 years old.
Her cause of death has not been reliably established in the available information.
Her death came more than 20 years after Dale Earnhardt Sr. died and 14 years after Jack Key’s reported death.
Where Is Latane Brown Buried?
Latane was reportedly buried at Carolina Memorial Park in North Carolina.
More detailed burial information should be confirmed through family or cemetery records.
Latane Brown’s Net Worth
Latane Brown’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
There is no dependable public information about her income, assets, property, or estate.
Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s wealth should not be used as an estimate of Latane’s personal net worth.
Was Latane Brown on Social Media?
There are no verified public social media accounts connected with Latane in the available information.
She spent most of her life outside the public spotlight and died in 2021.
Facts About Latane Brown
- Her reported full name was Latane Betty Brown Key.
- She was born on November 17, 1951.
- Her birthplace was reportedly Cabarrus County, North Carolina.
- Her parents were reportedly Hoyt Allen Brown and Robbie Lee Crook Brown.
- Her education and profession are not publicly documented.
- She married Dale Earnhardt Sr. in 1968.
- Latane and Dale were both teenagers when they married.
- Their son, Kerry Earnhardt, was born on December 8, 1969.
- Latane and Dale divorced in 1970.
- She later married Jackie Lynn “Jack” Key.
- Jack adopted Kerry and helped raise him.
- Kerry used the Key surname during much of his childhood.
- Kerry later reconnected with Dale Earnhardt Sr.
- Kerry became a race-car driver.
- Later reports identify Janene “J.J.” Key as Latane’s daughter.
- Latane became a grandmother to Bobby, Jeffrey, Blade, and Kayla.
- Jeffrey Earnhardt continued the family’s racing tradition.
- Latane was reportedly called Mawmaw Tane by her family.
- She enjoyed NASCAR, nature, travel, and family activities.
- She reportedly disliked flying.
- Dale Earnhardt Sr. died in 2001.
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