RIP: A Major Hollywood Star from East Texas Has Passed Away

How Many Hollywood Stars from East Texas Can You Name?

Probably the first person that comes to the minds of many is this guy...

Matthew McConaughey may have been born in Uvalde, Texas, but he spent much of his youth in Longview.

Did you know Forest Whitaker also spent much of his youth in East Texas? The actor who has been in movies such as Phenomenon, Good Morning Vietnam, and the Last King of Scotland, was born in Longview.

Did you know Ann Miller, one of Hollywood's best dancers, was born in Chireno, Texas? (she was only 15 in the video above)

How about this gentleman?

This is Will Jennings. He was born in Kilgore in June 1944, and he passed away in Tyler on September 6, 2024, following a long illness.

Jennings was a lyricist who wrote numerous hit songs, several of which were iconic and legendary.

Yes, Jennings wrote the words to the Titanic monster hit "My Heart Will Go On". That song (1997) was included in the Recording Industry Association of America's top songs of the century.

Jennings penned another huge movie hit that also made that list.

In 1982, "Up Where We Belong" from the movie blockbuster "An Officer and a Gentleman" won Jennings an Academy and Golden Globe Award.

Here are a few other hits that Jennings wrote

• Looks Like We Made It - Barry Manilow
• Please Remember Me - Tim McGraw (another RIAA top song of the century)
• Higher Love, Roll With It, Back in The High Life Again, Valerie - Steve Winwood
• Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton (Grammy Award)
• Didn't We Almost Have It All - Whitney Houston

And, let's not forget this song that reappears on playlists every holiday season

From Cindy Lou Who to Celine Dion, Will Jennings was a Hollywood movie A-lister, as well as a pop music icon as a lyricist.

Jennings is an alum of Tyler Junior College and Stephen F. Austin State University. The SFA Facebook Page posted this tribute to Jennings a few days following his death.

Will Jennings won multiple Grammy, Academy, and Golden Globe Awards. He was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

So, the next time you hear "My Heart Will Go On", "Where Are You Christmas?" or any of Will Jennings' hit songs, tip your hat to the oil derricks of Kilgore because that's where it all started.