By Carla Jean Whitley

carlaw@cullmantimes.com

Cullman native Kassie Miller has been named the “Ultimate Coyote” on Country Music Television’s reality show “The Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search.”

Miller, who moved to Somerville as a child and to Nashville at age 19, was selected to represent Coyote Ugly Saloon, a franchise of bars founded by Liliana Lovell and made famous nationally by the 2000 movie “Coyote Ugly.” Bartenders, or “Coyotes,” have a reputation for singing, dancing on the bar, showy bartending and tough attitudes.

“I am so proud of her — you have no idea,” said Janna Wilson, Miller’s aunt and an Eva resident.

“She’s a fun-loving person. She’s beautiful inside and out and I’m so proud of her,” Wilson said. “I hope she’ll get a record label. I hope that somebody gives her a label because she deserves it. She has worked to earn her way.”

In March, Miller auditioned for the show, which featured Lovell and several assistants touring the country to select women competitors for the title. The five finalists competed at the re-opening of the bar’s New Orleans location before Lovell selected Miller as the winner.

Miller’s prize was $25,000, and she is now employed at the Coyote Ugly Saloon in Nashville.

Miller said in an earlier interview with The Times that she was excited to meet Liliana “Lil” Lovell, who founded Coyote Ugly Saloon at age 24, and Jacqui, the choreographer who traveled with the show.

“When the movie came out … it doesn’t matter how old you are. Every little girl wanted to be Tyra Banks, dancing on the bar,” Miller said. “It’s, to me, just such an independent, successful woman who had a dream. It was really inspirational to get to meet (her).”



The Details

Catch reruns of some of the eight-episode series “The Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search” on CMT. The following dates are from the network’s Web site, www.cmt.com. Visit the Web site or check local listings for future showtimes.

‰ 3 p.m. Saturday: Episode 5

‰ 4 p.m. Saturday: Episode 6

‰ 5 p.m. Saturday: Episode 7

‰ 6 p.m. Saturday: Episode 8

‰ 9 p.m. Monday: Episode 7

‰ 10 p.m. Monday: Episode 8