Latane Brown Biography: Dale Earnhardt’s First Wife, Kerry Earnhardt’s Mother, Second Marriage, Family Life and Death

Latane Brown, later known as Latane Key, was the first wife of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt and the mother of his eldest son, former racer Kerry Earnhardt. Latane and Dale were teenagers when they married in 1968, years before “The Intimidator” became one of the biggest names in American motorsports. Their marriage was short, but Latane remained an important part of the Earnhardt family story through Kerry. She later married Jackie Lynn Key, raised a second family, became known affectionately as “Mawmaw Tane,” and lived mainly outside the celebrity spotlight until her death in 2021.

Quick Bio of Latane Brown

Latane’s funeral-home obituary confirms that she was born on November 17, 1951, died on July 10, 2021, was the wife of Jackie Key, and was the mother of Kerry Earnhardt and J.J. Key.

Who Was Latane Brown?

Latane Brown became connected with NASCAR history before anybody knew what Dale Earnhardt would eventually become.

She was not married to a seven-time Cup champion.

She was married to a teenage boy from Kannapolis who wanted to work on cars and race them.

A 2025 documentary about Dale Earnhardt gives one of the clearest family accounts of their early relationship. Dale’s sister Cathy Earnhardt explained that Latane and Dale met while they were in school, married young and later welcomed Kerry.

At that point, racing was still a dream.

Money was limited.

A baby had arrived.

And Dale was determined to build his life around automobiles.

Latane wanted something more stable for the young family.

Those different expectations eventually pulled them apart.

When Was Latane Brown Born?

Latane was born on November 17, 1951.

Her official funeral-home obituary confirms the date. She died before reaching her 70th birthday, making her 69 years old at the time of her death.

Some online articles incorrectly round her age to 70.

The dates make the correct answer easy:

November 17, 1951 to July 10, 2021 = 69 years.

She would have turned 70 about four months later.

Latane Brown’s Family Background

Latane came from a North Carolina family with long ties to the Kannapolis and Cabarrus County area.

An obituary for her brother Terry Blaine Brown identifies their parents as Hoyt Allen Brown and Robbie Lee Crook Brown. It also identifies Latane among Terry’s surviving siblings in 2018.

Other family records identify siblings including:

Terry Blaine Brown,

Gary Brown,

and Melitta Laine Brown Spry.

Melitta’s 2015 obituary also identifies Latane Key as her sister.

Latane herself did not become a public celebrity.

Much of what survives publicly about her comes from family records rather than interviews, television appearances or a professional biography.

How Did Latane Brown Meet Dale Earnhardt?

According to Dale’s sister Cathy, the two met in school.

They were both extremely young.

Dale was born April 29, 1951.

Latane arrived later the same year in November.

By 1968, the teenage couple had married. Biography.com and other established accounts describe Latane as Dale’s first wife and give 1968–1970 as the marriage period.

It was long before Dale’s first NASCAR Cup victory.

Long before the black No. 3 Chevrolet.

Long before seven championships.

And long before millions of race fans knew his name.

How Old Were Latane and Dale When They Married?

Dale was 17 when he married Latane in 1968, according to established biographies.

Latane was born in November 1951, meaning she was either 16 or 17 depending on the exact wedding date.

A precise public wedding day is not consistently documented in the strongest sources, so it is safer simply to say:

Latane and Dale were teenagers when they married.

That helps explain many of the difficulties that came next.

They were trying to become adults while already dealing with marriage, work, money and soon parenthood.

Latane Brown and Dale Earnhardt’s Son Kerry

Their only child together was Kerry Dale Earnhardt.

Kerry was born on December 8, 1969, in North Carolina.

He became Dale’s oldest child.

Years later, Kerry would become a professional stock-car racer himself, continuing the Earnhardt family’s motorsports tradition.

Dale later had three more children:

Kelley Earnhardt Miller,

Dale Earnhardt Jr.,

and Taylor Nicole Earnhardt.

But Kerry was the first.

And Latane was the mother at the very beginning of Dale’s family story.

Why Did Latane Brown and Dale Earnhardt Separate?

A recent family account gives more detail than many older biographies.

In the Earnhardt documentary, Cathy Earnhardt said Latane wanted Dale to spend more time at home with the baby.

Dale, meanwhile, wanted to become a mechanic and race-car driver.

Cathy remembered that Latane was unhappy with his constant focus on that path and said Latane eventually moved out while Dale was working.

That is a family recollection rather than Latane’s own published account.

Latane does not appear to have given a major public interview explaining the marriage from her side.

So it would be unfair to invent accusations or pretend we know every private detail.

The clearest explanation is that two very young people wanted different lives.

Dale was consumed by racing.

Latane was raising a baby and wanted stability.

The marriage did not survive.

When Did Latane Brown and Dale Earnhardt Divorce?

Most major biographies give 1970 as the divorce year.

Biography.com lists Dale’s marriage to Latane as 1968–1970.

Kerry was still only a very young child.

One source, IMDb, gives a later formal ending date in January 1972, creating a small conflict in the public record.

Because multiple racing and biographical sources use 1970, the simplest wording is:

Latane and Dale’s relationship ended around 1970, although online records differ about the exact legal finalization date.

Latane Brown’s Second Husband Jackie Lynn Key

Latane later married Jackie Lynn Key, usually called Jack.

This marriage became the much longer relationship in her adult life.

Jack’s 2007 obituary identifies Latane Brown Key as his wife and Kerry Earnhardt as his son.

Jack was born October 15, 1950.

He worked as a manager for Hardee’s restaurants and lived with Latane in Kannapolis.

He died on March 15, 2007, at age 56 after a lengthy illness.

Latane remained a widow for the rest of her documented life.

Jack Key Adopted Kerry Earnhardt

Jack played a major role in Kerry’s childhood.

Kerry himself explained in the 2025 documentary that Latane remarried and that Jack adopted him when he was about three years old.

For much of his childhood, Kerry therefore used the surname:

Key.

ESPN later reported that Kerry lived with Latane and Jack and used Key as his last name from around age three.

To young Kerry, Jack was simply Dad.

Kerry said in the documentary that Jack and Latane were the family he knew growing up.

He did not initially understand that famous racer Dale Earnhardt was his biological father.

Did Kerry Know Dale Earnhardt Was His Father?

Not during much of his early childhood.

This is one of the most surprising parts of Latane’s story.

Kerry recalled seeing a woman and two girls repeatedly attending his childhood baseball games.

Eventually the woman approached him and identified herself as his Mamaw Earnhardt.

That encounter opened questions about his family.

Kerry later learned more about Dale and eventually went looking for him as a teenager.

He said that after getting his driver’s license at 16, he went to where Dale was working on a race car.

Dale greeted him as his son.

They got into a truck together and talked.

It began a relationship that would become increasingly important to Kerry as he grew older.

Why Did Kerry Use the Last Name Key?

Because Jack Key adopted him.

For much of Kerry’s childhood, Kerry Key was the name he knew.

As an adult, he eventually reclaimed the Earnhardt surname.

During later trademark litigation, ESPN reported that Kerry testified that Dale supported his decision to use Earnhardt again.

That decision became particularly meaningful after Kerry entered racing himself.

The son who had grown up mostly outside his biological father’s household eventually raced under one of the most famous names in motorsports.

Who Was Latane Brown’s Daughter J.J. Key?

Latane’s later family also included Janene “J.J.” Key.

Both Latane’s 2021 obituary and Jackie Key’s 2007 obituary identify J.J. as their daughter/family member.

J.J. remained much more private than her famous half-brother.

Latane’s obituary identifies J.J.’s spouse as Tamara and describes the couple as part of the family that survived her.

There is little reason to publish unnecessary private details beyond what the family chose to include publicly.

Latane Brown as a Grandmother

This may have been the role Latane loved most later in life.

Her obituary says she proudly became a grandmother after her children reached adulthood.

Her family called her:

“Mawmaw Tane.”

The obituary names grandchildren:

Bobby Earnhardt, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Blade Compton and Kayla Earnhardt.

Bobby and Jeffrey continued the family’s racing connection.

Jeffrey Earnhardt became a professional NASCAR driver.

Bobby also competed in racing, extending the Earnhardt name into another generation.

But Latane’s obituary focuses less on trophies and more on how involved she was in their lives.

It says she supported the grandchildren as they grew and celebrated their accomplishments.

Latane Also Became a Great-Grandmother

Latane lived long enough to become a great-grandmother.

Her obituary names Brylon and Kylianne Earnhardt as great-grandchildren.

It also says many other children came to see her as a bonus mother or grandmother.

That description gives a much more personal picture of Latane than her usual internet label of “Dale Earnhardt’s ex-wife.”

To her family, NASCAR history was not the most important thing about her.

She was simply Tane.

Mom.

Mawmaw.

Did Latane Brown Stay Connected With NASCAR?

Interestingly, yes.

It would be easy to assume that after divorcing Dale she wanted nothing to do with racing.

Her obituary tells a different story.

It says one of the trips she especially enjoyed was going to a NASCAR race.

That makes sense.

Her son Kerry raced.

Her grandsons entered racing.

And motorsports remained connected with the family for generations.

Latane may have separated from Dale, but racing never completely disappeared from her life.

What Was Latane Brown Like Personally?

Her family’s obituary paints a warm picture.

It describes her as kind and welcoming, with a memorable laugh.

She loved the color purple.

She liked Disney’s Dopey.

She enjoyed Sun Drop.

She watched Law & Order.

She also enjoyed gardening, songbirds, hummingbirds and butterflies.

She did not like flying.

But the family wrote that if she could reach somewhere by:

car,

train,

or boat,

she was willing to go.

She enjoyed the mountains, beach, camping and family events.

Those small details tell us much more about the real Latane than celebrity net-worth websites ever could.

What Did Latane Brown Do for a Living?

A clearly documented long-term profession for Latane is difficult to establish.

Her obituary focuses on:

her children,

grandchildren,

family relationships,

travel,

gardening,

and hobbies.

It does not identify a major public career.

That means websites should be careful about casually giving her job titles that cannot be confirmed.

There is no established evidence that she was:

an actress,

NASCAR executive,

professional manager,

or media personality.

Her public importance comes primarily through her family.

What Was Latane Brown’s Net Worth?

There is no reliable figure.

Some websites attempt to assign Latane a net worth because Dale Earnhardt became wealthy and famous.

That approach does not work.

Latane divorced Dale decades before his peak NASCAR success.

There is no public financial disclosure showing her:

salary,

property value,

investments,

savings,

or debts.

So numbers such as $1 million or $5 million found on random biography pages should not be treated as established facts.

Latane Brown’s net worth was never publicly verified.

Dale Earnhardt’s Rise Came After Their Marriage

This is important for understanding Latane’s place in the story.

During their marriage, Dale was not yet “The Intimidator.”

His major NASCAR career came later.

He made his top-series debut in the mid-1970s.

He won his first Cup championship in 1980.

Over his career, Dale won seven Cup Series championships, tying the record at the time, and became one of the most famous drivers in American racing.

Latane therefore experienced the uncertain beginning.

Not the championship years.

Her marriage belonged to the period when racing was still a risky dream rather than a multimillion-dollar career.

Dale Earnhardt’s Other Wives and Children

After Latane, Dale married Brenda Gee.

They became parents of:

Kelley Earnhardt,

and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Later, Dale married Teresa Houston in 1982.

They welcomed daughter Taylor Nicole Earnhardt.

Teresa remained Dale’s wife until his death in 2001.

That gave Dale four children from three relationships:

Kerry,

Kelley,

Dale Jr.,

and Taylor.

Latane remained forever connected to this family tree because Kerry was the eldest.

Dale Earnhardt’s Death

Dale Earnhardt died on February 18, 2001, following a crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500.

His death shocked the racing world.

He was 49.

By then, the teenage relationship between Dale and Latane belonged to a distant chapter of history.

Kerry was an adult and had built a relationship with his father.

Dale Jr. was becoming a major NASCAR star.

And the Earnhardt surname had become one of racing’s most recognizable family names.

When Did Jackie Key Die?

Latane’s second husband, Jackie Lynn Key, died on March 15, 2007.

He was 56.

His funeral-home obituary says he died following a lengthy illness and names Latane Brown Key as his surviving wife.

It also names Kerry and J.J. among the family.

Jayski’s NASCAR coverage shared condolences with Kerry following Jack’s death, showing that the racing community recognized how important Jack had been in Kerry’s life.

Latane lived another 14 years after losing her husband.

When Did Latane Brown Die?

Latane died on July 10, 2021.

She was 69.

Her funeral was held on July 18 at Lady’s Funeral Home Chapel, followed by burial at Carolina Memorial Park.

The family asked people wishing to make memorial contributions to consider Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County.

Her obituary does not publicly state a precise medical cause of death.

Therefore, articles should not invent one.

Who Survived Latane Brown?

Her obituary says she was survived by:

her son Kerry,

Kerry’s wife René and their family,

her daughter Janene “J.J.”,

J.J.’s spouse Tamara and their family,

and longtime family companion Barry Morris.

She was preceded in death by:

her parents,

her siblings,

and Jackie.

The obituary also emphasizes the large number of people who considered Latane a bonus mother or grandmother.

That may be the best summary of her later legacy.

Was Latane Brown Portrayed in a Movie?

Yes.

The 2004 television movie 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story included Latane as a character.

Actress Lori Beth Sikes was credited with portraying her.

Like any biographical drama, the movie should not be treated as a documentary record of every private conversation.

But it shows how Latane’s early marriage became important enough to Dale’s life story that filmmakers included it.

Latane Brown in the 2025 Earnhardt Documentary

Latane’s story received renewed attention with the documentary series Earnhardt.

In the second episode, Kerry and Cathy Earnhardt discuss the early family history.

Cathy explains how Latane and Dale met at school.

Kerry describes growing up with Jack Key as his father.

He also explains how he eventually learned about Dale and reconnected with him as a teenager.

That modern documentary has helped people understand Latane as more than simply a name in Dale’s list of marriages.

What We Actually Know About Latane Brown

The reliable facts are quite clear.

Latane was born November 17, 1951.

She and Dale Earnhardt met while young and married as teenagers in 1968.

Their son Kerry was born December 8, 1969.

Their relationship ended around 1970.

Latane later married Jackie Lynn Key.

Jack adopted Kerry around age three.

Latane and Jack built a family that also included J.J. Key.

Jack died in 2007.

Latane became a grandmother and great-grandmother and remained closely involved with her family.

She died July 10, 2021, aged 69.

Those facts tell a much richer story than simply calling her “Dale Earnhardt’s first wife.”

Final Thoughts

Latane Brown’s biography begins in NASCAR history but ends as a family story.

She knew Dale Earnhardt before the championships.

Before the millions of fans.

Before the black No. 3 became an American motorsports icon.

They were teenagers trying to build a life.

They married in 1968.

Kerry arrived the following year.

But Latane wanted stability while Dale’s attention was increasingly consumed by cars, mechanics and racing. Family recollections say those differences became too large, and the marriage ended.

Latane then created a different life.

She married Jack Key.

Jack adopted Kerry and became the father who raised him.

Their family grew.

Kerry eventually discovered and rebuilt his relationship with Dale, then followed the Earnhardt tradition into professional racing.

Latane watched another generation arrive.

Bobby and Jeffrey became part of that racing legacy.

But her obituary remembers much more ordinary things too:

purple,

gardening,

family trips,

Sun Drop,

Law & Order,

hummingbirds,

and the grandchildren who called her Mawmaw Tane.

She died in 2021, but her place in NASCAR history remains permanent.

For readers searching for Latane Brown, the clearest answer is this: she was Dale Earnhardt’s teenage first wife and the mother of his eldest son Kerry, but she later built a long life of her own as Latane Key—a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whose family remembered her for much more than her connection to a famous race-car driver.

Frequently Asked Questions About Latane Brown

Who was Latane Brown?

Latane Brown was Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s first wife and the mother of his eldest son, Kerry Earnhardt. She later married Jackie Lynn Key.

What was Latane Brown’s full name?

She is commonly identified as Latane Betty Brown Key and was known later in life as Latane Key.

When was Latane Brown born?

She was born on November 17, 1951.

When did Latane Brown die?

She died on July 10, 2021.

How old was Latane Brown when she died?

She was 69 years old.

Was Latane Brown Dale Earnhardt’s first wife?

Yes. They married in 1968 while they were teenagers.

How did Latane Brown meet Dale Earnhardt?

Dale’s sister Cathy said Latane and Dale met while they were in school.

When did Latane and Dale Earnhardt divorce?

Most established biographies place the end of the marriage around 1970, although some databases differ on the precise legal date.

Did Latane Brown and Dale Earnhardt have children?

Yes. They had one son together, Kerry Dale Earnhardt, born December 8, 1969.

Who raised Kerry Earnhardt?

Latane and her second husband, Jackie Key, primarily raised Kerry. Jack adopted him when he was about three years old.

Did Kerry always know Dale Earnhardt was his father?

No. Kerry has explained that Jack was the father figure he knew while growing up and that he learned more about Dale later in childhood before reconnecting with him as a teenager.

Who was Latane Brown’s second husband?

Her second husband was Jackie Lynn “Jack” Key.

When did Jackie Key die?

He died on March 15, 2007, aged 56.

Did Latane Brown have a daughter?

Her later family included daughter Janene “J.J.” Key, who is named in both Latane’s and Jack’s obituaries.

Who were Latane Brown’s grandchildren?

Her obituary names Bobby Earnhardt, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Blade Compton and Kayla Earnhardt.

What did her grandchildren call her?

She was affectionately known as “Mawmaw Tane.”

Did Latane Brown still attend NASCAR races?

Her obituary says NASCAR races were among the trips and events she enjoyed attending.

What was Latane Brown’s profession?

A specific long-term public profession is not clearly documented in her obituary or stronger biographical sources.

What was Latane Brown’s net worth?

Her net worth was never independently verified.

Was Latane Brown portrayed in a film?

Yes. Lori Beth Sikes played Latane in the 2004 TV movie 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story.

Where was Latane Brown buried?

Her funeral-home obituary says she was buried at Carolina Memorial Park following her July 2021 funeral.

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