Athena Cage was interviewed on Russellville’s WRUS-610 AM program FEEDBACK. During the interview, a girl called in and said that she loves Cage’s music and wants to be like her when she grows up. Cage said her line of work is not easy and not as glamorous as people might believe. It is hard work and hearing praises like that makes her feel that it is all worthwhile. Athena Cage’s line of work is music. She is a member of the R & B trio Kut Klose, whose first album (SURRENDER) was debuted in March of 1995. Over 400,000 copies have been sold. That’s not mentioning singing the duet NOBODY with popular singer Keith Sweat, who also produced SURRENDER. NOBODY has been at the number one spot on the music charts. She has appeared on Lou Rawls Parade of Stars telethon, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (which she considered a dream come true), on Soul Train, and she sung NOBODY with Sweat on the American Music Awards in January of 1997. Why, she even got to meet Dick Clark in person (whom she said looks young up close). And she is from the city of Russellville, just south of Bowling Green. Cage was born and raised in Russellville. She went to school here, and worked in the mayor’s office in Kentucky’s Summer Youth Program. Logan County has produced many distinguished figures in politics (e.g. Tom Rhea), sports (Mark Thompson), and even in the space program (astronaut Terry Wilcutt), but Cage is the first to make it this big in the field of music. It all started three years ago when Cage was attending Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia — majoring in chemistry. She had produced a demo on her own, and gave it to some friends she knew in Atlanta who run a production team. These same people were also producing an album for Keith Sweat, and they also knew Sweat was looking for a female musical group to produce. Cage had moved to Atlanta at this time with Tabitha Duncan of Michigan. Duncan heard her demo tape while Cage was still at Lindsey Wilson, and liked it. The two joined up and auditioned for Sweat. He liked what he heard and wanted to sign them up then. Cage didn’t believe Sweat at first because she didn’t think a decision would be made that quickly. However, she learned that he was serious. A talent search was made and La Von Battle of Birmingham soon joined the group. The three females called themselves Kut Klose. Music has always been an interest of Cage’s. She started singing at a young age. “I can’t remember not singing at all,” she said. She sang with the Cross Family Singers, and at weddings with Tyrone Cook (now known as Stephon). She even auditioned at Libby’s Steakhouse in Daysville, which she didn’t win. “I sing because it makes me feel good,” Cage said. “I love the expression of it. I love the feedback you get from the audience when you express something really powerful.” She now lives in Atlanta when she isn’t touring. She has toured in Europe. She said she usually gets the jitters before a show, but during the performances she really gets into it. The adrenaline starts pumping then. She said performing on the American Music Award was scary though. This was because it was her first time on an award show with such performers as Brandi and Toni Braxton. It was also scary for her at first to sing with Keith Sweat. Cage said Sweat has been good to Kut Klose and has given them a lot of leeway for a new group when it came to making SURRENDER. He has even let the group write some of the songs. The platinum selling single NOBODY isn’t the only song she has sung with Sweat. Kut Klose also sang with him on TWISTED, which they co-wrote. Cage likes to write but admits to enjoying singing more because there is more of an immediate feedback from the audience. But she hopes to do more song writing. One of the things she tries to spotlight in her writing is being a positive role model, to be a strong image for Black females, and to try to improve the community. Cage would like to continue her music career (a second album is in the works), and maybe do some acting, but she knows that job security is not always definite in this field. She plans to return to college one day and get her degree in chemistry so that she has something to fall back on. “I don’t know how long it will last,” she said. One of the comments made the most about Cage from friends is that she is very level-headed, and doesn’t let the success go to her head. She tries to keep a spiritual foundation. She thanks God for her talent which she considers a blessing. She tries to use her singing as a way to reach people and to make them feel positive about themselves. She also hasn’t seem to have forgotten her roots. Cage said she enjoys coming back to Russellville to visit. She added that she does her best writing when back here. “It’s good to be home, I’m proud to be a native of Russellville,” she said. Russellville seems to be proud of her. During the Feedback segment, people called in telling her how proud they were and wishing her the best. Cage said her family has been supportive of her. Her mother, Flora Cage, wishes she could attend every show her daughter performs. On Feb. 17, 1997, a ceremony was held for Cage at the Russellville High School. She received recognitions from U. S. Senators Mitch McConnell and Wendell Ford, U. S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, the Russellville Board of Education, the local chapter of the NAACP, Cedar Grove Church, the Concerned Citizens, and John Chaffin (her high school music teacher). Proclamations were issued from the Russellville City Council and the Logan County Fiscal Court declaring this day Athena Cage Day in Logan County. Also at the ceremony were Battle and Duncan, the other two-thirds of Kut Klose. Cage thanked everyone for their support. She was overwhelmed and said it brought back a lot of memories. “I’ll never forget this day,” she said. “It is truly a blessing from above.”