In 1986, Rona Barrett bought her first ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley and commuted back and forth to Los Angeles until 1991. It was then that she decided to reside on the Central Coast full time. Miss Rona had spent three decades of her life on television, starting her career on the local Los Angeles station, KABC, graduating to their five owned and operated stations around the country and finally to the network in 1975 where she inaugurated Good Morning America.

Throughout her career spanning more than 30 years as a vastly successful entertainment reporter, commentator and producer, Rona Barrett has been both an eyewitness to and an expert on the ever-changing world of entertainment and celebrities in the news including sports figures and political leaders.

A true pioneer and innovator in this challenging landscape, Ms. Barrett has achieved a number of historic firsts along the way.

Known as the "Premier Reporter" of Entertainment Journalism

The first to recognize there was a new and larger generation of young people than America had ever seen before with interests in stars and celebrities different from their parents. She called them Young Hollywood. They included young stars such as Jimmy Dean, Natalie Wood, Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Fabian, Frankie Avalon, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and many more. Rona began covering these young stars for The Bell-McClure-NANA newspaper syndicate as the youngest columnist to ever report on Hollywood and other entertainment personalities.
The first to bring entertainment reporting to the world of television when she began broadcasting in 1966 for KABC, the ABC owned and operated station in Los Angeles.
The first to bring in-depth entertainment reporting and celebrity interviews to the world of morning television when she helped inaugurate Good Morning America in 1975 as its Arts and Entertainment Editor.
The first entertainment journalist to edit a stable of magazines bearing her name in the 60’s and 70’s, including Rona Barrett’s Hollywood, Rona Barrett’s Preview, and Rona Barrett’s Daytimers.
The first entertainment journalist to cover the business of show business, first on Good Morning America followed by NBC’s Today Show and Entertainment Tonight as well as the publisher of Hollywood’s first insider newsletter, The Barrett Report. She ruled this domain so forcefully that David McClintick, the author of “Indecent Exposure,” the best-selling book about the David Begelman/Columbia Pictures scandal, used many of her news reports to open each chapter of his book.
The first entertainment reporter to be called upon as a consultant for Fortune 500 companies with entertainment holdings.
She is also the author of three books including her best-selling intimate autobiography,
Miss Rona.

Miss Rona Barrett ~ Is a Nova to me. She is a glittering star. The Hollywood Community is well served by such a thoughtful and giving journalist. The History of many great movie and media stars, is better known to us, because of her insightful, up close and personal relationship, with the stars themselves.

I am truly fortunate to have met Miss Rona Barett, and the belated William Trowbridge.

Our story begins at a chance meeting in a 1980. I was appearing at the "Studio Cafe",
in Studio City, California. I was opening for the band, "TT & The Targets", starring
Tinara Tyler. Tinara was a new wave music artist, with her hit "Mondo Lust". Tinara
asked me to open for her band, with my black light nunchaku show, called "Halo Aura".
Upon finishing my show, Miss Barrett beckoned me to chat with her, at her table, she was present with Mr. Trowbridge of 29 Productions. The conversation that we had, was truly inspiring to a young artist, such as myself, she & Mr. Trowbridge were so gracious to "chat" and share their enthusiasm for my show. I knew of Miss Barrett's Columns, that she was famous for, my Mother was always a fan of Rona, and I learned about her, from my Mother, originally. To have had the opportunity to actually meet her, was a thrill for not only me, but, my Mother too. Being that my Act is considered to be "unique", it was hard to gauge the impact of the show, passed the audiences enthusiasm. Rona, gave me the confidence and security that I was on the right track, she was excited and intrigued that the martial arts could be represented in such a beautifully artful way. She whispered in my ear, endearing words, that an aspiring performer needs to hear, at such a transitional time, that it was for me. I had performed mainly on the martial arts tour, such as PKA World Championships, Ted Turner's Wide World of Entertainment, Joe Corley's Battle of Atlanta and many other tournaments and events. Now, I was pursuing a night club performance, which lead to opening concerts across the country.
Here's to you, Miss Barrett, from a guy that truly appreciates a kind word and a gentle wisdom that has stayed with me, all these many years. I treasured your beckoned call ~
it changed my life. Thank You, with all my heart, for passing on the light of love as inspiration, in a fragile time in my life. Roy Williams