For some people making fun of Kentuckians is just that, fun! All they know is what they hear and see in movies. Kentucky has long been stereotyped as a place of coal miners, horse farms (which are exceptionally beautiful by the way), hillbillies, rednecks, and hicks. According to the rest of the world most of us women are pregnant, barefoot and pregnant, or barefoot +pregnant with no teeth. The men are characterized as uneducated love-to-fight redneck NASCAR fanatics with no teeth(sorry nascar fans, I’m not making fun of you. I just don’t like the sport).

I’m here to put a stop to those stereotypes. Well, for myself anyway, because we’re not all like that. I’m not your stereotypical Kentuckian even though I am known to walk around barefoot…and I do have that Southern accent (which I LOVE by the way). I don’t want anyone else’s accent just like you don’t want mine. Isn’t nice that we are all different?

I’m sure I do have some hillbilly tendencies since I grew up in a small mountainous town with a population less than 500. I went on to a small town university two hours away and that is where we currently reside. Sure, you are going to see stereotypical people around town but don’t confuse me with them. I’m educated (MBA & BA in psychology). I have teeth (aren’t you excited?). I hate NASCAR (we’re football fans here). My husband is far from uneducated (unless you consider PHD candidates dumb) and far from redneck but it’s possible that he is a hillbilly geek if there is such a thing because when he wants to be, he sure is country. And, I’m country when I want to be. I like me some soup beans, cornbread, and killed lettuce. Anyone besides me know what that is? I don’t say y’all. I do say ain’t. I don’t listen to country music except for the occassional Dixie Chicks song. I do have Southern Hospitality. Is it bad that I’m nice and don’t mind making small talk with strangers? Contrary to popular belief, you can be smart, a good parent, and eat healthy and still live in KY.

Sure, we have a few redneck friends and country/hillbilly family but the love, family values and hospitality is so worth it. I’m sure once you hear my voice you would automatically assume I am dumb like Britney Spears. But you know what, I don’t think she is as dumb as everyone thinks. It’s the accent that gets her. If I had to pick a celebrity to reflect where I’m from, how I sound, and some hillbilly tendencies that I have, I would say for lack of better Southern choices, Britney Spears (minus her bad parenting decisions) or Ashley Judd. Go ahead and laugh. Do you think I really care? Does saying that make me sound dumb? If it does, then so be it.

Don’t we have better things to do in this world rather than poking fun at other people? Don’t get me wrong, I do it sometimes too especially when it comes to celebrities but I’m not likely to judge your everyday real people based on what state they come from. In all honestly, I don’t have one bad thing to say about any other state or the people in it. Sure, sometimes it makes for good writing and it’s funny but when it comes down to it, I’m just not like that. I’m not upset when someone makes a comment about the people in Kentucky because most of the time I know it’s all in good fun. But I do want everyone to know I’m not your typical hillbilly.