A news story about Taylor
TV show has family ties for La Grange man
by Kaitlin Keane Wednesday, October 3, 2007 3:59 PM CDT
A tomboy-turned-pageant queen is the best way to describe Johnny Dailey’s granddaughter-turned-TV star.
Dailey’s granddaughter, Taylor Dupriest of Portland, Ga., is one of 40 kids featured on the CBS television show “Kid Nation.”
According to CBS.com, “Kid Nation” is a reality show filmed in Bonznaz City, N.M. for 40 days. Viewers watch as the 40 kids work to build a community all their own. Without the help of adults, kids age eight to 15 work to overcome social issues of peer pressure, homesickness and the uncontrollable desire to rebel.
“Kid Nation” isn’t the first time Dailey, of La Grange, has watched his granddaughter on the silver screen. She’s appeared on The Disney Channel’s “Show Your Stuff” and has also appeared in print ads.
Taylor’s mother, Tabitha Dupriest, said “Kid Nation” is Taylor’s most recognizable work.
“‘Kid Nation’ is definitely the biggest thing shes ever done,” Tabitha said.
After being on Kid Nation, Taylor has learned to work for what she wants and to have more responsibility, Tabitha said. But Taylor is still the same kid before and after “Kid Nation,” her mother said.
Taylor’s leadership skills and versatility to be a girly-girl or a tomboy are some of the many traits that helped Taylor get on the show, Tabitha said, and also be on the show’s town council.
Town council is a select group of kids on “Kid Nation” who decide which child deserves a gold star worth $20,000.
According to a recap posted on CBS.com of the series’ second episode, the kids realize they’ll have to kill livestock - namely, the town chickens - if they want protein in their food.
During episode two, the mess hall goes into an uproar when word spreads that council members are considering killing the chickens because some of the kids have bonded with the
chickens.
As the arguments continue, Taylor puts the matter to a vote and the majority choose for the chickens to be killed. “We are cooking chickens!” she declares.
Later, three girls run to the chicken coop and lock themselves inside, intent on stopping any chicken killing.
Dailey said he is proud of his granddaughter for joining the show.
“She is a smart girl to be only 10, she’ll amount to something unlike the other Daileys,” he joked.
But she’s still just a young girl.
“The first night when she was crying, I just wanted to help her so bad,” Dailey said.
After the show taping ended, Tabitha said she gained more respect for not only her daughter but the rest of her family.
“We need to respect our kids,” Tabitha said.
Tabitha said she is proud of her daughter for going though such a positive experience and having faith in herself.
The adventure may not seem like much to some, but to the kids on “Kid Nation,” Tabitha said, they accomplished something great.
Dailey said he expects after the show people will look at his granddaughter in a new light and see her as more grown up than an average 10-year-old.
“Kid Nation” is shown at 8 p.m. Wednesdays on CBS. For information about Taylor or the show, visit
www.CBS.com.
News editor Jacquelyn Stoess Hack contributed to this story.
