Miss America 1980, the 53rd Miss America pageant, was televised from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 8, 1979, by the NBC Television Network.
Cheryl Prewitt was the third woman from Mississippi to win the title. During the competition, she was the only contestant to demonstrate two talents, singing while playing the piano.
Prewitt was crowned by Kylene Barker of Virginia, Miss America 1979.