Country Music Literature

[Deleted]

So I was in Barnes and Noble today (for those who don't know, it's a book store) and I came across some books that I didn't know we're out. One was Willie Nelson's "It's A Long Story: My Life" and Steve Earle's "I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive". I'm very excited to read both, so I figured I would make a thread for people to discuss either their favorite books written by country stars, or their favorite books written ABOUT country stars. So fire away with your favorite country music literature! :)

I will also add that I have read Willie Nelson's "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die"

[someguy]

I've read Reba's My Story and Comfort From A Country Quilt, Dolly's My Life (And Other Unfinished Business), Shania's From This Moment On, Wynonna's Coming Home To Myself, Naomi Judd's Love Can Build A Bridge and Ashely Judd's All That Is Bitter And Sweet.

I thought they were all interesting, though Reba and Shania's were the best written, I think. Dolly's was also quite good, but I read it so long ago that I'd have to re-read it.

[Andy]

I haven't read many country music-related books in my life, but I've enjoyed all the ones I've read. Behind Closed Doors by Alanna Nash is classic I enthusiastically recommend. Also, Outlaw by Michael Streissguth and Sing Me Back Home by Dana Jennings are good reads as well.

Country Music Broke My Brain by Gerry House is supposed to be really funny. I haven't gotten around to it yet, but it seems interesting. Has anyone read it?

When it comes or biographies, I've only read George Jones' (which I highly recommend), but there's a whole bunch I want to read.

zack97, let me know what you think of Steve Earle's novel. I remember thinking it looked interesting when it came out, but never picked it up for whatever reason.

[Kanenrá:ke]

Country Music Broke My Brain is awesome! I bought it in Nashville last summer and if you love the genre it's a good read.

[Markus Meyer]

Brad Paisley's biography is very, very good.

[Deleted]

Just picked up "The Legend Of George Jones: His Life and Death" recently at a garage sale so I'm looking forward to reading it! I honestly don't know a whole lot about George, I know a couple of famous hits but I really need to dig into his career.

[bjer127]

I've read tons of country music biographies. I've always been a biography/ non fiction type of guy. I scoured eBay and book stores and Amazon for hard to find books. Read a lot of books by the legends. Some of my reads include : Faron Young , buck Owens , charley pride , George jones , Waylon , willie , Merle , Mel tillis , Hank sr , bill Monroe , jimmy Martin , jerry lee Lewis , Elvis , Tammy Wynette , Loretta Lynn , Ernest tubb , patsy cline , Ronnie Milsap , Dolly Parton etc etc. the list goes on.

Some of the more famous singers have multiple biographies. Some even are newer , like willies and a new buck Owens book is out too. Most of the above books were long out of print. I would sometimes pay 30 or 40 dollars for them. But all were enjoyable.

If anyone wants any more info or if they were good reads , just let me know

[fe_lipeoliveira]

I've read Chely Wright's "Like Me" a few years ago and absolutely loved it!

And I just finish reading Hilary Williams' "Sign of Life". It's amazing, covering most of her and Holly's car accident and mentioning a lot about the Williams' legacy.

[straitfan87]

Jun 7, 2015 21:57:43 GMT -5 Markus Meyer said:

Brad Paisley's biography is very, very good.

Read and have Diary of a Guitar Player really good read for sure!

[Todd]

I enjoyed A Honky Tonk Odyssey: My Eight Years With George Strait, by Ron Cabal. It's about the early days of George Strait's career, written from the perspective of one of his former band members.

[Deleted]

Picked this up in Barnes and Noble today, it's a book called "15 Minutes" and it seemed pretty interesting. Here's the description:

"Zack Dylan made a promise to God and his college sweetheart as he left his family's horse farm in Kentucky to compete on the popular reality television show, "15 Minutes": If he makes it, the fame won't change him.
Overnight, Zack is the nation's most popular contestant, a country singer with the looks and voice of a young Elvis. As his star rises, Zack is asked to compromise and quiet his beliefs, and also something more. Something Zack could never have imagined. Just as America is falling in love with Zack, just as he's on the verge of winning it all, his choices lead him to the brink of personal disaster. At the same time, Reese Weatherly, a therapeutic horse instructor, is no longer sure about her relationship with Zack, or the wedding day they had dreamed about. While Zack advances from one round of the competition to the next, an offer comes to Reese - one that will take her to a home halfway around the world.
Then Candia Olson- reigning diva pop star and one of the "Fifteen Minutes" judges- intervenes. Chances has suffered so much public pain and private agony since her days as a "Fifteen Minutes" contestant. Now she wants just one thing: meaning. Can Chandra's private losses help Zack find his way, or will his fifteen minutes of fame cause him to lose the life he once loved? "Fifteen Minutes" is a story of character, compromise, and the cost of having it all. A story that raises the question: Who are the real winners?"

It's not really a book about a real Country artist, but a fictional one, and hey his names Zack so of course it's good lol

[Andy]

I just finished reading the new George Jones biography by Rich Kienzle. It was a good read, but at barely 250 pages, it felt a little brisk. It seems like it could have been a little more in-depth in certain parts. On the other hand, maybe less is more. Whatever the case, it was a solid overview of George's entire life and career, and I would recommend it to any George Jones fan.

[Steven]

I've only read Hank Williams: The Biography by Collin Escott and Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings from the Road by Willie Nelson. I do own Waylon: An Autobiography by Waylon Jennings so i'll get to that hopefully sometime soon. Overtime, i'd like to read an autobiography on all the legends. I received the autobiography on Willie's life as a Christmas gift a few years back from my dad. When I opened it, there was a little picture of the legend himself and it was signed! Pretty positive it's legit because it was bought brand new and it was ship and sold directly from Amazon. Who knows, it could be worth something someday! pics are below -

i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/samelson031/P1000070_zpscd39f745.jpg

i31.photobucket.com/albums/c363/samelson031/P1000076_zps175013cd.jpg

[Ten Pound Hammer]

I've read Diamond Rio's autobiography. It really filled in a lot of interesting information on one of my favorite 90s groups. I was surprised at how established they'd already been by the time they signed to Arista, and the fact that Ty Herndon was a founding member!

[zack97]

I've been reading up on country music history a lot this summer (hence why a lot of my posts in the "what album are you listening to?" thread are older albums lately). Part of it is research for my senior thesis, other reading is just for fun. Here's what I read/am reading now:

Read:
- 'How Nashville Became Music City U.S.A' by Michael Kosser
- 'The Encyclopedia of Country and Western Music' by Rick Marschall
- 'Country: The Music and The Musicians - From The Beginning To The '90s'by the Country Music Foundation
- 'The Nashville Sound: Bright Lights and Country Music' by Paul Hemphill

Reading:
- 'The Selling Sound - The Rise of the Country Music Industry' by Diane Pecknold
- 'The Oxford Handbook of Country Music' by a ton of journalists, but edited by Travis D. Stimeling
- 'The Hayloft Gang: The Story of The National Barn Dance' by various contributors (edited by Chad Berry)
- 'Air Castle Of The South: WSM and the Making Of Music City' by Craig Havighurst