Nickel Dreams: My Life

by Tanya Tucker

Tanya chronicles her rise to the top of country music fame, and tells her story about her struggle up from poverty. She became a country music superstar as an adult but not without going through some painful struggles. She talks about her eventual addiction and struggle with cocaine, her infamous brutal affair with Glen Campbell, and tells stories of other celebrities, such as Waylon Jennings, Tammy Wynette, Elvis Presley, Don Johnson, Andy Gibb, Cher, and Clint Eastwood.

Genres: Biography, Memoir, Nonfiction, Music, Autobiography

420 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how wild and out of control Tanya was. The drugs and the booze did her no favors and she was lucky they didn't kill her. I believe, getting into the music business at such an early age and success coming too quickly for a child to understand and know how to handle it. She made very poor decisions, over and over again. She's fortunate that she still progressed to have a decent career. She had some wonderful songs and her style of singing surely did them justice. Interesting story!

[Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Tanya Tucker's autobiography because she tells it in an honest conversational way. The material is quite dated because it was written and published so long ago. I wished she could take the time to write a sequel and catch us up on her life.

[Dane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wild life and career. Probably a must read for die-hard country fans. I found the book to be a bit frenetic, a few too many tangents on a few too many people.

[Less_cunning · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thought this would be a bit "zanier." more provocative. more "feminist." more sex & drugz. or something. instead it was written as if a) she knew her parents were going to read it, and b) she seems to want to preserve some sort of legacy. or something. (i have no fucking idea...)

tanya tucker is still the shit though, despite this conservative "autobiographie."

[Maria Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

What A Life!

Like most country singers Tanya Tucker has had a hard life beginning with a modest upbringing in which her parents didn't have a lot of money but had a lot of love for their family. "Nickel Dreams" follows Tanya's life from her humble beginnings in which her dad knew she had the gift to sing to Tanya being a Nashville superstar. As a reader it was amazing to see how Tanya became an overnight sensation with the song "Delta Dawn" as well as one of the youngest people ever to receive a recording contract. Tanya is also very upfront and honest about her demons in her life, mainly her problems with drug and alcohol abuse as well as her severe depression. She talks candidly about the abuse she suffered from Glen Campbell. Those pages are hair-raising as she recounts the time in which Glenn, stoned from cocaine, elbowed her in the face, knocking out her two front teeth at the roots. What is also evident in this book is Tanya's humor in her life and her wittiness. It's obvious that what has gotten Tanya through some of the hardships that she's encountered is her ability to laugh and see the positive sides of things. Hollywood has made movies on the lives of Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton's life story is currently in preproduction. Let's hope that Tanya Tucker's life story is not too far from being made for the silver screen. When asked by an interviewer who she would like to see play her Tanya stated "Leanne Rimes".

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

while I did finish reading this book...I gave it a 3*rating because to me it was just too much of what I call a dry read....but the book does make you realize that trying to make it in the music world isn't always s glamorous as it is made out to be...and how easy it is too be taken advantage of....there was also a couple of surprises in there I wasn't expecting...which kind of changed my view of thinking ...on certain people.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, and even though some of the stories may have been watered down a little, I liked that she didn't try to make excuses for things she may have done wrong, but owned up to them and didn't apologize for being herself. After her big success this past year (if you haven't listened to her newest album, make sure you do) I hope she will eventually write another book to cover the years after this first book.

[Sharon Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like a bit of a cheat, but I listened to Storytime with Kathleen Madigan on youtube. Kathleen read Nickel Dreams during Covid isolation, with many comments and tangents. Very amusing and loads of great book and movie comments along the way.

[Ulla · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Nickel Dreams" may not be a literary masterpiece but as I just love Tanya Tucker and she's so frighteningly open and honest about herself and her life I just have to give her *****!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

a good book about Tanya tucker

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tanya very famously (in my opinion) said a while ago that this book was mostly written by the credited co-writer, and that someday she’d like to truly author her own autobiography. For that reason, I’ve long dismissed this one, assuming it was a lot of boilerplate opinions and info.

My mistake: from what I can tell, it appears the co-writer likely recorded a ton of interviews and then pieced together this book. There are some dishy interesting things here, but for most chapters, especially in the middle, you can hear her saying “And then there was that time when…” before it gets started.

She leans in hard in her side of the Glen Campbell affair, almost in a way that makes you wonder if it is the sole reason for the book.

And the Grammys. I can imagine her lashing out in the press room in 1992 — and especially recounting it all here — did her no favors, though I notice now she was nominated a couple subsequent years.

It’s interesting to know she was still employable during the “hiatus” from 1982-86, that the oldies kept her on the road. I’ve read elsewhere that, maybe around the early 90s on, that if you have nothing on the radio and in stores, then the bookings collapse. (Though she did note the instances when her rate went up and what prompted it.)

Ultimately, any autobiography or documentary leaves me interested in what was intentionally left out. She doesn’t run away from the fact she always liked to party (not for nothing, it’s fascinating to know she ran with a seeming A-list L.A. party crowd in the late 70s/early 80s). And from the late 70s through to at least the early 90s she presented herself a sex kitten of sorts, so I wonder: did that reputation tangibly harm her in ways not recounted here? There are a couple examples of when sponsors deliberated and ultimately came around, but what were the opportunities lost and were there any internal ramifications? What were her relationships like with industry people? She says great things about duet partner T Graham Brown but literally nothing about Delbert McClinton.

As a fan I’d enjoy an update. After this last album bombed in 1997 she sued the label and won, but the make-good result, while on the surface made sense (Capitol gave her a record label of her own, fully staffed by itself), in hindsight it was always never going to be successful. Also: what’s there backstory behind the Tuckertime reality TV show? And off course, tell us all about the career resurgence with Shooter Jennings and Brandi Carlile.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't add this to my read in 2017 list/challenge because I didn't actually finish it. I like Tanya and I like most country singer autobiographies I read at least enough for them to hold my attention.

Now the writing style of this one didn't appeal to me to begin with. I don't know why exactly and I can't quite explain it. There was something about it that just made me unable to sympathize with Tanya as well as picture whatever was going on most of the time. It read as if it could have been written by another person without Tanya being involved. Her personality doesn't shine through the way others do in autobiographies I have read. Overall, it was just a bit of a let down.

[Robyn Obermeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

After seeing new film with Tanya and Brandi I searched Tanya recordings at library and found this book! I love listening to the music and reading a memoir at the same time. This one does not fa;ll short. The story telling and history of her family is well worth the read!,

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a garage sale when traveling and in need of a read. To my surprise, I enjoyed it! Great insight into the entertainment industry and what it takes to "make it" in music.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always been a Tanya Tucker fan. This book was written 20 year ago, so she has lived a lot since then. I mostly enjoyed reading it. I think she stretched the truth at times, but probably a lot of celebrities do this when recounting their lives. I like how fearless she was in her career. She definitely paved the way for many women. I’m so glad she had such a wonderful family to support her through good times and the bad.

[Barbara Clifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was fun, interesting and truthful.

[Carolynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story of a career that started very young over a rocky path.

[Andrew Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly one of my fave autobiographies!!
I've been a Stan of Tanya for a hot minute and this is the perfect book to get to know her !! So many fun stories!

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed to see how often it appeared Ms. Tucker had a feeling of entitlement. Perhaps it was the way the story was told; perhaps it my perception -- she seemed self-centered and repeatedly disregarded her parents' and siblings feelings, minimizing their actions on her behalf.
Tucker would tell herself that she would never ... and then turn around and do that destructive thing again and again.
Although her father did seem to control a lot of situations in her life, he seemed to do so with only the best intent for her life and her career. So many times this reader could see the fall-out coming.
Her life style, her values, her situations were so different than mine, sometimes I just couldn't identify no matter how hard I tried.
Nonetheless Tucker has a unique quality in her voice and a natural talent appreciated by many.

[Yve · Rating 3 out of 5]

As soon as I heard Tanya singing "San Antonio Stroll" on the radio I became a fan. I think she's the greatest country singer (vocal-wise I mean). And it was interesting to read about her life because previously all I knew was the music. Like how shocked I was when I realized the woman doing that wonderful rendition of "The Jamestown Ferry" was THIRTEEN years old. But this book felt very long. And Tanya is a singer, not a songwriter. So when the blurb says "told in Tanya's unique voice," I'm sure it's true but it's very different from reading the autobiography of a writer like Dolly Parton. A quintessential Country Singer Narrative, but not the best.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just finished reading Nickel Dreams: My Life by Tanya Tucker. Since the age of eleven, Tanya Tucker has been a successful country singer who has lived a hard life. This is her autobiography. I personally can't say much for this book since I had never heard of many of the record people she mentioned. I give it an F!

[Andrea Pullos · Rating 3 out of 5]

was a gift, ended up being not so bad

[Cws]

92T

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Tanya Tucker! Fantastic Read!

[Debbie Duran · Rating 3 out of 5]

This lady has so much talent. Too bad it took her so long to be happy.

[Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book I felt that she was honest and open with her life.She one of my faverite singers.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never really cared for her as an artist, but what a ride this woman has been on in her life! Wow!

[Pat Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This personal tale endeared me to Tanya Tucker.

[Quiltyknitwit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written about 20 years ago so hopefully she's matured a lot since then. Her reputation for being wild is well deserved apparently. Not a fan but can appreciate her talent and energy for performing.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book. It's a great book. it surprised me how wild she was. and I hope she has matured a lot since then.