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Walk to Beautiful: The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid Who Found the Way
Imagine being thirteen, in a strange city, hundreds of miles away from home, and your mom abandons you at a bus station, driving off into the night with her lover.
It's a miracle Jimmy Wayne survived his growing-up years. Hungry, homeless, and bouncing in and out of the foster care system, Jimmy spent more nights wandering and sleeping in the streets than he cares to remember. His father left before he was born. And his mama, when she wasn't in a mental hospital or behind bars for various small offenses, was simply too overwhelmed, trying to survive herself.
Walk to Beautiful is the powerfully emotive account of Jimmy's childhood and the unconditional love and acceptance Russell and Bea Costner gave to Jimmy. This elderly couple provided a stable home and the chance for him to complete his education. Jimmy says of Bea, "She changed every cell in my body." After his high school graduation, Jimmy went on to earn a degree in Criminal Justice because, as he says, "I knew a lot about it." But in his heart Jimmy wanted to write songs and sing.
A music company opened its doors to Jimmy, and he moved to Nashville to pursue his dreams. He had several memorable hits, such as I Love You This Much, Paper Angels, and Do You Believe Me Now?, which remained at #1 for three consecutive weeks on the Billboard Chart.
But success was not satisfying. Jimmy remembered where he came from, and he wanted to give back. With his Meet Me Halfway campaign—a 1,700 mile walk from Nashville to Phoenix—Jimmy walked halfway across America, raising awareness for foster children. Along the way he not only found a lot of crazy things, such as coins, keys, a plastic Jesus, and a Lucille Ball ashtray; but he also found himself. And more important, he found a way to forgive the people who had hurt him. Jimmy learned how to walk to beautiful—and so can you.
It's a miracle Jimmy Wayne survived his growing-up years. Hungry, homeless, and bouncing in and out of the foster care system, Jimmy spent more nights wandering and sleeping in the streets than he cares to remember. His father left before he was born. And his mama, when she wasn't in a mental hospital or behind bars for various small offenses, was simply too overwhelmed, trying to survive herself.
Walk to Beautiful is the powerfully emotive account of Jimmy's childhood and the unconditional love and acceptance Russell and Bea Costner gave to Jimmy. This elderly couple provided a stable home and the chance for him to complete his education. Jimmy says of Bea, "She changed every cell in my body." After his high school graduation, Jimmy went on to earn a degree in Criminal Justice because, as he says, "I knew a lot about it." But in his heart Jimmy wanted to write songs and sing.
A music company opened its doors to Jimmy, and he moved to Nashville to pursue his dreams. He had several memorable hits, such as I Love You This Much, Paper Angels, and Do You Believe Me Now?, which remained at #1 for three consecutive weeks on the Billboard Chart.
But success was not satisfying. Jimmy remembered where he came from, and he wanted to give back. With his Meet Me Halfway campaign—a 1,700 mile walk from Nashville to Phoenix—Jimmy walked halfway across America, raising awareness for foster children. Along the way he not only found a lot of crazy things, such as coins, keys, a plastic Jesus, and a Lucille Ball ashtray; but he also found himself. And more important, he found a way to forgive the people who had hurt him. Jimmy learned how to walk to beautiful—and so can you.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2014
674 people are currently reading
6287 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 655 reviews
July 4, 2023
This memoir ripped out my heart and stitched it back together...countless times. It is a good reminder that what you see is only the tip of the iceberg. I'm guilty of judging people based on face value and forgetting that we each have a journey to where we are at present. Our journey isn't over, but we've each got battle wounds that can encourage one another. We can't possibly help someone if we are continuously covering them (our scars) up. I loved that Jimmy Wayne is using his new fame and fortune to help those who are on the path he was on at one time.
October 6, 2014
For those of you who know me, know that I am an avid reader & love losing myself in someone else's fictional story that has been written for our entertainment. However, over the past couple of days, I have found myself reading a VERY humbling & eye opening non-fiction account of some pretty horrific events that took place in a little boy's life. This boy who after years of rejection by the people who were supposed to love him most & moving from home to home, eventually becoming homeless, miraculously found the Way in the love of an elderly couple who decided to believe in him. Country singer/songwriter Jimmy Wayne tells his heart wrenching & inspiring story in Walk to Beautiful in order to bring awareness about kids who age out of the foster care system & become homeless. The official release date is 10/7/14, but it can be found in some stores now. It's a must read, folks & I cannot express enough how incredibly touched & thankful for the life I have had after reading this book. It has really put a lot of things in perspective.
May 31, 2015
Beautiful.
I'd heard of Jimmy Wayne before. I was a big fan of his first album and especially of his song "Paper Angels", but I am an even bigger fan now. Hearing his story...the troubled childhood...the ups and downs in life...you really understand that the songs he writes...and sings, are not just stories, but are instead his life.
This took me a bit longer to read than I expected. It wasn't because the book wasn't good, it was because it was so deep. My heart ached so often...I cried even..that a child would endure so much pain and heartache.
To know that Jimmy is an advocate for foster children is no surprise.
I highly encourage everyone to take the time to read this book, and see how it touches your life.
I'd heard of Jimmy Wayne before. I was a big fan of his first album and especially of his song "Paper Angels", but I am an even bigger fan now. Hearing his story...the troubled childhood...the ups and downs in life...you really understand that the songs he writes...and sings, are not just stories, but are instead his life.
This took me a bit longer to read than I expected. It wasn't because the book wasn't good, it was because it was so deep. My heart ached so often...I cried even..that a child would endure so much pain and heartache.
To know that Jimmy is an advocate for foster children is no surprise.
I highly encourage everyone to take the time to read this book, and see how it touches your life.
June 8, 2024
This book had an impact on me unlike any I've read in a while!
Here's why: As a kid, I had a lot of unfulfilled wants: computer and video games, Beanie Babies and Pokémon cards, visiting vacation destinations, etc. Sure, it's not that I never got to have those items or go to those places--seriously, where I live, there are two theme parks practically in my own backyard that people come from all over the world to visit!--but, I always wanted more. My mom--who was single from the time I was very little until around the time I graduated from college--did the best she could, but, instead of accepting what she gave me, I blamed her for not giving me what all of my friends seemed to have. Our situation was complicated by the fact that I had an older sibling who was severely disabled, and that didn't change until the day my eldest sibling died; on my seventeenth birthday, no less. You may think that my special day was forever tainted by that event, but, honestly, I saw it as a birthday present from God. If you haven't been in a relationship with a family member like my sister, then, you have no room to judge.
So...unlike most people, I don't view my younger years as "the good old days". It's not that I don't have any good memories from "back in the day"; like a lot of kids, I had fun watching television, listening to music, playing Game Boy, hanging out with friends and such...but, sometimes, I still feel like I had a terrible childhood because of my family situation...
...or, at least, I did until I read this book. My family wasn't perfect--whose is?--but at least my mom, sisters--yes, I had more than one--and brother-in-law didn't go out, get drunk, and shoot extended family members, or get checked into a mental hospital, or get married and divorced umpteen times. Jimmy Wayne's account of his childhood shows me that I have nothing about which to complain; it's a wake-up call to a generation who feels that their parents telling them to do the right thing, or refusing to buy them the latest iPhone, is some sort of abuse. Seriously, these days, people don't even know the meaning of that word.
Here's why: As a kid, I had a lot of unfulfilled wants: computer and video games, Beanie Babies and Pokémon cards, visiting vacation destinations, etc. Sure, it's not that I never got to have those items or go to those places--seriously, where I live, there are two theme parks practically in my own backyard that people come from all over the world to visit!--but, I always wanted more. My mom--who was single from the time I was very little until around the time I graduated from college--did the best she could, but, instead of accepting what she gave me, I blamed her for not giving me what all of my friends seemed to have. Our situation was complicated by the fact that I had an older sibling who was severely disabled, and that didn't change until the day my eldest sibling died; on my seventeenth birthday, no less. You may think that my special day was forever tainted by that event, but, honestly, I saw it as a birthday present from God. If you haven't been in a relationship with a family member like my sister, then, you have no room to judge.
So...unlike most people, I don't view my younger years as "the good old days". It's not that I don't have any good memories from "back in the day"; like a lot of kids, I had fun watching television, listening to music, playing Game Boy, hanging out with friends and such...but, sometimes, I still feel like I had a terrible childhood because of my family situation...
...or, at least, I did until I read this book. My family wasn't perfect--whose is?--but at least my mom, sisters--yes, I had more than one--and brother-in-law didn't go out, get drunk, and shoot extended family members, or get checked into a mental hospital, or get married and divorced umpteen times. Jimmy Wayne's account of his childhood shows me that I have nothing about which to complain; it's a wake-up call to a generation who feels that their parents telling them to do the right thing, or refusing to buy them the latest iPhone, is some sort of abuse. Seriously, these days, people don't even know the meaning of that word.
October 2, 2016
A special thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Walk to Beautiful, The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid Who Found the Way is a poignant and inspiring account of Jimmy Wayne’s journey, written by Jimmy Wayne and Ken Abraham—one which will forever change your life!
Jimmy Wayne is known for his altruistic and giving heart. In the country music industry, he is known for his songwriting, and hit songs, while being supported by his many fans, worldwide.
However, readers may not be aware of the horrific childhood and challenges on his way to stardom and adulthood. This is like “Job”; one hurdle, obstacle, disappointment, and challenge after another, and yet Jimmy possessed the drive, talent, determination, and tenacity, even in his darkest moments; to overcome his troubled past. He was fortunate to have some people along the way who took a chance on this remarkable young man, and he desires to give back and pay forward.
I will be honest, I am not a country music fan (even though my sister who resides in NC is an avid fan). A great deal of Jimmy’s childhood took place in Gastonia, NC area, with some of the crazy people and backward views.
Wow, I had no idea the power and impact of this beautifully written and extraordinary book. The more I read, the more intrigued, I became and began reviewing Jimmy Wayne’s website, and listened to all the videos and was highly impressed.
Walk to Beautiful portrays the story of how Wayne was able to rise above his background with the help of supportive, adoptive parents as a teen, and become a successful country singer and in-demand motivational speaker.
The book takes you from Jimmy’s early years as a boy, left many times on the street alone by his mother, bullied by his peers, to fend for himself; growing up being passed from one foster home to another, with neglect and abuse, tortured, with no food or place to live, or sleep. However, a woman and the man took him in and taught him about love, music, and living.
When you look at this highly talented musician, good-looking guy, today, and listen to his beautiful words and songs, it is hard to believe the rough road he has traveled. Through his determination, he has not let his past define him, nor his future; however, has used his humble and troubled past to help others going through similar experiences.
Jimmy dedicated the book, his life story to Bea, a wonderful 75-year old woman who took him in when he was 16 years old, after a voice told him to stop and see if she needed help with her yard work. Bea and Russell later asked him to move in and were instrumental in turning Jimmy’s life around. Bea who passed always in 1997, will always be in his heart, and now Jimmy is giving back to the community to help other foster children, who have nowhere to turn.
From 2010 when Jimmy walked from Nashville to Phoenix on his Meet Me Halfway campaign, he set out to raise awareness for foster youth who have aged out of the system. The walk in itself helped stem the idea to document certain thoughts and memories, which led to the birth of Walk to Beautiful.
Walk to Beautiful is an inspiring and remarkable book. It does not read like a non-fiction or memoir. As an avid reader of over 350 books a year, a professional reader and blogger—Trust me, this is a story you cannot put down! It is so shocking, you feel as though this has to be fiction. How could any one person survive this life?
On a Personal Note: I formerly served as a Board Member for an organization in Atlanta for at-risk teens, YES Atlanta (Youth Experiencing Success) and support adults who strive to help these youth, by providing positive role models, and resources in order to change their environment, with an opportunity to lead healthy and rich lives as an adults.
Even though the story will bring you to tears, there are many parts which are witty and humorous. I especially loved the parts about growing up in the south. He had such bad role models when it came to Christianity, with the distorted views of church, beliefs, and hypocrisy. It was refreshing to learn he did not lose his faith, through all of this, when he finally got to see firsthand from Bea what faith and love really means.
I highly recommend this beautifully written and inspiring book, and well deserving of 5 stars. It will change you. Nashville and country music fans will love all the stars, names, mentions, and tidbits. Foster children and troubled youth, will find hope and joy in these words, for the future.
Congrats, Jimmy, thanks for putting yourself out there, with courage and bravery to tell your story, and relive your past, forgive those who turned their back on you, and share with others while making a difference in lives across the world.
JDCMustReadBooks
Walk to Beautiful, The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid Who Found the Way is a poignant and inspiring account of Jimmy Wayne’s journey, written by Jimmy Wayne and Ken Abraham—one which will forever change your life!
Jimmy Wayne is known for his altruistic and giving heart. In the country music industry, he is known for his songwriting, and hit songs, while being supported by his many fans, worldwide.
However, readers may not be aware of the horrific childhood and challenges on his way to stardom and adulthood. This is like “Job”; one hurdle, obstacle, disappointment, and challenge after another, and yet Jimmy possessed the drive, talent, determination, and tenacity, even in his darkest moments; to overcome his troubled past. He was fortunate to have some people along the way who took a chance on this remarkable young man, and he desires to give back and pay forward.
I will be honest, I am not a country music fan (even though my sister who resides in NC is an avid fan). A great deal of Jimmy’s childhood took place in Gastonia, NC area, with some of the crazy people and backward views.
Wow, I had no idea the power and impact of this beautifully written and extraordinary book. The more I read, the more intrigued, I became and began reviewing Jimmy Wayne’s website, and listened to all the videos and was highly impressed.
Walk to Beautiful portrays the story of how Wayne was able to rise above his background with the help of supportive, adoptive parents as a teen, and become a successful country singer and in-demand motivational speaker.
The book takes you from Jimmy’s early years as a boy, left many times on the street alone by his mother, bullied by his peers, to fend for himself; growing up being passed from one foster home to another, with neglect and abuse, tortured, with no food or place to live, or sleep. However, a woman and the man took him in and taught him about love, music, and living.
When you look at this highly talented musician, good-looking guy, today, and listen to his beautiful words and songs, it is hard to believe the rough road he has traveled. Through his determination, he has not let his past define him, nor his future; however, has used his humble and troubled past to help others going through similar experiences.
Jimmy dedicated the book, his life story to Bea, a wonderful 75-year old woman who took him in when he was 16 years old, after a voice told him to stop and see if she needed help with her yard work. Bea and Russell later asked him to move in and were instrumental in turning Jimmy’s life around. Bea who passed always in 1997, will always be in his heart, and now Jimmy is giving back to the community to help other foster children, who have nowhere to turn.
From 2010 when Jimmy walked from Nashville to Phoenix on his Meet Me Halfway campaign, he set out to raise awareness for foster youth who have aged out of the system. The walk in itself helped stem the idea to document certain thoughts and memories, which led to the birth of Walk to Beautiful.
“Thirty Thousand kids every year age out of the foster care system the moment they turn eighteen. Many of them will become homeless, addicted, or imprisoned. Some will never see their twenty-first birthdays. I knew I wanted to help those kids the way somebody had helped me. But how?”
Walk to Beautiful is an inspiring and remarkable book. It does not read like a non-fiction or memoir. As an avid reader of over 350 books a year, a professional reader and blogger—Trust me, this is a story you cannot put down! It is so shocking, you feel as though this has to be fiction. How could any one person survive this life?
On a Personal Note: I formerly served as a Board Member for an organization in Atlanta for at-risk teens, YES Atlanta (Youth Experiencing Success) and support adults who strive to help these youth, by providing positive role models, and resources in order to change their environment, with an opportunity to lead healthy and rich lives as an adults.
Even though the story will bring you to tears, there are many parts which are witty and humorous. I especially loved the parts about growing up in the south. He had such bad role models when it came to Christianity, with the distorted views of church, beliefs, and hypocrisy. It was refreshing to learn he did not lose his faith, through all of this, when he finally got to see firsthand from Bea what faith and love really means.
I highly recommend this beautifully written and inspiring book, and well deserving of 5 stars. It will change you. Nashville and country music fans will love all the stars, names, mentions, and tidbits. Foster children and troubled youth, will find hope and joy in these words, for the future.
Congrats, Jimmy, thanks for putting yourself out there, with courage and bravery to tell your story, and relive your past, forgive those who turned their back on you, and share with others while making a difference in lives across the world.
JDCMustReadBooks
April 28, 2016
I loved this book. It was written from the heart, every single word. It is an undeniable lesson to learn Jimmy's story of his terrible childhood years, the abuse and neglect he suffered and still see how he rose triumphant with forgiveness and love in his heart!
October 23, 2014
Walk to beautiful is a most powerful book that will make you cry and laugh and love what Bea and Russell Costner has done for Jimmy. I cried when he cried and wanted to reach in the book to comfort him and tell him it will be alright. Being a mother of an adopted child I know the heart ache that goes with it. My son was 9 mo. old when we adopted him. He and his three sisters where abandon by their mother. She never bonded with her son. Her social life was more important to her than her children. It wasn't an easy road for him and it took time to get my son to respond to love he never knew. He grew up to be a beautiful human being, served in the US Navy on the USS Ranger during the Gulf war. I could not love my son any more if I gave birth to him myself.
Jimmy's perseverance to follow a dream that Bea encouraged Jimmy to do was a blessing. Jimmy being able to love and forgive his Mother for her selfness is highly commendable and gift from God.
It is one of the best books I have read.
Jimmy's perseverance to follow a dream that Bea encouraged Jimmy to do was a blessing. Jimmy being able to love and forgive his Mother for her selfness is highly commendable and gift from God.
It is one of the best books I have read.
January 5, 2016
It probably surprises nobody that I'm not really into Country music and therefore didn't know who Jimmy Wayne was before picking up this book. I got totally sucked in by the first half of the narrative (the sad story of Wayne's disastrous childhood and subsequent time spent bouncing through the foster care system), but the second half of the book -- since I don't really have any special interest in the Country music industry -- was a bit of a yawn. The last teeny section deals with the walk across America. I was disappointed that this section wasn't fleshed out in a bit more detail, since that's actually the concept that hooked me. My other complaint is the obvious product placement throughout the narrative (why? Did these products sponsor the walk or the publication of the book in some way?). I'm not sad I read it - because, as I said, the first half of the narrative is quite gripping - but this wasn't the read that I expected. If it were possible, I'd give 2.5 stars.
March 4, 2023
I have never heard of Jimmy Wayne before this book. I wish I could call him friend. What a phenomenal auto-biography. It was impossible to put down and incredibly humbling to read. He overcame unthinkable life events to get to this fame he's achieved. This one will stick with me forever. Truly inspiring. I want to meet this man now.
Update: I am now friends with him on Facebook! He is such a remarkable person
Update: I am now friends with him on Facebook! He is such a remarkable person
November 21, 2014
When, Jimmy?... When will you do anything to help someone other than yourself?
If it takes nothing else, it takes courage to write something like Walk to Beautiful, country music star Jimmy Wayne's personal account of childhood hunger and homelessness, abuse and neglect, his experiences in foster care, and his (oftentimes humbling) rise in the music industry.
I couldn't read Wayne's story without reacting physically at times, whether that was gasping, cringing, laughing, or blinking back a few tears. "The Crazy Years" of Wayne's childhood are just that, with enough tumult to make the reader's noggin spin, and conversely, the compassion Wayne runs into in "Saved by Love" is a relief to come across. I take it I'm not familiar enough with country music, its artists and songs, for most of the names and titles peppered through Wayne's career accounts to have made much difference to me, but the highlighted events kept me reading.
What I find most compelling is how the author comes to himself, that he evidently doesn't want to be famous just for the sake of being famous, but he uses his platform to further a cause his life has made him genuinely passionate about. Here's an engaging memoir, a call to action, and an inspiring read.
_________________
BookLook Bloggers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
If it takes nothing else, it takes courage to write something like Walk to Beautiful, country music star Jimmy Wayne's personal account of childhood hunger and homelessness, abuse and neglect, his experiences in foster care, and his (oftentimes humbling) rise in the music industry.
I couldn't read Wayne's story without reacting physically at times, whether that was gasping, cringing, laughing, or blinking back a few tears. "The Crazy Years" of Wayne's childhood are just that, with enough tumult to make the reader's noggin spin, and conversely, the compassion Wayne runs into in "Saved by Love" is a relief to come across. I take it I'm not familiar enough with country music, its artists and songs, for most of the names and titles peppered through Wayne's career accounts to have made much difference to me, but the highlighted events kept me reading.
What I find most compelling is how the author comes to himself, that he evidently doesn't want to be famous just for the sake of being famous, but he uses his platform to further a cause his life has made him genuinely passionate about. Here's an engaging memoir, a call to action, and an inspiring read.
_________________
BookLook Bloggers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
November 23, 2015
This book contained obnoxious product placement and was written for about 6th graders. Honestly, if he mentioned coca-cola one more time, I was going to put the book down. That said, I did find the story of Jimmy Wayne compelling. That's why I hung with the book. I admire someone who overcomes...and this man overcame so much. Probably should stick to singing...the book writing is a bit drab. If you're looking for a quick read and want to learn more about the foster care system, this is an insider account.
April 9, 2018
3.25. No child should have to endure a childhood like Jimmy and Patricia's. It's unimaginable... but I loved the message of resilience and forgiveness and how one person can make all the difference in the life of a child. That being said, the writing of this story was fragmented and tough to follow. After reading this book-I can say I'm a fan of Jimmy and what he's doing with his life but I'm not a fan of the writing in this book.
June 16, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book - not because of the horrible childhood the author endured but because of how resilient and unstoppable his spirit is.
January 18, 2025
I reluctantly started this book as our first book club read of the year. I was hoping for an entertaining fiction story to kick off 2025. This book broke me, brought me to tears many times, and reminded me of the ministry to which God has called our family. Let’s remember there are unseen kids who NEED to be seen, and more importantly loved and mentored into adulthood. We are called to be there and have been given every resource needed for the ones we are blessed to know.
November 18, 2024
This was a story of one of the worst cases of child abuse I've ever read. I have no idea how any child could grow up and overcome those circumstances, much less turn in to the amazing, outstanding man that this successful singer grew in to. His passion for other children who grew up in similar circumstances is such an inspiration. The older couple who took him in and changed his life, I'll never forget.
December 31, 2015
If you’re anything like me, prepare to have this book hit you in the feels. I’m not overly drawn to country music or country stars, but I knew Jimmy Wayne’s tale would be something special to me.
Although I am not a former foster kid, I have a connection to foster care in that the first meaningful service experience I had was with a retail store that tailored its retail experience around helping foster kids. Recently, I wrote a policy advocacy paper for a foster care bill presented to the North Carolina House of Representatives, and presented my stance to my representative. Needless to say, I am grateful to read this memoir from Jimmy Wayne.
His story has taken many twists and turns through his life, from living with his mother to entering the foster care system, from being homeless to living with a pair of elderly folks. His journey did not just end with that hope for the future, but he went on to become a country music celebrity. Wayne used his celebrity status to give back to the community.
It feels humbling to read a story about somebody who’s been through hardships like these and at every moment continues to be grateful for everyone who has helped him along the way. Several times it seems like he’s out of luck and it would be easy to give up, but Wayne instead continues in whatever direction is presented to him. I love his flexibility and his humility towards people. His optimistic and grateful attitude tended to be something like this: “How cool was that? My own dad never bought me a birthday present of any kind in my entire life, but Brad Paisley’s dad bought me a bicycle.” He approaches everything with such humor and joy that reading this book made me feel more grateful for everything I have in my life, and all the people who have helped me get here.
The best part of this book is that while much of his story is shocking, Wayne didn’t write any part of this book for shock value. His writing is genuine and he hoped to give readers a real sense of who he is. I’m glad he found a way to see his passion come to reality and kept his promise to himself to give back to people who come from the similar circumstances as himself.
I received a copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.
Although I am not a former foster kid, I have a connection to foster care in that the first meaningful service experience I had was with a retail store that tailored its retail experience around helping foster kids. Recently, I wrote a policy advocacy paper for a foster care bill presented to the North Carolina House of Representatives, and presented my stance to my representative. Needless to say, I am grateful to read this memoir from Jimmy Wayne.
His story has taken many twists and turns through his life, from living with his mother to entering the foster care system, from being homeless to living with a pair of elderly folks. His journey did not just end with that hope for the future, but he went on to become a country music celebrity. Wayne used his celebrity status to give back to the community.
It feels humbling to read a story about somebody who’s been through hardships like these and at every moment continues to be grateful for everyone who has helped him along the way. Several times it seems like he’s out of luck and it would be easy to give up, but Wayne instead continues in whatever direction is presented to him. I love his flexibility and his humility towards people. His optimistic and grateful attitude tended to be something like this: “How cool was that? My own dad never bought me a birthday present of any kind in my entire life, but Brad Paisley’s dad bought me a bicycle.” He approaches everything with such humor and joy that reading this book made me feel more grateful for everything I have in my life, and all the people who have helped me get here.
The best part of this book is that while much of his story is shocking, Wayne didn’t write any part of this book for shock value. His writing is genuine and he hoped to give readers a real sense of who he is. I’m glad he found a way to see his passion come to reality and kept his promise to himself to give back to people who come from the similar circumstances as himself.
I received a copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2015
I received an advance copy of this title through NetGalley, and am very appreciative for that.
Walk to Beautiful is a moving, true story of a boy in foster care and many horrible situations, who grows up in spite of the system. He becomes a country music singer and gives back to the community by raising awareness of foster care issues. Not knowing any of the backstory or future outcomes, I was very pleased when this book not only held my attention but also walked me through Jimmy Wayne's turbulent youth and successful adulthood. The most important quote from the book (in the epilogue) -- One person can make a difference. An informative and thoroughly touching biography.
Walk to Beautiful is a moving, true story of a boy in foster care and many horrible situations, who grows up in spite of the system. He becomes a country music singer and gives back to the community by raising awareness of foster care issues. Not knowing any of the backstory or future outcomes, I was very pleased when this book not only held my attention but also walked me through Jimmy Wayne's turbulent youth and successful adulthood. The most important quote from the book (in the epilogue) -- One person can make a difference. An informative and thoroughly touching biography.
October 22, 2014
Jimmy Wayne 's story is one of the most moving and captivating tales that it is impossible to put down. I have followed this man through his soulful singing career for the last 11 years. His continuous love and devotion for his fan followers and more important the foster children of our country is amazing and to be commended. A true blessing to experience. I love the book. Thank you JW. Another job well done.
June 25, 2015
I'd say one of the best books I've read this year. So much more than a biography of an artist, but a deep look into homelessness and our foster care system. A brutally honest and inspiring read. And one of the things I liked most was that in spite of all he went through he never lost his faith in Jesus. What a remarkable man.
June 11, 2017
I've been wanting to read this book and just finished it. I would rate this book as ok. The words just didn't flow for me. This is a story of Jimmy Wayne and his childhood and how he overcame all the terrible things that happened to him. The story then goes into how he became a country singer in Nashville and his walk across the country. The first half of the book was better than the second.
February 7, 2025
What a deeply moving and powerful story of the life of Jimmy Wayne. I had no idea. I mostly knew Jimmy Wayne from his song I Love You This Much. It’s been a special song to me since I heard it the first time and has been all these years. Now it will be more special knowing more about the man singing the song. Don’t get me wrong though, his story is so much more than this song.
Trigger warnings all over the place. Physical abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, child neglect, mental illness, suicidal thoughts.
Jimmy grew up in dysfunction. He never knew his dad and his mom had mental illness and dependency issues. She eventually abandoned him too. As a kid, there was no one to show him love. He had a puppy as a small child, until his mom decided to kill his dog. After she went to prison he was able to get another dog and had something to love until that dog eventually died as an old dog. He talked about that pain from both those events as much as the other stuff. Some scars don’t heal.
He also talked about seeing the movie Rocky and how that not only inspired him, but showed him the man he wanted to be, even though it’s just a movie character.
He was a homeless teenager living in the woods until an elderly lady named Bea took him in. He had been surviving on $20 a week mowing a lawn and sleeping in the woods until then. She changed his life and became like a grandmother loving her grandson. She was the first person to love him.
The last part of the book was so emotional. Jimmy took time to just say how much Bea meant to him and everything she did for him. Bea was an angel 😢.Bea and his faith is what pulled him through.
I Love You This Much - “the man didn’t blink, but the little boy cried” IYKYK 😢
Trigger warnings all over the place. Physical abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, child neglect, mental illness, suicidal thoughts.
Jimmy grew up in dysfunction. He never knew his dad and his mom had mental illness and dependency issues. She eventually abandoned him too. As a kid, there was no one to show him love. He had a puppy as a small child, until his mom decided to kill his dog. After she went to prison he was able to get another dog and had something to love until that dog eventually died as an old dog. He talked about that pain from both those events as much as the other stuff. Some scars don’t heal.
He also talked about seeing the movie Rocky and how that not only inspired him, but showed him the man he wanted to be, even though it’s just a movie character.
He was a homeless teenager living in the woods until an elderly lady named Bea took him in. He had been surviving on $20 a week mowing a lawn and sleeping in the woods until then. She changed his life and became like a grandmother loving her grandson. She was the first person to love him.
The last part of the book was so emotional. Jimmy took time to just say how much Bea meant to him and everything she did for him. Bea was an angel 😢.Bea and his faith is what pulled him through.
I Love You This Much - “the man didn’t blink, but the little boy cried” IYKYK 😢
February 1, 2020
Great book!! It really makes you think of what’s really important in this life! Helping other! Especially children that are supposed to be taking care of by adults but most of the time are not!! Thank you Jimmy Wayne for showing us how to be Beautiful!!
February 24, 2016
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by BookLook/Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review.]
It is clear from the opening lines that the memoir of country singer-songwriter Jimmy Wayne is an immensely dark one: "I sat sullen and shirtless toward the end of the day, alone in my room at the country home where Mama and her fourth or fifth husband had dumped me. My biological dad had left when I was a toddler, and Mama had already abandoned me several times as well. I'd lost count by now how many men she'd had in my fourteen years. A year earlier, Mama had married off my then-fourteen-year-old sister, Patricia, to an older, abusive man (xvii)." What follows is a look over the first thirty-five years of the author's life, a tale full of dramatic reversals, and the repercussions of a deeply dysfunctional family background that still seems to make it difficult for the author, despite his success as a country singer, to develop intimate bonds with others. It is noteworthy, I suppose, that the author remains unmarried despite being well-known, a talented singer, and someone who is commonly considered to be among the more handsome people within country music, if not in general. Yet, as this honest and soul-searching memoir makes plain, the author has had to overcome a horrific childhood that is painful to read about.
In terms of its contents and structure, the book is a generally chronological (after its first chapters) book that can be divided into four sections. The book begins with a chilling scene of a teenager in crisis, cutting himself and thinking about suicide and engaging in self-harm. The next two chapters show Jimmy Wayne at the peak of his career, singing in Madison Square Garden, opening for Brad Paisley. After this, the book begins at the author's early childhood, with a mother who clearly thinks finding men is more important than keeping a job or bonding with her children. The book's accounts of bullying and child endangerment are terrifying to read, as is the author's description of being a runaway well on his way to becoming a statistic and a part of the criminal justice system. At this point, the providential care of an elderly couple brings structure to Jimmy's life during his teenage years, and he ends up finishing high school and attending college and studying criminal justice, and starts his early music career. From here, the book focuses on the upward trajectory of Wayne's life, including the pitfalls of early stardom, becoming a Nashville singer-songwriter after spending some time working for North Carolina's correctional system, and life on tour and making music, while also seeking to become more grounded in his faith. The fourth section of the book focuses on Wayne's efforts to bring attention to foster children who life out of foster care at 18 and quickly are caught up in crime and exploitation because they are not able to handle themselves easily in his walk halfway across the country. The book therefore combines a deeply moving personal history, a narrative of uneven but consistent growth, along with a clear political message to seek care and concern for the homeless, especially homeless young people like Wayne was during his own immensely difficult childhood.
All in all, at nearly 400 pages of material, this is a deeply satisfying, if painfully reflective, memoir. Wayne shows himself to be a person committed to growth and improvement, and someone whose characteristic sense of distance from others, a habit drilled deeply in his childhood, has not prevented him from being motivated to helping and encouraging those around him. Wayne speaks openly about the difficulties of being part of the music machine, whether it is in the injustice of being asked to sign away royalties and songwriting rights, the betrayal of those you thought were friends when an album doesn't sell enough units, and the ups and downs of a career that is dependent on contracts and performance, where what one has done lately is of the utmost importance [1]. This is a memoir that provides a human face to a person I was not very familiar with, and reminds us to show compassion to those who are down and out in our society. As painful as it is to recognize sometimes, many of us are only a short step away from the sort of difficulties faced by Jimmy Wayne and many others like him, and who need only for someone to meet them halfway, the subject of Jimmy Wayne's lengthy walk from Nashville to Phoenix, a dramatic tale in itself. This is a memoir that richly rewards the reader with a look beneath the celebrity skin to the deeper life within, and to the mysterious workings of divine providence.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
It is clear from the opening lines that the memoir of country singer-songwriter Jimmy Wayne is an immensely dark one: "I sat sullen and shirtless toward the end of the day, alone in my room at the country home where Mama and her fourth or fifth husband had dumped me. My biological dad had left when I was a toddler, and Mama had already abandoned me several times as well. I'd lost count by now how many men she'd had in my fourteen years. A year earlier, Mama had married off my then-fourteen-year-old sister, Patricia, to an older, abusive man (xvii)." What follows is a look over the first thirty-five years of the author's life, a tale full of dramatic reversals, and the repercussions of a deeply dysfunctional family background that still seems to make it difficult for the author, despite his success as a country singer, to develop intimate bonds with others. It is noteworthy, I suppose, that the author remains unmarried despite being well-known, a talented singer, and someone who is commonly considered to be among the more handsome people within country music, if not in general. Yet, as this honest and soul-searching memoir makes plain, the author has had to overcome a horrific childhood that is painful to read about.
In terms of its contents and structure, the book is a generally chronological (after its first chapters) book that can be divided into four sections. The book begins with a chilling scene of a teenager in crisis, cutting himself and thinking about suicide and engaging in self-harm. The next two chapters show Jimmy Wayne at the peak of his career, singing in Madison Square Garden, opening for Brad Paisley. After this, the book begins at the author's early childhood, with a mother who clearly thinks finding men is more important than keeping a job or bonding with her children. The book's accounts of bullying and child endangerment are terrifying to read, as is the author's description of being a runaway well on his way to becoming a statistic and a part of the criminal justice system. At this point, the providential care of an elderly couple brings structure to Jimmy's life during his teenage years, and he ends up finishing high school and attending college and studying criminal justice, and starts his early music career. From here, the book focuses on the upward trajectory of Wayne's life, including the pitfalls of early stardom, becoming a Nashville singer-songwriter after spending some time working for North Carolina's correctional system, and life on tour and making music, while also seeking to become more grounded in his faith. The fourth section of the book focuses on Wayne's efforts to bring attention to foster children who life out of foster care at 18 and quickly are caught up in crime and exploitation because they are not able to handle themselves easily in his walk halfway across the country. The book therefore combines a deeply moving personal history, a narrative of uneven but consistent growth, along with a clear political message to seek care and concern for the homeless, especially homeless young people like Wayne was during his own immensely difficult childhood.
All in all, at nearly 400 pages of material, this is a deeply satisfying, if painfully reflective, memoir. Wayne shows himself to be a person committed to growth and improvement, and someone whose characteristic sense of distance from others, a habit drilled deeply in his childhood, has not prevented him from being motivated to helping and encouraging those around him. Wayne speaks openly about the difficulties of being part of the music machine, whether it is in the injustice of being asked to sign away royalties and songwriting rights, the betrayal of those you thought were friends when an album doesn't sell enough units, and the ups and downs of a career that is dependent on contracts and performance, where what one has done lately is of the utmost importance [1]. This is a memoir that provides a human face to a person I was not very familiar with, and reminds us to show compassion to those who are down and out in our society. As painful as it is to recognize sometimes, many of us are only a short step away from the sort of difficulties faced by Jimmy Wayne and many others like him, and who need only for someone to meet them halfway, the subject of Jimmy Wayne's lengthy walk from Nashville to Phoenix, a dramatic tale in itself. This is a memoir that richly rewards the reader with a look beneath the celebrity skin to the deeper life within, and to the mysterious workings of divine providence.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
Read
September 16, 2017This book had a great message. I was fascinated with the ability of the author to put voice to childhood trauma, and to find a mission for his life. I felt at times like I was reading a journal that was exited to make a book, as in journaling it became a bit repetitive.
March 29, 2015
Thomas McCarthy
Ms. Goldberg
American Literature
26 March 2015
A Walk to Beautiful Review
Over the course of the past month or two in English we have had to read an independent reading book. The book that I chose to read was called A Walk to Beautiful by Jimmy Wayne. This book is about the life of Jimmy Wayne and how he went from just a kid who lived a rough childhood through the foster care system to being a country music star when he grew up. To help support children in the foster care system he walked halfway across the country to raise awareness for them. Jimmy Wayne arguably had the hardest childhood out of all of the famous celebrities and singers that are popular in today’s world.
There were much strength about this book and I would absolutely recommend it. If you are the kind of person who is into a story where a person starts with nothing and turns that into something great, then this book is definitely for you. One strength was that Jimmy Wayne was the author so you really understand his mind and what he was thinking of when he was going through tough situations. For instance there was this one part of the book where Jimmy and his stepfather Tim are in the car and Tim asks Jimmy to load his pistol for him while he is drinking vodka in the driver’s seat. When Tim asks him to load the gun for him Jimmy writes “My hands were shaking, and I was getting more scared by the minute. I nervously emptied the used shells out of the cylinder and reloaded the gun with live ammunition from a small cardboard box Tim had on the seat. I handed the gun to Tim and sat motionless in the from seat while Tim finished of the vodka”(Wayne 120). When I read this part of the book I could clearly picture what was going on and I was actually feeling worried for Jimmy. There aren’t many books that actively get me into it but this was definitely one of them. Also, this just shows how Jimmy’s childhood was very rough. There were a lot of terrible people in his life like Tim that treated him very poorly. Not a lot of famous people can say that they have almost killed, and especially not by their stepfather. Another strength about this book was that it shows that the human spirit can prevail. Even at a young age Jimmy showed incredible resiliency in the face of negativity as well as verbal and physical abuse. In one part of the book Jimmy was homeless and looking for a job. He was riding a bike he stole when he passed a house with an old couple working. He asked if they needed any help with anything and he was offered to mow the lawn. He took the job and worked hard. “Once everything was put away, Bea handed me a twenty dollar bill. My eyes opened wide. I couldn’t believe that she gave me that much money to cut her grass, especially since I had used her mower and her fuel. I could eat all week long on twenty dollars” (209). He had been living alone on the streets after his uncle kicked him out of his house and he was so happy that he had twenty dollars. For most people twenty dollars could only get them through one day, but he was so grateful for it.
Even though there were a handful of strengths about this book, it had its weaknesses as well. One weak part about this book was there were points throughout where it would slow down and not keep the readers less interested. A lot of this slowness in the book took place when he was telling the readers about the start of his music career. A little after he made a hit song he was let go from his job. After this he said “I hit the streets looking for a new songwriting deal. Even with a hit song, those deals often take time, so for the next two weeks or so, I floundered, unemployed”(276). A little before this part he was a little overly confident with himself. After this happened though, he started to explain how he was having a hard time with finding a job. Although it is hard to find a job and especially in music, he could have fast forwarded through this part of his life a little and start talking about the very interesting and incredible parts that surrounded this.
This book is should absolutely be read at some point in your life. I didn’t have much trouble with trying to read it and I kept a nice steady pace throughout the whole thing. The vocabulary used throughout the book is not very hard to understand at all although I must warn that there is some profanity in some parts just in case that might bother you or if you might not expect it. This book relates to children who are in the foster care system and raises awareness for them which is always a heartwarming thing to see.
Works Cited
Wayne, Jimmy, and Ken Abraham. Walk to Beautiful: The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid
Who Found the Way. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Ms. Goldberg
American Literature
26 March 2015
A Walk to Beautiful Review
Over the course of the past month or two in English we have had to read an independent reading book. The book that I chose to read was called A Walk to Beautiful by Jimmy Wayne. This book is about the life of Jimmy Wayne and how he went from just a kid who lived a rough childhood through the foster care system to being a country music star when he grew up. To help support children in the foster care system he walked halfway across the country to raise awareness for them. Jimmy Wayne arguably had the hardest childhood out of all of the famous celebrities and singers that are popular in today’s world.
There were much strength about this book and I would absolutely recommend it. If you are the kind of person who is into a story where a person starts with nothing and turns that into something great, then this book is definitely for you. One strength was that Jimmy Wayne was the author so you really understand his mind and what he was thinking of when he was going through tough situations. For instance there was this one part of the book where Jimmy and his stepfather Tim are in the car and Tim asks Jimmy to load his pistol for him while he is drinking vodka in the driver’s seat. When Tim asks him to load the gun for him Jimmy writes “My hands were shaking, and I was getting more scared by the minute. I nervously emptied the used shells out of the cylinder and reloaded the gun with live ammunition from a small cardboard box Tim had on the seat. I handed the gun to Tim and sat motionless in the from seat while Tim finished of the vodka”(Wayne 120). When I read this part of the book I could clearly picture what was going on and I was actually feeling worried for Jimmy. There aren’t many books that actively get me into it but this was definitely one of them. Also, this just shows how Jimmy’s childhood was very rough. There were a lot of terrible people in his life like Tim that treated him very poorly. Not a lot of famous people can say that they have almost killed, and especially not by their stepfather. Another strength about this book was that it shows that the human spirit can prevail. Even at a young age Jimmy showed incredible resiliency in the face of negativity as well as verbal and physical abuse. In one part of the book Jimmy was homeless and looking for a job. He was riding a bike he stole when he passed a house with an old couple working. He asked if they needed any help with anything and he was offered to mow the lawn. He took the job and worked hard. “Once everything was put away, Bea handed me a twenty dollar bill. My eyes opened wide. I couldn’t believe that she gave me that much money to cut her grass, especially since I had used her mower and her fuel. I could eat all week long on twenty dollars” (209). He had been living alone on the streets after his uncle kicked him out of his house and he was so happy that he had twenty dollars. For most people twenty dollars could only get them through one day, but he was so grateful for it.
Even though there were a handful of strengths about this book, it had its weaknesses as well. One weak part about this book was there were points throughout where it would slow down and not keep the readers less interested. A lot of this slowness in the book took place when he was telling the readers about the start of his music career. A little after he made a hit song he was let go from his job. After this he said “I hit the streets looking for a new songwriting deal. Even with a hit song, those deals often take time, so for the next two weeks or so, I floundered, unemployed”(276). A little before this part he was a little overly confident with himself. After this happened though, he started to explain how he was having a hard time with finding a job. Although it is hard to find a job and especially in music, he could have fast forwarded through this part of his life a little and start talking about the very interesting and incredible parts that surrounded this.
This book is should absolutely be read at some point in your life. I didn’t have much trouble with trying to read it and I kept a nice steady pace throughout the whole thing. The vocabulary used throughout the book is not very hard to understand at all although I must warn that there is some profanity in some parts just in case that might bother you or if you might not expect it. This book relates to children who are in the foster care system and raises awareness for them which is always a heartwarming thing to see.
Works Cited
Wayne, Jimmy, and Ken Abraham. Walk to Beautiful: The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid
Who Found the Way. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2024
Good story. Quick read. Strong story about perseverance and how some people will make a difference
Read
January 24, 2025I like to know about people’s lives. I also love the fact this book brings more awareness to the kids in foster care.
October 1, 2019
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I read it in less than 4 days because I just couldn’t put it down. The authors life from a very young age is chaotic and always changing. He is left to fend for himself much of the time. He’s abandoned and mistreated. This is an incredible story of how he’s come this far. After reading this, I downloaded his music and listened to some of his songs. It’s all just beautiful. I’ll be sharing this book and story with everyone.
September 27, 2015
I LOVE to read. In recent years, my reading has been via audio books and I consume...devour an average of a book a day sometimes! I know a book has really touched my heart when it ends and I feel like I have lost friends. That is doubly tragic when the "friends" are fictional characters. This morning's ending was different, a touching, true story of a young man who grew up with a life eerily similar to my hubby, Gary, the Alabama Turtle Farmer! The book, A Walk to Beautiful by Jimmy Wayne, by Ken Abraham. Throughout the story, I was constantly reminded how a positive attitude, honesty of character, and a willingness to work hard can serve even those in the most extreme circumstances. I can't imagine how someone could read this story and not be touched on many levels. The hand of God was most certainly on this young man as he overcame a life most of us can't imagine. As an adult, his passion is to raise awareness for the plight of children who need foster care, adoptive homes, and especially, that every state will raise the age of foster children in state care to 21. This gives a young person time to pursue higher education, become established in the work force, or just mature a little more before facing the adult world. I recommend books often and my tastes are varied--from numerous audios of The Bible and Christian fiction to Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I don't say this lightly, Everyone should read this book! I can count on one hand the books I read or listen to more than once, other than The Bible. This will be on the "read again" list! On Goodreads.com, it is going on my "Highly Recommended by The Turtle Lady" shelf! The Alabama Turtle Farmer (my hubby) is about to start the printed version and I'm having a very hard time not sharing the story with him! If you enjoy reading, get the book! If you don't know how to read, get the audio...or learn to read so you can read this book!
March 21, 2017
If you know me, you know how much I love a good survival story. This isn't quite Frozen in Time: An Epic Story of Survival and a Modern Quest for Lost Heroes of World War II or Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, but I do consider it a survival story nevertheless, and it's similarly uplifting.
Jimmy Wayne's story prompted me to have a serious conversation with my patient and abiding husband about foster parenting. I remember being just as moved by White Oleander, but though I was certain that the foster scenarios in that novel had some basis in reality, I was for the most part able to dismiss it as fiction. Not so with Walk to Beautiful. I find it infuriating and heartbreaking that any child has to endure such horrible circumstances. And inspiring that such a positive, beautiful (on the inside) person can develop from such circumstances.
Ultimately, Hubby and I decided that now is not the time for us to start on the foster parent journey, but Walk to Beautiful a) assured me that it will never be too late to have a positive impact (Bea and Russell were in their 70s!), and b) reminded me that becoming a foster parent is not the only way to make a difference.
Didn't really enjoy the parts about Jimmy Wayne's music career, though I imagine that's especially intriguing to his fans and other aspiring music artists.
Jimmy Wayne's story prompted me to have a serious conversation with my patient and abiding husband about foster parenting. I remember being just as moved by White Oleander, but though I was certain that the foster scenarios in that novel had some basis in reality, I was for the most part able to dismiss it as fiction. Not so with Walk to Beautiful. I find it infuriating and heartbreaking that any child has to endure such horrible circumstances. And inspiring that such a positive, beautiful (on the inside) person can develop from such circumstances.
Ultimately, Hubby and I decided that now is not the time for us to start on the foster parent journey, but Walk to Beautiful a) assured me that it will never be too late to have a positive impact (Bea and Russell were in their 70s!), and b) reminded me that becoming a foster parent is not the only way to make a difference.
Didn't really enjoy the parts about Jimmy Wayne's music career, though I imagine that's especially intriguing to his fans and other aspiring music artists.
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