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Behind the Grand Ole Opry Curtain: Tales of Romance and Tragedy
The Grand Ole Opry has been home to the greatest legends of country music for over eighty years, and in that time it has seen some of conutry music's most dramatic stories unfold.
We'll hear of the great love stories ranging from Johnny Cash and June Carter in the 1960s to Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, who married in 2005. We'll get the truth of the tragedies that led to the loss of three stars all in the same month, starting the rumor of the "Opry Curse." We'll learn how after being stabbed, shot, and maimed, Trace Adkins calls his early honky-tonk years "combat country," and we'll find inspiration from DeFord Bailey, an African American harmonica player in 1927 crippled by childhood polio who rose to fame as one of the first Opry stars. Our hearts will break for Willie Nelson, who lost his only son on Christmas Day, and soar for Amy Grant and Vince Gill, who found true love.
Based on over 150 firsthand interviews with the stars of The Grand Ole Opry, these are stories that tell the heart of country--the lives that are lived and inspire the songs we love.
We'll hear of the great love stories ranging from Johnny Cash and June Carter in the 1960s to Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, who married in 2005. We'll get the truth of the tragedies that led to the loss of three stars all in the same month, starting the rumor of the "Opry Curse." We'll learn how after being stabbed, shot, and maimed, Trace Adkins calls his early honky-tonk years "combat country," and we'll find inspiration from DeFord Bailey, an African American harmonica player in 1927 crippled by childhood polio who rose to fame as one of the first Opry stars. Our hearts will break for Willie Nelson, who lost his only son on Christmas Day, and soar for Amy Grant and Vince Gill, who found true love.
Based on over 150 firsthand interviews with the stars of The Grand Ole Opry, these are stories that tell the heart of country--the lives that are lived and inspire the songs we love.
416 pages, Hardcover
Published October 8, 2008
34 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 11, 2009
Expertly written by Robert K. Oermann, Behind The Opry Curtain is basically a collection of biographical sketches of various members of the Grand Ole Opry cast. Somewhere in each story the author relates the important role the Opry played in that particular artist's career development. If you're a long-time Country music fan, you may have heard many of these stories before, but it's still nice to have them all together in one volume. For new fans of the genre hoping to discover more about the Opry or it's stars, this book provides the perfect starting point.
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March 5, 2009This was an interesting read and not what I expected when I first picked it up at my boyfriend's house, looking for something to read. It spends each chapter on a couple's love story, or an interesting duet or a tragedy in the country music world, and talks about a lot of older country music legends.
June 27, 2018
Each chapter is the story of one or two performers who eventually join the rolls of the Grand Ole Opry. You learn about their early lives and struggles, how they came to Nashville, and how important it was for them to sing at the Grand Ole Opry. I read a chapter each night before going to sleep, and thoroughly enjoyed visiting with lots of famous people. A great book to read if you're going to the Grand Ole Opry or the Ryman Center.
June 13, 2023
An excellent source of basic country music knowledge. I bought this at the Grand Ole Opry. i can see why the Opera promotes it. A good basic knowledge can be gained from it. I enjoyed this book and can recommend it to anyone interested in country music.
January 3, 2018
This was a good book. It had chapters on a lot of different country stars going all the way back to turn of the century. I found it very entertaining.
February 17, 2018
Short bios of a wide range of country music stars - quick and easy read but very interesting.
June 20, 2013
The Grand Ole Opry has been home to the greatest legends of country music for over eighty years, and in that time it has seen some of country music's most dramatic stories unfold. A beautiful volume based on over 150 firsthand interviews with the stars of The Grand Ole Opry, these are stories that tell the heart of country--the lives that are lived and inspire the songs we love.
The book opens with how Johnny and June Carter Cash began their musical careers. The battle Johnny waged with drugs, their rise to stardom, how Johnny proposed and how they died within months of one another is just the high-lights of their story. They may be gone, but their music will always be a part of country music.
The story of how Willie Nelson’s only son died on Christmas Day is heart-breaking, and how Grandpa Jones found his good friend Stringbean (David Akeman) and his wife murdered one morning is surreal. Hee Haw was just never the same without him.
The interviews continue, telling the heart-warming story of how Vince Gill and Amy Grant found true love with one another. The truth of the tragedies that led to the loss of three stars all in the same month, starting the rumor of the "Opry Curse”, is also revealed.
Many, many more stories of singers of the Opry are told, some sad and some uplifting. Behind the Curtain reveals plenty of information that most country music fans will love.
Robert K. Oermann, The Dean of Nashville’s Entertainment Journalists, writes two weekly columns for Music Row magazine. He is also the Chairman of the Country Committee for the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles and serves on the Hall of Fame and awards committees for the Country Music Association.
Growing up with country music, I found this volume to be wonderfully entertaining and chock-full of tidbits about various stars that I just didn't know. This one is definitely going on my keeper shelf!
The book opens with how Johnny and June Carter Cash began their musical careers. The battle Johnny waged with drugs, their rise to stardom, how Johnny proposed and how they died within months of one another is just the high-lights of their story. They may be gone, but their music will always be a part of country music.
The story of how Willie Nelson’s only son died on Christmas Day is heart-breaking, and how Grandpa Jones found his good friend Stringbean (David Akeman) and his wife murdered one morning is surreal. Hee Haw was just never the same without him.
The interviews continue, telling the heart-warming story of how Vince Gill and Amy Grant found true love with one another. The truth of the tragedies that led to the loss of three stars all in the same month, starting the rumor of the "Opry Curse”, is also revealed.
Many, many more stories of singers of the Opry are told, some sad and some uplifting. Behind the Curtain reveals plenty of information that most country music fans will love.
Robert K. Oermann, The Dean of Nashville’s Entertainment Journalists, writes two weekly columns for Music Row magazine. He is also the Chairman of the Country Committee for the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles and serves on the Hall of Fame and awards committees for the Country Music Association.
Growing up with country music, I found this volume to be wonderfully entertaining and chock-full of tidbits about various stars that I just didn't know. This one is definitely going on my keeper shelf!
February 24, 2017
Informative and entertaining.
May 9, 2012
This is a collection of stories about country music singers. Some chapters are about a single singer. Other chapters have a theme and use stories from a variety of singers to illustrate the theme.
There's a little too much emphasis when talking about a particular singer on the chronology of top songs. During those parts, it definitely helps if you know the songs and can hear them as you read.
The people profiled range from old timers who were there at the beginning to relatively new talent that became big in the 1990s.
Probably only interesting if you've a big country music fan.
While some of the stories happen at the Grand Ole Opry, it's more about people who are members of the Opry than about the Opry or the show itself.
There's a little too much emphasis when talking about a particular singer on the chronology of top songs. During those parts, it definitely helps if you know the songs and can hear them as you read.
The people profiled range from old timers who were there at the beginning to relatively new talent that became big in the 1990s.
Probably only interesting if you've a big country music fan.
While some of the stories happen at the Grand Ole Opry, it's more about people who are members of the Opry than about the Opry or the show itself.
February 5, 2012
Behind the Grand Ole Opry Curtain by Robert K. Oermann is a great read for anyone interested in the world of country music, past and present. After reading this book, I am amazed that country music is still alive. The majority of the stars did not have an easy life, personally or professionally. The hardships they endured would have made a lesser body give up. For the most part the members of the Opry were like family and always looked after each other. The 150 interviews in this book gives an intimate look at the country music world.
March 5, 2013
Loved, Loved, Loved this book. So many great stories about the country singers that I enjoy listening to. So many pieces of history about the songs, the singers and everything Opry. Anyone who is a fan of country music would really enjoy reading this.
February 24, 2017
Very interesting for any fan of country music! I love country music and you can't have country music without the Grand Ole Opry. Some of these stories I had heard some about before and others were brand new. Highly recommend for country music nerds like me. :-)
July 2, 2011
An entertaining collection of country music biographies from Hank Williams to Randy Travis. Highlights for me included Stringbean, Johnny Cash, and Johnny Paycheck.
June 24, 2012
Recommended reading if you grew up in Middle Tennessee.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews