Behind the Grand Ole Opry Curtain: Tales of Romance and Tragedy (Hardcover)

by Grand Ole Opry (Author), Robert K. Oermann (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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.

About the Author
Dubbed "the dean of Nashville's entertainment journalists," Robert K. Oermann writes two weekly columns for Music Row magazine and has been published in more than 100 other national periodicals. His seven books to date include the award-winning Finding Her Voice and A Century of Country. He has penned liner notes for more than 100 albums and boxed-set productions, and has scripted and/or directed television specials and documentaries for CMT, CBS, PBS, the BBC, TBS, TNN and others. He is 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 (CMA).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Center Street; 1 edition (October 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931722897
• ISBN-13: 978-1931722896
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #370,448 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Such interesting stories about favorite singers, October 19, 2008

By	armchairinterviews.com (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

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 highlights 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 heartbreaking, and it is surreal how Grandpa Jones found his good friend Stringbean (David Akeman) and his wife murdered one morning. Hee Haw was just never the same without him.

The interviews continue, telling the heartwarming 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!

Armchair Interviews says: This would be a wonderful gift for anyone who loves country music

5.0 out of 5 stars Pay attention to the people behind the curtain, June 8, 2009

By	Mahlon Christensen (Monterey, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Author, Great Book, March 2, 2009

By	Wendy B. Herko (Franklin, TN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was honored to meet the author and impressed with his integrity and knowledge. I give tours at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and this book is a great resource for interesting facts.