Customer Reviews

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

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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

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.

I learned alot about the Opry from this book. Its filled more with tragedy than romance. Have a box of kleenex's ready!

This is one of the best books I have ever read about the stars of the Grand Ole Opry. I learned things about some of my favorites that I didn't know(for instance,in the story of Vince Gill & Amy Grant,I was not aware of how badly the Christian community treated Amy after her divorce from Gary Chapman and BEFORE she got together with Vince. I'm glad that they have taken her back,though.) There are a lot of interesting stories in this book-some wonderful and some very sad. If you love the Grand Ole Opry,this book is a must have!

I found this book to have great information on many country stars. I would recommend it for any country music fans.

I gave my father this book for Christmas, he loved it! He has loaned it to some of his best friends to read.

This is a fantastic read for any Country Music fan, old or new.... each chapter features on a different star, loads of useful information, easily read.... One of my best purchases in Country Music literture ....

I loved this book! This is an absolute must read for country music lovers.

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.

This is an excellent book. Robert K Oermann gives us in depth the romance and tragedies behind the Grand Ole Opry stars. I thought I knew many of the artists accomplishments and problems but the author enlightens me on many I did not know.