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Woman Walk the Line: How the Women in Country Music Changed Our Lives (American Music Series) Hardcover – September 20, 2017

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 92 ratings

Full-tilt, hardcore, down-home, and groundbreaking, the women of country music speak volumes with every song. From Maybelle Carter to Dolly Parton, k.d. lang to Taylor Swift―these artists provided pivot points, truths, and doses of courage for women writers at every stage of their lives. Whether it’s Rosanne Cash eulogizing June Carter Cash or a seventeen-year-old Taylor Swift considering the golden glimmer of another precocious superstar, Brenda Lee, it’s the humanity beneath the music that resonates.

Here are deeply personal essays from award-winning writers on femme fatales, feminists, groundbreakers, and truth tellers. Acclaimed historian Holly George Warren captures the spark of the rockabilly sensation Wanda Jackson; Entertainment Weekly’s Madison Vain considers Loretta Lynn’s girl-power anthem “The Pill”; and rocker Grace Potter embraces Linda Ronstadt’s unabashed visual and musical influence. Patty Griffin acts like a balm on a post-9/11 survivor on the run; Emmylou Harris offers a gateway through paralyzing grief; and Lucinda Williams proves that greatness is where you find it.

Part history, part confessional, and part celebration of country, Americana, and bluegrass and the women who make them, Woman Walk the Line is a very personal collection of essays from some of America’s most intriguing women writers. It speaks to the ways in which artists mark our lives at different ages and in various states of grace and imperfection―and ultimately how music transforms not just the person making it, but also the listener.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Woman Walk the Line radiates heartfelt sincerity, revealing how women in country music—world-famous and little-known, black and white, vintage and contemporary—helped shape the lives of many different kinds of women. It’s concrete evidence that country should and does belong just as much to women as to men." (Ann Powers, author of Good Booty)

"
Woman Walk the Line is tender, tough, raw, informative, and emotionally intelligent, carefully framing twenty-seven of country music’s most evocative and enduring artists. It delivers truth and beauty on every page. I bow in earnest." (Rodney Crowell, author of Chinaberry Sidewalks)

"I absolutely loved this book. Whether we are country girls or city girls, we can all be inspired by its pure generous emotion, transforming pain into empowerment. But it’s not just for girls. This book is for everyone." (Exene Cervenka)

"These personal stories—from women, about women and the way music impacts lives—are entertaining, thought-provoking, and, most of all, memorable." (Reba McEntire)

"Woman Walk the Line is a deeply moving and profound look at the power of music and women. This book captures some of the best music writing you'll ever encounter, but it does much more than that. This is a book for this moment in America, a time when we all need to be reminded of the remarkable impact of women on all facets of our lives. Here we witness their joys, their sorrows, their determination and grit and defiance. More than anything, though, we witness their strength and brilliance." (Silas House, author of Clay’s Quilt and The Coal Tattoo)

About the Author

Holly Gleason is a music critic, academic, and artist development consultant. Her work has appeared in Rolling Stone, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, HITS, Musician, CREEM, the Oxford American, No Depression, and Paste.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Texas Press; First Edition (September 20, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 236 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1477313915
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1477313916
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 92 ratings

About the author

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Holly Gleason
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Author, journalist and marketing consultant Holly Gleason’s work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Los Angeles Times, Musician, Variety, Oxford American, Playboy, Interview, SPIN, NPR Music and Miami Herald. In 2023, she was named LA Press Club’s Entertainment Journalist of the Year. A former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame/Case Western Reserve Fellow, she’s the creator of and contributor to the 2018 Belmont Book Award-winning Woman Walk The Line: How The Women of Country Music Changed Our Life. She recently co-authored Miranda Lambert’s New York Times best-seller Y’All Eat Yet: Welcome to the Pretty B*tchin Kitchen, and edited Prine on Prine: Interviews & Encounters.

An in-demand speaker and interviewer, she's appeared at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Southern Festival of Books, Miami Book Fair, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and various talk shows. She's received the NSAI I Wish I Wrote That Song Award for "Better As A Memory" and taught Music Criticism at Middle Tennessee State University for over a decade.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
92 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's personal essays insightful and inspiring. They describe it as an amazing, brilliant, and triumphant read that goes right to the heart of music. The stories are described as refreshing, entertaining, and each page is like a song. Readers appreciate the perspective on women in country music provided by the personal essays. They praise the writing quality as articulate and well-written, revealing the individual souls of the writers.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

11 customers mention "Author's style"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the author's style. They find the essays intimate and insightful, offering inspiration and a reminder of how music shapes lives. Readers describe the book as an important reminder of the universal human experience and a smart non-fiction read of the year.

"...These are insightful and historical vignettes about how music influences and shapes our lives...." Read more

"...It is the universality of the human experience that attracts us at different times in our life to a particular painting, or sculpture -- or a song..." Read more

"Acutely revelatory to me. The writers are women who articulate a personal epiphany reached through the portal/experience of a song sung by a woman...." Read more

"...Always a great remind and would highly recommend you put it in your list of things to buy. You will not be dissapointed...." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and insightful. They describe it as brilliant and necessary, describing real people and their struggles.

"...it really is a compilation of human stories about strong, creative, brilliant writers, singers and musicians who contributed not just to country..." Read more

"...Truly an awesome read. It lives up to all the great reviews it's received...." Read more

"What a stunning accomplishment this book is! It's full of depth and breadth, passion and feeling, highs and lows, and history...." Read more

"One of the best books I have read ! I read it, passed it on to my sister and she loved it , then even my 90 year old Mom loved it...." Read more

8 customers mention "Entertainment value"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's entertainment value. They find it refreshing to listen to, with each page like a song. Readers describe the stories as insightful, triumphant, and fascinating. The book is a compilation of human stories set to a country music soundtrack that provides emotional depth.

"...Yes, what I said is true but it really is a compilation of human stories about strong, creative, brilliant writers, singers and musicians who..." Read more

"...is a lot of yelling in general in the world, it is a refreshing break to just listen -- listen to these women as they share a bit of their soul and..." Read more

"...Each story is a saga onto itself each page is like a song...." Read more

"...writers have always been the backbone of country and given the music its emotional depth. A book to return to and enjoy time and again." Read more

7 customers mention "Music influence"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book an insightful look at women in country music. They appreciate the personal essays that shed new light on singers and artists. The book is recommended for music lovers of all ages and genres, providing a comprehensive guide to female musicians who have made significant contributions to the genre.

"...human stories about strong, creative, brilliant writers, singers and musicians who contributed not just to country music but to all music and, more..." Read more

"...Swift .... These are intensely personal essays that reveal the singers/artists in new light and, in doing so, revealed the writers' individual soul...." Read more

"This book was an eye opener to women in Country Music.... perspective..... highly recommended!" Read more

"...These are some very smart ladies who’ve done extraordinary things Read on! It WILL Fire you up" Read more

5 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find the writers articulate and well-written, revealing their individual souls through great essays. The book provides a good synopsis of an artist that readers may not know much about.

"This is a beautifully written, loving edited, by Holly gleason, book about the women of country music, their contributions to country music by women..." Read more

"...'s story on Lil Hardin lept off the page, giving me a great synopsis of an artist I knew very little about and now want to hear everything she did.,..." Read more

"...the singers/artists in new light and, in doing so, revealed the writers' individual soul. Perhaps the smartest non-fiction book of the year." Read more

"...of how much this music has affected you, but when you read these great essays, you’ll know and you’ll remember...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2017
    This is a beautifully written, loving edited, by Holly gleason, book about the women of country music, their contributions to country music by women who were inspired by these women. And that sentence is what is wrong with this book; or, at least, how it will be perceived. As it is so much more than that and I fear people will shy away from this must read because of that misconception. Yes, what I said is true but it really is a compilation of human stories about strong, creative, brilliant writers, singers and musicians who contributed not just to country music but to all music and, more importantly, to the lives of those who knew them, listened to them and became who they are because of them. These are insightful and historical vignettes about how music influences and shapes our lives. How those who would not be denied taught us how to stand on our own while leaning against their accomplishments for strength and assurance. These are stories that inspire not just women but all of us. And they are stories that instill knowledge to our love of those who are, or should be, the soundtrack of our lives. Don't buy this book because you love country music, don't buy this book because you are a woman, buy this book because it is wonderfully and lovingly written about real people, real struggle, real accomplishment. Buy this book for yourself because you deserve it. The only other shortcoming of this work is it is only one book. It should be encyclopaedic. Highly, highly recommend.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2018
    Finished reading Book #1 of 2018 last night: WOMAN WALK THE LINE edited by Holly Gleason and written by a wide array of great female writers. Truly an awesome read. It lives up to all the great reviews it's received. I learned so much about each the artists (and I thought I knew several of their histories very well before reading) as well as the writers themselves. Highly recommended. Alice Randall's story on Lil Hardin lept off the page, giving me a great synopsis of an artist I knew very little about and now want to hear everything she did., Wendy Pearl's story on Patty Loveless and how her music ultimately led Wendy to a complete career change was mind-blowing. Holly George-Warren's story on Wanda Jackson brought the legendary singer to life. Nancy Harrison's conversation with Dolly Parton about Nancy's mother made me want to cry. Ronni Lundy's story on Hazel Dickens gave me all types of insight into this artist. Holly Gleason's story on Tanya Tucker brought back my own teenage memories of the singer. Cynthia Sanz's story on Mary Chapin Carpenter illustrated all the reasons why I love MCC and miss her being on today's country radio. Rosanne Cash's eulogy for June Carter Cash, Madison Vain's coming of age with the female empowerment songs of Loretta Lynn, & more. Get it now!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2018
    Art originates in a very personal place. Grief, loneliness, happiness and ecstasy are all channeled through a brush or clay or a guitar pick out into the world. It is the universality of the human experience that attracts us at different times in our life to a particular painting, or sculpture -- or a song on the radio.

    Country music is a genre that is already noted for its deeply personal story telling. Holly Gleason has assembled a selection of writers willing to lay bare a piece of their soul and share exactly how a particular artist resonated with them -- either at a particular juncture in their life -- or over the duration.

    This is a book for anyone who has had an aha moment triggered by a song, or a particular musical artist. A book for anyone who has ever nursed their broken heart through a tough breakup with a favorite song on repeat. A book for anyone who has seen their own situation clearer through the lyrics of a song.

    Anyone who has ever said, "She absolutely gets it! This song is for my situation!" Will relish each page turn of this book. There is something for everyone here -- man and woman alike.

    In a time where the dialogue between men and women is heightened and there is a lot of yelling in general in the world, it is a refreshing break to just listen -- listen to these women as they share a bit of their soul and experience with you -- and listen to the female artists they write about. YouTube will become your companion as you DJ a soundtrack to accompany each chapter.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2017
    What a stunning accomplishment this book is! It's full of depth and breadth, passion and feeling, highs and lows, and history. I couldn't read it through in one sitting, it was too rich. I had to read each essay one at a time, and take a break between, to let them thrum through me and then come to rest in my heart. I'm just so impressed; by Gleason's work pulling it all together, and by the essayists, who each deserves some sort of award for her willingness to reach down deep and pull out the things inside her that make a book like this a piece of art. If you've been on the fence about buying this, leap off and do it! You will be amply rewarded, and you'll come back to this book for years, as I am sure I will.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2017
    Acutely revelatory to me. The writers are women who articulate a personal epiphany reached through the portal/experience of a song sung by a woman. It pulls the curtain back twice. First, when the writer tells of her "place" when she heard the song (young, identity crisis, love tumble ...), and, second, how the song showed the writer the path to gaining possession of some centrally important component of her life. The writers are articulate thinkers. The artist/singer subjects are gifts to humankind: Maybelle Carter, Wanda Jackson, Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Bobbie Gentry, Alison Krauss, Hazel Dickens, Rhiannon Giddens, Rita Coolidge, Roseanne Cash, Patty Loveless, Tanya Tucker, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift .... These are intensely personal essays that reveal the singers/artists in new light and, in doing so, revealed the writers' individual soul. Perhaps the smartest non-fiction book of the year.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • BigE
    4.0 out of 5 stars A series of Articles on Significant Women worth listening too.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 12, 2020
    Some good content - with articles that were easy and quick to read that will certainly help you explore the subject matter and even show you a few albums to consider worth listening too.