Chely Wright

I had heard about Chely Wright way back when but didn't really take notice. And I don't remember what prompted me to start listening to her music now and ultimately read her book. I'm glad I've done both. Her music is exceptional and her autobiography enlightening.

Unlike many celebrities who write their stories and who appear semi-illiterate in the process, Ms. Wright has an easy style about her writing (both her book and her verses) and the anguish and pain she felt as a lesbian in an unforgiving country music world is apparent. I have yet to watch her documentary, Wish Me Away, but it's on my desk ready for viewing.

Ms. Wright has lived a tough life and I'm glad she now has found the love she needs. Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer is well worth the read. She also has a new avid fan.

By the way, you should listen to her CDs before and after her coming out. Many of the pre- songs you can see in the book. Her CDs from that time period appear to be semi-autobiographical. Some are frightening!… (más)

Sadly...we live in our world where preconceived (and false) ideas about gays and lesbians make coming out as relevant and important as ever ...Ms. Wright breaks a lot of the stereotypes about gay women both in her appearance and her strong Christian background and the pain that she's lived and kept hidden ('til now) is all too real and raw.


Just ask anyone who is still in closet (hypothetically of course since they are, after all, in the closet) and they most likely will speak of the heartache and loneliness and inner shame of being gay.


Until we live in a world where homosexuality is not seen as sinful and understood to be just as real and vital as heterosexual love, books like Ms. Wright's will always be needed and read...my soul aches for anyone who has known the excruciating struggle to be "normal" in a world where same gender love is so often met with hate.


I am so glad Chely Wright wrote Like Me ...I can't even begin to imagine the good that could have been done if books like this one had been written in earlier decades when there was no one to look to who could show (and tell) us that who you happened to fall in love with did not determine whether you were a freak or not.

Wright's book, though, isn't all about her sexuality. There is tons more to this wonderfully written autobiography!… (más)