Like Me - Confessions Of A Heartland Country Singer

"And who's gonna end up holdin' your hand-
A beautiful woman or a tall, handsome man?
There's no doubt they'll love you, but it's yet to be seen:
Will anyone ever know you like me?"
-"Like Me" from "Lifted Off the Ground," Chely Wright

It was a big shock in 2010 when Chely Wright came out to the world as a lesbian Country Music star. Some might argue that it was so shocking because few outside of Country recognized who she was. Her name and face were a mystery to many despite the fact that she was one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 2001 and her hit "Single White Female" reached #1 on the Billboard Charts. To the greater US, Ms. Wright was an unknown. Her autobiography (and CD, "Lifted Off the Ground") details the rise from her Kansas roots to her fame as a Country Darling through her leap out of the closet into the public eye. The 2011 edition includes an afterward, an interview by pop culture journalist Chris Willman.

In her interview with Willman, Ms. Wright explains that her reasons for writing "Like Me" are two-fold: "I came out so I could live a whole, healthy life, and so I could choose a life partner not in the shadows but in the light. But the second reason... I wanted to facilitate ease and understanding for young people." She explains that as a gay Christian she has faced negative response from either side of the political spectrum. For much of her life, religion and society taught her that homosexuality is a lifestyle of deviant behavior that cannot be reconciled with Christian faith. She posits that one can be both gay and Christian and remain whole, that a belief in God, support for our troops and family values are not selectively owned by heterosexuality.

"Like Me" is an extremely well written autobiography. Chely Wright executes good taste and judgment in discussing personal matters. Her writing is thoughtful without being gossipy and intimate without over-sharing. She addresses her acquisition of strength to accept herself and the rumors surrounding her coming out with critical analysis and no venom. Even as the book takes a turn for the negative she remains steadfast in her compassion for her own journey. She writes from a perspective of forgiveness that so many autobiographers -and readers- do not allow themselves. She is so tender in "Like Me" that I'm convinced that the book serves as a reminder that her difficulty is a reason for self-love. She gives us a rare opportunity to see where acceptance and love starts: with the self.