RODNEY CROWELL RELEASES BEHIND-THE-MUSIC MASTERPIECE, WORD FOR WORD, ON BMG BOOKS
Roots Music Legend Emmylou Harris Helps Celebrate With Virtual Special Event
Word For Word Tour Kicks Off With Book Signing Sept 23 in Nashville
Giving fans a look behind the hits and headlines, Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter RODNEY CROWELL has officially released WORD FOR WORD, his long-awaited and gorgeously illustrated new book.Now available everywhere books are sold, the intimate portrait of a true American original celebrates a career like no other, collecting 150 of Crowell’s most impactful songs in a collector-sized compilation of lyrical poetry and artwork.
Featuring 50 pages of prose from Crowell’s own pen, plus vibrant photos and handwritten lyrics, the legendary roots music troubadour describes his early days in Nashville – and the backstory of selected songs – tracing the path of his remarkable career with signature insight, humor, and larger-than-life storytelling.
Meanwhile, such a unique book requires a unique set of events in celebration, and Crowell kicked things off with a special treat for fans on Tuesday (9/13). Hosting longtime friend and creative partner Emmylou Harris for a wide-ranging virtual conversation, the legendary pair explored the genesis of WORD FOR WORD during an event co-hosted by a group of independent booksellers (Gramercy Books, in Columbus, Ohio; Willow Bookshop in Houston, Texas; Bookends & Beginnings in Evanston, Illinois; and Literati in Ann Arbor, Michigan), and Crowell has much more in store.
Starting next week, the master craftsman will embark on an extensive tour of music and memories, beginning with a hometown book signing event at Nashville’s Parnassus Books on September 23. From there he’ll visit more than a dozen cities across the nation – including Kansas City, Baton Rouge, Austin, Dallas, Houston and more – as the Word for Word Tour stretches into early 2023.
About Rodney Crowell:
With more than 40 years of American roots music under his belt, Texas native RODNEY CROWELL is a two-time Grammy Award winner who has written fifteen #1s with five Number One hits of his own and a legacy of songwriting excellence. A member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Crowell is also the author of the acclaimed memoir, Chinaberry Sidewalks, and teamed up with New York Times best-selling author Mary Karr for Kin: Songs by Mary Karr & Rodney Crowell in 2012. Crowell was honored with ASCAP’s prestigious Founder’s Award in 2017, and that same year released the album Close Ties, which spawned another Grammy nomination for “It Ain’t Over Yet” with Rosanne Cash and John Paul White in the category of Best Americana Song. In 2018, he opened his own record label, RC1 Records, and released his Acoustic Classics project. Also released on RC1, 2019’s Texas is a collection of Lone Star-centric collaborations with Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Dunn, Steve Earle and more, and Crowell’s most recent album, Triage, in 2021. Crowell has four daughters and lives with his wife and dog in Tennessee. He writes every day and loves tending to his garden.
With more than 40 years of American roots music under his belt, Texas native RODNEY CROWELL is a two-time Grammy Award winner who has written fifteen #1s with five Number One hits of his own and a legacy of songwriting excellence. A member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Crowell is also the author of the acclaimed memoir, Chinaberry Sidewalks, and teamed up with New York Times best-selling author Mary Karr for Kin: Songs by Mary Karr & Rodney Crowell in 2012. Crowell was honored with ASCAP’s prestigious Founder’s Award in 2017, and that same year released the album Close Ties, which spawned another Grammy nomination for “It Ain’t Over Yet” with Rosanne Cash and John Paul White in the category of Best Americana Song. In 2018, he opened his own record label, RC1 Records, and released his Acoustic Classics project. Also released on RC1, 2019’s Texas is a collection of Lone Star-centric collaborations with Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Dunn, Steve Earle and more, and Crowell’s most recent album, Triage, in 2021. Crowell has four daughters and lives with his wife and dog in Tennessee. He writes every day and loves tending to his garden.