Country music stars reveal start-up secrets

Breaking into country music means more than just packing up and moving to Nashville. Getting a foot in the door can be a difficult task, but veteran country music writer Carolyn Hollaran tells how to push the door wide open in her new book, Country Music Stars Reveal: What It Takes to Get a Break. Hollaran’s book helps up-and-coming artists set a strategy for stardom and shares how today’s legends of country music successfully broke into this tough business.

With breakthrough stories from 58 artists, including Patsy Cline, LeAnn Rimes and Alan Jackson, Country Music Stars Reveal tells the backstage stories of millions of country fans’ favorite stars. For the aspiring country legend, Hollaran’s book given emerging singers, songwriters, musicians and bands a complete “how to” guide to expose their talents to the professionals. She explains the importance of finding a competent entertainment attorney and getting a fair deal with a manager. The book also details how to engage in the “artist development” process, in which new artists cultivate relationships with professionals early in their careers so they have a solid promotional foundation to work from when they start moving up the ladder.

Country Music Stars Reveal offers both the excruciating details of getting a fair record deal and famous advice, such as Patsy Cline’s best tips on getting onto the bright stages in Tennessee.

Hollaran started her career as a tour guide and hostess at the Grand Ole Opry. Since her move to Nashville, she has written seven books on country music, including Your Favorite Country Music Stars, Meet the Star of Country Music that was recommended by the Library of Congress on the 1979 CMA show, Our Brightest Stars in Country Music, volumes one and two; Really Cookin’ with Stella Parton and How to Achieve Stardom in Country Music. She hopes this latest book will preserve the contributions of music icons and help country hopefuls understand this tough industry.