Country music star Charley Pride shares his story of growing up, his early career in baseball, how he became a country music star and the first Black singer to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, and his struggles with mental health and depression.

"I've always been an American in my own mind and in my own heart. And that all came forth without even saying just by being myself. I like to think that what happened in my career, I was let be myself, that not only just to sing country music, but in all aspects of my life, that's the way it's always have been. Country music star Charley Pride discusses his book "Pride: The Charley Pride Story."

Filmed in 1994 this interview from NPT's archive episodes of our series A Word on Words with John Seigenthaler.

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▬▬ About A Word on Words with John Seigenthaler ▬▬
In Nashville Public Television’s A Word on Words, renowned journalist John Seigenthaler held in-depth and informed discussions with writers, historians and others. Guests over the series’ 40-year run (1972 to 2013) is impressive and includes Ann Patchett, Billy Collins, Rep. John Lewis, astronaut Alan Shepard and Rodney Crowell.

The show’s host may have been its most fascinating subject, however. John Seigenthaler served as editor of The Tennessean, founding editor of USA Today, assistant to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and chair of the selection committee for the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award. He was a passionate advocate of the First Amendment and founded the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University in 1991.

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NPT provides, through the power of traditional television and interactive digital communications, quality educational, cultural and civic experiences that address issues and concerns of the people of the Nashville region, and which thereby help improve the lives of those we serve.

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00:00 - A Word on Words Intro
00:24 - Intro of Charley Pride
03:21 - Charley Pride's Childhood
05:44 - Kidnapped
10:16 - Career in Baseball
15:11 - Mental Health & Depression
22:16 - Country Music

#countrymusic #civilrights #booktube