Nickel Dreams: My Life

By Tanya Tucker with Patsi Bale Cox

Tanya Tucker, with the assistance of celebrity biographer Patsi Bale Cox, wrote her autobiography in 1997, at age 39. Nickel Dreams: My Life tells the story of this feisty gal with a powerful voice and a personality to match. She had her first hit at age 13, and the pressure of being the source of income for an entire entourage took its toll.

When she decided as a child that she wanted to be a country singer, her dad took her seriously and pushed her toward that goal. Once she achieved stardom, she had to keep performing to support all the people who depended on the teenager’s income.

The book tells–without excuses–of her alcoholism, drug use, and wild affairs, especially the highly public one with Glen Campbell. I’ve always liked Tanya, and I enjoyed reading her story.