Randall’s newest book “My Black Country” highlights her life story and the broader experiences of Black musicians in the country music scene
In 2018, after the release of an award-winning short film and a decades-long career as a songwriter and activist, Alice Randall was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. The diagnosis made her pause and consider what she wanted to do if she truly only had a few years left to live.
“I wanted to write,” she shared with a crowd of Curb College students in the Johnson Large Theater. “I wanted to tell the untold story of Black people in country and western music, and I wanted to tell my untold story of almost 40 years, because I knew if I did not put it down on paper, it would not be known.”
As part of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business fall 2024 seminar lineup, this event joins a full roster of industry speakers this semester, providing students with invaluable access to industry professionals.
Moderated by singer-songwriter Tiera Kennedy, Randall spoke to songwriting majors about the music business, being a minority in Nashville’s songwriting scene and why country music is such an enduring art form.
Country Music’s Narrative of Hope
Randall is a New York Times best-selling novelist, award-winning songwriter, activist and educator. Her most recent book, “My Black Country,” details the history of Black artists in country music and how much more integral they are to the genre than they are often given credit for.
The book weaves together three narratives: the history of Black people in country music, Randall’s journey as a Black female songwriter and publisher and her personal story about country music’s impact on her life.
When asked about the challenges she has faced throughout her career, Randall spoke about the temptation to forget goodness in times of trouble. "The hardest challenge was there are hard things in all [these] places, and to not let the hard eclipse the joy, the creativity and the light,” she said. “Joy is radical, nature, love, family, are actually compensation that eclipse all the hardness. Country [music] is so hopeful, but it has hard-won hope. It doesn’t deny that life is hard.”
Randall emphasized the value of collaborating with writers from diverse backgrounds. She credits her enduring success as a songwriter to actively seeking partners who bring new perspectives to her work.
“When we find something that means everything to both of us, it means everything to a lot of people,” she said. “We hit on universal truths.”
Connection Through Art
Nashville and Belmont attract creative, intelligent songwriters from diverse backgrounds. Randall cautioned students not to prioritize collaboration over self-care and personal well-being. Comparing songwriters to a small business, Randall emphasized the importance of finding authentic connections with their audience — a task impossible when burnt out.
She ended her talk by advocating for artistic versatility. As a multimedia artist herself, Randall understands the value of allowing the function of art to guide the form. “Don’t just do one thing, because when you can do multiple things, you’ll do the right thing,” she said. “When you can do more than one thing, you don’t try to put things in the wrong boxes.”
At the end of the event, students received free copies of "My Black Country" purchased by Curb College to be signed by Randall. They also had the opportunity to ask her questions one-on-one and speak with her personally about their own experiences.
After receiving her diagnosis in 2018, Randall recognized her unique stories that needed telling. Reminding Belmont students that they each hold stories like this inside them, Randall brought inspiration to future professionals who deal in words of hard-won hope.
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