Born to Fly: A Memoir

by Sara Evans

Overview

Discover country music star Sara Evans’s inspirational story about her rise to stardom, her roundabout path to love, and how her faith brings daily joy no matter the circumstances.

Sara Evans—a Billboard, ACM, and CMA Award–winning country music star who’s been named one of People’s “50 Most Beautiful People” and competed on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars—has been inspiring fans throughout her successful music career.

In this powerful, personal, and often humorous book, Sara opens up and shares stories from her career, describing what it’s like living in the spotlight and how her faith keeps her strong. She writes about overcoming life’s most challenging experiences, from a childhood accident that nearly took her life, to the loss she experienced when her parents divorced, and from her own painful and very public divorce, to finding incredible love when she least expected it with former pro quarterback-turned-sportscaster Jay Barker. Now, after over a decade of marriage, Sara and Jay’s blended family of nine is thriving, filling her life with focus and meaning.

As she weaves the narrative of her life, Sara candidly reveals the things that are most important to her and her family now, her favorite tips about staying true to herself and her faith, knowing when to ask for help, abandoning perfectionism, and the importance of a strong support group of friends and family. Fans old and new will enjoy this inspiring, heartfelt book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781501162589
Publisher:	Howard Books
Publication date:	09/08/2020
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	404,296
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 6.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Sara Evans has sold over seven million albums and has garnered five #1 hits on country radio including “A Little Bit Stronger,” the title track of her chart-topping 2011 album Stronger. The single was number one for two weeks and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Other #1 hits include “Born to Fly,” “Suds in the Bucket,” “A Real Fine Place to Start,” and “No Place That Far.” Evans continues to bring her music to the fans by touring nationwide, typically performing over eighty shows each year. In addition to her music, Evans is an accomplished author of three novels and her memoir Born to Fly. She also lends her resources and time to many charitable causes including the CMA Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Red Cross, and many more.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Then

Chapter 1 Big Farmhouse on the Prairie 3

Chapter 2 The Accident 13

Chapter 3 The Best Medicine 25

Chapter 4 Dreams Broken, Dreams Reborn 33

Chapter 5 Nashville Cars 51

Chapter 6 Discoveries 63

Chapter 7 Jesus Loves Me, This I Know 75

Chapter 8 No Place That Far 81

Chapter 9 My Biggest Fear 91

Chapter 10 The Barker Bunch 105

Chapter 11 Sweet Home Alabama 115

Chapter 12 The Plane Crash 123

Part 2 Now

Chapter 13 Married with Children 135

Chapter 14 Raise Them Up 143

Chapter 15 #familyiseverything 161

Chapter 16 Too Young to Be Old 167

Chapter 17 Divorce 177

Chapter 18 Finding the Perfect Blend 181

Chapter 19 Sunday Dinners 187

Chapter 20 The Good Old Days 191

Chapter 21 Looking Forward 197

Thanks 205

Index 207

Editorial Reviews

06/08/2020

Country music singer Evans (Love Lifted Me) sparkles in this down-home memoir about her career and Midwestern upbringing. Growing up on a farm in tiny New Franklin, Mo., where her high school graduating class numbered 35, and as part of a large family, Evans was a self-declared tomboy and discovered her musical aptitude at age five. Despite being hit by a car as an eight-year-old (with a long, difficult hospital stay in traction from multiple broken bones and a severe concussion) and her parents’ divorce, Evans describes an idyllic childhood. She then explores her life’s high points—her second marriage to NFL player Jay Barker, her platinum-selling albums —and difficult moments, such as her divorce from her first husband, the father of her children. Evans’s girl-next-door tone will charm readers, and her quiet but powerful testament to her religious beliefs makes clear her values, but, commendably, doesn’t pass judgment on those with other views. Evans’s fans will devour this humble yet incredible life story. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Fans will devour this book, but many readers are likely to enjoy this warm, approachable read."

Booklist

2020-06-16
A popular country singer discusses her life traumas and offers advice about men, marriage, and parenthood.

Missouri native Evans was a self-professed "daddy's girl" who bonded with her father over a shared love of singing and showed a special gift for music at an early age. Her mother put together a family band, and soon Evans and her siblings were playing all over Missouri at everything from state fairs to Eagles Lodge dances. Difficulty coping with the stress suffered when Evans sustained injuries from being hit by a car led to familial strife, and her parents divorced just as she reached adolescence. Because her father ignored her, Evans began a long-term pattern of " 'begging' men to love me” and choosing abusive partners. It was her dream of country singer stardom that helped her leave a bad relationship (which she does not discuss in detail) and go to Nashville. A series of lucky breaks led to a seven-record deal with RCA, but the author did not achieve fame until the release of her third album. Sadly, her "fairy tale" life fell apart when she had a "meltdown" and then divorced the husband she neither describes nor names. A second marriage to a divorced father and former University of Alabama quarterback led to a happy blended family Evans dubs the "Barker Bunch.” In the second half of the book, the author offers such secrets for a happy marriage as “don’t be too needy or clingy [and] have your own friends.” Regarding her children, Evan writes about the need for discipline and fostering open lines of communication. Interspersed throughout with personal photographs, the memoir, though neither insightful nor revealing, will likely appeal to the singer's fans and country music lovers.

Light, not-especially-memorable reading.

Kirkus Reviews

"The first moment you hear Sara's voice, you know it's unique. Everything she writes about in her music revolves around family, faith, fun, and fearlessness. Her outer beauty is obvious, however she is also beautiful on the inside and gives to so many from her caring spirit. We can all learn from her example of how to be a great artist, writer, mother, wife, and friend. I loved her before, but after reading this book my love has grown for her. She was “ born to fly “ and you will fly too as you read each page.”

Joe Galante

"When I first met Sara many years ago she was candid, funny, smart, and talented. All these years later I still see that girl, but now she's even more candid, funny, smart and talented! We bonded right off the bat, and our bond all these years later remains centered in a shared experience of being a mother, an artist, a business woman and navigating the sometimes difficult reality of "having it all" in a challenging business. We have so many similarities in our childhood including singing with a family band, being raised in a rural community, and learning the work ethic and values of the Midwest. I am so happy she is telling her story."

Martina McBride