Ashley Cleveland’s ‘Black Sheep’ Memoir Due In September

Ashley Cleveland

Renowned singer/songwriter Ashley Cleveland is releasing a heartfelt memoir about her journey through addiction and self-destruction back into the light, and how she discovered renewed faith in the Lord in her new autobiography, Little Black Sheep. The book shares her story of growing up in a troubled home in Knoxville, Tenn., and how as a rebellious teen she dove headlong into addiction and chaos, while discovering her talent for music at the same time.

An unplanned and unwanted pregnancy ultimately helped the troubled singer begin her journey out of the depths of depression and destruction, and little by little through Christ’s help she turned the devastation into a platform to bring hope and courage to others. She also found sobriety and a happy married life, along with musical success.

“Little Black Sheep is a story of sadness, trouble, a little bit of tragedy, redemption, and a little bit of hope, which for me, is a lot of hope,” says Cleveland. “Even though it’s a memoir, it’s a biography, ultimately it’s not really about Ashley, it’s about the one who rescued her.”

Since her debut in 1991 on Atlantic Records, Cleveland has recorded eight albums. She was the first woman to be nominated for a Grammy in the Best Rock Gospel Album category, and the only one ever to win the award three times for Lesson Of Love in 1995, You Are There in 1998, and Before The Daylight’s Shot in 2007. In addition to her own music, Cleveland has provided backing vocals for over 300 recordings, and has performed with artists like John Hiatt, Steve Winwood, Etta James, and Emmylou Harris, among others.

Cleveland will be on hand to sign copies of her new memoir in Nashville at Parnassus Bookstore on Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. She’ll perform several songs and read an excerpt at the local signing as well.