,JOY ,LYNN ,:ITE

  ,JOY ,LYNN ,:ITE DR1M$ ( 2COM+ A
,C.TRY MUSIC /> "E S9CE %E 0 A "Y GIRL
S++ ,GOSPEL MUSIC ) H] FAMILY 9 *UR* &
AT REVIVAL MEET+S4
  ,:5 AF YE>S ( /RU7LE1 SU3ESS F9,Y
BECKON$ =! FLAM+-R$-HAIR$ ,>KANSAS
B1UTY1 ! "O P]SON :OM %E MO/ WANT$ 6%>E
H] A3OMPLI%;T )--H] "F--WAS SU45LY TAK5
F H]4
  ,AL? JOY ,LYNN'S FAI? 0 BRIEFLY %AK5
0H] LOSS1 ! ,COLUMBIA ,RECORDS >TI/1 )
TWO ALBUMS 6H] CR$IT1 DID N REMA9
E/RANG$ F ,GOD = TOO L;G A P]IOD ( "T4
  ,) H] USUAL POSITIVE \TLOOK1 :AT %E
CAME 6R1LIZE IS T "EY?+ : HAPP5S 9 LIFE
--:E!R X 2 GD OR BAD--IS ALL "P ( ,GOD'S
SOV]EIGN PLAN4
  ,"S"TS X'S RE,Y H>D 6FIGURE X ALL \ 2C
Y FEEL S D>N BAD T Y DON'T WANT 6?9K T ?
HAPP5$ =A R1SON10 %E ASS]TS4 8,B ,I'VE
LE>N$ T ?+S D HAPP5 =A R1SON '''
  ,BORN 9 ! SMALL F>M+ T[N ( ,TURREL1
,>KANSAS1 & RAIS$ 9 ,MISHAWAKA1 ,9DIANA1
N F> F ! BIG-C;Y LI<TS ( ,S\? ,B5D1 ,JOY
,LYNN GREW UP 9 A MUSICAL FAMILY ": S++
CAME Z NATUR,Y Z EAT+ & SLEEP+4
  ,! HILLBILLY B1UTY LE>N$ 6TALK AT !
AGE ( T5 MON?S :ILE LI/5+ 6,C.TRY RADIO1
& H] EXUB].E SPILL$ OV] 96H] MUSIC4
  8,S++ IS L A FIX = ME10 %E PROCLAIMS )
AN 9FECTI\S LAU<4 8,:ILE O!R KIDS 7
PLAY+ \TDOORS1 ,I WD G HOME & S+ AL;G )
MY ALBUMS4 ,MY MAJOR MUSICAL 9FLU;ES 7
,EMMYL\ ,H>RIS1 ,L9DA ,RON/ADT1 &
,JIMMIE ,RODG]S40
  ,! "YE/ ( ?REE *N1 ,JOY ,LYNN IS PR\D
( H] 8HILLBILLY0 ROOTS4 8,MY DAD 0 BORN
& RAIS$ 9 ,>KANSAS & MY "M 0 BORN &
RAIS$ 9 ,EA/ ,T5;SEE4 ,!Y MOV$ UP
6,9DIANA 9 ! SIXTIES = "W4
  8,"! 0 A LOT ( FACTORY "W AVAILA# 9 !
,MIDWE/ AT T "T1 S MY DAD W5T 6"W AT "O
( ^? FACTORIES & MY MOM MO/LY /AY$ HOME
6RAISE H] ?REE BABIES4 ,"S"TS %E'D "W
ODD JOBS40
  ,JOY ,LYNN'S ROOTS >E /EEP$ 9 RELIGION
Z WELL Z MUSIC4 8,I 0 BR"\ UP >.D A
RELIGI\S FAMILY1 B N S RELIGI\S T WE
DIDN'T H A GD "T4 ,I W5T 6*UR* ALL MY
LIFE--X 0 ! ,BAPTI/ *UR* 9 ,OSCEOLA1
,9DIANA4 ,T'S ": ,I />T$ S++4 ,MY F/ S++
LIVE CAME F "!4
  8,I WD S+ ,GOSPEL MUSIC 9 T *UR* & !N
,I W5T ON 6"W ) MY :OLE FAMILY--MY
BRO!R1 MY SI/]1 MY DAD1 & MY UNCLE4 ,!Y
7 ,GOSPEL S+]S :O P]=M$ AT REVIVALS4 ,I
0 AB FIVE YE>S OLD AT ! "T & 9 K9D]G>T54
  8,WE DID RADIO %[S & REVIVALS ALL !
WAY "? ,9DIANA & ,MI*IGAN4 ,I 0 S++
,GOSPEL S;GS 2F ,I CD R1D--,I MEMORIZ$ !
/UFF4 ,WE 7 CALL$ ! ,8,S++ ,:ITE ,FAMILY
F1TUR+ ,LL ,LYNN ,:ITE40' ,"EYBODY 9 MY
FAMILY CALLS ME ,LYNN40
  ,JOY ,LYNN REFLECTS BACK ^U ^? YE>S )
FOND MEMORIES1 REMEMB]+ ALL ! LOVE &
5C\RAGE;T T %E RCVD F H] P>5TS4 8,MY MOM
& DAD 7 RE,Y UNIQUE4 ,!Y SUPPORT$ ME A
LOT & !Y MADE ME "U/& T :AT ,I _H 0 A
GIFT F ,GOD4 ,!Y WD TELL ME T "EY"O HAS
A GIFT & M9E HAPP5$ 6BE ,,MUSIC4
  8,!Y WD TELL ME 6RESPECT MY GIFT1 B N
FEEL T ,I 0 ANY BETT] ?AN ANY"O ELSE 2C
,I _H X4 ,T 0 ALW RE,Y 9/ILL$ 9 ME--N
6?9K T ,I 0 S* HOT /UFF4
  8,MY "M WD RE,Y 9/ILL T 9 ME & %E WD
TELL ME :5 ,I SANG GD & :5 ,I DIDN'T1 S
,I _H A LOT ( 3/RUCTIVE CRITICISM F ! V
2G9N+40
  ,:ILE / 9 HI< S*OOL1 ,JOY ,LYNN PUT
TGR H] F/ B&4 ,%E !N F.D "W S++ J+LES =
RADIO -M]CIALS4 ,X WASN'T M* 9 ! WAY (
PROFES.NAL CR$ITS1 B ! "Y S+] N"O!.S
FELT R1DY 6TACKLE H] DR1M ( 2+ A ,C.TRY
MUSIC />4
  ,AT AGE N9ETE5 %E LEFT = ,NA%VILLE1
>RIV+ 9 ,MUSIC ,C;Y 9 AN OLD B1T-UP
,GREML91 ) TWO HUNDR$ DOLL>S 9 H]
POCKET1 &A LOT ( EXPECT,NS4
  8,I 2LIEVE MY :OLE C>E] IS A GIFT F
,GOD 2C ,I _H NO BUSI;S S5SE AT ALL :5
,I MOV$ 6,NA%VILLE 9 #AIHB1 ,I 0 / A
TE5AG] :5 ,I MOV$ "H & PRETTY IMMATURE4
  8,ALL ,I CD D 0 S+ & H FAI? 9 MY
ABIL;Y 6S+4 ,I ALW J FELT T 0 :AT ,I WD
D4 ,& T'S RE,Y ALL ,I "E H D"O4
  ,DESPITE S* FAI?1 ! ,ONLY "W ,JOY
,LYNN CD F9D 0 A JOB %9+ %OES4 ,M1N:ILE1
%E 2GAN 6PURSUE DEMO & /UDIO "W1 SOON
2COM+ "O (! MO/ IN-DEM& DEMO S+]S 9 T[N4
  ,H] VIBRANT VOICE CAPTUR$ ! ATT5;N ,(
RECORD+ /> ,M>TY ,/U>T1 :O 2CAME H]
SPONSOR & 9TRODUC$ ! TAL5T$ "Y S+]
6V>I\S MUSIC EXECUTIVES4 ,%E WD EV5TU,Y
G ON 6SIGN ) ,COLUMBIA ,RECORDS4
  ,AT ! MO;T1 H["E1 ,JOY ,LYNN F.D H]F
DO+ DEMO "W & N MAK+ M* PROGRESS T[>D H]
GOAL4 8,T 0 A P]IOD :5 MY FAI? 0
TEMPOR>ILY *ALL5G$10 %E RECALLS4
  8,I WD SAY1 ,8,GOD :Y WD Y GIVE ME ALL
MY TAL5T & N MAKE X 6": ,I C USE X8 ,H[
M* L;G] D ,I H 6KEEP BUILD+ "*80'
  8,I WD FEEL T WAY1 B MO/ (! "T ,I WD
KEEP MY FAI? OR ELSE ,I DON'T ?9K ,I WD
H /AY$ 9 ? T[N & TRI$ 6D ?4 ,IF Y RE,Y
2LIEVE--& ,I RE,Y ALW 2LIEV$ T ,I 0 DO+
:AT ,I 0 SUPPOS$ 6BE DO+--?+S W HAPP54
  8,FAI? IS AB FOCUS+ & 2LIEV+ ) ALL YR
HE>T 9 :AT"E GOAL Y'RE TRY+ 6D4 ,X M1NS
J 2+ R1L /R;G & FAI? KEEPS Y T WAY4 ,X
KEEPS Y FOCUS$ & GO+ 9 T DIREC;N1 :AT"E
X MI<T BE40
  ,DUR+ ^? MO;TS :5 %E FELT 4C\RAG$1
,JOY ,LYNN REMEMB]S TURN+ 6NATURE 6BOO/
H] S9K+ _SS4 8,"! 7 L;G P]IODS ( "T :5
NO?+ WD 2 HAPP5+ = ME & ,I WD G \ 9 !
WOODS1 G = L;G WALKS1 & PRAY 6,GOD4
  8,I WD SAY1 ,8,HEY1 "!'S LOTS ( O!R
?+S T ,I WD L 6D1 TOO1 S IF ? IS N :AT Y
WANT ME 6D1 !N Y OP5 ! DOORS = ME 6G
"S": ELSE40' ,& T'S H[ ,I WD LOOK AT
LIFE4
  8,& MO/ (! "TS AF RE,Y GETT+ D[N &
HAV+ ^! 3V]S,NS1 ! DOORS WD ALW OP5 &
"S?+ NEW WD HAPP54 ,A PH"O CALL WD -E &
"S?+ NEW WD HAPP5 : WD KEEP MOV+ ME 96T
DIREC;N 6": ,I AM TD40
  ,JOY ,LYNN REMEMB]S T X 0 %ORTLY AF "O
S* TALK 9 ! WOODS ) ,GOD T %E RCVD "O (!
MO/ IMPORTANT BR1KS 9 H] C>E]4 8,I 0 DO+
A LOT ( DEMOS = S+]S & ,I 0 DO+ A LL BIT
( WRIT+4 ,9 ! M1N"T1 ,I 0 "W+ AT A HOTEL
"H 9 ,NA%VILLE 9 ! BANQUET DE"P;T4 ,& ,I
0 RE,Y GETT+ TIR$ ( /RU7L+4
  8,S ,I 0 S]I\SLY ?9K+ AB TRY+ 6GET 96A
:OLE DI6]5T FIELD--A DI6]5T LIFE/YLE T
WDN'T 9VOLVE MUSIC Z A BUSI;S4 ,I WD ALW
S+ & 2 96MUSIC = P]SONAL 5JOY;T1 B ,I 0
GO+ 6TRY 6D "S?+ ELSE ) MY LIFE T WD
9VOLVE "S K9D ( "W ) ANIMALS4
  8,& ,I RE,Y 0 GETT+ 96ALL ? GORILLA
RESE>*4 ,I 0 R1D+ BOOKS 0,DIANE ,FOSSE--
? LADY :O _H D"O ALL ! M.TA9 GORILLA
RESE>* 9 ,AFRICA4 ,& ,I 0 EV5 TALK+ 6FRS
ALL ! "T AB DO+ T K9D ( "W4
  8,X 0 "O ( ^? "TS T ,I W5T \ 6! WOODS
6PRAY1 & ,I TOLD ,GOD T ,8,IF 2+ A P]=M]
IS N :AT Y WANT ME 6D1 PL1SE LET ME
"K40' ,T'S :5 /UFF />T$ HAPP5+ ) ,TREE
,PUBLI%+40
  ,^U RETURN+ HOME1 ,JOY ,LYNN RCVD A
PH"O CALL F ! MUSIC PUBLI%+ H\SE (F]+ H]
A JOB Z A S;GWRIT]4 ,? ALL (A SU45 PUT
ME BACK 96! HE>T (! MUSIC BUSI;S J :5 ,I
0 ?9K+ AB L1V+ X40
  ,JOY ,LYNN REMEMB]S 2+ EC/ATIC AB !
JOB (F]1 B N ALL T SURPRIS$ T X CAME S
SWIFTLY AF ASK+ ,GOD 6PO9T H] 9 ! "R
DIREC;N4 8,I ALW FELT :5 ,I RE,Y GOT D[N
6! NITTY-GRITTY ) PRAY]1 T ,I'D GET "S
K9D ( AN ANSW]4
  8,I WDN'T DWELL ON X AF ,I PRAY$4 ,I'D
G & D X--K9D ( L GETT+ "S?+ (F YR *E/--&
!N ,I WD J G ON ) LIFE =A :ILE & SEE :AT
HAPP5$40
  ,EV51 TD1 PRAY] 3T9UES 6BE AN
IMPORTANT "P ( H] "EY"D LIFE4 8,I PRAY
6BE A /R;G] P]SON1 6G )! FL[ & A3EPT X4
,6A3EPT MY C>E]4 ,I DON'T RE,Y PRAY =
SU3ESS4 ,I PRAY 6BE HAPPY & 6GET BY4
  8,I'D R 2 HAPPY 9 ? LIFE ?AN 6BE
SU3ESS1
  SU3ESS1 SU3ESS;L--Y "K :AT ,I M1N8 ,I
WANT 6BE HAPPY &1 ( C\RSE1 ,I WANT 6MAKE
M"OY 6KEEP ! RO( OV] MY H1D4 ,I'M N
LOOK+ =! JET-SET &! ,CADILLAC-IN-!-
DRIVEWAY K9D ( LIFE/YLE4
  8,I PRAY ALM ANY"T4 ,I C 2 WA%+ !
DI%ES & "S?+ W -E 6MY M9D & ,I'LL PRAY4
,& ,I ALW D A SMALL PRAY] E "T ,I G UP 9
FRONT ( AN AUDI;E 6S+4
  8,I WE> MY "M'S LL W$D+ B& T %E WORE
ALL H] LIFE4 ,I WE> X ON MY "R H&4 ,%E
GAVE X 6ME :5 MY DAD DI$ FIVE YE>S AGO4
,%E GAVE X 6ME AT ,*RI/MAS4
  8,I ALW WE> T R+ & T\* X & SAY A LL
PRAY] L ,8,B.S MY VOICE1 B.S MY B&1 B.S
ME40' ,I C'T RE,Y REMEMB] A "T S9CE MY
"M GAVE ME ! R+ :5 ,I HAV5'T D"O T40
  ,EV5 TD1 ! M5;N ( H] "F BR+S AN E*O (
SAD;S 6H] VOICE4 8,I 0 V M* A ,DA4Y'S
GIRL10 %E 3FESSES4
  8,I WD TALK 6HM ON ! PH"O MAYBE F\R1
FIVE "TS A WEEK4 ,& :5"E ,I FELT BAD !
PH"O WD R+ & X WD 2 HM4 ,HE WD "K4 ,WE
_H T K9D ( TELEPA?IC REL,N%IP4
  8,HIS D1? 0 A *ALL5GE 6MY FAI?4 ,"! 0
A TEMPOR>Y LOSS ( FAI?4 ,"!'S BE5 A
TEMPOR>Y LOSS ( FAI? ON & (F 9 MY LIFE1
B MO/LY ,I'D KEEP MY FAI?4 ,I DON'T ?9K
,I'D /AY "H 9 ? T[N & TRY 6D ? IF ,I
DIDN'T KEEP MY FAI?4
  8,B LOS+ MY DAD 0 ! WOR/ ?+ T "E
HAPP5$ 6ME & GO+ "? T ,I WASN'T A V /R;G
P]SON4 ,I _H "W$ ALL ^? YE>S 6D "S?+ T
MY DAD _H ONLY DR1M$ AB DO+ HMF 9 LIFE B
HE 0 N"E A# 6D4 ,& HE 0 TAK5 AWAY 2F HE
CD SEE ANY ( X4
  8,S ,I 0 ANGRY & HURT & FEEL+ K9D (
LEFT \ L ,8,:AT ! HECK DID ,I D ALL ?
=80' ,B ,I WASN'T ANGRY AT ,GOD4 ,I'VE
N"E BE5 ANGRY AT ,GOD4 ,I WD N"E SAY1
,8,:Y DID Y D T80'
  8,I GUESS X'S 2C ,I'VE ALW BE5 BR"\ UP
6"K T ,GOD IS GD4 ,HE DIDN'T CAUSE ! BAD
?+S4 ,I 0 J ANGRY AT ALL ! =CES >.D ME4
,!N1 AF A :ILE1 ,I 2GAN 6R1LIZE T ,I DID
D A LOT ( ? "W = MYF1 TOO4
  8,I'VE ALW SD T ?+S HAPP5 =A R1SON &
,I 2LIEVE 6? "D T !Y D4 ,S ,I RE,Y CDN'T
BLAME ,GOD = ANY?+4 ,"S"TS X'S RE,Y H>D
6TRY 6FIGURE X ALL \ 2C Y FEEL S D>N BAD
T Y DON'T WANT 6?9K T ? HAPP5$ =A R1SON4
,B X DOES40
  ,DESPITE ! GRIEF %E FELT AT H] "F'S
D1?1 JOY RECOLLECTS TRY+ 6PUT T TRAG$Y
96P]SPECTIVE4 8,I ?9K T LOS+ MY DAD MADE
ME GR[ UP & MADE ME M* M (A /R;G] P]SON
= MYF4 ,I'VE N"E BE5 M>RI$ & ,I DON'T H
ANYBODY 6TAKE C>E ( ME4
  8,& ,I C'T CALL MY DAD ANYMORE 6TELL
HM AB A SITU,N ,I'M HAV+4 ,S ,I'VE _H 6G
AH1D & TAKE C>E ( ?+S AN ON MY [N4 ,S
AL? MY FAI? 0 %AK51 X 0 LAT] REV1L$ 6ME
T MAYBE "S GD CAME \ ( :AT HAPP5$40
  ,JOY ,LYNN AC"KL$GES T AF LOS+ A LOV$
"O X IS (T5 DI6ICULT 6SEP>ATE F ! GRIEV+
PROCESS4 ,%E 2LIEVES1 H["E1 T X IS
IMPORTANT 6TRY4 8,Y J H 6R1LIZE T P D
DIE & T ,GOD DIDN'T TAKE T P>5T AWAY
6TRY 6HURT Y OR !M40
  ,) H] SIGNATURE GD LOOKS--FLAM+ R$
HAIR & R$ LIPS--& H] SIGNATURE S.D1 :
HAS BE5 DESCRIB$ 0"O CRITIC Z A ,8SASSY
VOICE &A H9T ( BAD-GIRL SPUNK10 ,JOY
,LYNN ADMITS T P >E (T5 SURPRIS$ 6LE>N T
2H T %[-BUSI;S FACADE "! LURKS A DEEPLY
_SUAL WOMAN4
  8,X MI<T SURPRISE "S P :O DON'T "K ME
T "S"TS ,I EV5 WALK >.D E ROOM 9 MY H\SE
& ?ANK ,GOD = ? H\SE4 ,I ?9K X WD
SURPRISE !M T ,I "S"TS EV5 G 6! BASE;T &
SAY1 ,8,?ANK Y1 ,JESUS1 ?ANK Y = ?
BASE;T40' 8,MY H\SE HAS BE5 A B.S+ 6ME4
,F "D "O T ,I SLEPT 9 ! B$ROOM ,I'VE
SLEPT L A ROCK4 ,I ?9K Y %D REMEMB] 6BE
?ANK;L = :AT Y GET4
  8,I KEEP 9 M9D T ?+S CD 2 A LOT WORSE
& ,I CD 2 GO+ "? :AT ,I 0 GO+ "? A C\PLE
( YE>S AGO4 ,I 0 LO/ & F.D MYF K9D (
W&]+ >.D AF MY "F'S D1?4 ,B IF Y H FAI?
Y C ALW B\NCE BACK '''0