Alice Randall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alice Randall
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Randall at the New York Comic Con
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| Born | Mari-Alice Randall May 4, 1959 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Language | English |
| Education | Harvard University |
| Genre | Historical fiction, political fiction |
| Spouse | David Ewing (1997--2017) |
| Children | Caroline Randall Williams |
Alice Randall (born May 4, 1959) is an American writer, songwriter, and teacher. She is well-known for her work in country music. She also wrote the book The Wind Done Gone. This book was a New York Times bestseller. It is a new version and funny take on the 1936 book Gone with the Wind.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mari-Alice Randall was born on May 4, 1959. Her birthplace was Detroit, Michigan. She grew up in Washington, D.C. She went to Harvard University. There, she studied English and American literature. She graduated with honors.
In 1983, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee. She wanted to become a country songwriter. She still lives there today. She is a writer and professor at Vanderbilt University.
Her Amazing Career
Music and Songwriting
Alice Randall started her music career in Nashville in 1983. She was discovered by Steve Earle at a place called the Bluebird Cafe. Steve Earle taught her how to write country songs. After learning from him, she started her own music company. It was called Midsummer Music.
Randall helped write the song "XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl)". Trisha Yearwood released it in 1994. More than 20 of her songs have been recorded. Many of them became top 10 or top 40 hits. Trisha Yearwood and Mark O'Connor have sung many of her songs. She also helped with Johnny Cash's song "The Chicken in Black".
Besides writing songs, Randall also wrote the video for "Is There Life Out There". This video was by Reba McEntire. It won the "Video of the Year" award in 1992. This was at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Writing Books
Alice Randall has written several fiction books. These are stories that are made up.
- The Wind Done Gone (2001)
- Pushkin and the Queen of Spades (2004)
- Rebel Yell (2009)
- The Diary of B.B. Bright, Possible Princess (2013)
- Black Bottom Saints (2020)
Her first book, The Wind Done Gone, is a new look at Gone with the Wind. It tells the story from the point of view of Cynara. Cynara is the half-sister of Scarlett O'Hara. She was a slave on Scarlett's farm.
The family of Gone with the Wind sued Randall's publisher. They said The Wind Done Gone copied their book. The lawsuit was settled. This allowed The Wind Done Gone to be published. It had to say "An Unauthorized Parody" on the cover. The publisher also gave money to Morehouse College. This college is for Black students. The Wind Done Gone became a very popular book.
Her second book, Pushkin and the Queen of Spades, was also praised. The Washington Post named it one of the "Best Fiction of 2004."
Non-Fiction Books
Randall also writes non-fiction books. These books are based on facts. In 2015, she wrote a cookbook called "Soul Food Love." She wrote it with her daughter, Caroline Randall Williams. They wrote it to help people eat healthier. They wanted to keep the traditions of soul food. But they wanted to make it with less fat and sugar. This book won an award in 2016. It was the NAACP Image Award for Literature.
In 2006, Alice Randall also wrote My Country Roots. She wrote it with Carter and Courtney Little. In 2024, she released My Black Country. This book explores the history of Black people in country music. A music album was released with it.
TV and Film Work
Randall also worked in television. She wrote and produced a TV movie pilot in 1994. It was called XXX's and OOO's. It was about four ex-wives of country music singers. It aired on CBS.
Teaching and Learning
Alice Randall is now a Professor at Vanderbilt University. She is a writer-in-residence there. She teaches about soul food and African American children's literature. She also teaches about African American film and creative writing. She gives classes on "Country Lyric in American Culture." She also teaches about "Soul Food as Text and In Text." She is working on using art to help with health differences.
Awards and Honors
Alice Randall has received many awards. In 2001, she got the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Award. In 2002, she won the Literature Award of Excellence. She was also a finalist for an NAACP Image Award in 2002. She was chosen for a special writing program at Yaddo in 2011. She and her daughter won the 2016 NAACP Image Award for "Soul Food Love."
In 2008, Randall was added to the Silver Circle. This honored her for working in country music for 25 years. Reba McEntire was also honored that year. Randall wrote McEntire's award-winning video in 1992.
Songs Written by Alice Randall
- The Ballad of Sally Anne – Mark O'Connor, River City Ramblers
- Big Dream – Samantha Mathis
- Blinded By Stars – Adrienne Young
- Get the Hell Out of Dodge – Walter Hyatt
- Girls Ride Horses Too – Judy Rodman
- I'll Cry for Yours (Will You Cry for Mine) – Tamra Rosanes
- Many Mansions – Moe Bandy
- Reckless Night – The Forester Sisters
- Small Towns (Are Smaller for Girls) – Holly Dunn
- Solitary Hero – Carol Elliot
- The Resurrection – The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
- Went for a Ride – Radney Foster
- Who's Minding the Garden – Glen Campbell
- XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl) – Trisha Yearwood
See also
