When you hear the name Ty Herndon, there are probably a few things that run through your mind, including country music, hit songs, tattoos, and queer country performer. You might not think author, but all of that has changed with the publication of his revelatory memoir “What Matters Most” (Dey Street Books, 2026). Herndon invites readers to share in his remarkable journey from childhood, to performing and country music stardom, to coming out and addiction struggles, and ultimately, achieving sobriety and finding true love.
Herndon was kind enough to make time for an interview in advance of his appearance at the Miami Book Fair in November 2026.
Ty, why was now the time to write your memoir “What Mattered Most”?
I spent so many years running from my own story or letting other people tell it for me. After going through a period of deep reflection and getting truly grounded in my own blood and bones over the past few years, I realized that my experiences, the massive highs, the darkest lows, and the messy work in between might actually help somebody else feel less alone. I finally had the perspective and clarity to look back at my life with honesty and accountability without being consumed by shame. It was time to put it all on the page.
Did you have a target audience in mind when you were writing the book?
First and foremost, I wrote it for anyone who feels like they’re sitting in the dark right now, whether that’s struggling with addiction, wrestling with their identity, or feeling like they’ve tried too many times and failed to try again. I also wrote it for the country music fans who have walked this long road with me, and for the LGBTQ community to show that you can survive the fire and come out whole on the other side.
Is there a part of you that hopes fans who might have abandoned you will return once they read the book and get a better understanding of your story?
I don't write off anyone who stepped away over the years. People have their own journeys and boundaries, and I respect that. But my hope is that if someone picks up this book, they see some of their own journey in mine. If it opens a door for someone to reconnect with my music or just understand the person behind the songs a little better, that’s a beautiful gift. But more than winning back fans, I just wanted to be authentic about who I am today. Maybe that’s gotten me a few new ones!
Your mother, the wonderful Miss Peggy, figures prominently throughout the memoir. It’s obvious that you have a fantastic relationship. How does she feel about the way that you depicted her in the book?
Miss Peggy is my rock, my moral compass, and a total force of nature. She read every word and gave it her stamp of approval, tears and all. She’s lived through all the chapters right alongside me, so seeing her unconditional love and fierce loyalty captured in print meant a lot to both of us. She’s proud that we didn’t sanitize our history. She knows the truth is where the real healing lives.
Your recovery story is also central to the memoir. What are your hopes in sharing this journey?
Recovery saved my life, plain and simple. If sharing my darkest moments and the tools that pulled me back into the light gives one person the courage to ask for help or stay sober one more day, then every ounce of vulnerability in this book was worth it. Hope is contagious, and I want to pass it on. And I want people to know there’s no way to “do recovery” right. You have to find what works for you and as we say, live and let live.
If there was a movie version of “What Matters Most,” is there an actor you think would do a good job of portraying you?
[Laughs] Oh, that’s such a fun question! I’m gonna have to get back to you on that one! But I can tell you that we are working on it.
Amidst all the personal and professional upheaval, the memoir ends on a hopeful note – you have found love with your husband Alex, you continue to perform in concert, and you are writing and recording music. Is there currently a new album in the works?
Life with Alex has brought a level of peace, partnership, and joy I honestly didn't know was possible for me, and that peace has fueled my creativity in a huge way. Yes, there is always new music brewing! We just dropped my new album “Journey On (Extended Version)” and we’re working on two more!
In chapter twelve, you wrote about “the country music culture” of the mid-to-late 1990s. Since that time, that culture has evolved and there is a new generation of openly gay male country artists, including Orville Peck and Andrew Sa, for whom queerness is front and center in their music. How do you see the part you played in this newfound openness and how does it make you feel?
Looking at artists like Orville, Andrew, TJ Osborne, and so many others living and creating authentically in country music fills my heart with immense pride. When I came out in 2014, I didn't know if I'd ever stand on a country stage again. To watch the door swing open wider for a new generation, where they can bring their full, unapologetic selves in their art is deeply moving. If kicking down a few of those heavy doors a decade ago helped smooth the path for them even a little bit, it’s one of the greatest honors of my life.
You will be at the Miami Book Fair in November? After years of being in front of audiences who were there to hear your music, how do you feel about reaching an audience of readers?
It’s thrilling and completely humbling. Standing on a stage with my band is familiar territory, but sitting down at a table or on a panel to talk about the written word feels intimate in a totally different way. Music reaches people through melody and emotion, but a book allows you to have a deep, two-way conversation with the reader. I’m really looking forward to connecting with book lovers and readers at the Miami Book Fair and hearing how these stories resonate with their own lives.
