Carlene Carter appeared on Jessie Scott’s Words & Music program heard on Nashville’s roots radio outlet WMOT late last week. She used the occasion to promo two back-to-back concert appearances that were completed over this past weekend in Dayton, OH at the Levitt Pavilion and in Nashville at Riverside Revival. She revealed that she had just completed her long-awaited autobiography that she’s titled Cartwheels in High Heels, a reference to the time when she concluded her set with an acrobatic display in front the incredulous Merle Haggard and Clint Black. It is anticipated that the book will be out this coming year and will be the focus of numerous in-person appearances. During the session, listeners were treated to some Carlene Carter classics including “Trust Yourself,” written by Bob Dylan (whose distinctive vocals are heard on the track), “Black Jack David,” an original Carter Family song on which the late Kris Kristofferson guested, as well as “Damascus Road,” written for and recorded with John Mellencamp.
About the book, she commented, “I should’ve started it when I was younger, and it wouldn’t have been so long.” She recounted a memory of Davy Jones of the Monkees joyously kissing her on the cheek when he caught a fish causing her to blush, and the day Kris Kristofferson, clad in leather pants, landed a helicopter on the Cash-Carter lawn to deliver a demo tape. She also made mention of the forthcoming centennial of the Carter Family’s initial Bristol, TN recording session, acknowledged as country music’s “big bang” start. The encounter between Carlene and Jessie Scott, who is WMOT’s long-serving program director and afternoon drive host, kicked off with Carlene not-so-obliquely lamenting the fact the station – like all public media – is facing a fiscal crisis in light of Congress’s decision to defund public broadcasting. In light of the crisis, WMOT has initiated an emergency fund drive to keep the music playing. Those able can donate here WMOT.org. Per Jessie Scott, “It’s existential!” and Carlene is quick to agree.