Ty Herndon Announces Memoir ‘What Mattered Most’ (Exclusive)

Ty Herndon is ready to share his whole story.

Three years ago, the country singer, 63, opened up to PEOPLE about his struggles with addiction, his suicide attempt and how coming out saved his life. Now, he’s going even more in-depth about his life, struggles and triumphs in memoir What Mattered Most, coming from Dey Street Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Named for Herndon’s biggest single, which turns 30 this year, the publisher bills the memoir as a “testament to survival and transformation.” Herndon, meanwhile, says that while he’s shared “pieces” of his life story in songs and interviews, the memoir (out next March) tells “the whole truth.”

Putting that truth to page along with co-writer David Ritz required a level of vulnerability that Herndon has seldom tapped into, he explains in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

“Writing What Mattered Most has been one of the most vulnerable and rewarding experiences of my life,” the country singer says in a press release. “This book is my truth — the highs, the heartbreaks, the lessons and the love that have shaped me as a man, an artist and a survivor. My hope is that in telling my story, others will find the courage to embrace theirs, no matter how messy or beautiful it may be.”

In the forthcoming memoir, the “God or the Gun” singer “shares his struggles with addiction and mental health, the groundbreaking decision to become the first openly gay male country superstar and the resilience it took to endure more than three decades in the music industry,” per an official synopsis.

“Woven throughout,” the synopsis continues, “are moments of his trademark humor, warmth and hard-earned wisdom, offering readers a story not just about survival, but about choosing hope, authenticity and love against all odds.”

“For 30 years, I’ve told pieces of my story through my music and my words — but this book has given me the chance to tell the whole truth,” says Herndon. “This book isn’t just about the music; it’s about the journey, the struggles, the faith and the people who shaped my life. I hope readers walk away knowing that no matter where you’ve been, you can still write a new chapter — and that’s what matters most.”

“This book is my heart on the page,” the musician and author adds. “This book is about the boy I was, the man I became and the grace that carried me through it all. I hope my story reminds someone out there that they’re never alone — and that there’s always a way forward.”

“Life has a way of knocking you down, but it also gives you a million reasons to get back up,” he continues. “What Mattered Most is my story of falling, rising and finding purpose in the journey. If this book inspires even one person to keep going, then I’ve done my job.”

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What Mattered Most is out March 31, 2026, and available for pre-order now wherever books are sold.