Forget bucking broncos-some of the wildest sights in the West can be found right inside a cowpoke's closet. From fringed chaps and embroidered jeans to silver- spurred boots and ten-gallon Stetsons, Western wear is a uniquely American look that has romanced the entire world. Journalist Holly George-Warren and designer Michelle Freedman, aided by curator James H. Nottage, round up the different styles of this enduring trend in How the West Was Worn, an authoritative yet entertaining look at "glitterbillies," long riders, rodeo girls, and rhinestone cowboys. 
Accompanying an exhibition at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, this colorful tribute features archival photos of celebrities as well as collectibles like vintage album covers, mail-order catalogues, and sewing patterns. The lively, fact- filled text, including a foreword by country-music star and Western-wear collector Marty Stuart, makes this book a barrel of fun for fashion devotees and country music fans alike.

How the West Was Worn

Arts & Photography

Stuart, Marty

George-Warren, Holly

Freedman, Michelle

Graphic Design

Harry N. Abrams

Review\nIf country music had a president, it would be Marty Stuart. He is the embodiment of the culture. His Congress of Country Music is to be his presidential library. It’s a place where all generations will come to study and be inspired. There’s no doubt that the Congress of Country Music will be a jewel among the nation’s cultural centers. -- Ken Burns\nThere are those among us who make history and those who keep it. Marty Stuart does both. He was a child prodigy whose musicianship has only increased along with his renown. Although just twelve years old when his career began, Stuart was well-schooled in the history of America’s vernacular music. Within a year, he was living and working with many of the most revered talents in country music. His desire to savor his encounters with music legends prompted him to borrow a camera from his mother, a photographer of considerable talent herself. His natural aptitude for photography matured quickly. He became the keeper of the flame, a visual historian of country music and a collector of related artifacts. -- Susan Edwards, executive director and CEO, Frist Art Museum\nContributions by Scott B. Bomar, Rick Bragg, Dayton Duncan, David Fricke, Holly George-Warren, Peter Guralnick, and Michael Streissguth\nIn the late 1960s in Philadelphia, Mississippi, nine-year-old Marty Stuart started his first band and began playing country music and collecting treasures of the culture. More than a half century later, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History has partnered with the country musician and ambassador to share his story and collection with the public in an exhibition and tandem publication.\nMarty Stuart has worked with the legends of country music, from his early days playing with Lester Flatt and Johnny Cash to his successful collaboration with Travis Tritt and his celebrated return to American roots music with his band, the Fabulous Superlatives. The World of Marty Stuart traces the life and times of Marty Stuart through essays, photographs, and reproductions of artifacts from his extensive collection, highlights of which include Stuart’s first guitar, Hank Williams’s original handwritten manuscripts, guitars from Carl Perkins and Pops Staples, numerous costumes including Porter Wagoner’s suit and Dolly Parton’s dress, personal items from Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and Connie Smith, and much more.\nThe story unfolds in seven sections: Philadelphia (1958–1972); Nashville Cat (1972–1979); Marty Stuart Meets the Man in Black (1980–1985); Hillbilly Rock (1986–1996); The Pilgrim (1997–2001); “Ladies and Gentlemen, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives” (2001–2022); and Full Circle (Touching Home) (2001–2022). Photography by Marty’s mother, Hilda Stuart, and by Marty himself appears throughout the book, illuminating moments from the past five decades. The World of Marty Stuart examines this journey in a personal way, providing an up-close glimpse at important moments in country music and reaffirming Stuart’s dedication to preserving the genre’s rich history.

The World of Marty Stuart

Photography & Video

University Press of Mississippi/Mississippi Department of Archives and History

A photographic love letter to the founders and legends of country music by musician and storyteller Marty Stuart. When Marty Stuart first entered the Hard Rock Cafe, he was impressed to see the work of rock preservationists, yet realized that the artifacts of country music were being lost or destroyed. He set out to change that, becoming a leading curator of roots music memorabilia and photographer of roots founders. After years of careful preservation, Stuart brings the early days of country to vibrant life again with Country Music: The Masters. In a unique pairing, completely original for a photography book of this scope, an integrated audio CD is included featuring 60 minutes of the fascinating stories behind selected photos. Stuart, a born storyteller, gives readers a glimpse into the subjects and the photograph at the moment the shutter snapped. The CD includes "Dark Bird," an unreleased song dedicated to Johnny Cash, written by Stuart after Cash's death. This new recording marks the first-ever commercial release of the song. "A photograph can just be a piece of paper with an image on it... But when the observer with his finger on the button has the life experience it takes to understand the life he's shooting, the photograph is a story. Marty's photographs live and breathe. If it's a person, you can hear their thoughts, feel their pain or joy, and read at least a part of their story. If it's a building or a landscape, you can feel the presence of those who have walked there or lived there through the years." - Billy Bob Thornton

Country Music: The Masters

Sourcebooks MediaFusion

Marty Stuart’s tenth studio album, The Pilgrim, was released 1999. The risky and ambitious concept project—based on true events that transpired in his hometown of Philadelphia, Mississippi—was a turning point in Marty’s unique artistry. While not a commercial success at the time, The Pilgrim represents a rediscovery of his roots and a creative rebirth that continues to reverberate today as we celebrate the album’s twentieth anniversary.
From the art direction, to the eccentric narrative, to the participation of iconic performers such as Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, and Connie Smith, The Pilgrim somehow managed to connect with the deepest spirit of country music’s rich traditions while also breaking new ground. It’s impossible to understand Marty Stuart without understanding what led to The Pilgrim and how it has shaped who he is today as an uncompromising artist and an unflinching evangelist for pure country music. Presented here is a lushly illustrated coffee table book that's about much more than just one landmark album. It's about art, discovery, artistic integrity, and a vision that set Marty Stuart on a new path. Also included with the book is a CD of the original album and unreleased bonus material.

The Pilgrim

BMG Books

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Stuart, Marty. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Stuart, Marty