June 23, 2026

Ty Herndon: Country Music Superstar Discusses Memoir

Ty Herndon: Country Music Superstar Discusses Memoir
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"Writing What Mattered Most has been one of the most vulnerable and rewarding experiences of my life. 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."
Joyce welcomes back country music superstar, Ty Herndon, to the show. Mr. Herndon will discuss his new memoir, What Mattered Most. He will share his struggles with addiction and mental health, becoming the first openly gay male country superstar in a traditionally conservative industry, and the resilience it took to endure more than three decades in the music industry. Mr. Herndon emerged out of those darkest hours with a renewed sense of purpose with his most personal song, God or the Gun.

Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights

  • Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities.
  • Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution.
  • Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipient from the Viscardi Center.