“A life without fame can be a good life, but fame without a life is no life at all.”
– Clive James
Fame is as elusive as it is prized. Many of us strive to elevate ourselves in the eyes of others, all for a chance to be seen, appreciated or understood. But nothing is perfect, and that includes notoriety. From the world of reality TV to shows and movies, many stars have expressed the drawbacks of becoming a public figure. It can be daunting to have so many eyes on you, especially when there are difficult circumstances behind camera. And all this is further exacerbated when a constrictive religion rules their everyday lives.
The following six memoirs are stories from celebrities who have been thrust into the spotlight and have had to come to terms with their religion — often at the same time. From dictatorial teachings to excusing abuse, these stars’ experiences with their respective churches have not been easy. But even through these struggles, all six have done the work of deconstructing the teachings and finding a truer, deeper understanding of faith.
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini
While many would recognize Leah Remini from her role in the TV sitcom King of Queens, ‘actress’ wasn’t always the most defining title in Leah’s life. In 2013, she was declared a “Suppressive Person” by the Church of Scientology, which she had been a member of since childhood. She was promptly cast out of the church and shunned by its parishioners — including some of her own family — for the crime of questioning the church’s troubling actions. The painful split did, however, bring her a sense of freedom and peace, one that she captures in her humorous and impassioned memoir. With her unique perspective as a former member of Hollywood’s Scientologists, Leah details the inside of the elite, stifling circle, and what it took to break free of the church’s doctrine. It’s no wonder that this searing memoir has risen the ranks to the New York Times bestseller list and is labelled an Amazon’s Editors’ Pick.
Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear by Jinger Duggar Vuolo
You may recognize her maiden name from the hit TLC show 19 Kids and Counting. From the ages of 9 to 27, Jinger Duggar Vuolo’s daily life was documented on national TV in front of millions of viewers. Throughout the show’s duration, the Duggar family demonstrated their adherence to the strict laws of Bill Gothard’s Basic Life Principles: everything from girls being disallowed from wearing pants, to the umbrella of authority — teaching children that disobeying their parents would cast them out of God’s full protection.
But while she publicly followed Bill Gothard’s teachings, in private Jinger was terrified of falling short of these insurmountable expectations. It took an outside perspective for her to search her faith and learn what teachings the Bible truly held. Her resulting discovery one of freedom, clarity and a newfound conviction for her faith. Becoming Free Indeed is a testament to the power of examining one’s beliefs, and how religious deconstruction isn’t something to be feared — in fact, it can be essential in helping you heal.
Read our full review of Becoming Free Indeed here.
Bad Mormon: A Memoir by Heather Gay
A member of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast, Heather Gay was a model Mormon. She attended Brigham Young University, went on a mission trip to France and structured her entire life around her faith. But in the wake of her divorce, Heather found herself completely at a loss. Her marriage and her church were both aspects of her live she assumed would remain forever — who was she now that she had neither?
As unfortunate as these circumstances were, they gave her the opportunity to reexamine her life and led her to realize how her Mormon faith may have had more of a negative impact than she thought. Heather’s subsequent findings are documented throughout Bad Mormon to create a hilarious, bluntly honest story of one woman’s quest to find herself amid an upbringing that was determined to hold her back. She hopes that stories from her own personal journey will help others find their own freedom from the organizations that hold them down.
Unspeakable: Surviving My Childhood and Finding My Voice by Jessica Willis Fisher
When The Willis Clan family band gained nation-wide attention on America’s Got Talent and later their own reality TV show, things seemed like the dream come true from the outside. But behind the scenes, Willis daughter Jessica’s life was anything but. At the center of The Willis Clan was Jessica’s father, who raised his children in a strict, controlling, fundamentalist household. The result was an abusive and toxic home life, not at all the wholesome image that was spun to the public. As Jessica grew older, she had to face the possibility that the abuse she faced behind closed doors was neither normal nor deserved.
This aching, triumphant memoir speaks not only on Jessica’s experiences from childhood onwards, but the way she was able to save herself from the cycle of abuse and manipulation. Unspeakable proves to readers that they do not have to be defined by the traumatic events of their past, and that faith at the price of safety and respect is never what true faith should be.
Read our review of Unspeakable here and our author interview with Jessica Willis Fisher here.
Lyrics of My Life: My Journey With Family, HIV and Reality TV by Branden James
A finalist on season 8 of America’s Got Talent, singer Branden James took the nation by storm; not only with his voice, but with his story of coming out to his unsupportive, religious family. The overflowing amount of support and similar stories he received made Branden see the importance of showing his full, authentic self. Thus, Lyrics of My Life was born; a vivid depiction of Branden’s achievements and struggles alike. Determined to be honest about his experience, he portrays multiple impactive moments in his life — from his trauma and mental health struggles to his estrangement and later reconciliation with his family and faith. After a lifetime of being told his sexuality was sinful, Branden is determined to show that his identity is not a detriment to his faith, but rather an integral and valuable part of himself. Lyrics of My Life shows how staying true to ourselves is infinitely more powerful and rewarding than forcing ourselves to change in the name of intolerance.
God Bless This Mess: Learning to Live and Love Through Life’s Best (and Worst) Moments by Hannah Brown
From a childhood in beauty pageants to a stint on The Bachelorette and Dancing with the Stars, Hannah Brown was more than used to the spotlight. But there was a cost to being in the public eye — scrutinized at every turn, she began to wonder what it would mean to live for herself, rather than the machinations of others. God Bless This Mess details the resulting journey to find her authentic self and a more rewarding path. Hannah isn’t afraid to depict some of her more challenging moments, from her struggles with depression and anxiety during her pageant years to moments where her faith was shaken. These stories tie together in a memoir that doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but instead reassures readers that their lives are sacred no matter the state they’re in. As we have our own struggles, Hannah reminds us that it’s through these toughest moments that we have the greatest potential to grow.
