“I’M JUST ME — AND THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ENOUGH.” Long before country music opened its doors wide, Charley Pride walked in with nothing but his voice and his truth. A former baseball player from Sledge, Mississippi, he carried the weight of being one of the first Black artists to step onto stages that had rarely seen diversity. In 1971, when Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’ soared to the top of the charts, it wasn’t just a hit — it was history being written in melody. Pride never shouted about breaking barriers; he simply sang, letting sincerity do the work. Fans didn’t see categories, they saw heart. Decades later, his legacy still stands as proof that authenticity outlasts prejudice, and that sometimes the bravest act is to stand tall and say, “I’m just me.”
“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.” Introduction “I’m Just Me” isn’t just a title—it’s…