Mary Gauthier is a renowned public speaker and songwriter. She is known for her captivating storytelling abilities and powerful messages of resilience and hope. Mary has over two decades of experience in the music industry. Her life story is marked by profound personal growth and transformation. She brings a unique perspective and authenticity to her presentations that resonates with audiences of all backgrounds.
Born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, Mary’s early life was marked by trauma, addiction, and other challenges. She felt lost and disconnected. However, her passion for music and writing ultimately became her lifeline. Music provided a sense of purpose and connection. It helped her overcome her struggles and build a successful career as a singer-songwriter.
Through her speeches, Mary shares her personal journey with raw honesty and vulnerability. She explores the themes of addiction, trauma and resilience with a focus on recovery, healing, and personal growth. Drawing on her experiences as a successful artist, Mary also offers insights into the creative process. She highlights the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and the power of storytelling. She emphasizes the importance of connecting with audiences to inspire change. Mary Gauthier was the first openly gay artist to perform at The Grand Old Opry. She provides inspiration for new generations of LGBTQ artists.
Mary’s ability to connect with people on a deep and personal level has made her a sought-after speaker. She has inspired countless individuals to overcome their own challenges and pursue their dreams. Whether she is sharing her music or her personal story, Mary’s presentations leave a lasting impact on all who hear her. Her talks inspire hope, compassion, and a deeper understanding of the power of art and the human spirit.
Creating a Transformative Space for Veterans
Additionally, Mary has over a decade of experience using music and song to support wounded veterans and their families through her work with the non-profit organization SongwritingWith:Soldiers. She helped to create a powerful and transformative space for veterans to share their stories and connect with others.
As the daughter of a Korean War veteran, Mary has a deep personal connection to the military community and an understanding of the challenges that veterans face in the aftermath of their service. Her experience as a songwriter has also given her a unique perspective on the healing capacity of music and storytelling, which she has used to help veterans find their own voices and connect with others through their shared experiences.
Through SongwritingWith:Soldiers, Mary has worked with veterans of all eras and branches of service, helping them to express their emotions and experiences through the power of music. In these workshops, veterans work with professional songwriters to create original songs based on their own stories, giving them a powerful and personal way to share their experiences with the world.
Also, Mary’s work with wounded veterans has had a profound impact, not only on the veterans themselves but also on the broader community. By creating a space for veterans to share their stories and connect with others, she has helped to break down barriers and foster a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those who have served our country. She received a nomination for a Folk Music Grammy in 2019, based on her songs co-written with wounded veterans. Furthermore, through public advocacy and her compassionate approach, Mary has become a leading voice in the movement to support and honor our nation’s veterans, leaving a lasting legacy of healing and hope.
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 HARDCOVER
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 Saved by a SongThe Art and Healing Power of Songwriting
St. Martin's
Mary Gauthier was twelve years old when she was given her Aunt Jenny’s old guitar and taught herself to play with a Mel Bay basic guitar workbook. |
Empathy and the Power of Story Mary will speak to the remarkable ability of a well told story/song to transport us into different realms, allowing us to experience the lives of others, understand their perspectives, feel their emotions, and make sense of a world outside of ourself. The power of story and song goes beyond entertainment; stories bridge gaps between us and remind us of our common struggles and our collective aspirations. Through the power of storytelling, we can build a more compassionate, empathetic, and interconnected world. Mary will perform several of her songs, weaving them into the discussion of how we can best understand other people when we feel them in ourself.
Unlocking Your Creativity We all have the ability to tap into our imagination and come up with original ideas, but sometimes we become less willing to take the risks involved in the creative process as we age. Mary Gauthier was a successful restauranteur in Boston, with three thriving restaurants, when she completely switched gears and started writing songs in her mid thirties. In this talk, she will discuss how and why the call to song consumed her, and how, after moving to Nashville at age 40, she managed to land a record deal, work with wounded veterans by engaging their creativity and co-writing songs with them, and nab a grammy nomination for the collection of songs they created. Mary will perform several songs, and demonstrate how creativity is an intrinsic call to action that always involves risk, but it is the process that leads to the production of something new, original and worthwhile.
Read about how Mary Gauthier helps people heal through the power of music on CBS News.
Learn about the inspiration behind Mary Gauthier’s new book, Saved by a Song during her talk with WSMV Nashville.
Check out Mary Gauthier’s book, Saved by a Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting, on “The Rolling Stones” Best Music Books of 2021.
—Dr. Daniel Roberts, President and CEO, Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc.
“Mary’s songwriting speaks to the tender aspects of our humanness. Her vignettes span the emotional landscape and leave us feeling deeply seen and understood. We need her voice in times like these more than we ever have.”
―Brandi Carlile
"Mary Gauthier has come through her own long dark night of the soul knowing, as she says in one of her songs, we could all use a little mercy. It seems to me we could all use a whole lot more of Mary too."
―Emmylou Harris
“I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard a Mary Gauthier tune. That’s the kind of songwriter she is.“
―Sarah Silverman
"Beautiful, often ragged, song and verse from a high place.”
―Robert Plant