Nashville’s Music in the Spotlight in Billy: The Early Years

ou may not have heard of Armie Hammer, the young actor who portrays Billy Graham in Billy: The Early Years, but you've certainly heard of the country singers who contributed to the new film. Brooks & Dunn, Sara Evans, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley and Josh Turner are spotlighted on the soundtrack, along with several contemporary Christian and bluegrass artists. And there's no mistaking the octave-jumping voice of Roy Orbison, who was a longtime Nashville resident. The film doesn't come out nationally until Friday, but already, Graham's son, Franklin Graham, isn't altogether satisfied with it.

I didn't particularly enjoy the movie, which I tried to sit through at the world premiere in Nashville last week. Mainly, I couldn't follow the script - too many flashbacks. But I do like quite a bit of the soundtrack. I keep returning to Patty Griffin's rendition of "Ruth's Prayer." The words were written years ago as a poem by Billy Graham's wife, Ruth Graham, and later set to music by Alan Jackson. I think Jackson's tender reading of "Look at Me" is notable, too. Plus, the movie was mostly filmed around Nashville, a city that deserves a star turn every now and then.source>>>

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