Lyrics of My Life: My Journey with Family, HIV and Reality TV

The world was not the least bit surprised when Branden James became a finalist on season eight of America's Got Talent, receiving high praise from the judges for his emotional, operatic vocals. Coming out and sharing intimate details of his broken ties with his religious family on the show, he received countless messages from fans who could relate to his personal struggles.

Through it all, Branden was surprised by one startling realization: how vital it was for him to be completely authentic in order to help others and himself. Branden continued to inspire his fans by publicly sharing further stories of struggling with depression, overcoming the tumultuous time when he contracted HIV, and being a victim of sexual assault, all while still identifying with the Christian faith.

Lyrics of My Life is authentically Branden: a memoir highlighting the conflicts of growing up gay in a world that looked upon his true self and beliefs as an impractical, sinful way of life. Branden spares no details about his unstable life as a young adult, estrangement from his close-knit family, and, despite it all, his unbreakable will to overcome adversity. In a quest for his own personal freedom, Branden finds reconciliation with his family, rediscovers his faith, and realizes that affliction and hardship are not what define us as human beings.