Dearly Beloved
Prince, Spirituality, and This Thing Called Life
by Pamela Ayo Yetunde
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Pub Date Apr 22 2025 | Archive Date Mar 21 2025
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Description
"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life."
When Prince spoke those words over celestial organ sounds in the opening moments of "Let's Go Crazy," he wasn't just inaugurating yet another Billboard Hot 100 hit--one of forty-seven in his career; he was also giving voice to the deep-seated and richly complex spiritual underpinning of his art. Prince is beloved by millions worldwide, and a true legend of the pop genre. Yet most of his fans don't recognize the spiritual messages coded within his work, nor understand the connections between Prince's own religious devotion--which evolved over time--and the sexualized messages of his music. Prince was beguiling and used his seductive and mysterious charm to draw his fans into his spiritual and cosmic worldviews, often without their knowledge.
In Dearly Beloved, Pamela Ayo Yetunde, a lifelong Prince fan and founder of the Theology of Prince project when she taught at United Theological Seminary in Prince's own Minneapolis, decodes the spiritual and sexual messages behind Prince's work, from For You to Graffiti Bridge to The Rainbow Children and beyond.
Exploring more than forty years of his music and art, you will discover Prince as a spiritual giant. He might not have always gotten it right, but nonetheless he cast a powerful vision for what it means to be dearly beloved, what it takes to gather intentionally, the opportunities presented by being in the present, and how to engage with the complexities of human experience. For anyone who loves Prince, is inspired by him, is confused by his lyrics, or is curious about what his music means--and for all who live in search of deeper meaning and tools for cultivating resilience in difficult times--Dearly Beloved is an essential spiritual guide.
Advance Praise
"My dear sista Pamela Ayo Yetunde has written an evocative emergent journey that asks us to be with our beloved ancestor Prince Rogers Nelson not simply read the words. Dearly Beloved will invite you to your edges, and then ask if you're ready for more. This is truly a beautiful book and worthy of contemplation and appreciation."
—Dr. Resmaa Menakem, New York Times-bestselling author of My Grandmother's Hands
"Ayo Yetunde and her new book on the deep meaning of Prince's eternal music are rare gifts that speak to our heart and our soul, that inspire us to reimagine the power of song, soul, and creativity in facing the awe and the ache that lives in us and around us in troubled times. Poetic and profound, this is a book that should be savored and used for contemplating how this artist and art make us whole."
—Doug Abrams, coauthor of The Book of Joy
"Whether you share the author's interpretations of Prince's spirituality or bring your own perspective, Dearly Beloved is more than a book examining Prince's spiritual journey--it's an invitation and practical guide to exploring and deepening your own. Through "up(ward)" listening and viewing practices of Prince's songs and films, this book empowers you to embrace the truth that you are beloved and dear by encouraging you to reflect on and question your spiritual inheritances and history."
—De Angela L. Duff, educator, Associate Vice Provost at New York University (NYU), curator of Prince symposia, and creator of What Did Prince Do This Week?
"In Dearly Beloved, we are invited to see Prince not just as an artist but as a modern-day theologian who, like the Apostle Paul, wrestled with the complexities of faith, freedom, and identity. This book is a testament to the idea that we are all 'fearfully and wonderfully made' (Psalm 139:14). A must-read for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the divine through music, media, and the beauty of the 'everyday things we do.'"
—Teddy raShaan, PhD, Curator of Religion, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture
"In Dearly Beloved, Ayo Yetunde takes us on a multisensory excursion examining the life and spiritual exploration of the musician Prince. He was an enormous talent, expressing privately through his life, but publicly through his songs and performances, his deep longing for creation and connection, both with his listeners and later with the divine."
—Douglas Keene, President of The Theosophical Society in America
"In this singularly compelling book, Ayo Yetunde channels the many complex facets of Prince through the prism of his theologies, revealing the previously unexplored spiritual insights and perspectives of this great artist. This invaluable work will be a boon to any Prince admirer wanting to learn more about his focus on spiritual healing."
—Rev. SeiFu Anil Singh-Molares, Executive Director, Spiritual Directors International
Marketing Plan
National and online publicity campaign targeting news media, music media, and spirituality media
Trade and consumer advertising
Social media and digital campaign targeting Prince fans, music lovers, spiritual seekers, and librarians
Local publicity push to Minneapolis and St. Paul media
Regional promotion in Minneapolis and St. Paul related to Prince celebrations
Seasonal promotion opportunities including anniversaries of Prince's birth (June 7) and death (April 21)
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9798889831600 |
| PRICE | $26.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 249 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Martin M, Librarian
Broadleaf Books provided an early galley for review.
I've been a Prince fan for more than two-thirds of my life, having discovered his music with the 1981 release Controversy. He is my all-time favorite artist and an important creative influence in my adult life. So, I was curious to see what this author had to say about his music. Turns out she and I have similar upbringings (around the same age - give or take a few years, raised in families where church was a foundation - for me the Catholic church). That means we're generationally speaking the same language.
Yetunde structures her study of his work very much like an academic course, complete with "homework" in the form of "listen along" lists at the start of each chapter. I like this approach as it puts the music front and center in the discussions. I also was comforted by depth of the catalog from which the songs were drawn. It speaks highly to the author's qualifications for this discussion (she is by no means a casual fan).
Where things might get tricky for some readers is in that Yetunde is taking her knowledge and experiences with spirituality and interpreting Prince's songs through those lenses. While not an issue for me, it is still coming across as her interpretations of his meanings. Since he is no longer with us, we can't be sure 100% what Prince meant by any given song. In fact, even if he were here, he likely would not give definitive answers (he liked to be mysterious). I like to think he, like many artists, enjoy leaving it up to the individual listeners to find their own meaning in the work.
Still, Yetunde gives the reader plenty of food for thought. If one has an open enough mind, one can appreciate the interpretations and concepts she is discussing. And, of course, you have to stick around for the Epilogue where she delivers her own Prince-inspired epic poem (I found it very inspiring).
Lindy N, Reviewer
Pamela Ayo Yetunde’s Dearly Beloved: Prince, Spirituality, and This Thing Called Life is a profound and beautifully written exploration of the intersection between the music, life, and spiritual journey of one of the most iconic figures in modern culture—Prince. However, Dearly Beloved may not appeal to all readers. For those expecting a more traditional biography or a linear recounting of Prince's life, this book might feel more abstract or philosophical. Yetunde’s focus on spirituality and her deep dives into the metaphysical aspects of Prince’s life may be challenging for readers unfamiliar with or uninterested in spiritual discourse. Nonetheless, for those willing to engage with the material, it is a deeply enriching and intellectually rewarding experience.
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