American Masters

- [Narrator] She ended up going to Maplewood High School here, which is a public high school.

She really tried to have a normal life.

- One of my best friends was Rita Coolidge.

Rita went to high school and at that time she wasn't, she was singing, but not like later on.

I loved riding the school bus.

I loved the whole experience of public schools.

- Brenda has a lot of street smarts.

She's aware of what's going on.

She was a cheerleader in high school, so she was obviously well-liked.

- Rita Coolidge and I went to the old Nashville Fairgrounds Coliseum to see Jackie Wilson.

I was 17.

- Brenda had had enough of her band following her around while she tried to date.

- Rita and I, we were just talking and having a good time, and I look over and there's this drop-dead gorgeous guy over there and I said, "Rita, I wanna meet him."

She said, "Well, you've lost your mind.

You cannot go up and introduce yourself."

I said, "I'm not, I'm sending him a note."

So I wrote a note on there and I said, "Hi, my name is Brenda.

I'm going to England for the next three months, but here's my number, call me."

(jazz music) Well, I didn't hear from him, didn't hear from him.

Went to England, didn't hear from him.

Came back, got a call, we had a date.

Nice, nice date, met his parents, he met my mom.

We cruised Joanie's like everybody else did.

It's the first time I'd ever cruised anything.

So I did that because I didn't date and he was 6'4", so I really liked that part.

And he had a Corvette, that pretty much sealed the deal.

I kept the engagement ring in the box in my purse for three months before I ever said anything to anybody 'cause I was scared to death too, because number one, I was the breadwinner for a lot of people.

So I thought it's gonna wear a hole in the darn purse if I don't get it on my finger.

So finally, I got up enough courage and I told mama.

So we eloped.

Southern women especially are very go by the the rules and I didn't and that upset her.

And I'm sorry to this day about that.

(upbeat music)