Bio M.B. (MaryBeth) Roberts is a Senior Editor at PARADE magazine where she plans story packages and assigns, edits and writes features for the iconic publication with the second largest circulation (23 million) in the U.S. As PARADE's Books Editor, she coordinates book coverage, author interviews and excerpts. She also writes and edits stories for parade.com (over 2 million monthly visitors). Roberts has written or co-authored eighteen books (sixteen from major publishers) including the newly updated Crimson Nation by the Voice of the Crimson Tide, Eli Gold (Triumph Books 2016) and The Great Book of NASCAR Racing Lists (Running Press, 2012), co-authored with SPEED channel (now Fox Sports) TV host John Roberts. Roberts was the writer/interviewer on two 2012 TV shows, Backstory (Jason Aldean), and Origins (Craig Morgan), produced by Tangible Vision for Nashville’s Great American Country (GAC) network. |
With Jungle Jack Hanna (in his yurt no less!) at the Columbus Zoo
talking Partners in Conservation efforts in Rwanda for PARADE. 
Put my writer's cap on for the July 2, 2017 issue of PARADE featuring MVP Ben Zobrist and Jack Hanna.
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Early in her career, Roberts, who has contributed dozens of stories to newspapers, magazines and websites, wrote mostly humorous, first-person essays and travel stories. She began writing about sports after repeatedly finding herself in extraordinary situations courtesy of her husband, longtime Sports Illustrated photographer, Ron Modra. (“Honey, keep the champ company. I’ll be right back…”).
After a fortuitous meeting with Ronnie Dunn (of the country music duo, Brooks & Dunn) at an Atlanta Braves game, Roberts began work on The Honky Tonk Truth: The Brooks & Dunn Story, and other Nashville-based projects including a book with Brad Paisley, artist publicity bios for record companies including Arista, Sony and Broken Bow, as well as many magazine stories featuring stars such as Alan Jackson, Charlie Daniels, Keith Urban, The Dixie Chicks, and Taylor Swift, to name a few.
While working as a staff writer at Country Weekly Magazine, Roberts teamed up with Naomi Judd, (mother of movie star, Ashley Judd, and partner with daughter, Wynonna, in The Judds), editing her weekly advice column. Roberts also became a frequent guest on Country Music Television (CMT) specials including CMT Inside Fame: Brad Paisley, and
CMT’s Greatest Myths: Rumors, Legends and Downright Lies, among other programs.
After a fortuitous meeting with Ronnie Dunn (of the country music duo, Brooks & Dunn) at an Atlanta Braves game, Roberts began work on The Honky Tonk Truth: The Brooks & Dunn Story, and other Nashville-based projects including a book with Brad Paisley, artist publicity bios for record companies including Arista, Sony and Broken Bow, as well as many magazine stories featuring stars such as Alan Jackson, Charlie Daniels, Keith Urban, The Dixie Chicks, and Taylor Swift, to name a few.
While working as a staff writer at Country Weekly Magazine, Roberts teamed up with Naomi Judd, (mother of movie star, Ashley Judd, and partner with daughter, Wynonna, in The Judds), editing her weekly advice column. Roberts also became a frequent guest on Country Music Television (CMT) specials including CMT Inside Fame: Brad Paisley, and
CMT’s Greatest Myths: Rumors, Legends and Downright Lies, among other programs.
And then...
M.B. Roberts at the Country Music Hall of Fame
In 2009, she met Hilary Williams, the daughter of country music superstar Hank Williams, Jr. and granddaughter of country legend, Hank Williams, and co-authored her 2010 inspirational memoir, Sign of Life: A Story of Family, Tragedy, Music and Healing, (Da Capo Press), which was released during a special event to coincide with the Hank Williams Family Tradition exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.
Although entertainers have been her recent focus, sports remains a recurring topic for Roberts who interviewed baseball greats including Reggie Jackson, Keith Hernandez, George Brett, Goose Gossage and others for Reflections of the Game: Lives in Baseball and later wrote three books with the Voice of the (University of Alabama) Crimson Tide, Eli Gold, interviewing thirty-plus football stars who played for legendary Coach Bear Bryant along the way.
She wrote four how-to books (rowing, lacrosse, soccer, and rugby) for high school kids and their parents and has ghostwritten book forewords for bold-faced names such as Dale Earnhardt as well as corporate V.I.P.’s such as the president of U.S. Soccer.
And now...
Current projects include a new book about the lore, intrigue, ghosts and glamour of Nashville's legendary Printer's Alley and the Cadillac of baseball books, A Baseball Life: Four Decades Inside the Game, which features the photographs of longtime Sports Illustrated photographer Ronald C. Modra and essays (compiled and edited by Roberts) by the best scribes in the baseball business including Bob Costas, Peter Gammons, Tim Kurkjian, Leigh Montville, Tom Verducci as well as MLB Commissioner Bud Selig.
