Put Your Dress Down and Sing: A Memoir

Music gave her a life she never dared imagine.

From a strict Dutch Calvinist upbringing on Chicago’s South Side to performing before audiences of millions, Grammy-winning vocalist Darlene Koldenhoven forged an extraordinary career through talent, determination, and an unwavering belief in possibility.

In Put Your Dress Down and Sing, Darlene shares the inspiring, often hilarious story of her journey from a sheltered childhood to the global stage. Best known as the tambourine-waving choir nun in the Sister Act films and as the featured soprano soloist in Yanni: Live at the Acropolis, she offers a behind-the-scenes look at nearly fifty years in the entertainment industry.

Filled with unforgettable encounters, hard-won lessons, and insider stories from working alongside legends like Pink Floyd and Paul McCartney, this memoir is a celebration of resilience, reinvention, and the transformative power of music. Darlene's story proves that sometimes the life waiting for you is bigger than anything you could have planned.

About the Author

GRAMMY® Award winner and 3-time nominee Darlene Koldenhoven, M.M.V., B.M.Ed., Indie Hall of Fame inductee, and Top Ten Billboard charting artist, has sung on more than 1,000 recordings for film, television, and albums. She has worked with a plethora of top celebrities. As a solo artist herself, she has had several number-one albums on the radio charts and debuted at #4 and #8 on the Billboard Charts in 2021. Primarily a vocalist, Darlene is also an actor, pianist, composer, lyricist, sonic therapist, voice teacher, and the author of Tune Your Voice: Singing and Your Mind’s Musical Ear.

Praise for Put Your Dress Down and Sing

“Put Your Dress Down and Sing is everything you want in a memoir. It's the riveting journey of a woman whose talent and perseverance have overcome every setback with strength, humor, and resilience.”
—Gloria Loring, singer, actor, Days of Our Lives

“A gripping memoir that weaves together an extraordinary journey of resilience, artistry, and deep personal sacrifice.”
—Colonel Andy DeRosa, USAF (ret) Bronze Star, OIF and OEF Veteran