Key Takeaways
- Nia Long will release her memoir, The Sound of Purpose, on May 25, 2027, sharing an unfiltered account of her childhood and three decades in Hollywood.
- The book explores her upbringing in Brooklyn and Iowa, complicated family dynamics, racism and colorism, and stories involving Regina King, Whoopi Goldberg, Will Smith, and Colman Domingo.
- Long also frames her 2022 split from Ime Udoka as “the best thing that ever happened to me,” saying it pushed her to pause, reinvest in herself, and prioritize their son and a healthier co-parenting relationship.
Nia Long is ready to tell her story—and this time, she's leaving the Hollywood scripts behind.
According to Essence, the actress announced that her memoir, The Sound of Purpose, will arrive May 25, 2027, offering an unfiltered look at her childhood, three decades in entertainment, and the personal experiences that shaped her. Long unveiled the book's cover on Instagram, giving fans their first look at the project, which Gallery Books’ 13A imprint will publish.
The memoir promises to go well beyond Long's filmography. According to the book's description, she'll revisit her upbringing in Brooklyn, her family's move to Iowa, and her time at a school where she was one of only four Black students. She'll also examine the racism and colorism she encountered while building her career, along with the complicated family dynamics that influenced her early years.
Long isn't holding back on the Hollywood stories, either. The book will feature recollections involving Regina King, Whoopi Goldberg, Will Smith, and Colman Domingo. For an actress whose credits include Boyz n the Hood, Love Jones, Soul Food, and The Best Man, there's plenty of ground to cover.
The announcement comes as Long has been increasingly candid about her personal life, including her highly publicized breakup with former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka. During a recent appearance on Angie Martinez's IRL podcast, she offered a surprising perspective on the scandal that ended their 13-year relationship.
"It was the best thing that ever happened to me because it allowed me to pause," Long told Martinez. "It allowed me to pause and look at all the wonderful things that I had done throughout the time that I was in that relationship. But now I can pour everything back into myself."
Long and Udoka split in 2022 after the Celtics suspended him for the entire 2022-23 season over an improper relationship with a female staff member. Although Long initially criticized the organization for how it handled the situation, she told Martinez that her priority eventually shifted to protecting their son, Kez, and building a healthier co-parenting relationship.
"It wasn't about him. It wasn't about the headlines. It wasn't about the opinions," she explained. "It was about how do I preserve what's left and the new way my family is now? Like, who are we now?"
