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The Worst Episodes of Behind the Music

Every episode of Behind the Music ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Behind the Music!

Worst episode
S1E13 The Carpenters
5.921 votes
Best episode
S1E42 Blondie
10.01 votes
Top season
Season 1
9.0avg
Binge time
9d 11h
227 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 13 - The Carpenters
    5.9/10(21 votes)

    S1:E13

    In 1970 The Carpenters won the Best New Artist Grammy, and for five years it seemed as though they were indeed on "Top of the World" as song after song continued to ride up the charts. Easy listening lovers of all generations found the clean-cut combo's orchestrated melodies and Karen's warm voice irresistible; even President Richard Nixon was a fan. But behind the smiles and the string of soft pop hits is the tragic tale of a woman whose quest for love and acceptance led to anorexia and finally, death at 32. In 1983 Karen Carpenter suffered a fatal heart attack while seemingly on the road to recovery, leaving Richard alone to mourn the loss of his sister and all the songs that would never happen. Now happily married and back on the road performing Carpenters songs to adoring fans, Richard reminisces about their early jazz trio, and speaks frankly about his past addiction to pain killers. Singers Olivia Newton-John and Dionne Warwick pay tribute to Karen's talent.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 26 - Ted Nugent
    6.2/10(14 votes)

    S1:E26

    Nugent started performing at age 13 and became one of the the biggest live acts in the '70s. Ted's not your typical rock 'n' roller. He is a political conservative, preaching family values & anti-drug messages. He's also fond of hunting game, eating raw meat and having strong opinions on just about everything.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 23 - Jefferson Airplane/Starship
    6.3/10(13 votes)

    S1:E23

    Includes first-time interviews with all 6 members of the classic Jefferson Airplane line-up as well as an interview with Grace Slick.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 14 - Sonny Bono
    6.3/10(12 votes)

    S1:E14

    He couldn't sing or read music but he became a songwriter and pop star. And though he never cast a vote in his life, he was elected Mayor of Palm Springs, then Congressman. If there's a lesson to be learned from Sonny Bono's life, which ended tragically in a skiing accident in early 1998, it's that ideas and perseverance will get you far - even if you're a funny -looking guy who didn't go to college. It wasn't until Sonny was 28, when he met then-16-year-old Cher, that his musical path presented itself. Sonny brought the songs, Cher brought the style and the voice, and by 1965 they created a pop sensation, kicking off a string of hits with their #1 signature song "I Got You Babe." By the early '70s, the pair were household names, but their TV bickering became all too real, and after several bits of on-screen teasing, the couple divorced. Sonny never achieved the same level of success in the entertainment industry; in fact, when Cher was starring in films like Silkwood , he was flubbing his lines on Fantasy Island. But at 51 things turned around for him: Sonny remarried and opened a successful restaurant. One day it occurred to him to run for Mayor and he won by the largest margin in Palm Springs history. Like everything he set his mind to, Sonny had accomplished it by sheer determination. BTM follows his remarkable story, talking with friends and associates, and most movingly, his grief-stricken mother.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 12 - Jim Croce
    7.2/10(25 votes)

    S1:E12

    Featuring never before seen family photos and performance footage, "Jim Croce: Behind the Music" traces the life and career of the man responsible for such hit songs as "Bad Bad Leroy Brown," "Time in a Bottle" and "Operator." Through exclusive interviews with Croce's wife Ingrid and friends Cheech Marin and Arlo Guthrie, "Jim Croce: Behind The Music" uncovers the musical passion that kept Croce churning out hits he would make virtually no money from. Ingrid Croce recalls how a contract Croce signed early in his career sent the majority of his earnings to his representatives, keeping him and Ingrid in relative poverty even as Croce's career soared. Killed in a plane crash just as he was gaining worldwide recognition, Croce was destined to never see the money his records earned. Ingrid recounts picking up the pieces, including her successful court battle to win back the money that was rightfully Croce's. Additionally, "Jim Croce: Behind The Music" features a Croce recording never before made public called "I'm Just a Country Boy," the first song Croce ever sang to wife Ingrid.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 16 - Meat Loaf
    7.3/10(26 votes)

    S1:E16

    The incredible rise, fall and comeback of Meat Loaf. Interviews with Meat Loaf, his wife Leslie Aday, their two daughters, Todd Rundgren (producer, Bat Out of Hell), Karla DeVito (former back-up singer) and Sam Ellis (tour manager). Released in 1977, Bat Out of Hell was one of the top-selling albums of all time, making Meat Loaf a rock & roll superstar. However, superstardom got the best of him -- Meat Loaf suffered a nervous breakdown and soon dropped out of the music scene. In 1993, 16 years after the release of Bat Out of Hell, Meat Loaf finally came out with a new album, Bat Out of Hell II, which earned him a Grammy for his #1 song, "I Will Do Anything for Love" and made him a rock & roll success, again.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 17 - Gladys Knight
    6.3/10(11 votes)

    S1:E17

    Her career spans more than 50 years, 37 of which were spent headlining "Gladys Knight and the Pips." She has collected four Grammys, 12 gold records and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but Gladys Knight's life has never been easy. On this episode, the other Queen of Soul reveals the hardships she has battled since her career took off at the age of seven, and why, in spite of them all, she has always come out on top.In "GLADYS KNIGHT: BEHIND THE MUSIC," Knight candidly discusses the ordeals that have turned so many of her successes bittersweet, beginning with her first brush with racism after winning a televised singing competition at the age of seven. Knight goes on to recount more personal as well as professional trials: her near rape at age 15; her unplanned pregnancy and miscarriage at age 16; the pain of three failed marriages; the custody battle that cost her youngest son; her legal battle with Motown; and the ten year gambling addiction that cost her hundreds of thousands of dollars. Interviews with Little Richard, friend Dionne Warwick and Knight's children also shed light on how a woman who suffered through so much can continue to rise to such heights.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 4 - Fleetwood Mac
    7.6/10(40 votes)

    S1:E4

    A successful British blues band in the '60s, Fleetwood Mac became the legends we know today when they hooked up with a young singer-songwriter couple who were almost ready to give up the biz. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham brought passion, looks and incredible vocal harmonies to the moody intensity of Fleetwood Mac. Their relationship wouldn't survive past the first album, nor would that of longtime members Christine and John McVie, but all that heartbreak fueled the fire of Rumours - a modern pop masterpiece which would become one of the best-selling albums of all time. As they embarked on their 30-year Reunion Tour in 1997, all the members of this "dysfunctional family" checked in with Behind the Music to muse on the drugs, the dough, and how it feels to attract a whole new generation of listeners after all these years...

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 2 - MC Hammer
    7.4/10(21 votes)

    S1:E2

    The dawn of the 1990's was unquestionably Hammer time. A scrappy striver from Oakland CA. named Stanley Burrell took hip-hop to P.T. Barnum scales: baggy trousers over rubbery legs, sizable samples of past hits, commercial endorsements galore. But the MC Hammer show was also "fun for the family," which, as Hammer pal Arsenio Hall notes, hardcore hip-hop heads despised. By the middle of the decade, Hammer's commercial viability - not to mention his huge fortune - had somehow vanished. Still "too legit to quit," MC Hammer then downsized, pledging to bring his positively charged hip-hop back to the top. BTM brings you the particulars of each Hammer epoch.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 11 - Andy Gibb
    7.3/10(18 votes)

    S1:E11

    He was the prince of Pop idols and by the tender age of 22, Andy Gibb had three #1 songs under his belt. But over the next 8 years, his career would falter, the love of his life, Victoria Principal, would leave him, and the world would learn that this the teen idol with the honey voice had a devastating drug and alcohol problem. For the first time ever, all three of Andy's brothers, The Bee Gees speak about Andy's lifelong battle against drugs and alcohol and for the first time since their breakup nearly 15 years ago, Victoria Principal talks about the Andy she loved and what finally broke them apart. Interviews also with: Pam Dawber, Marilyn McCoo, Marie Osmond and Andy's producer, Robert Stigwood.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 7 - Lynyrd Skynyrd
    7.9/10(45 votes)

    S1:E7

    This episode marked the 20th anniversary of the infamous plane crash (10/20/77) with a special episode on the bad boys from Jacksonville, Florida who put Southern Rock and Roll on the map with classic songs like Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama. During the seventies, they released a string of million-selling records and performed to sold out audiences in the U.S. and Europe. Fronted by their charismatic leader, Ronnie Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd had it all until the pressures of stardom led them down a road of violence and alcohol abuse that resulted in countless fights, arrests, and car wrecks. Interviews with the surviving members of the band and the families.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 15 - The Mamas & the Papas
    7.2/10(14 votes)

    S1:E15

    A look at the trials & tribulations surrounding one of folk rockÍs most talented groups. Interviews with the remaining band members, Michelle Phillips, John Phillips and Denny Doherty. They speak openly about how the band came together, their drug use and the love triangle that existed between them. For the first time ever, Mama CassÍ sister, Leah Kunkel puts to rest the real cause of Mama CassÍ death.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 30 - Keith Moon
    7.2/10(12 votes)

    S1:E30

    Keith Moon will always be remembered as a wild man of rock and roll who wrecked hotel rooms and destroyed his drums. What is often forgotten about Keith is that he was a drummer extraordinaire who had a zest for life that was full of comedy, drama and tragedy. In this episode, KeithÍs friends, bandmates and family provide a stirring portrait of a man who packed a lot of life into his short 31 years. Viewers will hear Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Kim McLagan (KeithÍs ex-wife) and Peter ˜DougalÄ Butler (KeithÍs personal assistant for close to 10 years) discuss KeithÍs struggles, triumphs and tragedies in intimate detail. Plus, in her first television interview since KeithÍs death in 1978, Annette Hunt (KeithÍs last girlfriend) discusses KeithÍs final days.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 22 - Selena
    8.0/10(35 votes)

    S1:E22

    By the age of 23, Selena Quintanilla Perez had conquered the Tejano music scene and had become embraced by tens of thousands of fans. With her blend of natural talent, boundless energy and magnetic charm she was poised to become popular musicÍs next big superstar. But, just when Selena was about to become a crossover sensation, her ascent was cut short as she lost her life at the hands of someone she believed to be a loyal friend. We hear from SelenaÍs family and the woman who murdered her.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 33 - Def Leppard
    8.1/10(42 votes)

    S1:E33

    The biggest selling pop band of the '80's lived the text book rock star life: limos and liquor, drugs and groupies – hedonism defined their daily ritual. But even record sales over 20 million couldn't prepare these former factory workers from Sheffield, England for the consequences of their excesses. Behind The Music revisits the devastating overdose of guitarist Steve Clark and talks to Rick Allen about how he managed to continue drumming after the loss of an arm.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 28 - Behind the Music (Ver 2)
    7.9/10(24 votes)

    S1:E28

    Filmed mostly at the Naval Training Center and Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, Top Gun was the top grossing movie of 1986. Behind The Music explores the creation and cultural impact of the film, from the early obstacles faced by cast and crew to its high-flying debut at the box office, bringing in $344.8 million worldwide.Story highlights of Behind The Music: Top Gun include:The idea for the movie came from an article in California magazine called “Top Guns” that producer Jerry Bruckheimer had read about a group of characters at fighter pilot school. He and his partner Don Simpson bought the rights to it and eventually hired Chip Proser to do top-to-bottom rewrites of the rough script.Bruckheimer and Simpson had to go the Pentagon to pitch the idea to get the Navy on board. During the meeting, the Navy reps asked them to tell them what the story would be … but there wasn’t one yet. So, Simpson just started spinning a yarn off of the top his head … and, the Navy loved it! The eventually script was almost a duplicate of this impromptu tale.Pete Pettigrew, a real life Top Gun instructor and retired Navy admiral, was hired to serve as an advisor to the film. His attempts at keeping the portrayal of the school and its pilots realistic went unheeded for the most part in the producers’ attempts at making the movie more exciting.Unbankable since his directorial debut The Hunger flopped, Tony Scott was nevertheless brought on board for Top Gun after Bruckheimer and Simpson watched his commercial reel. It would be the first of several collaborations between the producers and Scott which would eventually establish him as one of Hollywood’s premiere action directors.Tom Cruise, recovering from his 1985 disappointment Legend, finally cemented his status as an A-list star with his role of cocky fighter pilot Maverick. Matthew Modine was originally selected to play Maverick but he turned the part down.Val Kilmer did not want to be in the movie, but Paramount exercised a right on their contract with Val for him to do the movie.Ally Sheedy was the original choice for the Kelly McGillis role but turned it down saying in an interview: “Who wants to see Tom Cruise flying around in an airplane?”Art Scholl, a stunt pilot, was killed doing an inverted flat spin for the movie. It is speculated that camera equipment affixed to the plane altered its balance, making recovery from a flat spin (normally difficult in any case) impossible. The film is dedicated to his memory.Anthony Edwards, Michael Ironside, and Rick Rossovich all went on to roles on the TV series E.R.The Top Gun soundtrack includes such hit songs as “Danger Zone” and “Take My Breath Away” and has sold more than seven million copies. The album spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts. Giorgio Moroder, who composed original music for the film, won an Academy Award for Best Song, “Take My Breath Away.”

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 3 - Boy George
    7.8/10(15 votes)

    S1:E3

    In 1984, George O'Dowd accepted a Grammy Award for Culture Club by quipping that America "knows a good drag queen" when it sees one. And Boy George was not just a good drag queen, but a drag queen with a tremendously soulful voice, fronting one of the '80s' best pop bands. And yet, there was trouble from the start. If George's affair with Culture Club drummer Jon Moss lent emotional authenticity to the band's hits, it also jeopardized the band's ability to work together, as each Clubber attests to Behind the Music. Once Moss rejected George once and for all, the singer rapidly descended into an abyss of heroin addiction. At a 1986 anti-apartheid benefit, George was so out of it that fellow pop stars recoiled from him. After his brother publically spoke of George's problems, the singer finally took the steps to recover. Healthy and happy these days, George only regrets now that Moss has yet to acknowledge the extent of their relationship.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 25 - Ozzy Osbourne
    8.1/10(22 votes)

    S1:E25

    A look at this heavy metal legend, from his early days as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, to his controversial concert acts as a solo performer (he bit the head off a live bat onstage as well as a live dove during a Columbia Records publicity meeting!) Osbourne discusses the lawsuits brought on by three different families, all claiming that their sons had been inspired to commit suicide after listening to his songs. He spent some time in the Betty Ford Clinic in the mid-80s to battle his drug addiction and alcoholism. Although Osbourne is currently clean & sober, he has not completely cleaned up his image.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 29 - Studio 54
    8.2/10(18 votes)

    S1:E29

    It has been more than twenty years since Studio 54 first opened its doors on April 26, 1977, driven by a disco beat and ruled by the unlikeliest of overlords: gay, sociable restaurant chain owner Steve Rubell and straight, shy real estate lawyer Ian Schrager. Former college friends Steve and Ian, through a combination of business savvy, good timing and luck, quickly established Studio 54 as "the" place to be, where the wannabe crowd outside was as much of a show as the privileged party inside.Studio 54 became the embodiment of the phrase, "if it feels good, do it," fueled by the prevailing liberated, birth-controlled, drug-infused, pre-AIDS atmosphere of the era. Or, as described by eyewitness Michael Musto, Studio 54 was "a Felliniesque crossed with Busby Berkeley playground filled with everything for your hedonistic needs.""Studio 54: Behind The Music" features new and exclusive candid interviews with many of those who not only observed but helped to create the Studio 54 experience, including Grace Jones, Liz Smith, Jerry Hall, Robin Leach, Anthony Haden-Guest, Nile Rogers, and many of the bartenders and doormen who had front row seats to the Studio 54 spectacle. The program also includes the last known interview of Rubell, who died an AIDS-related death in 1989 at the age of 45.Rubell's and Schrager's Studio 54 flashed brilliantly and crashed hard, with the two eventually convicted of tax evasion and forced to turn in their evening wear for prison garb. As disco is making an unexpected comeback, and everything 70's is popular again, "Studio 54: Behind The Music" examines the highs and the lows, the innovations and disappointments, that went beyond the velvet rope to capture the attention of the entire world.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 9 - Billy Joel
    8.3/10(23 votes)

    S1:E9

    He has penned enough hits to fill three Greatest Hits compilations. Yet, Billy Joel's rise to fame has been anything but smooth sailing. Behind the Music chronicles the ups and downs of the pop star's career and life... from his earlier days as a solo performer when he signed away many of the rights to his songs... to his incredible rise to fame and fortune... to the betrayal of his manager that nearly left Billy Joel broke.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 20 - Rick James
    8.3/10(16 votes)

    S1:E20

    In the early 80s, Rick James was the king of funk, dominating the charts with hits like "Superfreak," "Mary Jane" and "Give It To Me Baby." James was best known for his outrageous live concerts and flamboyant drug use. Ironically, it was his notorious cocaine habit that cost him his freedom and nearly cost him his life. James went to prison for assaulting an associate while high on cocaine.During this episode James does not hold anything back, speaking frankly about his destructive behavior, how his mother's death devastated him and how prison was the best thing that ever happened to him. Among those interviewed in "Rick James: Behind The Music" include one-time love Linda Blair, his new wife Tanya and former Motown executive Suzanne DePasse.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 1 - Milli Vanilli
    8.6/10(43 votes)

    S1:E1

    Girl, you know it's true…but unfortunately it wasn't, for the 80's dance duo whose Grammy-winning triumph turned sour when their producer revealed that his hunky proteges were shaking their booty to someone else's song. The ensuing humiliation led to the suicide of Rob Pilatus, whose anguish is palpable in these final interviews. Milli Vanilli, Rob Pilatus and Fabrizio Morvan won the hearts of millions, but when their deception was revealed after their win of a Best New Artist Grammy, the public’s shock and disappointment gave way to contempt. The two lip-synching hunks became the butt of jokes and were ostracized by the music industry.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 196 - 50 Cent
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    S1:E196

    Curtis Jackson III, aka 50 Cent, grew up on the violent and drug infested streets of Jamaica, Queens. His mother was murdered when he was 8, and by the time he was a teenager, he was following in her footsteps, dealing crack to make ends meet. Several arrests led to hard time in a "shock incarceration" boot camp. Headed down the wrong road, 50 Cent gave up the hustle and chased a new dream: to become a hip hop star. But his road to superstardom wouldn't be easy. With gritty street rhymes, 50 attacked the industry and his bad boy reputation grew as fast as his list of enemies. A public feud with fellow Queens' rapper Ja Rule led to a brawl and 50 got stabbed. Then, in May 2000, nine bullets nearly ended 50 Cent's life. Facing his moment of truth, 50 persevered thru intense physical pain, emotional self doubt and came back to the game even stronger. Teaming up with Dr Dre and Eminem, his first two albums, Get Rich or Die Trying and The Massacre, were hugely successful. 50 Cent parlayed his street hustle instincts into an empire, forming the G Unit business enterprise and inking a lucrative deal with Vitamin Water that reportedly earned him over 100 million dollars. Always a target, 50's street cred was attacked as he engaged in feuds with everyone from Fat Joe to his protégé, The Game. The beefs only fuel 50's drive. Older and wiser, he hasn't lost the edge he honed on the streets of New York as he continues his relentless quest for success.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 88 - Alanis Morissette
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    S1:E88

    A look at the life of this Canadian-born superstar. Includes Alanis' childhood as a twin, her early success with the release of her first Canadian single at the age of ten and the release of her first Canadian album at 14. In search of larger recognition, Alanis moved to Los Angeles, and in 1995 at the age of 19 released "Jagged Little Pill." The album has sold over 29 million copies worldwide, earning her a record in the Guiness World Book of Records as having the highest selling debut album ever. Interviews with Alanis, her parents, brothers, Glen Ballard (Alanis' producer) and Guy Oseary (Label Executive).

    Director:Unknown
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  25. Behind the Music Season 1 Episode 198 - Christina Aguilera
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    S1:E198

    Surviving an abusive childhood and struggling against a record label trying to control her image, Christina Aguilera's road to superstardom was not an easy one.

    Director:Unknown
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Worst Episodes Summary

"The Carpenters" is the worst rated episode of Behind the Music. It scored 5.9/10 from 21 votes. Written and directed by Unknown, it aired on January 1, 1998. This episode scored 0.3 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Ted Nugent".

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