by Dolly Parton with Tom Roland
First published 2025
Dolly Parton takes readers through her journey as a performer in this richly illustrated memoir. She begins with early family performances and moves through her breakthrough on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Parton details her formative partnership with Porter Wagoner and the challenges of touring life. The book covers her transition to solo performances at state fairs and acclaimed venues worldwide. She describes collaborations with Kenny Rogers, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris. Major moments include her film debut in 9 to 5 and her 2023 Dallas Cowboys halftime show performance that reached 42 million viewers. The book features 350 full-color photographs from Parton's personal archive, plus exclusive images and ephemera. An eight-page gatefold catalogs her lifetime of performances. This completes Parton's photographic trilogy following Songteller and Behind the Seams. Throughout, Parton shares personal stories with her characteristic humor and honesty, offering insights on maintaining a seven-decade career in entertainment.
Genres: autobiography, biography-memoir, music, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, personal
Tropes: rags-to-riches, self-made
Setting: Dallas, Grand Ole Opry
Period: 2023, 7 Decades
336 pages · Hardcover · Ten Speed Press