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Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics
New York Times bestseller Dolly Parton, My Life in Lyrics is a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop culture legend.
This landmark volume explores the remarkable life and lyrics of the one and only Dolly Parton.
As told in her own inimitable words, Songteller explores the songs that have defined Parton's journey. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished images from her personal and business archives, the Washington Post calls it "a gold mine of little-seen photos and personal anecdotes."
Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Dolly Parton highlights 175 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics. A celebrity memoir like no other, Dolly Parton, Songteller reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries.
A RARE VISUAL Packed with never-before-seen photographs and classic memorabilia from Parton's archives, this book is a show-stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan.
BEHIND THE BELOVED Learn the history, personal stories, candid insights, and myriad memories behind classic Parton songs like "Jolene," "9 to 5," "I Will Always Love You," and more in this "splashy, entertaining guide to the lyrics of one of the most popular musicians of our time" ( Kirkus Reviews ).
CRITICALLY First published in hardcover with resounding response from fans and media alike, including showstopping interviews with Oprah, Stephen Colbert, Brené Brown, and The Today Show , features in People , Parade , Marie Claire , USA Today , Washington Post , and much more.
EVERYONE LOVES The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans, as well as lovers of music history and country singer-songwriters.
Perfect
This landmark volume explores the remarkable life and lyrics of the one and only Dolly Parton.
As told in her own inimitable words, Songteller explores the songs that have defined Parton's journey. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished images from her personal and business archives, the Washington Post calls it "a gold mine of little-seen photos and personal anecdotes."
Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Dolly Parton highlights 175 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics. A celebrity memoir like no other, Dolly Parton, Songteller reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries.
A RARE VISUAL Packed with never-before-seen photographs and classic memorabilia from Parton's archives, this book is a show-stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan.
BEHIND THE BELOVED Learn the history, personal stories, candid insights, and myriad memories behind classic Parton songs like "Jolene," "9 to 5," "I Will Always Love You," and more in this "splashy, entertaining guide to the lyrics of one of the most popular musicians of our time" ( Kirkus Reviews ).
CRITICALLY First published in hardcover with resounding response from fans and media alike, including showstopping interviews with Oprah, Stephen Colbert, Brené Brown, and The Today Show , features in People , Parade , Marie Claire , USA Today , Washington Post , and much more.
EVERYONE LOVES The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans, as well as lovers of music history and country singer-songwriters.
Perfect
380 pages, Hardcover
First published November 17, 2020
About the author
Dolly Parton
100 books1,272 followersDolly Rebecca Parton is a Grammy Award-winning country music singer/songwriter, author, actress and philanthropist. To date, she remains one of the most successful country artists, with 25 number-one singles (a record for a female performer) and 42 top-10 country albums (more than anyone else).
She is known for her distinctive mountain soprano, sometimes bawdy humor, flamboyant dress sense, and her voluptuous figure.
She is known for her distinctive mountain soprano, sometimes bawdy humor, flamboyant dress sense, and her voluptuous figure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,996 reviews
January 28, 2022
If you don’t like Dolly Parton, do you even have a heart?
Like her coat of many colors, my childhood is a patchwork of Dolly-centered memories. Listening to her albums and cassettes on repeat, watching her variety show post-bathtime/pre-bedtime on Sunday nights, getting to see “9 to 5” in the theater when the big screen experience still felt larger than life.
Yep, I’m a Dolly fan. Always have been, always will be.
Her 2020 memoir, Songteller, is an incredibly unique approach to an autobiography. Its subtitle, “My Life in Lyrics,” says it all. Dolly shares glimpses of her world by way of the stories behind her songs. Some notable examples:
While she had approved the use of “I Will Always Love You” in the movie “The Bodyguard,” she didn’t know it had actually been recorded until she was driving home one night and heard Whitney belting out that infamous acapella opening. on the radio She writes, “I had to pull off to the side of the road, because it just got bigger and bigger and better and better. I have never experienced a greater feeling in my life than hearing Whitney Houston sing that song for the first time.”
“Jolene” was inspired by a little girl she met at an autograph signing, who had such a unique and beautiful name that she didn’t want to forget it. “To remember the name, I went ‘Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene’ until I could get back to the bus and write it down. Which is when I thought, ‘I’ll just start the song like that, because that’s how I remembered the name, and I’ll add to that.’” And thus the infamous earworm was born.
At least 100 of her songs are broken down in a similar fashion.
Now the tough question… Audiobook or print copy? BOTH! You must listen to the audiobook for the snippets of the songs and to hear her tell the stories in a very casual, off the cuff manner. But you must also flip through the beautiful print version to see the accompanying photos and lyric sheets. You see, Songteller is not just a book. It’s an EXPERIENCE.
Now if Dolly had asked my opinion, I would have suggested that she order the songs chronologically instead of by loose themes, but she didn’t. It’s her songbook, and she can tell it however she wants to.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
Like her coat of many colors, my childhood is a patchwork of Dolly-centered memories. Listening to her albums and cassettes on repeat, watching her variety show post-bathtime/pre-bedtime on Sunday nights, getting to see “9 to 5” in the theater when the big screen experience still felt larger than life.
Yep, I’m a Dolly fan. Always have been, always will be.
Her 2020 memoir, Songteller, is an incredibly unique approach to an autobiography. Its subtitle, “My Life in Lyrics,” says it all. Dolly shares glimpses of her world by way of the stories behind her songs. Some notable examples:
While she had approved the use of “I Will Always Love You” in the movie “The Bodyguard,” she didn’t know it had actually been recorded until she was driving home one night and heard Whitney belting out that infamous acapella opening. on the radio She writes, “I had to pull off to the side of the road, because it just got bigger and bigger and better and better. I have never experienced a greater feeling in my life than hearing Whitney Houston sing that song for the first time.”
“Jolene” was inspired by a little girl she met at an autograph signing, who had such a unique and beautiful name that she didn’t want to forget it. “To remember the name, I went ‘Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene’ until I could get back to the bus and write it down. Which is when I thought, ‘I’ll just start the song like that, because that’s how I remembered the name, and I’ll add to that.’” And thus the infamous earworm was born.
At least 100 of her songs are broken down in a similar fashion.
Now the tough question… Audiobook or print copy? BOTH! You must listen to the audiobook for the snippets of the songs and to hear her tell the stories in a very casual, off the cuff manner. But you must also flip through the beautiful print version to see the accompanying photos and lyric sheets. You see, Songteller is not just a book. It’s an EXPERIENCE.
Now if Dolly had asked my opinion, I would have suggested that she order the songs chronologically instead of by loose themes, but she didn’t. It’s her songbook, and she can tell it however she wants to.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
December 30, 2020
I listened to this one as an audio book. I can’t imagine how it would work as a written book. The audio sounds more like a spontaneous interview than anything else. But it’s lots of fun to listen to Dolly Parton recount what lies behind many of her songs and to hear snippets of those songs. Her enthusiasm and positive outlook are infectious. Her unapologetic pride in her family and background are moving. And as a woman who is confident and comfortable with who she is, she is a great role model. By the end, it gets a bit repetitive as every song is her favourite, but overall I still really enjoyed listening to this one.
January 2, 2021
A truly remarkable lady. Her talents in songwriting, how far she has come on her own talent and moxie, amazing. One of twelve children, raised in an Appalachian cabin with few amenities, her family didn't have much in the way of material things. They were, however, rich in love, family and music. Her songs all tell a story, many based on actual people. She has written for and song with many country notables.
I started out reading this, able to get a copy from Hoopla, but when I saw the song lyrics I bought the audible. I read along, the audio in Dolly's voice, listening to her sing some of the verses of her songs, but able to see all the pictures, of which there were many, in the Hoopla copy. Warning though, it's a trade off, the book doesn't follow the audio, more in contained in the book, but together they were perfect. The format on audio is a interviewer, interviewed type of narrative. Dolly does discuss her life, her family, her husband, her career and why she wrote each song.
It was fun, interesting and a perfect first read, listen to 2021. The bad part, I had the song Jolene stuck in my head for most of yesterday.
I started out reading this, able to get a copy from Hoopla, but when I saw the song lyrics I bought the audible. I read along, the audio in Dolly's voice, listening to her sing some of the verses of her songs, but able to see all the pictures, of which there were many, in the Hoopla copy. Warning though, it's a trade off, the book doesn't follow the audio, more in contained in the book, but together they were perfect. The format on audio is a interviewer, interviewed type of narrative. Dolly does discuss her life, her family, her husband, her career and why she wrote each song.
It was fun, interesting and a perfect first read, listen to 2021. The bad part, I had the song Jolene stuck in my head for most of yesterday.
March 24, 2021
I love Dolly!! The audio was awesome with Dolly but I want the hardback too for the pics!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
May 16, 2022
Why I chose to read this book:
1. it's my self-declared "Memoirs & Biographies Month"; and,
2. I've been a fan of Dolly Parton's ever since I was a kid!
A notable lyric from her song "Backwoods Barbie": "Don't judge me by the cover 'cause I'm a real good book." So true!
Positives:
1. chapters go in chronological order from her songwriting as a child to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. They feature her entry into recording country music, famous duet partnerships, various musical genres that she has explored to her work in film;
2. of the 3000+ songs Dolly has written, 175 are featured in this book, including the full lyrics of each one and several hundred photos that illustrate Dolly's career. I enjoyed Googling several of these songs and singing along!;
3. I loved Dolly's musings about:
- her intimate thoughts and feelings about why she wrote these particular songs;
- her gracious words about relationships with various family members, her hubby, and her many duet partners throughout the years, most notably with Porter Wagoner (I remember their infamous split when Dolly wanted to strike it out on her own);
- how thrilled she'd be when several songs that she penned were brought to fame when other artists recorded them (think Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You");
- the hypocrisy of the country-music industry (recording labels and radio stations) towards women singers (especially in Dolly's earlier years) when women couldn't sing certain lyrics, because they weren't allowed to think or feel the same way that men could in their songs;
- why butterflies play a big part of her "brand";
- her self-deprecating humor about her image - such a funny lady!; and,
4. I appreciated how co-author Robert K. Oermann included details about Dolly's "final" song, as well as information about her philanthropy, such as her Imagination Library (she has donated over 130 million books to children worldwide), her pledge of $1 million to fund vaccine research for COVID-19, and the "Goodnight With Dolly" videos that she released during the pandemic in which she reads bedtime stories to homebound children.
Tiny niggle:
The hardcopy is so big and heavy! I had to carry it under one arm or in both hands! And forget about carrying it in my purse! 😂
Oh, my goodness! Was this a trip down Memory Lane or what?!? So many of Dolly's songs reminded me of the times my sister and I would listen and sing along to our mom's LPs of Porter and Dolly, or just Dolly herself. Mom was such a HUGE fan! She would have loved this book!
A MUST-READ FOR DOLLY PARTON FANS!
UPDATE:
On May 11, 2022, Dolly's Imagination Library was rolled out in the Edmonton Public Library (Edmonton is the capital city of my home province of Alberta, Canada.)
My audiobook hold for this memoir finally became available! I enjoyed hearing Dolly share her personal joys and sorrows through her "songtelling" - sometimes her emotions were quite evident! Snippets of some of her songs were played. I had to chuckle several times whenever Dolly would explain why a particular song was her "favorite"!
RECOMMENDATION: If possible, read both the hardcopy and listen to the audiobook for the "full-meal-deal"! Otherwise, if you can only experience one format, then I suggest reading the book. Not only is the text available, but you can also experience the plethora of photos and full song lyrics (which you can easily enjoy listening to and watching on YouTube!)
1. it's my self-declared "Memoirs & Biographies Month"; and,
2. I've been a fan of Dolly Parton's ever since I was a kid!
A notable lyric from her song "Backwoods Barbie": "Don't judge me by the cover 'cause I'm a real good book." So true!
Positives:
1. chapters go in chronological order from her songwriting as a child to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. They feature her entry into recording country music, famous duet partnerships, various musical genres that she has explored to her work in film;
2. of the 3000+ songs Dolly has written, 175 are featured in this book, including the full lyrics of each one and several hundred photos that illustrate Dolly's career. I enjoyed Googling several of these songs and singing along!;
3. I loved Dolly's musings about:
- her intimate thoughts and feelings about why she wrote these particular songs;
- her gracious words about relationships with various family members, her hubby, and her many duet partners throughout the years, most notably with Porter Wagoner (I remember their infamous split when Dolly wanted to strike it out on her own);
- how thrilled she'd be when several songs that she penned were brought to fame when other artists recorded them (think Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You");
- the hypocrisy of the country-music industry (recording labels and radio stations) towards women singers (especially in Dolly's earlier years) when women couldn't sing certain lyrics, because they weren't allowed to think or feel the same way that men could in their songs;
- why butterflies play a big part of her "brand";
- her self-deprecating humor about her image - such a funny lady!; and,
4. I appreciated how co-author Robert K. Oermann included details about Dolly's "final" song, as well as information about her philanthropy, such as her Imagination Library (she has donated over 130 million books to children worldwide), her pledge of $1 million to fund vaccine research for COVID-19, and the "Goodnight With Dolly" videos that she released during the pandemic in which she reads bedtime stories to homebound children.
Tiny niggle:
The hardcopy is so big and heavy! I had to carry it under one arm or in both hands! And forget about carrying it in my purse! 😂
Oh, my goodness! Was this a trip down Memory Lane or what?!? So many of Dolly's songs reminded me of the times my sister and I would listen and sing along to our mom's LPs of Porter and Dolly, or just Dolly herself. Mom was such a HUGE fan! She would have loved this book!
A MUST-READ FOR DOLLY PARTON FANS!
UPDATE:
On May 11, 2022, Dolly's Imagination Library was rolled out in the Edmonton Public Library (Edmonton is the capital city of my home province of Alberta, Canada.)
My audiobook hold for this memoir finally became available! I enjoyed hearing Dolly share her personal joys and sorrows through her "songtelling" - sometimes her emotions were quite evident! Snippets of some of her songs were played. I had to chuckle several times whenever Dolly would explain why a particular song was her "favorite"!
RECOMMENDATION: If possible, read both the hardcopy and listen to the audiobook for the "full-meal-deal"! Otherwise, if you can only experience one format, then I suggest reading the book. Not only is the text available, but you can also experience the plethora of photos and full song lyrics (which you can easily enjoy listening to and watching on YouTube!)
November 10, 2021
For several weeks now Dolly has been riding shotgun in my car. While I drove to work, church, the grocery store, etc. she has been telling me her story and sharing her songs. Then when I got home I would page through the hardcover version to see the pictures, lyrics, and additional back story. My review is just of the audiobook since I did some skimming while perusing the book. Another great resource was Youtube to hear full versions of songs and some of the videos like "Romeo" with Billy Ray Cyrus. After listening to this book I am a bigger fan than ever. It was so refreshing to hear her commitment to glorify God and her gratitude for the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Note: the audio version I listened to did not contain 100% of the text from the book. So, if you want to get the complete story be sure to get ahold of the hardcover book.
December 14, 2022
Dolly Parton: Songteller is a 2020 Chronicle Books publication.
This book takes an in depth look at Dolly’s songwriting and storytelling- thus the title- Songteller. The list of songs she has written and analyzed here, is a healthy one, but Dolly goes through them at a pretty fast clip, giving a bit more time to some topics than others- but mostly it is well-balanced.
Because of all the particulars of how these songs came to be, Dolly gives the reader an insight into her history as a songwriter and recording artist. It was very interesting to hear about her childhood, her years working with Porter Waggoner, her solo career, and the various songwriting partners she has worked with.
Naturally, I had a few qualms- a few differences of opinion, some contradictions- but mainly the thing that started to kind of bug me was how often Dolly mentioned her Netflix series- which was running at the time this book was published. I started to wonder if this book was meant to be a companion book for that series… but as the book went on, the subject came up a little less often- thankfully.
Other than that, I enjoyed the way this book was presented. While Dolly tells us a bit of her life story as she works through this list of songs, one can see a glimpse of the person behind the big hair wigs and makeup- but she still manages to keep an air of mystery about her, which is something I like about her. Dolly is an icon- one of those rare celebrities that everyone likes even if they don’t especially like country music.
Overall, this was a terrific way for Dolly to tell her own story -through the lyrics of her songs- like the title says. Dolly has an impressive library of work- not all of her songs were recorded, and some of her songs were used by other artist- but they all had a story behind them, and I very much enjoyed hearing those stories.
4 stars
*E-book and Audio versions- E-book a bit more detailed- some photographs included. Audio- Dolly narrates- which was a real treat.
This book takes an in depth look at Dolly’s songwriting and storytelling- thus the title- Songteller. The list of songs she has written and analyzed here, is a healthy one, but Dolly goes through them at a pretty fast clip, giving a bit more time to some topics than others- but mostly it is well-balanced.
Because of all the particulars of how these songs came to be, Dolly gives the reader an insight into her history as a songwriter and recording artist. It was very interesting to hear about her childhood, her years working with Porter Waggoner, her solo career, and the various songwriting partners she has worked with.
Naturally, I had a few qualms- a few differences of opinion, some contradictions- but mainly the thing that started to kind of bug me was how often Dolly mentioned her Netflix series- which was running at the time this book was published. I started to wonder if this book was meant to be a companion book for that series… but as the book went on, the subject came up a little less often- thankfully.
Other than that, I enjoyed the way this book was presented. While Dolly tells us a bit of her life story as she works through this list of songs, one can see a glimpse of the person behind the big hair wigs and makeup- but she still manages to keep an air of mystery about her, which is something I like about her. Dolly is an icon- one of those rare celebrities that everyone likes even if they don’t especially like country music.
Overall, this was a terrific way for Dolly to tell her own story -through the lyrics of her songs- like the title says. Dolly has an impressive library of work- not all of her songs were recorded, and some of her songs were used by other artist- but they all had a story behind them, and I very much enjoyed hearing those stories.
4 stars
*E-book and Audio versions- E-book a bit more detailed- some photographs included. Audio- Dolly narrates- which was a real treat.
December 4, 2020
I'm embarrassed to admit that I used to think of Dolly as over the top. Now, as an adult, I've learned that she's a wonderful soul, sending free books to kids and donating a million dollars to covid vaccine research. She is a treasure.
I listened to the audiobook (narrated by Dolly and including some snippets of her music) and also bought the hardcover book. Why both? The hardcover book includes all of her song lyrics as well as memorabilia type photos. The hardcover is fierce, weighing in at over 5 pounds! The combination of the audiobook and the hardcover book provides a unique and very enjoyable way to learn about Dolly's life and music.
Highly recommended.
I listened to the audiobook (narrated by Dolly and including some snippets of her music) and also bought the hardcover book. Why both? The hardcover book includes all of her song lyrics as well as memorabilia type photos. The hardcover is fierce, weighing in at over 5 pounds! The combination of the audiobook and the hardcover book provides a unique and very enjoyable way to learn about Dolly's life and music.
Highly recommended.
January 12, 2023
What a treat to listen to Dolly share her story through songs. She truly is a songteller.
Full review at LucyKnowsThings.com.
Full review at LucyKnowsThings.com.
November 21, 2020
Wanted to give this four stars because I love Dolly so much but just couldn't. I did the audiobook version and while it was delightful to her her talk and tell stories, this just seemed like a long interview, not a book. It was one- or two-minutes synopses on how and why she wrote many of her songs. Would recommend it if you're a fan, but don't go in thinking it's an autobiography or a book.
March 4, 2021
4 stars
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is the story of Dolly Parton and a lot of insight to the songs she’s written and the journey she was on when she wrote them.
I adore Dolly Parton and I enjoyed listening to her tell her stories. I would love to eventually pick up the physical book to see all the pictures, but I’m glad I listened to the audio because I loved hearing Dolly narrate it and sing!
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is the story of Dolly Parton and a lot of insight to the songs she’s written and the journey she was on when she wrote them.
I adore Dolly Parton and I enjoyed listening to her tell her stories. I would love to eventually pick up the physical book to see all the pictures, but I’m glad I listened to the audio because I loved hearing Dolly narrate it and sing!
Audio book source: Libby (library borrow)
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Dolly Parton
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Non-fiction
Length: 5 hours and 18 minutes
May 28, 2021
dolly is a gem, and i really enjoyed learning more about her life via her music. this is an unconventional sort of memoir. dolly's prolific songwriting is used to tell stories from her life, and to give insight into the songs themselves.
🦋 first of all - format!! 🦋
it's important to note that the audiobook and print book are not the same. i picked up the audio first, and was puzzled by the fact that it's a lengthy interview, with dolly telling her stories in a charming, off-the-cuff manner.
upon comparing this to the print book, i think the audiobook is the interview basis for robert oermann's ghostwritten print version. it has most of the same content, and the print version does retain much of dolly's authentic voice. but the audio has a more personal feel to it.
the audio has snippets of many of the songs, which is fun. i did find that listening along made it harder to note which songs i wanted to revisit in full, so i referred to this playlist, which was really helpful!!
the benefit of the print version is that there are photos of dolly herself, and of some "dolly artifacts" on display at the museum in dollywood. and of course, the print version makes it easier to flip through and understand the organized scope of dolly's story as a whole.
🦋🦋🦋
UNFORTUNATELY - dolly has a really bad take while talking about her song "hollywood potters." she talks about the poverty that exists in LA, and the disillusionment of arriving in hollywood only to find it's not what one expected. but then she connects this to harvey weinstein. she mentions him by name, and places blame on the shoulders of survivors of his abuse:
direct quote from the audiobook. and this passage is cut down in the print version, so it seems the ghostwriter and/or editor realized this was pretty yikes.
this soured my impression of dolly, so i thought it was important to mention here. i don't think dolly is malicious, but i think she misunderstands a complicated situation.
but OTHERWISE, i was impressed with dolly's empathy and open-minded perspectives on relationships, spirituality, poverty, lgbt+ issues, and more. she's a soft-hearted human, and pretty damn progressive for a southern lady in her 70s.
🦋🦋🦋
some of dolly's songs are better than others, but i enjoyed learning just how prolific she is. so many heartbreak songs, which are a favorite of mine. i've added many new dolly songs to my spotify library, and it's nice to know the stories behind them!!
this book provides many insights into her spirited personality, her close family ties and rough upbringing in the mountains, and all the tenacity and hard work it took for her to become the icon she is today.
the audiobook is really refreshing, and made me laugh on a few occasions!! dolly doesn't take herself too seriously, and is, above all, very sweet.
🦋 first of all - format!! 🦋
it's important to note that the audiobook and print book are not the same. i picked up the audio first, and was puzzled by the fact that it's a lengthy interview, with dolly telling her stories in a charming, off-the-cuff manner.
upon comparing this to the print book, i think the audiobook is the interview basis for robert oermann's ghostwritten print version. it has most of the same content, and the print version does retain much of dolly's authentic voice. but the audio has a more personal feel to it.
the audio has snippets of many of the songs, which is fun. i did find that listening along made it harder to note which songs i wanted to revisit in full, so i referred to this playlist, which was really helpful!!
the benefit of the print version is that there are photos of dolly herself, and of some "dolly artifacts" on display at the museum in dollywood. and of course, the print version makes it easier to flip through and understand the organized scope of dolly's story as a whole.
🦋🦋🦋
UNFORTUNATELY - dolly has a really bad take while talking about her song "hollywood potters." she talks about the poverty that exists in LA, and the disillusionment of arriving in hollywood only to find it's not what one expected. but then she connects this to harvey weinstein. she mentions him by name, and places blame on the shoulders of survivors of his abuse:
Whoever's wrong or right, people are willing to sell themselves. To sell - do whatever to keep from having to go home saying 'I'm a failure.' Or to do whatever they have to do. And usually if their plans don't work out, then they wind up selling themselves down on the streets to get enough money, shooting up dope and doing whatever.
direct quote from the audiobook. and this passage is cut down in the print version, so it seems the ghostwriter and/or editor realized this was pretty yikes.
this soured my impression of dolly, so i thought it was important to mention here. i don't think dolly is malicious, but i think she misunderstands a complicated situation.
but OTHERWISE, i was impressed with dolly's empathy and open-minded perspectives on relationships, spirituality, poverty, lgbt+ issues, and more. she's a soft-hearted human, and pretty damn progressive for a southern lady in her 70s.
🦋🦋🦋
some of dolly's songs are better than others, but i enjoyed learning just how prolific she is. so many heartbreak songs, which are a favorite of mine. i've added many new dolly songs to my spotify library, and it's nice to know the stories behind them!!
this book provides many insights into her spirited personality, her close family ties and rough upbringing in the mountains, and all the tenacity and hard work it took for her to become the icon she is today.
the audiobook is really refreshing, and made me laugh on a few occasions!! dolly doesn't take herself too seriously, and is, above all, very sweet.
March 18, 2022
It was fun to hear about Dolly's life and career from Dolly herself. In fact, it seemed like Dolly was just talking to the reader. I thought there might have been a bit more detail about her life and career however.
November 20, 2020
I listened to this and also followed along in the book. The two are very different—Dolly rambles and giggles in the audio, as she examines her personal history through many of her songs. The book is more concise with lots of pictures—so you need both!
I loved this so much. Dolly has said repeatedly that she lives to glorify God. She calls her songwriting her “Godspace”, and she says she writes better and feels closer to God when she is fasting. I loved to hear tidbits of how she has made her marriage last over 50 years. I just love to read about people who know their true calling in life, and I am grateful that a woman like Dolly is alive during my time. She is both incredibly humble and also incredibly confident. I love her so much!
I loved this so much. Dolly has said repeatedly that she lives to glorify God. She calls her songwriting her “Godspace”, and she says she writes better and feels closer to God when she is fasting. I loved to hear tidbits of how she has made her marriage last over 50 years. I just love to read about people who know their true calling in life, and I am grateful that a woman like Dolly is alive during my time. She is both incredibly humble and also incredibly confident. I love her so much!
January 2, 2021
I mean, I didn’t really *need* more proof that Dolly Parton is a gift the world doesn’t deserve, but it’s been extra proven with this book. as a musician and songwriter, she has always been a huge inspiration to me, and getting a glimpse into her brilliant songwriting brain was so valuable!
September 26, 2021
This review is for the audiobook version of “Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics” by Dolly Parton, narrated by Dolly Parton and Robert Oermann and published by Recorded Books.
Audio: 5 stars I love when authors/performers narrate their own audiobooks. There is so much more of a connection with the performer when they do it this way, and when that performer is the great Queen of Country Dolly Parton herself? Well it doesn’t get much better. Parton is hysterical, completely natural and organic, and just as honest as she portrays herself to be. Robert Oermann provides a nice backup for Dolly, introducing subject and chapter changes, with his deep and soothing narration.
Story: 4 stars “Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics” is the biographical story of Dolly Parton’s songs; what inspired them, how they came about, and what Dolly’s reaction was to them, as well as what the fans thought of them. Dolly covers all of her well-known songs of course, as well as many of her lesser known ones, and it was interesting to see how these songs came into fruition.
The audiobook plays a little bit like a VH1: Behind the Music documentary. Oermann introduces Dolly and the topic of the section, and then Dolly takes over, in a very back-and-forth interview style.
Dolly is openly candid about her relationship with her duet partners, and especially with her record producers over the years. She pokes fun at herself and takes nothing seriously, except for her faith, and she makes no excuses for the person that she is. One of the most admirable performers in country music, Dolly Parton will make you love her just a little bit more through “Songteller”.
Dolly provides a bit of her backstory and upbringing, which I adored, and of course, how she came to be who she is in the music business. There is a lot of musical politics in the tale though (producer drama seems to be rampant in the music industry), and I wanted more Dolly and less of the tension-filled arguments that caused rifts between her and her producers over the years.
If there is anyone more honest, candid and upfront about who she is than Dolly Parton, I have yet to meet them. Even those who do not like country music (you are missing out!) will laugh at Parton’s antics, and her unusual rise to stardom. Parton is fierce, fiery and an inspiration to performers and fans alike.
Audio: 5 stars I love when authors/performers narrate their own audiobooks. There is so much more of a connection with the performer when they do it this way, and when that performer is the great Queen of Country Dolly Parton herself? Well it doesn’t get much better. Parton is hysterical, completely natural and organic, and just as honest as she portrays herself to be. Robert Oermann provides a nice backup for Dolly, introducing subject and chapter changes, with his deep and soothing narration.
Story: 4 stars “Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics” is the biographical story of Dolly Parton’s songs; what inspired them, how they came about, and what Dolly’s reaction was to them, as well as what the fans thought of them. Dolly covers all of her well-known songs of course, as well as many of her lesser known ones, and it was interesting to see how these songs came into fruition.
The audiobook plays a little bit like a VH1: Behind the Music documentary. Oermann introduces Dolly and the topic of the section, and then Dolly takes over, in a very back-and-forth interview style.
Dolly is openly candid about her relationship with her duet partners, and especially with her record producers over the years. She pokes fun at herself and takes nothing seriously, except for her faith, and she makes no excuses for the person that she is. One of the most admirable performers in country music, Dolly Parton will make you love her just a little bit more through “Songteller”.
Dolly provides a bit of her backstory and upbringing, which I adored, and of course, how she came to be who she is in the music business. There is a lot of musical politics in the tale though (producer drama seems to be rampant in the music industry), and I wanted more Dolly and less of the tension-filled arguments that caused rifts between her and her producers over the years.
If there is anyone more honest, candid and upfront about who she is than Dolly Parton, I have yet to meet them. Even those who do not like country music (you are missing out!) will laugh at Parton’s antics, and her unusual rise to stardom. Parton is fierce, fiery and an inspiration to performers and fans alike.
March 12, 2023
We don’t deserve Dolly! ❤️����
This woman has one of the most wonderful and beautiful souls out there. She’s also super talented and very funny.
I enjoyed listening to this one. I loved finding out about how and where her songs came from and the story involved when she wrote it.
I’m glad I finally got to this one!
This woman has one of the most wonderful and beautiful souls out there. She’s also super talented and very funny.
I enjoyed listening to this one. I loved finding out about how and where her songs came from and the story involved when she wrote it.
I’m glad I finally got to this one!
July 3, 2021
I got this audiobook through my library's Overdrive service and I can't imagine a better way to experience this "book". The quotes are because this just doesn't feel like a book. It's an odd conglomeration of memories and stories and tangents with a very thin frame where a guy (uncredited?) sets a little context. Not even questions or anything (like in an interview). He just says something like "Dolly was on the Porter Wagoner show" and then cuts to Dolly giving an anecdote or story or talk about some songs she wrote with Wagoner.
And I enjoyed the entire thing, though I'm not really a country music fan and don't know much about Dolly Parton. Okay, that's not entirely true. I've noticed that she crops up often in little ways behind humanitarian efforts but in ways that don't hog spotlight. Like, a literacy program or some service attached to Dollywood. So hearing her say how she loves it when she's known just as "the book lady" was an endearing highlight.
And she comes across as incredibly genuine and guileless, which is quite a feat for someone who is as successful as she is. And you know there has to be an edge in there because you can actually hear the regret in saying that she hated that the deal for Elvis Presley to sing "I Will Always Love You" fell through. And fell through because she stuck to her guns on not giving up the copyright demanded by Elvis to sing someone else's song. So there's a hard head around that soft heart and I loved how openly she owns both sides.
One of the most remarkable insights that came across is how Dolly Parton is truly more songwriter than singer. There were any number of times where you heard how thrilled she was that somebody had success with one of her songs and there's zero hint that she wishes it had been her singing it. Her honest joy at relating how she first heard Whitney Houston singing "I Will Always Love You" was so pure, it really struck me right in the feelz. And I loved the couple of songs where she expressed hope that someone else would take a swing at it because she didn't feel she had done it justice.
I found myself wishing for more, from time to time, though. Like, this isn't an autobiography and it makes no attempt to dive deeply into the events it relates. And sometimes I wanted a follow-up question. Or an explanation around a hint of a tangent. It never pretends to be more than it is, so that's all on me, I suppose, but still I found this to be tantalizing in going just so far, but no farther into some pretty interesting events.
In the end, I think I'll give this four stars. This is definitely aimed for fans more than the casual interest I have, so it isn't a surprise that I wasn't fully engaged all through. Still, I gained an appreciation for Dolly Parton and learned some details of the kinds of things she does and the person she is. And that makes this a gem that I hope gains some widespread traction.
And I enjoyed the entire thing, though I'm not really a country music fan and don't know much about Dolly Parton. Okay, that's not entirely true. I've noticed that she crops up often in little ways behind humanitarian efforts but in ways that don't hog spotlight. Like, a literacy program or some service attached to Dollywood. So hearing her say how she loves it when she's known just as "the book lady" was an endearing highlight.
And she comes across as incredibly genuine and guileless, which is quite a feat for someone who is as successful as she is. And you know there has to be an edge in there because you can actually hear the regret in saying that she hated that the deal for Elvis Presley to sing "I Will Always Love You" fell through. And fell through because she stuck to her guns on not giving up the copyright demanded by Elvis to sing someone else's song. So there's a hard head around that soft heart and I loved how openly she owns both sides.
One of the most remarkable insights that came across is how Dolly Parton is truly more songwriter than singer. There were any number of times where you heard how thrilled she was that somebody had success with one of her songs and there's zero hint that she wishes it had been her singing it. Her honest joy at relating how she first heard Whitney Houston singing "I Will Always Love You" was so pure, it really struck me right in the feelz. And I loved the couple of songs where she expressed hope that someone else would take a swing at it because she didn't feel she had done it justice.
I found myself wishing for more, from time to time, though. Like, this isn't an autobiography and it makes no attempt to dive deeply into the events it relates. And sometimes I wanted a follow-up question. Or an explanation around a hint of a tangent. It never pretends to be more than it is, so that's all on me, I suppose, but still I found this to be tantalizing in going just so far, but no farther into some pretty interesting events.
In the end, I think I'll give this four stars. This is definitely aimed for fans more than the casual interest I have, so it isn't a surprise that I wasn't fully engaged all through. Still, I gained an appreciation for Dolly Parton and learned some details of the kinds of things she does and the person she is. And that makes this a gem that I hope gains some widespread traction.
May 2, 2021
Something I learned about this book after I finished it is:
♦ The audio is different than the physical book.
♦ The book contains pictures.
♦ The audiobook is told by Dolly. You get to hear her laugh and sing some of her songs.
So, there's a tradeoff - either you get to listen to Dolly or you get to see pictures that go along with the story. Maybe the solution is to do both - read it to see the pictures and listen to it to hear her voice. I might check my local library to see if they have a physical copy of the book so I can see all the photos.
I like to listen to podcasts and in a way, the audiobook reminded me of a podcast format. There is an interviewer who asks Dolly a question and then it segues into Dolly giving us the story behind why the song was written. And at times the interviewer would fill in pieces of the story.
I thought it was interesting when she was asked if she could only pick one thing to be: singer, actress, or songwriter which one she would pick and she said songwriter. Because that's how she can fully express herself. Without the songwriter, there would be nothing to sing or act.
Dolly is so positive throughout her sharing about her songs and what they meant to her and her family. I love how she said even though she and her husband didn't have children her songs were her children and they were going to support her when she's old.
If you want to hear Dolly share about her family, career, and God then pick this up and give it a listen. It's very entertaining.
♦ The audio is different than the physical book.
♦ The book contains pictures.
♦ The audiobook is told by Dolly. You get to hear her laugh and sing some of her songs.
So, there's a tradeoff - either you get to listen to Dolly or you get to see pictures that go along with the story. Maybe the solution is to do both - read it to see the pictures and listen to it to hear her voice. I might check my local library to see if they have a physical copy of the book so I can see all the photos.
I like to listen to podcasts and in a way, the audiobook reminded me of a podcast format. There is an interviewer who asks Dolly a question and then it segues into Dolly giving us the story behind why the song was written. And at times the interviewer would fill in pieces of the story.
I thought it was interesting when she was asked if she could only pick one thing to be: singer, actress, or songwriter which one she would pick and she said songwriter. Because that's how she can fully express herself. Without the songwriter, there would be nothing to sing or act.
Dolly is so positive throughout her sharing about her songs and what they meant to her and her family. I love how she said even though she and her husband didn't have children her songs were her children and they were going to support her when she's old.
If you want to hear Dolly share about her family, career, and God then pick this up and give it a listen. It's very entertaining.
Audiobook source: Libray/Overdrive
Narrator: Dolly Parton
Length: 5H 18M
June 4, 2023
Audio from the library on Libby app vibes a podcast interview style that’s thoroughly enjoyable. Ms. Parton responds to questions. At times recorded songs are added when spoke about. Very entertaining. Only five hours at normal speed. Very enjoyable.
I’m not certain how this style translates to print. The book may be stand alone in style. Meaning reads like a book where as the audio is unique as it can include the songs musically. But in print might be the lyrics.
This reminds me of Can’t Hurt Me’s interview style. David Goggins did the audio like an interview and the book is stand alone.
After a recommendation, borrowed the ebook on Kindle from the Library using the Libby app. The photos definitely add depth to the story. Just when I didn’t think I could like the book any better. 💥 I do 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️audio joy from me 💯
I’m not certain how this style translates to print. The book may be stand alone in style. Meaning reads like a book where as the audio is unique as it can include the songs musically. But in print might be the lyrics.
This reminds me of Can’t Hurt Me’s interview style. David Goggins did the audio like an interview and the book is stand alone.
After a recommendation, borrowed the ebook on Kindle from the Library using the Libby app. The photos definitely add depth to the story. Just when I didn’t think I could like the book any better. 💥 I do 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️audio joy from me 💯
November 12, 2021
I’m not a huge fan of country music but I am a huge fan of Dolly. She’s always managed to maintain the upper hand in male-dominated industries and an image that pokes fun of herself before anyone else can. She’s a brilliant business person, an incredible songwriter, and someone who comes off as just completely authentic with a healthy sense of humor.
Though her image and persona are larger than life and she’ll discuss her life like an open book, she also somehow manages to maintain a private life that keeps folks guessing.
What I mean is that there is a magic and a mystery to Dolly and for that reason, I love reading about her!
Songteller highlights 100+ of her songs as she tells stories to offer insight into the lyrics and shares memories of her life. I listened to the audio and am so glad that I did; I loved hearing her voice, her laugh, snippets of the songs, as well as her sing some of the verses in conversation. This felt like a laidback interview and I enjoyed it because I’m always charmed by her!
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
Though her image and persona are larger than life and she’ll discuss her life like an open book, she also somehow manages to maintain a private life that keeps folks guessing.
What I mean is that there is a magic and a mystery to Dolly and for that reason, I love reading about her!
Songteller highlights 100+ of her songs as she tells stories to offer insight into the lyrics and shares memories of her life. I listened to the audio and am so glad that I did; I loved hearing her voice, her laugh, snippets of the songs, as well as her sing some of the verses in conversation. This felt like a laidback interview and I enjoyed it because I’m always charmed by her!
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
November 18, 2020
I love dolly, she is hard working, talented, kind, giving and funny. Listened to the audio book, it was like having morning coffee with a friend, I think the audio is the way to go for this, you hear a snippet of her songs and she gives the back story, hated for it to end!
February 18, 2021
I had no idea before reading this book just how many songs Dolly Parton had written. It was interesting as she goes through to learn about her family background and poor upbringing, but how rich in love and the things that really matter her family was. Interesting to hear how songs were created from that background and real life experiences. One of my favourites is Coat of Many Colors. Interesting too to hear of her long term marriage which in the entertainment industry is a rarity.
Loved seeing the photos of her life. While reading the book I kept hearing it all in Dolly’s voice. Very natural although it did seem by the end that just about every song was her favourite.
My biggest problem was the absolute weight of this massive book. I could barely lift it or have it on my lap too long because it was so cumbersome and heavy. That aside, this is an interesting insight into a woman who has worked hard to get where she is and who has a real concern and passion for others less fortunate in this world. An enjoyable read for those who are fans or those just curious to find out a little more about this incredible woman.
Loved seeing the photos of her life. While reading the book I kept hearing it all in Dolly’s voice. Very natural although it did seem by the end that just about every song was her favourite.
My biggest problem was the absolute weight of this massive book. I could barely lift it or have it on my lap too long because it was so cumbersome and heavy. That aside, this is an interesting insight into a woman who has worked hard to get where she is and who has a real concern and passion for others less fortunate in this world. An enjoyable read for those who are fans or those just curious to find out a little more about this incredible woman.
June 8, 2021
I just finished listening to the audiobook version of this and it was wonderful. It is set up interview style and is the story behind Dolly's most popular and most heartfelt songs. I love that it is in her voice since I have always found both her talking and singing voice to be so fun and comforting. I have loved Dolly for years and always looked up to her as a child. It was so interesting to hear her talk about her career and how songs I have heard my whole life came to fruition.
If you have admired Dolly like I have I highly recommend giving this book a listen.
If you have admired Dolly like I have I highly recommend giving this book a listen.
March 18, 2021
I'm the biggest Dolly fan, so I loved this book of compiled interviews with the artist herself. I laughed out loud so many times, but I also squeezed out a few tears. Really good!
January 24, 2021
2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge: A Book About Art or an Artist.
May 17, 2022
Told in interview format with clips of Dolly explaining her writing style and anecdotal notes on her life and music, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics. There are moments when she sings little snippets of her music as she’s speaking which is truly a treat. This audiobook is uplifting and spiritual as she shares her life, talent and spiritual gifts from God. I was hoping to hear more juicy details of long wondered questions about tattoos or Porter Wagoner, but alas, those must be stories for another day. A fairly quick five hours or so true Dolly enthusiasts.
February 8, 2021
While some of this was interesting, it was organized like an interview and there was a lot of repetition. Dolly is a treasure, but this book isn't.
July 13, 2023
5 Stars for Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics (audiobook) by Dolly Parton and Robert K. Oermann read by Dolly Parton.
This was such a wonderful treat. Dolly, in a very conversational way tells stories about her life. They start out when she was a child and go all the way to 2020. It was interesting to hear all of the details about how her career progressed over the years. She is such a wonderful entertainer and songwriter.
This was such a wonderful treat. Dolly, in a very conversational way tells stories about her life. They start out when she was a child and go all the way to 2020. It was interesting to hear all of the details about how her career progressed over the years. She is such a wonderful entertainer and songwriter.
May 6, 2021
I have always admired Dolly Parton, her humor, her grit, her honesty and of course her incredibly prolific songwriting skills. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Dolly herself and I can't imagine doing this in print, you would miss most of what makes it special.
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