The Words and Music of Dolly Parton: Getting to Know Country's "Iron Butterfly"

by Nancy Cardwell

Overview

This insightful biography provides a closer look at one of the entertainment world's biggest stars, with a focus on what got her to the top—and what has kept her there.

Dolly Parton has an enviable record of accomplishment as a performer, songwriter, recording artist, businesswoman, and philanthropist. She has triumphed on Broadway, in the movies, and even with her own theme park. The Words and Music of Dolly Parton probes its subject's unique singing voice and prolific abilities as a songwriter, as well as her impressive business savvy, fearless attitude, and an imagination as towering as the Smoky Mountains among which she grew up.

This book focuses on Parton's most important albums and songwriting style, examining her career from her early days in the east Tennessee mountains through her national television exposure on the Porter Wagoner Show, her crossover success in pop music, and her returban to her acoustic/bluegrass roots. In addition, it explores Parton's story songs and characters, the spirituality reflected in her music, and her important collaborations with other artists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313378034
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	07/22/2011
Series:	The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Nancy Cardwell edits publications and manages professional development, leadership, and youth programs for the International Bluegrass Music Association in Nashville, TN.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword by James E. Perone
Acknowledgments
Introduction
The Chapters
The Music
The Criticism
The Scope
Dolly Data
1. My Tennessee Mountain Home
You Can Take the Girl out of East Tennessee, but You Can't Take East Tennessee out of the Girl
Her First Recordings
Pursuing Her Dream to Write Songs and Perform
Fred Foster and Monument Records: A Star Is Discovered
Parton's First Album: Hello, I'm Dolly
Butterflies and Therapists and Hank Williams
2. Hello, I'm Dolly! Porter's "Girl Singer" Finds a National Audience
The Porter Wagoner Years: A Tennessee Mountain Rose Blooms on National Television
Buck Trent: Wagonmaster, Banjo Stylist, and Inventor
Dolly Parton through the Lens of Les Leverett
A Few Words from Porter
Dolly's RCA Years
3. Story Songs and Mountain Characters
Dolly Parton: The Charles Dickens of Country Music
Southern Settings and Characters
The Dark Side
Pitiful, Sick, and Dying Children
Romance!
The Spiritual—Faith and Mystery
4. The Seeker
Dolly's Religious Background and Faith
Dolly Parton: A Seeker
Dolly's Letter to Heaven
Patriotism and Spirituality
5. Freedom!
Parton, Post-Porter
Dolly's Appearance
Dolly's Music Crosses Over
Heartbreaker
Goodness Gracious, Great Balls of Fire!
She's Riding in a White Limozeen …
Nashville Coffee Talk with Fred Vail
Dolly Dances with the Moon
6. Post-Porter Duets and the Trios
Dolly Parton: High Priestess of Harmony
Parton/Harris/Ronstadt
Reminiscing with John Starling, MD
Fred Foster's Winning Hand
Burlap and Satin: Willie and Dolly
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers: Another Right Combination
Dolly with Ricky Van Shelton
Country Music's Pioneering Honky-Tonk Angels: Dolly, Loretta, and Tammy
Dolly and Vinnie
New Trios and Duos
7. Dollywood and Hollywood
Dolly Parton, Entertainment Business Entrepreneur
Dolly Conquers Hollywood and Returbans to Television
The Lights of Broadway!
8. Hungry Again: The Acoustic/Bluegrass Albums
Parton Returbans to Her Musical Roots
Hungry Again
The Bluegrass Trilogy
Reflections from Steve Buckingham, Producer
9. Backwoods Barbie and Beyond
A New Label, a Touring Broadway Musical, and a New Retail Venture
New Albums, Movies, Tours, Philanthropic Projects …
Dolly Parton: Backwoods Barbie
Dolly, the Boxed Set
"Dr. Dolly"
Children's Books
Sometimes Sidemen and Musical Collaborators: The Grascals
The Hall of Fame
Awards and Honors
Discography
Notes
Bibliography
Index
A photo essay follows page

What People are Saying About This

Dixie and Tom T. Hall (Country Music Hall of Fame) & Dixie Hall

“We are avid fans of the writing of Nancy Cardwell. The focus of her book is on Dolly Parton’s music and her songwriting. If you’re interested in the songwriting, poet heart of Dolly, behind the glittering show-biz image, then this is the book to read. For those of you who still like to stand in record stores and flip through LPs endlessly, if you plan to spend some time in the ‘P’ section of the country music bins checking out Dolly’s music, this book will be a good guide. Dolly is in the same league as Bill Monroe, Carter & Ralph Stanley, Elvis, and Vincent Van Gogh. We as a species on the planet only get one of each. To whom can we compare them?”

Edward Morris

“Reading this book is like discovering Dolly Parton all over again. Besides compiling and annotating Parton's vast catalog of recorded songs—a scholarly tour de force in itself—Cardwell has gleaned stories and insights directly from many of the people who helped shape the legendary performer's career. It's an achievement both useful and delightful.”

Hazel Smith

"Nancy Cardwell has written an informing and heartwarming book about the greatest female singing songwriter ever, the inimitable Dolly Parton. Part history but mostly 'her story,' each page is a learning tool exploring and explaining how and why Dolly did what she did to reach a plateau of prosperity as a female in the male-dominated world of show biz. Born dirt poor but always rich in spirit, Cardwell touches on how success has not changed the heart of the girl from east Tennessee. Dolly continues to tour and tend to her businesses, doing and dreaming, writing and singing, never forgetting from whence she came … and always living by faith. A most worthwhile volume for fans and for students of country music."