Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton

by Randy L. Schmidt

Overview

“Nobody knows Dolly like Dolly,” declares Dolly Parton. Dolly’s is a rags-to-riches tale like no other. A dirt-poor Smoky Mountain childhood paved the way for the buxom blonde butterfly’s metamorphosis from singer-songwriter to international music superstar. The undisputed “Queen of Country Music,” Dolly has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has conquered just about every facet of the entertainment industry: music, film, television, publishing, theatre, and even theme parks. It’s been more than 50 years since Dolly Parton arrived in Nashville with just her guitar and a dream. Her story has been told many times and in many ways, but never like this. Dolly on Dolly is a collection of interviews spanning five decades of her career and featuring material gathered from celebrated publications including Rolling Stone, Cosmopolitan, Playboy, and Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine. Also included are interviews which have not been previously available in print. Dolly’s feisty and irresistible brand of humor, combined with her playful, pull-up-a-chair-and-stay-awhile delivery, makes for a fascinating and inviting experience in downhome philosophy and storytelling. Much like her patchwork “Coat of Many Colors,” this book harkens back to the legendary entertainer’s roots and traces her evolution, stitching it all together one piece at a time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641600040
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/04/2018
Series:	Musicians in Their Own Words
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	636,551
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Randy L. Schmidt is the author of the acclaimed bestselling biography Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter and the editor of Judy Garland on Judy Garland and Yesterday Once More: The Carpenters Reader. He has also written articles for the Advocate and the Observer. He teaches music in Denton, Texas.

Table of Contents

Introduction xi

Part I Blonde Ambition

Interview: Music City News Everett Corbin

June 7, 1967 Interview Tape 3

Miss Dolly Parton: Blonde Bombshell of Great Smokies Jack Hurst

September 27, 1970 The Tennessean 22

Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton Gene Guerrero

May 1971 The Great Speckled Bird 33

Say Hello to the Real Miss Dolly Jerry Bailey

October 20, 1974 The Tennessean 46

Part II Elusive Butterfly

Interview: Dolly Parton Chet Flippo

August 25, 1977 Rolling Stone 59

Playboy Interview: Dolly Parton: A Candid Conversation with the Curvaceous Queen of Country Music Lawrence Grobel

October 1978 Playboy 79

Dolly Parton: The Sexy Superstar of Country Pop Laura Cunningham

January 1979 Cosmopolitan 127

Dolly Parton: Doin' What Comes Naturally Gerri Hirshey

January 9, 1979 Family Circle 144

Part III City of Schemes

The Unsinkable Dolly Parton Chet Flippo

December 11, 1980 Rolling Stone 159

Interview: Dolly Parton Lawrence Grobel

January 1981 Playgirl 171

Radio Interview Ralph Emery

1981 The Ralph Emery Show 191

Golly, Dolly! (What Will She Say Next?) Cliff Jahr

July 1982 Ladies' Home Journal 209

Part IV Toast of Dollywood

Dolly's Dazzling Comeback Cindy Adams

March 1984 Ladies' Home Journal 223

Dolly Parton Maura Moynihan Andy Warhol

July 1984 Interview 231

Dolly Parton: "How I Came Close to Suicide" Cliff Jahr

June 1986 Ladies' Home Journal 247

"I Ain't Down Yet!" Lawrence Grobel

July 1988 Redbook 257

Part V Steel Magnolia

Daisy Mae in Hollywood William Stadiem

July 1989 Interview 269

One Tough Dolly Jim Jerome

July 1995 Ladies' Home Journal 294

Welcome to the Dolly House Frank DeCaro

July 1997 Out 301

Dolly Parton-The Smartest Working Woman in Show Business Linda Ray

November / December 1999 No Depression 308

Part VI CEO of Dreams Dolly

Parton: "I've Lived So Many Lifetimes" Jeremy Rush

December 27, 2002 Goldmine 327

Dolly Parton Talks About Days Future and Past Lawrence Ferber

2006 Q-Notes 342

Good Golly, Miss Dolly Gerri Hirshey

March 2008 Ladies' Home Journal 347

Q&A: Dolly Parton on Lesbian Wedding Rumors & Boob Advice, Says Drag Name Is "P. Titty" Chris Azzopardi

May 6, 2014 Between the lines 357

The Interview: The Industry of Doily Parton Elio Iannacci

May 11, 2014 Maclean's 363

About the Contributors 371

Credits 375

Index 379

Editorial Reviews

"Dolly on Dolly magnificently encapsulates Dolly Parton’s career through her own words. It’s a must read for fans of all ages.” —Gary and Larry Lane, actors and filmmakers (Hollywood to Dollywood)

From the Publisher

04/15/2017
This collection of interviews charts Dolly Parton's 40-year career as a pop culture icon, gathering articles from Playboy, Interview, and Out magazines. Divided into six winsomely titled parts (e.g., "Blonde Ambition"; "CEO of Her Dreams"), it outlines the musician's journey from Sevierville, TN, to Nashville, then Hollywood. Parton's skillful control of her image means the content can be repetitive, with some truisms of her persona, like her relationship with reclusive husband Carl Dean, being honed over countless retellings. Other revelations are portioned out more carefully, such as the details of her rocky business partnership with country singer Porter Wagoner. Some of the most appealing interviews are from the last five years, and show Parton embracing her status as a gay icon. Minimal and succinct editorial notes keep things moving along, while candid moments are affecting and appear just frequently enough to keep the reader interested in the woman behind the savvy persona. VERDICT This polished tribute will be candy for Parton fans, while readers with a casual interest in pop culture will find it highly browsable and full of good humor.—Abigail Garnett, Brooklyn P.L.

Library Journal