Member Reviews
A great book about Dolly. And we all know that Dolly is an awesome woman. What's not to love., It's a picture gift for all Dolly fans.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Dolly Parton: 100 Remarkable Moments in an Extraordinary Life" by Tracey E. W. Laird is an absolute delight for fans and admirers alike. This beautifully illustrated retrospective captures the essence of Dolly Parton's remarkable journey, from her early days at The Grand Ole Opry to her chart-topping hits and philanthropic endeavors. The book is a treasure trove of iconic moments, showcasing the multifaceted brilliance of this all-American icon. A must-have for any Dolly enthusiast, this tribute is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant, offering an intimate look at the extraordinary life of a country music legend
Thanks to Ms Laird, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Everything I read about Dolly makes me love her more. If you are a superfan none of this will be new information. However it is a good summary of her extraordinary life and the photos are beautiful.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher who provided this book as an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This took me longer to get through than I expected, but that's not to say it wasn't a pleasant read. I enjoyed getting to learn about Dolly's background in such a thorough way. I wouldn't say this is necessarily a biography that captivates or hooks a reader, but rather a casual read that would make a lovely coffee table book, or gift to give to a friend.
This is a must-read for all Dolly fans!
I have always loved Dolly Parton. How could you not? Her spunk, her laugh, her warmth, her genuine kindness and down-to-earth personality make her more than a star. She is an icon. A role model. And on top of all that, she is a talented musical legend!
What I loved most about this book were all the visual glimpses and brief snippets provided to showcase just how remarkable her backstory is. From her humble beginnings as one of 12 children in the Great Smoky Mountains to her glorious rise to fame, this book takes you along for the journey. Chock full of pictures of Dolly in all her big-haired glory, each monumental moment of her musical career is captured in chronological order.
Dolly Parton: 100 Remarkable Moments in an Extraordinary Life is a spectacular tribute to the queen of country!
Thank you Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the e-copy to review!
Dolly Parton: 100 Remarkable Moments in an Extraordinary Life by Tracey E. W. Laird is biographical in nature, about a legend.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Quarto Publishing Group, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis and Opinions:
First, this book is definitely a coffee-table book. I could not read this on my e-reader, and even struggled with it on my computer in ADE.
That being said, I would love to own the hard copy (and will look for it). If you are a Dolly fan, you will love it.
Second thing you should know....there really isn't anything new in this book. It seems the author collected previously published information, photos, news items, and media interview tid-bits and carefully combined everything into a very "readable" and entertaining book about Dolly's life.
The book takes the reader from Dolly's childhood years (starting when she chased a butterfly, got lost, and only got home by following one of their cows), to current day. From her humble beginnings to her musical genius, to her movies, to her philanthropic endeavours, there is something for everyone, and I am sure you will, as I did, read about some interesting moments that I had not known.
There are so many photos, and a great index in the back. The author really did her research!
If you are a Dolly Parton fan, you won't be disappointed!
4★
“You cannot finish a day with Dolly without laughing so hard that you have to cross your legs.”
‘Jane Fonda, talking about the movie “9 to 5” in BBC documentary, 2019’
This is a giant Dolly Parton scrapbook, the kind of tribute that would absolutely delight a dedicated fan. The author has gathered a lot of material from various sources and collections and put it into a nicely designed coffee table book. It is like a literature review of previously published material.
It was Jane Fonda who was pushing to do the movie, and she wanted Dolly. Dolly said fine, if she could write the title song – and we know how that went.
My Goodreads review includes a photo with the caption:
“Along with Lily, the three made a powerful on-screen trio. Off screen, they got together, including for overnight slumber parties, to build the camaraderie and rapport that so clearly shines through in the film.”
I’ve always enjoyed Dolly, but I’m not a particular fan, and it occurs to me that I don’t think I know anybody who isn’t kind of fond of her. I never hear anything bad, in spite of the differences she must have had along her way.
From her dirt-poor country childhood to her first time in a recording studio at 15, to her big hair and over-the-top clothes, there’s not much that’s overlooked in this collection of photographs and biographical material. It is full of quotations from other publications.
There are some very early photos, and I must say I wouldn’t recognise her. The book is designed with double-page spreads, so I’ll share this one to give you an idea of the layout. The pictures are mixed through the text, the headings and subheadings are artistic, making an appealing presentation.
My Goodreads review includes a photo with the caption:
“Dolly in Nashville in 1965” and the “Cover of ‘Hello, I'm Dolly,’ Dolly's first album, from 1967.”
About her reclusive husband of 50+ years, Carl Dean, whom she married when she was 20, Dolly says he attended, “endured” an awards ceremony for song of the year and was shedding his uncomfortable tux in the car as they left.
“Finally he turned to me and said calmly, ‘Honey, I love you and I will support you in your career any way that I can. I know it’s a big part of you and you wouldn’t be the same person if you didn’t do it. But the limelight’s just not for me. I’ll be there at home waiting for you, but I am not going to any more of these wingdings.’ He has been a wingdingless man of his word ever since.”
She says they enjoy their time travelling in their RV, so he's not always stuck at home.
Dolly’s over-the-top “regalia” was always intentional. She wanted to stand out and be different. She was known even on Sesame Street, where they created a character Polly Darton. She had Miss Piggy on her television show.
“Children have always responded to me because I have that cartoon-character look.”
My Goodreads review includes a photo with the caption:
“Dolly shares with the Muppets a universal appeal, a certain magical mix of that which is obviously unreal and that which is sincere and kind in very real ways—andall with a welcome dose of humor, to boot.”
She moved into film as a hairdresser in 1989’s ‘Steel Magnolias’. The director snapped at her that she couldn’t act.
“With typical Dolly candor, she reportedly told the director, ‘Well, hell, I know I can’t act! But that’s your job. You’re the director. You’re supposed to help me with my acting. You hired me ’cause you thought I was gonna make you a lot of money. Now earn it.’”
My Goodreads review includes a photo with the caption:
Dolly with Olympia Dukakis in ‘Steel Magnolias’ (1989).
In 1995 she and her father founded The Imagination Library to improve literacy and educational outcomes. She has received multiple awards for her contribution to education, taking pride in using her money to help all the children like her who had very little chance of escaping poverty.
“By 2021, the program had grown to include two thousand community partners in five different countries.”
My Goodreads review includes a photo with the caption:
“Dolly reading her book, Coat of Many Colors, to children at the Library of Congress in 2018.” Coat of Many Colors
In 1992, Dolly was driving and heard Whitney Houston on the radio, singing the song Dolly wrote, “I Will Always Love You”, and said later she thought it was the most unbelievable thing she’d ever heard. The song was a hit in 1972, when Dolly first recorded it, and ten years later, it was Number One again when Dolly sang it in the movie ‘Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’.
It was another ten years after that when Whitney sang it in ‘The Bodyguard’ movie with Kevin Costner. The soundtrack of that movie is still the highest-selling movie soundtrack of all time.
She appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s show more than once, and I enjoyed the story from her 2003 appearance with Shania Twain and Melissa Etheridge.
My Goodreads review includes a photo with the caption:
“During the 2003 visit, Oprah turned the conversation toward plastic surgery. Dolly was unguarded on the subject. Gesturing toward Shania, seated next to her, Dolly joked, ‘I was already into plastic surgery when they were still sleeping on plastic sheets.’
In Oprah’s probing style of interview, she wanted to dig deeper into the topic of her breast enhancements. Dolly took the questioning in stride. Looking down at her chest, she replied, ‘I call these my weapons of mass distraction—Shock and Awe.’”
There seems to be nothing she can’t do. Country, bluegrass, pop, rock and roll. She is a phenomenon, and this book will make a great collector’s item for fans.
My Goodreads review includes a photo with the caption:
“Dolly speaks during her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.”
Thanks to #NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group-becker and mayer for the copy for review of #DollyParton
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was a look into Dolly’s life from childhood to present. It was in-depth and well written. If you’re a Dolly Parton fan; you’ll enjoy this book!
This trip through her most notable songs and accomplishments is full of quotes and pictures, and would make a lovely coffee table book (or gift).
I think most Americans already know the basics: Dolly grew up in the Smoky Mountains, moved to Nashville, attained a larger fan base during her years on “The Porter Wagoner Show,” then struck out on her own. She’s since written many hits – which have been sung by her and by others. She’s opened a theme park, started the Imagination Library, donated to COVID research and wildfire relief, and mentored Miley Cyrus. She’s worked with countless other stars in every genre of music, and starred in many movies – some even based on her own songs.
Most recently, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
If you are in the mood for a trip down memory lane, or want a clearer idea of the timeline for some of these things, this book is definitely for you.
One of the points the book makes, though, is that Dolly is a treasure who appeals to people of every walk of life – politically right or left, from the backwoods to the Hollywood Hills, poor, rich, straight, gay, religious or not. So what I’m saying is… this book is really for all of us.
This is a great book on the life and career of a true American icon- Miss Dolly . As a fan of the country queen whose career spans over more than 50 years this book is a must have for any fan .The author does a great job of bringing her story to life .
I just reviewed Dolly Parton by Tracey E. W. Laird. #DollyParton #NetGalley
Honestly? Who doesn't love Dolly? This book, by Tracey E.W. Laird, just does even more to highlight this incredible woman and her contributions not just to music but to the world at large. We could all learn a lot from this golden-haired, golden-voiced, golden-souled human.
"100 remarkable moments in the extraordinary life of Dolly Parton" with never before seen photos. This is a great biography of Dolly the performer and business woman, but you won't learn anything new or personal about Dolly herself. The pictures were nice, so a physical copy of this would make a great coffee table book. Since it is 100 moments, it would be nice if they were numbered. I wanted more from this biography. It felt like easy money to publish photos of such a private famous person without much in the way of new material. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One can never have too much information about Dolly Parton and this, the latest in the Dolly biography-sphere, is a worthy addition. It's chock full of insight into the life of America's favorite singer, and it's a perfect gift for the music lover.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of Dolly Parton - 100 Remarkable Moments in An Extraordinary Life
This book is a beautiful tribute to a beautiful and talented artist. Some of these stories I had heard before but they were still fun to read about. There are also a lot of pictures of Ms Parton throughout the book
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.
I am a casual fan of Dolly Parton. I admire her art and philanthropy based on what little I do know, and I have second cousins that went to school with Dolly and still live in the Sevierville area, so I was glad to get a chance to learn more about her.
This book is a great intro to Dolly the performer and Dolly the business woman. This is not a book for someone wanting to get to know Dolly on a deep personal level, but it has lots of fun facts and amazing pictures and anecdotes that trace her amazing career of over six decades. 4.5⭐️
I loved books like this and I will be getting a physical copy of this for my mother n law who is a big Dolly Parton fan. I highly recommend to every Dolly Parton fan
This is a measured, well researched and comprehensive scan across Dolly's whole career. It has lots of information, photos of Dolly across her career and an informative, factual and easy to read tone and layout. It uses a wide range of secondary sources to provide this information. What this book does not do (or try to do) is provide any new or controversial material. It would make a great coffee table book, and I'd recommend putting on a Dolly album, pouring your beverage of choice, sitting back in a comfy chair and enjoying.
Dolly Parton has done it all and we can all read about it! From a young age she knew she had a purpose and continues to give back to others. A true living legend in every possible way!
Fans of Dolly, rejoice! This is a gorgeous collection of personal stories and tidbits of the successes that this amazing woman has accomplished in her decades long career. Its filled with her words, lyrics, and music surrounded by photos of her during the entirety of her life. I knew some of the things talked about in this book but I also learned some things as well, and as a fan I will be purchasing this for my own library when it becomes available!
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! If you are a Dolly fan, this book is for you. I learned a lot of things I didn’t know about Dolly. It was well researched and had a bunch of great photos. Thanks NetGallery!