Over the course of an impressive career spanning more than 50 years, Dolly Parton has proven herself to be not just a musician but a cultural icon. Beloved by fans of all ages, the singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist and businesswoman is instantly recognizable, and her classic songs, from “Jolene” to “9 to 5,” remain some of the most popular country hits of all time.
Given Parton’s long reign as the queen of country, it’s no surprise that there are a number of books about her work. The latest addition to the Dolly canon is the most comprehensive one yet. The just-released book “Dolly Parton: All the Songs” is an album-by-album, track-by-track look at the entirety of her musical output. With 608 pages and more than 400 photos, the tome has something for everyone, from Dolly scholars searching out little-known facts to new fans who want to know more about her greatest hits.
While the book isn’t written by Dolly Parton herself, the authors, Simon Benoît, Damien Somville and Lalie Walker, did a dizzyingly deep dive, turning up all kinds of Dolly lore with a mix of a megafan’s enthusiasm and a scholar’s precision. Dolly Parton: All the Songs is the closest we’ll get to an encyclopedia of the musician’s work. Here are five fascinating facts we learned about some of her most beloved songs.
Given how popular the song ended up being, it’s surprising that she’d wait so long between writing and recording it, but as the book tells it, when Parton first wore the titular coat made from fabric scraps by her resourceful mother, she was mocked by her classmates for her poverty, and the childhood memories remained painful for years. After being bullied, “The cloak of pride became one of shame and sorrow. This was why Dolly Parton delayed recording this song so long
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