User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
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/
Rating: really liked it
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.
Rating: really liked it
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.
Rating: really liked it
I love Dolly!! The audio was awesome with Dolly but I want the hardback too for the pics!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Rating: really liked it
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!)
Rating: really liked it
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.
Rating: really liked it
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.
Rating: really liked it
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!
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
Rating: really liked it
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:
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.
Rating: really liked it
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.
Rating: really liked it
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.
Rating: really liked it
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!
Rating: really liked it
I listened to the audiobook because I wanted to listen to Dolly tell her stories. I also got the Kindle edition, which enhances the book with lyrics and pictures. Whichever way you read this book is fine, as long as you do.
In her witty and humble way Dolly tells about her life, experiences, faith, and music. She has lived a remarkable life, and has much wisdom to offer. I'm glad I finally took the time to listen to her story. By the end, I think you too will agree Dolly truly is a
songteller.
Rating: really liked it
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!
Rating: really liked it
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.
