This book examines the life and work of Dolly Parton with attention to ways in which Parton has crafted her persona to appeal to traditional country music fans, while challenging conventional wisdom. “Leigh H. Edwards takes a close look at Dolly Parton’s songwriting, recordings, acting, and public persona and convincingly demonstrates that Parton is not only a powerful Appalachian musician but also a remarkably engaged artist who uses her many talents to engage with issues of gender, sexuality, and class.“ - Travis D. Stimeling, “ Read this book to learn how Parton manages to be simultaneously fake and real, ordinary and extraordinary, normal and outrageous. A model of interdisciplinary scholarship.” - Barry Shank. Leigh H. Edwards is Associate Professor of English at Florida State University.
Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2018. 265 pages with an Index and Selected Bibliography. Trade paperback