STAR OF THE SHOW

A photo-filled career retrospective from one of country music’s biggest icons.

Parton might be the one person all Americans can agree on. The country music star—and actor, author, theme park owner, and philanthropist—has radiated a sweet and positive energy since the beginning of her long performing career, which she chronicles in this colorful book. She writes about her childhood years as a “kid who needed a lot of attention” to her discovery by grocery store magnate Cas Walker, which led to her move to Nashville to pursue her musical dreams full time. Her big break came courtesy of Porter Wagoner, although her first concert with him—she replaced his previous duet partner, Norma Jean—brought her boos: “I thought, Whoa! Well, this will never do. I’m going to have to do something to get these people to change their minds.” Fans took to her soon enough, of course, and Parton spins entertaining stories of performing from tiny venues to huge arenas. (One particularly amusing anecdote sees her playing “Me and Little Andy,” in which a girl dies and her puppy follows in short order, which led one concertgoer to yell, “Did you have to kill the damn dog?”) Parton brings an aw-shucks energy to her biggest successes, including roles in the films 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias—she still seems shocked that she’s made it as big as she has. There are plenty of treats for fans: photos of her concerts, instruments, microphones, ticket stubs, and, naturally, the woman herself—one image of her beaming while snuggling a kitten could conceivably bring about world peace. This book is suffused with joy and gratitude; it’s a wonderful look back at a remarkable career: What a way to make a living, indeed.

As cheerful and bighearted as the legend herself.