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Star of the Show: My Life on Stage
A stunning celebration of Dolly Parton’s iconic career as a performer, featuring entertaining personal stories alongside 350 full-color photographs, including exclusive images and ephemera from her archive, and an eight-page gatefold listing her lifetime of performances.
In Star of the Show, the culminating book in Dolly Parton’s photographic trilogy—following Songteller (lyrics) and Behind the Seams (fashion)—the global superstar finally shares a definitive look at her career as one of the world’s most dazzling and beloved performers.
Featuring engaging stories and memories from Parton’s dynamic life behind the microphone, this book spotlights her signature performances and star-making moments, from singing in front of her family to premiering on the Grand Ole Opry stage and beyond. Her formative years performing with country legend Porter Wagoner are chronicled as she learns hard lessons from life on the road. Breaking out on her own at state fairs and critically acclaimed venues, she toured the world performing for millions of fans in arenas, stadiums, and at festivals. From making her onscreen debut in the blockbuster feature film 9 to 5 to playing the Dallas Cowboys’ 2023 Thanksgiving halftime show to 42 million viewers, this global superstar knows no limits. Along the way, Dolly shares the stage with Kenny Rogers, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, and others, while offering insight on touring big, singing strong, and staying on top for seven decades.
Brimming with Parton’s trademark wit and heartfelt sincerity, Star of the My Life on Stage is not only an homage to one of history’s most cherished artists, but also a must-have collector’s item for—and love letter to—any fan of the one and only Dolly Parton.
In Star of the Show, the culminating book in Dolly Parton’s photographic trilogy—following Songteller (lyrics) and Behind the Seams (fashion)—the global superstar finally shares a definitive look at her career as one of the world’s most dazzling and beloved performers.
Featuring engaging stories and memories from Parton’s dynamic life behind the microphone, this book spotlights her signature performances and star-making moments, from singing in front of her family to premiering on the Grand Ole Opry stage and beyond. Her formative years performing with country legend Porter Wagoner are chronicled as she learns hard lessons from life on the road. Breaking out on her own at state fairs and critically acclaimed venues, she toured the world performing for millions of fans in arenas, stadiums, and at festivals. From making her onscreen debut in the blockbuster feature film 9 to 5 to playing the Dallas Cowboys’ 2023 Thanksgiving halftime show to 42 million viewers, this global superstar knows no limits. Along the way, Dolly shares the stage with Kenny Rogers, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, and others, while offering insight on touring big, singing strong, and staying on top for seven decades.
Brimming with Parton’s trademark wit and heartfelt sincerity, Star of the My Life on Stage is not only an homage to one of history’s most cherished artists, but also a must-have collector’s item for—and love letter to—any fan of the one and only Dolly Parton.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published November 11, 2025
143 people are currently reading
536 people want to read
About the author
Dolly Parton
132 books1,786 followersDolly Rebecca Parton is a Grammy Award-winning country music singer/songwriter, author, actress and philanthropist. To date, she remains one of the most successful country artists, with 25 number-one singles (a record for a female performer) and 42 top-10 country albums (more than anyone else).
She is known for her distinctive mountain soprano, sometimes bawdy humor, flamboyant dress sense, and her voluptuous figure.
She is known for her distinctive mountain soprano, sometimes bawdy humor, flamboyant dress sense, and her voluptuous figure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 22, 2025
I wasn’t expecting a coffee table book from my local library when my husband brought home this long-awaited addition to Dolly Parton’s collection of stories about herself. But that’s exactly what it is, and what a joy it turned out to be. This is an elaborate, 331-page photographic celebration of Dolly’s life on stage.
From the table of contents—which alone offers a tantalizing preview of what’s inside—to song lyrics, anecdotal stories, and extraordinary photographs spanning her life in show business from her beginning to the present, the book is both expansive and deeply personal.
The text woven throughout the pages chronicles her stage history while offering thoughtful commentary on the people who influenced her, the milestones she reached, and the impact those experiences had on her life. She even reflects on the microphones she’s used through the decades—an unexpected and charming detail that only Dolly could make fascinating.
The chapters are organized by eras of influence, such as The Porter Years and her journey from Hollywood to Dollywood, giving the book a clear sense of progression and evolution. It’s astonishing to see how meticulously her life has been documented: photographs of nearly everything—old calendars, diaries, costumes, newspaper clippings, posters, and more. Together, they showcase a life lived boldly, joyfully, and with undeniable purpose.
And then there’s the scope: a detailed listing of every performance and concert she has appeared in from 1957 through 2025.
Dolly Parton is, without question, a masterful artist who knows how to make an entrance and command attention. This book does exactly the same—beautifully, confidently, and with heart.
For Dolly fans, this is a lovely addition to one’s personal library—coffee table or not. It transcends its role as a display piece, unfolding as a richly textured reading and viewing experience, that can be returned to again and again.
From the table of contents—which alone offers a tantalizing preview of what’s inside—to song lyrics, anecdotal stories, and extraordinary photographs spanning her life in show business from her beginning to the present, the book is both expansive and deeply personal.
The text woven throughout the pages chronicles her stage history while offering thoughtful commentary on the people who influenced her, the milestones she reached, and the impact those experiences had on her life. She even reflects on the microphones she’s used through the decades—an unexpected and charming detail that only Dolly could make fascinating.
The chapters are organized by eras of influence, such as The Porter Years and her journey from Hollywood to Dollywood, giving the book a clear sense of progression and evolution. It’s astonishing to see how meticulously her life has been documented: photographs of nearly everything—old calendars, diaries, costumes, newspaper clippings, posters, and more. Together, they showcase a life lived boldly, joyfully, and with undeniable purpose.
And then there’s the scope: a detailed listing of every performance and concert she has appeared in from 1957 through 2025.
Dolly Parton is, without question, a masterful artist who knows how to make an entrance and command attention. This book does exactly the same—beautifully, confidently, and with heart.
For Dolly fans, this is a lovely addition to one’s personal library—coffee table or not. It transcends its role as a display piece, unfolding as a richly textured reading and viewing experience, that can be returned to again and again.
November 29, 2025
Going through my memories on Facebook, I saw that some years ago a friend had recommended Dolly Parton's autobiography. I saw that Dolly had written a few books and didn't ask my friend which one she had recommended. I just got the most recently published one--which I'm now sure wasn't the one I had been recommended, but I liked this one fine. Almost everyone I know loves Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and many other country performers. Yet the Ken Burns documentary came along at a good time, because just prior to it many liberals and leftists were baiting country music as being racist!
(While colleges are essential for some fields, for the most part they teach hatred of the working class, which they claim is responsible for racism and reaction in general. As if the poorest element in society somehow had huge power, greater than the owners of news media, colleges and all sorts of institutions workers have no part in. And many were actively teaching Jew-hatred as a part of "socialism." But Jew-hatred was long known as "the socialism of fools," since most Jews aren't members of the capitalist ruling class, and most of said ruling class isn't Jewish. In addition, Jews have played an enormous role in the socialist and labor movements, and hatred (and guilt) have never been the major motivators in socialism--Solidarity, a word these people seem unfamiliar with, has been the main motivational factor in socialism and in all progressive movements).
(But hating the working class and promoting white guilt is a good strategy for people who live in liberal enclaves on college campuses and need to obtain labor-hating corporate sponsorship for their "research studies." A few years ago, many of these academics and their students preached the idea that "free speech only benefits fascists." A few years before I went to college, there was the Free Speech Movement at the University of California, Berkeley! If your intention is to spend your whole life surrounded by people who you agree with, then I can see their point. But with the reelection of Trump (who these liberals, and the "socialists" among them are really just liberals view as a "fascist" without having any idea what fascism is) seems to have at least temporarily changed their views on free speech--That is they see it necessary for themselves, but not for those they disagree with).
(Oberlin College got a rude awakening when they were sued by a bakery/small restaurant/general store which the college administration had organized a boycott of and picket line against because they didn't think that being Black entitled a student to first use a phony ID to purchase alcohol, and when that didn't work simply stole the item. Students at Oberlin (including most Black students) are from very privileged backgrounds, yet a poll by the campus newspaper discovered that student shoplifting against the town's small stores was totally rampant!).
(The Socialist Workers Party has had its conventions and/or educational conferences at Oberlin most years since 1970, and no members, Black or white were ever mistreated at Gibson's Bakery. We sent solidarity greeting to the store, not the college administration, and the jurors and the judge also had no sympathy for that administration with its "you're racist if we say you are" attitude. The college had to pay the Gibsons $36 million for their arrogant slander).
(Then there's the idea--which is an attack both on women's rights and on science--that hundreds of young women are being born "in the wrong body," and should have puberty blockers. then hormones, and then surgery. This has spread like wildfire in the liberal professions--they are essentially creating a new "oppressed group" that otherwise wouldn't exist. Just a few short years ago, sexual dysphoria was only found among males. Most got over it; some discovered they were gay. A few, after living as a woman for years had hormone treatment and/or surgery. I'm not against such surgery, but it must be recognized that sexual dimorphism makes it impossible to actually turn a male into a female, or vice versa).
(The hostility against anyone questioning this should be proof enough that it's a scam. These days Marxists like me frequently find we have more in common with conservatives than with liberals, and contrary to what many think, Marxism has never had more in common with liberalism than conservatism. They each approach politics from the point of view of how to help capitalism survive).
Dolly Parton didn't need a college education to learn to write songs, nor did Bruce Springsteen or the Beatles or many of our most talented singer/songwriters. Patrick Stewart (see Making It So) also didn't need it to learn to love and interpret Shakespeare or to star in an enormously popular and generally quite progressive science fiction series.
When the Socialist Workers Party tells workers at their homes or on picket lines that the wrong class is in power and the working class needs its own party to prepare to take power, many agree. There's a whole lot of evidence that we're right. Musical and acting talent may be somewhat easier for someone with a working class or working farmer background to break into, but to think that one can't find all kinds of talent in the same milieu is nothing more than a form of prejudice.
Allow me to suggest a few books: Are They Rich Because They're Smart?, The Clintons' Anti-working-class Record: Why Washington Hates Working People, Labor, Nature, and the Evolution of Humanity: The Long View of History, The Fight Against Jew-Hatred and Pogroms in the Imperialist Epoch, and Malcolm X, Black Liberation, and the Road to Workers Power.
(While colleges are essential for some fields, for the most part they teach hatred of the working class, which they claim is responsible for racism and reaction in general. As if the poorest element in society somehow had huge power, greater than the owners of news media, colleges and all sorts of institutions workers have no part in. And many were actively teaching Jew-hatred as a part of "socialism." But Jew-hatred was long known as "the socialism of fools," since most Jews aren't members of the capitalist ruling class, and most of said ruling class isn't Jewish. In addition, Jews have played an enormous role in the socialist and labor movements, and hatred (and guilt) have never been the major motivators in socialism--Solidarity, a word these people seem unfamiliar with, has been the main motivational factor in socialism and in all progressive movements).
(But hating the working class and promoting white guilt is a good strategy for people who live in liberal enclaves on college campuses and need to obtain labor-hating corporate sponsorship for their "research studies." A few years ago, many of these academics and their students preached the idea that "free speech only benefits fascists." A few years before I went to college, there was the Free Speech Movement at the University of California, Berkeley! If your intention is to spend your whole life surrounded by people who you agree with, then I can see their point. But with the reelection of Trump (who these liberals, and the "socialists" among them are really just liberals view as a "fascist" without having any idea what fascism is) seems to have at least temporarily changed their views on free speech--That is they see it necessary for themselves, but not for those they disagree with).
(Oberlin College got a rude awakening when they were sued by a bakery/small restaurant/general store which the college administration had organized a boycott of and picket line against because they didn't think that being Black entitled a student to first use a phony ID to purchase alcohol, and when that didn't work simply stole the item. Students at Oberlin (including most Black students) are from very privileged backgrounds, yet a poll by the campus newspaper discovered that student shoplifting against the town's small stores was totally rampant!).
(The Socialist Workers Party has had its conventions and/or educational conferences at Oberlin most years since 1970, and no members, Black or white were ever mistreated at Gibson's Bakery. We sent solidarity greeting to the store, not the college administration, and the jurors and the judge also had no sympathy for that administration with its "you're racist if we say you are" attitude. The college had to pay the Gibsons $36 million for their arrogant slander).
(Then there's the idea--which is an attack both on women's rights and on science--that hundreds of young women are being born "in the wrong body," and should have puberty blockers. then hormones, and then surgery. This has spread like wildfire in the liberal professions--they are essentially creating a new "oppressed group" that otherwise wouldn't exist. Just a few short years ago, sexual dysphoria was only found among males. Most got over it; some discovered they were gay. A few, after living as a woman for years had hormone treatment and/or surgery. I'm not against such surgery, but it must be recognized that sexual dimorphism makes it impossible to actually turn a male into a female, or vice versa).
(The hostility against anyone questioning this should be proof enough that it's a scam. These days Marxists like me frequently find we have more in common with conservatives than with liberals, and contrary to what many think, Marxism has never had more in common with liberalism than conservatism. They each approach politics from the point of view of how to help capitalism survive).
Dolly Parton didn't need a college education to learn to write songs, nor did Bruce Springsteen or the Beatles or many of our most talented singer/songwriters. Patrick Stewart (see Making It So) also didn't need it to learn to love and interpret Shakespeare or to star in an enormously popular and generally quite progressive science fiction series.
When the Socialist Workers Party tells workers at their homes or on picket lines that the wrong class is in power and the working class needs its own party to prepare to take power, many agree. There's a whole lot of evidence that we're right. Musical and acting talent may be somewhat easier for someone with a working class or working farmer background to break into, but to think that one can't find all kinds of talent in the same milieu is nothing more than a form of prejudice.
Allow me to suggest a few books: Are They Rich Because They're Smart?, The Clintons' Anti-working-class Record: Why Washington Hates Working People, Labor, Nature, and the Evolution of Humanity: The Long View of History, The Fight Against Jew-Hatred and Pogroms in the Imperialist Epoch, and Malcolm X, Black Liberation, and the Road to Workers Power.
November 19, 2025
What a treat to receive this book! As soon as it arrived, I was pouring over the beautiful color photos and the timelines of Dolly’s career! She has led an impressive and giving life; always helping others. I was fortune to stumble upon the audiobook so I listened to Dolly’s voice while flipping through the pages as she recounted her rise to fame. She jokes about her over the top appearance all while remaining truly authentic and generous. I loved hearing about the creation of Dollywood and how it created so many jobs for the community and also a place where her family of entertainers could perform.
Thank you @penguinrandomhouse @dollyparton @prhaudio for this gorgeous #gifted book!
Thank you @penguinrandomhouse @dollyparton @prhaudio for this gorgeous #gifted book!
November 17, 2025
I’m so glad I chose the audio for this one, although having the physical book for the photos was the perfect bonus. Hearing Dolly tell her own story felt so satisfying. I’ve been a fan for as long as I can remember, and this truly shows what an incredible life she’s lived while staying grounded.
The audio is packed with fan stories and little music clips, and it all fits together so well. Out of the 78 audiobooks I’ve listened to this year, this is easily one of my favorites. The writing is engaging, the stories are heartfelt, and listening to Dolly narrate feels like sitting in on one of her interviews. It brings everything to life in the best way.
She has several other memoir style books, and now I’m curious about all of them. If you love her, or just love a good storyteller, this one is worth it.
The audio is packed with fan stories and little music clips, and it all fits together so well. Out of the 78 audiobooks I’ve listened to this year, this is easily one of my favorites. The writing is engaging, the stories are heartfelt, and listening to Dolly narrate feels like sitting in on one of her interviews. It brings everything to life in the best way.
She has several other memoir style books, and now I’m curious about all of them. If you love her, or just love a good storyteller, this one is worth it.
December 28, 2025
I don’t give up for anything. Still don’t! 🎸⭐️💓
August 5, 2025
Had to read for work — Dolly is just the best
November 16, 2025
While I am not a huge fan of Dolly Parton, I do appreciate everything she has done and her career, etc. So when I saw this was out, I thought it would be a fun read. Since I am not extremely familiar with her work, I thought this would be a good pickup.
It is what it says on the tin: her career represented visually. From photos of herself to venues where she performed to even the microphones she has used, you get a sense of her, her music, etc. And there's also text that talks about her life, how she got into music, her experiences in different places, people, etc.
That's pretty much it. I could not say how much of the material might be duplicated by other books that are out there, but I suppose if you're looking at a comprehensive visual compendium this might be the closest thing to it? I also could not say how complete it is, either, but this would probably be a good reference.
If you like/love Dolly, this is definitely for a fan. If you're just a casual fan like me you might want to wait. But as it is close to the holidays, this could make for a great gift for the right reader.
Borrowed from the library and that was best for me.
It is what it says on the tin: her career represented visually. From photos of herself to venues where she performed to even the microphones she has used, you get a sense of her, her music, etc. And there's also text that talks about her life, how she got into music, her experiences in different places, people, etc.
That's pretty much it. I could not say how much of the material might be duplicated by other books that are out there, but I suppose if you're looking at a comprehensive visual compendium this might be the closest thing to it? I also could not say how complete it is, either, but this would probably be a good reference.
If you like/love Dolly, this is definitely for a fan. If you're just a casual fan like me you might want to wait. But as it is close to the holidays, this could make for a great gift for the right reader.
Borrowed from the library and that was best for me.
November 11, 2025
Starting this by saying I'm not necessarily a Dolly fan. I think she's a wonderful person and I have a massive amount of respect for her, she was just never an artist I really listened to. Simply not a style I would seek out, but also not one I would actively avoid either.
That said, when this book arrived at our store, I was so excited for it. They only sent us one copy and we've made it the centerpiece for our holiday display.
This entire book is gorgeous, and it is packed with history. This book was made with love.
All of the pages of various concert tickets over the years hit me hard. I miss having collectable physical tickets so much.
The huge foldout of every show she's performed is incredible and really puts her career into perspective.
All of the highlights of her various outfits she's worn on tour.
Just everything about it is so beautiful.
I love it all so much and I wish more artists would get on her level.
So I'm saying as a non-fan, I absolutely adore the very idea of this book.
If you are a fan, it's a must-have.
That said, when this book arrived at our store, I was so excited for it. They only sent us one copy and we've made it the centerpiece for our holiday display.
This entire book is gorgeous, and it is packed with history. This book was made with love.
All of the pages of various concert tickets over the years hit me hard. I miss having collectable physical tickets so much.
The huge foldout of every show she's performed is incredible and really puts her career into perspective.
All of the highlights of her various outfits she's worn on tour.
Just everything about it is so beautiful.
I love it all so much and I wish more artists would get on her level.
So I'm saying as a non-fan, I absolutely adore the very idea of this book.
If you are a fan, it's a must-have.
December 20, 2025
Definite recommend
What you expect from Dolly is what you get and more. She is kind, generous, naturally talented, and humble. Throughout this book, she would comment on how proud her parents would be. It is amazing that Dolly still wants to make her parents, family, and the people of Smoky Mountain proud.
She has had many of her backing singers, band, and other team members with her since the late 1980s and beyond. That type of loyalty says a lot about Dolly and who she is.
The book covered her life from singing on her family's front porch to selling out stadiums all over the world.
If you like Dolly, want to learn about her career, or want to read a beautifully curated music-based book, this is your book!
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea: https://tinyurl.com/27uj67h4
What you expect from Dolly is what you get and more. She is kind, generous, naturally talented, and humble. Throughout this book, she would comment on how proud her parents would be. It is amazing that Dolly still wants to make her parents, family, and the people of Smoky Mountain proud.
She has had many of her backing singers, band, and other team members with her since the late 1980s and beyond. That type of loyalty says a lot about Dolly and who she is.
The book covered her life from singing on her family's front porch to selling out stadiums all over the world.
If you like Dolly, want to learn about her career, or want to read a beautifully curated music-based book, this is your book!
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea: https://tinyurl.com/27uj67h4
December 18, 2025
I love Dolly Parton with my whole heart. I enjoyed her previous two books immensely, so this was a no brainer. The heft is not totally conducive to a leisurely read, but you know the many Dolly-isms will make up for that minor inconvenience. I will say that her other two books felt more enjoyable to me. While there is no lack of stories and personal insights, the tone of this book felt a little more clinical at times and more of a list like "I played this show and then I went to this country next and after that I performed..." Obviously that is the whole premise of the book - looking at Dolly's life performing - but the sheer volume of one show after another didn't hold my rapt attention as she usually does in other works.
November 18, 2025
This was a very fun book for me, listened to audio and loved hearing all her music. Sadly I would have to stop listening to dash to my itunes to listen to all the numerous collaborative songs I had and would find myself dancing to Aretha and countless others, I had to keep telling myself to get back to the book! Also googled like crazy through the entire book, most interactive experience I think I have ever had, for that alone 5 stars!
November 23, 2025
Good book
Reading the book and listening to the audio are completely different! I ended up reading a chapter and then listening to that chapter. The audio is more of an interview or discussion, certainly not a reading of the book. But all of her books in this trilogy are interesting; just know the audios are extra!
Reading the book and listening to the audio are completely different! I ended up reading a chapter and then listening to that chapter. The audio is more of an interview or discussion, certainly not a reading of the book. But all of her books in this trilogy are interesting; just know the audios are extra!
December 20, 2025
This book has a four-page, double-sided, small print calendar of all of Dolly’s appearances and shows from the beginning of her career until now. Never let it be said that Dolly isn’t the hardest working performer in show business. There’s coffee table books and then there’s this book. She is truly a national treasure.
December 30, 2025
Wouldn't say I'm a Dolly fanatic, but I like her music & have great respect for what she has done in her show business career as well as things like Imagination Station. The book itself is huge & heavy - had to plop it on a pillow on my lap to read it - but has lots of photos to go along with the text. No huge surprises but was still interesting & enjoyable.
December 7, 2025
Love that Dolly considers this book the third in her trilogy - (Dolly Parton, Storyteller- My Life in Lyrics; Behind the Seams: My life in Rhinestones). All three books offer a little something different and are very enjoyable.
December 9, 2025
(the audiobook)
genuinely unreal that this exists. Dolly tells stories i’ve never heard and she is truly leaving it all out there for us. you can’t help but appreciate her all the more for what she shares in this one❤️
(the physical book)
it’s GORGEOUS
genuinely unreal that this exists. Dolly tells stories i’ve never heard and she is truly leaving it all out there for us. you can’t help but appreciate her all the more for what she shares in this one❤️
(the physical book)
it’s GORGEOUS
December 25, 2025
Dolly books get nothing less than 5 stars from me, ok? Gorgeous pictures, amazing facts, and a lifetime and career well spent in the entertainment and humanitarian industries are spread throughout these glossy pages. I will always love Dolly, and I love collecting these beautiful books.
December 28, 2025
Thoroughly entertaining
Dolly Parton’s Star of the Show is thoroughly entertaining. It is like having a front row seat to her fabulous career. Dolly is a beloved figure, and her charm and genuine goodness virtually fly off the page.
Dolly Parton’s Star of the Show is thoroughly entertaining. It is like having a front row seat to her fabulous career. Dolly is a beloved figure, and her charm and genuine goodness virtually fly off the page.
December 29, 2025
The most important takeaway from this book—Dolly also called her great grandmother Mammy!
As a Dolly fan, I’m enjoying these books. I like doing the audiobook in tandem with the print and did that again with this one!
As a Dolly fan, I’m enjoying these books. I like doing the audiobook in tandem with the print and did that again with this one!
November 22, 2025
I LOVE YOU DOLLY 😭😭😭😭😭
November 24, 2025
Even though I missed seeing the colored photos in the book, the audio book was in Dolly’s voice and enhanced with portions of many songs of Dolly’s.
December 1, 2025
I loved this book!
December 7, 2025
This is a huge book, beautiful pictures!
December 7, 2025
Beautiful collection of photos and stories from Dolly's life. This was the third in a series of large "Life on the stage" books I've read.
December 10, 2025
Dolly completes her trilogy telling us how she's made her career singing, writing, touring, acting and so much more. Her humor and humility shine throughout. I love Dolly!
December 12, 2025
Dolly’s audiobooks always slay the house down
December 20, 2025
Tons of pictures. Timelines that show her history plus interesting stories.
December 24, 2025
I love Dolly both as an entertainer and a human. This coffee table book contains so many colorful images to accompany Dolly's stories and timeline of her career.
December 30, 2025
I loved this book and thought it was layed out was awesome. the pictures were absolutely amazing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews