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Ain't Nobody's Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton
“Narrator [Hannah] Church delivers a performance that is both tender and resonant. Her warm, emotionally nuanced voice draws listeners into the heart of Parton’s journey, capturing not just the facts of her life, but the spirit behind them. Church’s pacing is thoughtful and deliberate, allowing the emotional weight of Dolly’s struggles and triumphs to fully land.”—Booklist (Starred Review)
A larger-than-life new biography of country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton.
In Ain't Nobody's The Life and Times of Dolly Parton, Martha Ackmann chronicles the life of an American Original. From her impoverished childhood in the Smoky Mountains to international stardom as a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist, Dolly Parton has exceeded everyone's expectations except her own. During a time when the Beatles set the standard for contemporary music, Dolly appeared on a local country music television show that her high school classmates thought was pure cornpone. The day after her high school graduation, she boarded a bus for Nashville, but record executives turned her down. One said her voice sounded like a screech owl.
When Dolly finally got her foot in the door, her talent and focus catapulted her to the top of country charts, the pop world, and movie stardom. Yet her success came at a price. Shunned by many in Nashville who saw her ambition as a betrayal of her country music roots, Dolly became the target of death threats, lawsuits, and a judge who threatened to throw her in jail. She nearly collapsed on-stage and later succumbed to depression that pushed her to the brink, but she refused to be counted out and came back stronger than ever developing Dollywood, the amusement park that became the economic engine of East Tennessee, and founding the Imagination Library that provides free books to children around the world. Her philanthropy to health organizations led to creation of the Moderna COVID vaccine. And, finally, she returned to her roots, recording bluegrass albums that became the most celebrated of her unparalleled 60-year career.
Ain't Nobody's Fool is a deep dive into the social, historical, and personal forces that made Dolly Parton one of the most beloved and unifying figures in public life and includes interviews with friends, family members, schoolmates, Nashville neighbors, members of her band, studio musicians, producers, and many others. It also sheds light on her family's hardscrabble life. More than anything, Martha Ackmann's fresh and animated new audiobook proves Dolly Parton knows just who she is and she ain't nobody's fool.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.
A larger-than-life new biography of country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton.
In Ain't Nobody's The Life and Times of Dolly Parton, Martha Ackmann chronicles the life of an American Original. From her impoverished childhood in the Smoky Mountains to international stardom as a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist, Dolly Parton has exceeded everyone's expectations except her own. During a time when the Beatles set the standard for contemporary music, Dolly appeared on a local country music television show that her high school classmates thought was pure cornpone. The day after her high school graduation, she boarded a bus for Nashville, but record executives turned her down. One said her voice sounded like a screech owl.
When Dolly finally got her foot in the door, her talent and focus catapulted her to the top of country charts, the pop world, and movie stardom. Yet her success came at a price. Shunned by many in Nashville who saw her ambition as a betrayal of her country music roots, Dolly became the target of death threats, lawsuits, and a judge who threatened to throw her in jail. She nearly collapsed on-stage and later succumbed to depression that pushed her to the brink, but she refused to be counted out and came back stronger than ever developing Dollywood, the amusement park that became the economic engine of East Tennessee, and founding the Imagination Library that provides free books to children around the world. Her philanthropy to health organizations led to creation of the Moderna COVID vaccine. And, finally, she returned to her roots, recording bluegrass albums that became the most celebrated of her unparalleled 60-year career.
Ain't Nobody's Fool is a deep dive into the social, historical, and personal forces that made Dolly Parton one of the most beloved and unifying figures in public life and includes interviews with friends, family members, schoolmates, Nashville neighbors, members of her band, studio musicians, producers, and many others. It also sheds light on her family's hardscrabble life. More than anything, Martha Ackmann's fresh and animated new audiobook proves Dolly Parton knows just who she is and she ain't nobody's fool.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.
Audible Audio
Published December 30, 2025
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About the author
Martha Ackmann
10 books75 followersMartha Ackmann, author of These Fevered Days, Curveball, and The Mercury 13, writes about women who have changed America. The recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship, Ackmann taught a popular seminar on Dickinson at Mount Holyoke College, and lives in western Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
November 24, 2025
"I've never seen a mountain I didn't think I could climb." - Dolly Parton
Jolene might have tried to take her man, but no one can take away the impact that Dolly Parton has made on country music and music in general. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide! Dolly Parton has a rags-to-riches story, a perky personality, and an unwavering drive. She broke through barriers, wrote her own songs, won people over with her unique sound, she crossed over into pop music and had a movie career, and she put books into the hands of children through her imagination library. What's not to love??????
"I'm not offended by all of the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb... and I also know that I'm not blonde." - Dolly Parton
In Ain't Nobody's Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton, Martha Ackmann tells the rags-to-riches story of how Dolly Parton rose to success. The book begins with Dolly's childhood in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. She grew up dirt poor, but music was in her veins. The book tells of her family members and their love of music and musical abilities. They supported Dolly and her desire to be a performer. She did not have an easy rise to fame, and this book chronicles her early struggles and setbacks on her path to success. It also chronicles her marriage to Carl Dean, and her lifelong friendship with Judy Ogle.
"You can wish your life away. But if you're going to dream, you're going to have to get out and, like I always say, you have to put some wings on them dreams, and some feet and fingers and some hands. They gotta get into some stuff. You can't just sit around and think of all the things you want to do. You've got to think of what you want to do, and then you've got to get out and make that happen." - Dolly Parton
I learned a lot about Dolly Parton that I did not know, and some things I did know were expanded upon in this book. Dolly is perky and spunky and a businesswoman. She attributes her musical skills to her mother's side of the family and her business skills to her father. Her father was illiterate but had a keen business sense. She began the Imagination Library to honor her father who could not read or write. She gave children the gift of books and reading. Again, what's not to love?
"I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you've dreamed of
And I wish you joy and happiness
But above all this, I wish you love" - I will always love you - Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton has written over 3,000 songs - some amazing, some not. But she has never stopped. She is a tiny, tiny powerhouse who has lived, loved, entertained, given, inspired, and continues to dazzle. Hopefully, she keeps writing, keeps singing, and keeps entertaining us for years to come! This book gives readers a glimpse into her long career and life. It does long footnotes after each chapter which I wish would have been saved until the very end of the book. This did feel very academic at times but I put that into my I-don't-give-a-hoot category as I adore Dolly Parton and getting to know more about her.
"You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try."- Dolly Parton
3.5 stars
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Jolene might have tried to take her man, but no one can take away the impact that Dolly Parton has made on country music and music in general. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide! Dolly Parton has a rags-to-riches story, a perky personality, and an unwavering drive. She broke through barriers, wrote her own songs, won people over with her unique sound, she crossed over into pop music and had a movie career, and she put books into the hands of children through her imagination library. What's not to love??????
"I'm not offended by all of the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb... and I also know that I'm not blonde." - Dolly Parton
In Ain't Nobody's Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton, Martha Ackmann tells the rags-to-riches story of how Dolly Parton rose to success. The book begins with Dolly's childhood in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. She grew up dirt poor, but music was in her veins. The book tells of her family members and their love of music and musical abilities. They supported Dolly and her desire to be a performer. She did not have an easy rise to fame, and this book chronicles her early struggles and setbacks on her path to success. It also chronicles her marriage to Carl Dean, and her lifelong friendship with Judy Ogle.
"You can wish your life away. But if you're going to dream, you're going to have to get out and, like I always say, you have to put some wings on them dreams, and some feet and fingers and some hands. They gotta get into some stuff. You can't just sit around and think of all the things you want to do. You've got to think of what you want to do, and then you've got to get out and make that happen." - Dolly Parton
I learned a lot about Dolly Parton that I did not know, and some things I did know were expanded upon in this book. Dolly is perky and spunky and a businesswoman. She attributes her musical skills to her mother's side of the family and her business skills to her father. Her father was illiterate but had a keen business sense. She began the Imagination Library to honor her father who could not read or write. She gave children the gift of books and reading. Again, what's not to love?
"I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you've dreamed of
And I wish you joy and happiness
But above all this, I wish you love" - I will always love you - Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton has written over 3,000 songs - some amazing, some not. But she has never stopped. She is a tiny, tiny powerhouse who has lived, loved, entertained, given, inspired, and continues to dazzle. Hopefully, she keeps writing, keeps singing, and keeps entertaining us for years to come! This book gives readers a glimpse into her long career and life. It does long footnotes after each chapter which I wish would have been saved until the very end of the book. This did feel very academic at times but I put that into my I-don't-give-a-hoot category as I adore Dolly Parton and getting to know more about her.
"You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try."- Dolly Parton
3.5 stars
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
July 30, 2025
A well researched biography of Dolly Parton which starts with her childhood as one of 12 children in a very poor, but very musical family. The author follows her career, and how influential her past is in making her the woman she becomes. No pictures, but lots of footnotes. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Martha Ackmann is billed as an author who writes about women who have changed America.
Being someone who has always admired Dolly Parton I truly enjoyed this clear and concisely written biography. It was so well written and edited that I even appreciated reading the footnotes! I have never been able to say that before.
The book covers Dolly's life and even sets us up with introducing us to her gritty ancestors several generations prior to Dolly's birth. It was fascinating to learn about the lives of these rural Tennessee folks.
Never once did I become bored hearing all the details of Dolly's journey…
● Her very poor upbringing with 9 siblings in a small dark cabin. It was interesting to find out until this day Dolly is still afraid of the dark.
● Her early leanings into her creative side and her connection to music
● The fiercely bonded friendships she developed during her life most which still exist today
● Her song writing which started at a very early age
● Dolly's dipping into other genres of music and her extremely interesting collaborations in and outside the world of country music
● The beautiful love story with her handsome and reclusive husband Carl Dean (RIP)
● The movie career she created for herself
● The business side of Dolly which was more extensive than I had imagined
● And of course her many philanthropic endeavors especially her reading program which was inspired by her father who's life was severely impacted by the fact he never learned to read
● We wind up in 2025 with the staging of her life story Dolly! which will be on Broadway 2026
The author skillfully led us through all the stages and relationships of Dolly's life. It felt that Ackmann never dwelled on any one aspect of her life and career making for one fabulous biography.
I highly recommend Ain't Nobody's Fool as one of your early reads in 2026.
A huge thanks to Martha Ackmann and her publisher St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of Dolly's biography. Thanks as well to NetGalley for facilitating the reading of advanced reader copies of both fiction and non-fiction works.
Being someone who has always admired Dolly Parton I truly enjoyed this clear and concisely written biography. It was so well written and edited that I even appreciated reading the footnotes! I have never been able to say that before.
The book covers Dolly's life and even sets us up with introducing us to her gritty ancestors several generations prior to Dolly's birth. It was fascinating to learn about the lives of these rural Tennessee folks.
Never once did I become bored hearing all the details of Dolly's journey…
● Her very poor upbringing with 9 siblings in a small dark cabin. It was interesting to find out until this day Dolly is still afraid of the dark.
● Her early leanings into her creative side and her connection to music
● The fiercely bonded friendships she developed during her life most which still exist today
● Her song writing which started at a very early age
● Dolly's dipping into other genres of music and her extremely interesting collaborations in and outside the world of country music
● The beautiful love story with her handsome and reclusive husband Carl Dean (RIP)
● The movie career she created for herself
● The business side of Dolly which was more extensive than I had imagined
● And of course her many philanthropic endeavors especially her reading program which was inspired by her father who's life was severely impacted by the fact he never learned to read
● We wind up in 2025 with the staging of her life story Dolly! which will be on Broadway 2026
The author skillfully led us through all the stages and relationships of Dolly's life. It felt that Ackmann never dwelled on any one aspect of her life and career making for one fabulous biography.
I highly recommend Ain't Nobody's Fool as one of your early reads in 2026.
A huge thanks to Martha Ackmann and her publisher St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of Dolly's biography. Thanks as well to NetGalley for facilitating the reading of advanced reader copies of both fiction and non-fiction works.
September 27, 2025
I received a free copy of, Ain't Nobody's Fool, by Martha Ackman, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Dolly Parton is an American icon and an American treasure. enjoyed reading about Dolly Partons life. Personal and professional, there is nobody else in the world like Dolly Parton.
December 17, 2025
Thank you St. Martin's Press for sending me an advance reader's copy!
In a crazy and messed up world, we at least have Dolly Parton bringing us light and joy. I wanted to check out this biography because I realized I really only knew the basics when it came to her life. I knew she grew up dirt poor and had a ton of siblings, is a prolific songwriter, has had some memorable acting roles, and is a big philanthropist. This book covers her upbringing, career, and personal life and how music has been a constant throughout.
Kids can be cruel but Dolly was able to use that hurt and people doubting her abilities and channeled it into something positive. That drive, determination, and resiliency have shaped her into this strongly independent woman. She’s known for her kindness and ability to poke fun at herself but she’s also a force to be reckoned with and stands by her convictions.
It’s admirable she has never forgotten where she came from and has created countless job opportunities for her community. As an avid reader it warms my heart her Imagination Library provides free books to kids. It sounds like a cliche but the world is a better place with her in it.
Highly recommend if you enjoy biographies and a good from rags to riches story.
In a crazy and messed up world, we at least have Dolly Parton bringing us light and joy. I wanted to check out this biography because I realized I really only knew the basics when it came to her life. I knew she grew up dirt poor and had a ton of siblings, is a prolific songwriter, has had some memorable acting roles, and is a big philanthropist. This book covers her upbringing, career, and personal life and how music has been a constant throughout.
Kids can be cruel but Dolly was able to use that hurt and people doubting her abilities and channeled it into something positive. That drive, determination, and resiliency have shaped her into this strongly independent woman. She’s known for her kindness and ability to poke fun at herself but she’s also a force to be reckoned with and stands by her convictions.
It’s admirable she has never forgotten where she came from and has created countless job opportunities for her community. As an avid reader it warms my heart her Imagination Library provides free books to kids. It sounds like a cliche but the world is a better place with her in it.
Highly recommend if you enjoy biographies and a good from rags to riches story.
December 19, 2025
AIN’T NOBODY’S FOOL: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton
By Martha Ackmann
3.5 (rounded up)
Martha Ackmann’s biography follows the incredible journey of Dolly Parton, from her humble upbringing in Tennessee to becoming a singer, songwriter, actor, businesswoman, and one of the most beloved philanthropists around.
Ackmann takes a close look at the twists and turns that shaped Dolly’s career. While many people were surprised by her success, Dolly always believed in herself—even at a very young age—and never stopped chasing her dreams. Her generosity really stands out, from starting the Imagination Library and donating millions of books to children, to helping fund research for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The book also gives us a glimpse into her longtime marriage to Carl Dean, which she has always kept mostly out of the spotlight.
I’d read a bit about Dolly before, but this book made her story feel especially alive. Ackmann doesn’t shy away from showing both Dolly’s strengths and her struggles as she made her way through the music industry and Hollywood. One detail I found interesting was learning that Nelson Mandela found comfort in one of Dolly’s songs during his imprisonment and what he asked the guards to please do.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.
By Martha Ackmann
3.5 (rounded up)
Martha Ackmann’s biography follows the incredible journey of Dolly Parton, from her humble upbringing in Tennessee to becoming a singer, songwriter, actor, businesswoman, and one of the most beloved philanthropists around.
Ackmann takes a close look at the twists and turns that shaped Dolly’s career. While many people were surprised by her success, Dolly always believed in herself—even at a very young age—and never stopped chasing her dreams. Her generosity really stands out, from starting the Imagination Library and donating millions of books to children, to helping fund research for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The book also gives us a glimpse into her longtime marriage to Carl Dean, which she has always kept mostly out of the spotlight.
I’d read a bit about Dolly before, but this book made her story feel especially alive. Ackmann doesn’t shy away from showing both Dolly’s strengths and her struggles as she made her way through the music industry and Hollywood. One detail I found interesting was learning that Nelson Mandela found comfort in one of Dolly’s songs during his imprisonment and what he asked the guards to please do.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.
October 18, 2025
I went into this book with no expectations and wow, I could not put it down. I haven’t heard anything about Dolly Parton’s past so this was a pleasant surprise! She had an amazing life and worked so hard to get where she is now. I really enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
September 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a lovely & thorough biography of one of the greats. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know a lot of Dolly’s background but I loved learning about her roots in eastern Tennessee and growth from there! I appreciated learning about how proud Dolly is of her hometown and region and how she went to bat for the locals time and time again. The amount of jobs and revenue she brought to the community with Dollywood is wild!! She is an inspiration for many reasons but her philanthropy is truly touching. Shoutout imagination library!!
Rating a 4 out of 5– footnotes were heavy, and the content was fantastic albeit a little formal for my taste.
This was a lovely & thorough biography of one of the greats. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know a lot of Dolly’s background but I loved learning about her roots in eastern Tennessee and growth from there! I appreciated learning about how proud Dolly is of her hometown and region and how she went to bat for the locals time and time again. The amount of jobs and revenue she brought to the community with Dollywood is wild!! She is an inspiration for many reasons but her philanthropy is truly touching. Shoutout imagination library!!
Rating a 4 out of 5– footnotes were heavy, and the content was fantastic albeit a little formal for my taste.
November 29, 2025
In 1986, I saw Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers in concert. I have been fascinated by her ever since. This book did a good job telling Dolly's story. it was short and a quick read. Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 12, 2025
I am a huge Dolly Parton fan; my family loves country music with all of their soul and I grew up listening to the likes of "I Will Always Love You" and "9 to 5". My daughters can sing almost every word to "Jolene". In Ain't Nobody's Fool, I can tell you the only fool was me. I mistakenly thought this book was a collaboration between Ackmann and Dolly Parton to describe her life. BUT, I was sorely mistaken. Instead, it read like a high school or college research paper with quotes and a bibliography after every chapter and the chapters themselves were LONG. There was often anecdotes to pieces of the story that had nothing to do with Dolly herself, but somehow tied into Dolly's life but I found their being added in to be confusing and out there. I appreciate what Martha Ackmann was trying to do for one of the greatest entertainers in the world, but I just didn't connect with the story. It glossed over the beginnings of her relationship with her husband Carl Dean, while I would have loved to read more about the two of them and how they began.
I feel badly that I need to give this novel such a lower rating, but I can't give it anything higher. The chapters could have been much shorter ultimately, and this could have been an online blog instead of a full 300+ page novel.
Thank you to NetGalley, Martha Ackmann and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of Ain't Nobody's Fool. The opinions mentioned are my own.
I feel badly that I need to give this novel such a lower rating, but I can't give it anything higher. The chapters could have been much shorter ultimately, and this could have been an online blog instead of a full 300+ page novel.
Thank you to NetGalley, Martha Ackmann and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of Ain't Nobody's Fool. The opinions mentioned are my own.
December 5, 2025
As someone who didn’t previously know much about Dolly Parton’s life, I learned a lot listening to the audio version of this book! Dolly has certainly left her mark in the music world and beyond, and my appreciation for her grew after learning more about her backstory. A good read overall!
Thank you to Libro.fm for the ALC!
Thank you to Libro.fm for the ALC!
December 2, 2025
Dolly Parton is a legendary woman and I think this biography did an incredible job portraying that. The story was so thorough, well researched, and well-structured that it flowed like novel and was impossible to put down.
Beginning with her “dirt-poor” childhood as one of 12 siblings, this book spans Dolly’s entire career. Her journey to becoming the successful artist she is today was not always easy. Throughout all the ups and downs of her career, Dolly always stayed true to herself and is one of the most philanthropic and beloved artists of all time.
Because I have seen some negative reviews surrounding this I think it’s important to note this is an independent biography. This is not a collaboration with Dolly Parton and is therefore not written by her. Should one simply read the description of this book they would know this. Nonetheless, Martha Ackmann did an incredible job with this biography and I would recommend it to any Dolly Parton fan.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Beginning with her “dirt-poor” childhood as one of 12 siblings, this book spans Dolly’s entire career. Her journey to becoming the successful artist she is today was not always easy. Throughout all the ups and downs of her career, Dolly always stayed true to herself and is one of the most philanthropic and beloved artists of all time.
Because I have seen some negative reviews surrounding this I think it’s important to note this is an independent biography. This is not a collaboration with Dolly Parton and is therefore not written by her. Should one simply read the description of this book they would know this. Nonetheless, Martha Ackmann did an incredible job with this biography and I would recommend it to any Dolly Parton fan.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2025
Going into this, I wasn’t a super Dolly fan like a lot of people are. Obviously, I am familiar with her but I was unaware of her history. I do love a good celebrity biography though. I wish that it was authored and read by Dolly herself. Otherwise, this was very descriptive and thorough.. if not a tad boring. If you’re a Dolly fan and ever had any questions about her coming up - this is for you.
December 30, 2025
Who doesn’t love Dolly? I recently read a book authored by Dolly so some of this was repeat but I also learned more about her struggles and her philanthropic endeavors.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook!
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook!
December 20, 2025
Reads like a story, not a biography. Love learning more and more about the patron saint of Tennessee.
January 1, 2026
In Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton, Martha Ackmann recounts the life story of a true legend and humanitarian. I had a general picture of life as a poor girl from Tennessee and her rise to fame and her humanitarian efforts. I knew she had many siblings but, wow, I think it stopped at 11 siblings. She always maintained close connections with her family even including them in her music career. Sometimes that was positive and sometimes not so positive. I also knew that she was married to her first love, Carl until he recently passed in March 2025.
What I wasn’t prepared to read was how extraordinarily difficult her life has been and how she manages to overcome each hurdle with unending optimism and self-deprecating humor. It was also surprising to learn about her connections and collaborations with other artists outside the world of Country Music where she began her career. Clearly, she has appeared in a few top chart movies like, “9 to 5” and “Steel Magnolias”.
I won’t ruin the uplifting story by expressing the many other celebrities with whom I had no idea she held associations. She is a truly remarkable woman with not only extraordinary music talent but also a eye for business. Early on she did what many new performers lacked the foresight to do and that is to protect their written music.
It is uplifting and encouraging to read how determined and strong fast she held to her beliefs even though she endured endless ridicule and humiliation. I’m sure there are many people regretting their abhorrent behavior for someone who was different and marched to beat of her own guitar!
Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for access to this arc. My unbiased review is voluntary and all opinions are expressly my own.
What I wasn’t prepared to read was how extraordinarily difficult her life has been and how she manages to overcome each hurdle with unending optimism and self-deprecating humor. It was also surprising to learn about her connections and collaborations with other artists outside the world of Country Music where she began her career. Clearly, she has appeared in a few top chart movies like, “9 to 5” and “Steel Magnolias”.
I won’t ruin the uplifting story by expressing the many other celebrities with whom I had no idea she held associations. She is a truly remarkable woman with not only extraordinary music talent but also a eye for business. Early on she did what many new performers lacked the foresight to do and that is to protect their written music.
It is uplifting and encouraging to read how determined and strong fast she held to her beliefs even though she endured endless ridicule and humiliation. I’m sure there are many people regretting their abhorrent behavior for someone who was different and marched to beat of her own guitar!
Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for access to this arc. My unbiased review is voluntary and all opinions are expressly my own.
December 30, 2025
This book chronicles the life of Dolly Parton so far. From unimaginable childhood living conditions to leaving home the day after her high school graduation, to the present day, this book dives into what really made Dolly who she is - one of the world's favorite people.
Dolly Parton has had a truly remarkable life. I knew when I was given the opportunity to listen to this book, I couldn't pass it up. Something I never realized is that the country/pop crossover “controversy” has been around for decades, and it's not just a Taylor Swift thing that's been pounded into the heads of my generation. Just two things I didn't care for in this book - first, I feel like this focused a ton on her childhood and then sped through the rest of her life. I get that we need the childhood info and that shapes who she is, I just feel they should have been given more equal time. Second, and trying to avoid spoilers, there were two things mentioned in this book that I don't really feel that Dolly would want in this book. I get it that they are part of her life, but it seemed they were thrown in for the heck of it. Otherwise, this was a great and very informative book.
Hannah Church did a great job narrating this book and I often thought of Dolly herself telling her stories.
A big thank you to Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook. Opinions are my own.
THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU IF: You love biographical stories about truly remarkable people.
Dolly Parton has had a truly remarkable life. I knew when I was given the opportunity to listen to this book, I couldn't pass it up. Something I never realized is that the country/pop crossover “controversy” has been around for decades, and it's not just a Taylor Swift thing that's been pounded into the heads of my generation. Just two things I didn't care for in this book - first, I feel like this focused a ton on her childhood and then sped through the rest of her life. I get that we need the childhood info and that shapes who she is, I just feel they should have been given more equal time. Second, and trying to avoid spoilers, there were two things mentioned in this book that I don't really feel that Dolly would want in this book. I get it that they are part of her life, but it seemed they were thrown in for the heck of it. Otherwise, this was a great and very informative book.
Hannah Church did a great job narrating this book and I often thought of Dolly herself telling her stories.
A big thank you to Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook. Opinions are my own.
THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU IF: You love biographical stories about truly remarkable people.
December 12, 2025
Dolly Parton is an icon, and her music has always struck a chord. This biography was so interesting, and I found myself learning things about her life in haven’t previously. It was well organized in chronological order from the start of Dolly’s life to current times. The stories revealed were interesting, heartwarming, funny, relatable, and at times heartbreaking. The chapters flowed seamlessly and were easy to follow. They were long, but the content they contained was well researched and kept me turning pages. I liked that the author didn’t shy away from any heavier topics or the inconsistencies in stories Dolly has told through the years. People grow, evolve, change their perspectives throughout their lives, and I feel like the author captured that in her book. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this one!
November 9, 2025
If only we could all be more like Dolly.
Dolly was a bit before my time, so while I can see the impact she’s had in today’s world, it was wonderful to go back and learn how she clawed for every one of her accomplishments. She truly paved the way for so many women.
It’s not told completely chronologically which can be confusing. Sometimes I had a hard time following where Dolly was at in her career. It was a little dry. Dollys life and story can stand on its own, but it does read like a research paper. A very well done, well-footnoted research paper, but this isn’t exactly comparable to a celebrity memoir with punchy jokes and dramatic retellings. At the same time, it does Dolly’s story justice.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
Dolly was a bit before my time, so while I can see the impact she’s had in today’s world, it was wonderful to go back and learn how she clawed for every one of her accomplishments. She truly paved the way for so many women.
It’s not told completely chronologically which can be confusing. Sometimes I had a hard time following where Dolly was at in her career. It was a little dry. Dollys life and story can stand on its own, but it does read like a research paper. A very well done, well-footnoted research paper, but this isn’t exactly comparable to a celebrity memoir with punchy jokes and dramatic retellings. At the same time, it does Dolly’s story justice.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
December 2, 2025
Learned so many little facts from the notes at the bottom of the pages. I never realized how many times Dolly was passed over and taken for granted in the early years. I’m glad Dolly and Judy remained friends all this time. You always need one great person in your corner. I respect Dolly and Carls Marriage, they set rules and boundaries and they never crossed them. They understood each other and that’s all that matters. I’ve learned so many little tibits I never knew about her generosity and caring for others. She is a real angel. I’m glad she stayed true and humble. I’m glad to this day she is still donating her time, money, and heart to many of today’s youth. She was truely an amazing business woman as well. Very long chapters but a very special read.
December 5, 2025
AIN’T NOBODY’S FOOL should be required reading for every Dolly Parton fan. Whether you only know “Jolene” and “9 to 5,” or you’re a full-on devotee with a Dollywood passport (is that a thing and where can I apply?), this biography pulls you in from page one.
I’ve read plenty of books about Dolly, but this one stands out. The tone feels true to the legend herself, the insights from her closest friends add surprising depth, and the storytelling captures the full scope of Dolly’s cultural impact.
Martha Ackmann delivers a masterclass in biography. I’ll be diving into her other work next—and recommending this one to every fellow Dolly fan I know.
PS. I listened to the audiobook version, HIGHLY recommended! The narrator is excellent.
I’ve read plenty of books about Dolly, but this one stands out. The tone feels true to the legend herself, the insights from her closest friends add surprising depth, and the storytelling captures the full scope of Dolly’s cultural impact.
Martha Ackmann delivers a masterclass in biography. I’ll be diving into her other work next—and recommending this one to every fellow Dolly fan I know.
PS. I listened to the audiobook version, HIGHLY recommended! The narrator is excellent.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had fun reading about Dolly Parton's life and accomplishments. I kept stopping to search for songs or television appearances that were mentioned in the book, so it took me a while to read the whole thing. But I would look forward to picking up where I left off.
Ackmann sometimes circles back in time as she begins a new chapter and topic. And her transitions can be rather abrupt. But the subject is engaging and likeable, so I stayed interested. I not only learned about Dolly's life and work, I also learned a lot of interesting factoids about the music, t.v. and movie industries. The notes at the end of each chapter are worth reading.
I was provided an advanced reader's copy for my review. #NetGalley
Ackmann sometimes circles back in time as she begins a new chapter and topic. And her transitions can be rather abrupt. But the subject is engaging and likeable, so I stayed interested. I not only learned about Dolly's life and work, I also learned a lot of interesting factoids about the music, t.v. and movie industries. The notes at the end of each chapter are worth reading.
I was provided an advanced reader's copy for my review. #NetGalley
December 22, 2025
Listen. I love Dolly. She's an American icon that came from humble beginnings. And to see what she accomplished over the years is a testament to the kind of person she is and what she wants to do and how she sees the world. She makes it happen.
Ain't Nobody's Fool pulled me in right from the beginning, telling the tale of Dolly's childhood and where she was brought up and the large family that surrounded her. To really get a feel of that and how much love this woman has for her craft and for those around her was thoughtfully written. I did think the chapters were a little long and we did do a little skipping around in the timeline, but overall, it gave me a greater knowledge of who Dolly Parton is. I listened to the audio and would've loved to have THE Dolly narrating a book about herself, but alas she was not the author. But I still found it to be a thorough book that will leave a fan or someone that just wants to know more about the legend fulfilled.
Many thanks to MacMillan audio for my ALC.
Ain't Nobody's Fool pulled me in right from the beginning, telling the tale of Dolly's childhood and where she was brought up and the large family that surrounded her. To really get a feel of that and how much love this woman has for her craft and for those around her was thoughtfully written. I did think the chapters were a little long and we did do a little skipping around in the timeline, but overall, it gave me a greater knowledge of who Dolly Parton is. I listened to the audio and would've loved to have THE Dolly narrating a book about herself, but alas she was not the author. But I still found it to be a thorough book that will leave a fan or someone that just wants to know more about the legend fulfilled.
Many thanks to MacMillan audio for my ALC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This biography of Dolly Parton provided much insight into her life, growing up in the Appalachians, in poverty, and all that she did to make a name for herself.
I always knew that Dolly was a smart and talented woman, but this just shows how much she does to give back to her community and how she wants to support others. She uses her own life experiences to draw inspiration to help others and give them what she never had. To better the lives of others, she had provided scholarships and reading programs. She created Dollywood to help provide jobs for her town as well as her own family.
I loved this book and learning more about this absolute legend. This just made me appreciate her even more.
I always knew that Dolly was a smart and talented woman, but this just shows how much she does to give back to her community and how she wants to support others. She uses her own life experiences to draw inspiration to help others and give them what she never had. To better the lives of others, she had provided scholarships and reading programs. She created Dollywood to help provide jobs for her town as well as her own family.
I loved this book and learning more about this absolute legend. This just made me appreciate her even more.
January 2, 2026
Ain’t Nobody’s Fool is a biography of entertainment legend Dolly Parton from her early life in the Smoky Mountains to a star of stage and screen. It covers everything from her poor roots in a big family, romance and marriage to Carl Dean, and professional successes and setbacks. This was an enjoyable read, but I don’t think it revealed anything new or impactful about Dolly. It sometimes felt like a long magazine article and felt very disconnected from Dolly the human.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrator notes: Ain’t Nobody’s Fool was read by Hannah Church, who has a nice accent that fits a biography of Dolly.
Disclosure: An early listening copy was provided by Macmillan Audio for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrator notes: Ain’t Nobody’s Fool was read by Hannah Church, who has a nice accent that fits a biography of Dolly.
Disclosure: An early listening copy was provided by Macmillan Audio for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 19, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of the book.
I hope finished copy has some photos, that was mostly the only thing missing for me.
I had never read biographies but expected it to be like an expanded Wiki page, which it was and for me this is exactly what I wanted. I am glad that author respected Dolly Parton and did not dig deep into her marriage. She mentioned several times how her husband was a private person, and Dolly herself wasn't open about her personal life. I think it makes total sense for the book to focus strictly on the key points of her life and why she is such a legend today. I learned a lot of new to me information and the footnotes were brilliantly done.
You don't need to be Dolly Parton fan to enjoy this read.
I hope finished copy has some photos, that was mostly the only thing missing for me.
I had never read biographies but expected it to be like an expanded Wiki page, which it was and for me this is exactly what I wanted. I am glad that author respected Dolly Parton and did not dig deep into her marriage. She mentioned several times how her husband was a private person, and Dolly herself wasn't open about her personal life. I think it makes total sense for the book to focus strictly on the key points of her life and why she is such a legend today. I learned a lot of new to me information and the footnotes were brilliantly done.
You don't need to be Dolly Parton fan to enjoy this read.
December 15, 2025
Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC of this title.
This was a very well written and well researched biography of Dolly Parton. I learned a lot about her life and struggles that I had not known before. Dolly is a one of a kind woman, who came from very humble beginnings to become one of the greatest country singers in America.
I loved how she was married for over 60 years and he let her be Dolly. He wasn’t a spotlight guy so he stayed behind the scenes. They loved one another till the end.
She is such an inspiration to all of us. So kind and loving. I will always be a fan of Dolly ❤️
This was a very well written and well researched biography of Dolly Parton. I learned a lot about her life and struggles that I had not known before. Dolly is a one of a kind woman, who came from very humble beginnings to become one of the greatest country singers in America.
I loved how she was married for over 60 years and he let her be Dolly. He wasn’t a spotlight guy so he stayed behind the scenes. They loved one another till the end.
She is such an inspiration to all of us. So kind and loving. I will always be a fan of Dolly ❤️
October 7, 2025
I haven’t read Dolly’s memoir, so this book was such a great deep dive into her life. It’s clearly very well researched, with tons of detail and helpful footnotes. I had no idea how difficult some of her early years were—what a sad and inspiring story. Some of her movies are among my favorites, so I really appreciated learning more about the woman behind the music and the screen. Thank you to the author for all the hard work that went into this!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
November 26, 2025
Dolly Parton is a national treasure. She has never forgotten where she came from and continues to live her life the same way. I learned a lot that I hadn’t known before. I did feel like the end felt rushed and skipped years, but otherwise the book was wonderful. Martha Ackmann did a great job researching Dolly.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2025
This is my first audiobook narrated by Hannah Church. I thought her performance was great. Her voice was perfect for this Dolly Parton biography. I listened at 1.5x speed
I read one other book about Dolly Parton that mainly focused on her songs but this is the first book I read that really told her life story. I thought it was well done.
Thank you to the publisher Macmillan audio for the gifted audiobook. I appreciate the opportunity to preview this book. All opinions are my own.
I read one other book about Dolly Parton that mainly focused on her songs but this is the first book I read that really told her life story. I thought it was well done.
Thank you to the publisher Macmillan audio for the gifted audiobook. I appreciate the opportunity to preview this book. All opinions are my own.
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