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Ain't Nobody's Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton
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, school mates, Nashville neighbors, members of her band, studio musicians, producers, and many others. It also features never before seen photographs and unearthed documents shedding light on her family's hardscrabble life. More than anything, Martha Ackmann's fresh and animated new book proves Dolly Parton knows just who she is and she ain't nobody's fool.
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, school mates, Nashville neighbors, members of her band, studio musicians, producers, and many others. It also features never before seen photographs and unearthed documents shedding light on her family's hardscrabble life. More than anything, Martha Ackmann's fresh and animated new book proves Dolly Parton knows just who she is and she ain't nobody's fool.
493 pages, Hardcover
First published December 30, 2025
954 people are currently reading
22413 people want to read
About the author
Martha Ackmann
10 books79 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 658 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 📖
February 11, 2026
The Life and Times of Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton’s climb to the status of American icon is a great story. She told it herself about 30 years ago https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
And, Ackmann draws deeply on that autobiography in her new biography.
The rise from poverty to stardom isn’t a unique story but Parton’s version is worth understanding. It is only by doing so that the reader can comprehend the drives and motivations that took her beyond country music to creating the Imagination Library (which provides free books to children in many parts of the world) and her support of health organizations.
The contrasts between creating the Dollywood amusement park and supporting the development of a key vaccine to control Covid-19 are staggering. Ackmann provides an easy-to-read journey for us to follow.
One of my favorite aspects of Parton’s career is her interest and ability to sing with others. Ackmann presents this very well with intimate backstories of her duet magic with Kenny Rogers and the “other world quality” of her singing with Emmy Lou Harris and Linda Ronstadt.
Her writing style isn’t exceptional, but is more than adequate to bring the reader closer to this remarkable singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
The only quibbles I have are that the excellent pictures have captions that need better editing and that Ackmann never has a direct interview with Parton; something that would have added a special layer to this biography.
3.5
Dolly Parton’s climb to the status of American icon is a great story. She told it herself about 30 years ago https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
And, Ackmann draws deeply on that autobiography in her new biography.
The rise from poverty to stardom isn’t a unique story but Parton’s version is worth understanding. It is only by doing so that the reader can comprehend the drives and motivations that took her beyond country music to creating the Imagination Library (which provides free books to children in many parts of the world) and her support of health organizations.
The contrasts between creating the Dollywood amusement park and supporting the development of a key vaccine to control Covid-19 are staggering. Ackmann provides an easy-to-read journey for us to follow.
One of my favorite aspects of Parton’s career is her interest and ability to sing with others. Ackmann presents this very well with intimate backstories of her duet magic with Kenny Rogers and the “other world quality” of her singing with Emmy Lou Harris and Linda Ronstadt.
Her writing style isn’t exceptional, but is more than adequate to bring the reader closer to this remarkable singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
The only quibbles I have are that the excellent pictures have captions that need better editing and that Ackmann never has a direct interview with Parton; something that would have added a special layer to this biography.
3.5
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.
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.
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.
January 8, 2026
The author gives us a biography of Dolly Parton that is not only extremely interesting but fun too.
We learn of a young girl, from an impoverished childhood in the Smoky Mountains, that had a dream. With grit and determination she became a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist.
She fought through death threats, lawsuits and depression and she kept on going, coming back stronger than ever.
She truly is an American Original.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
We learn of a young girl, from an impoverished childhood in the Smoky Mountains, that had a dream. With grit and determination she became a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist.
She fought through death threats, lawsuits and depression and she kept on going, coming back stronger than ever.
She truly is an American Original.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
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.
March 23, 2026
3.5 stars
Dolly Parton is a force of nature who cleverly disguises herself as a blonde bombshell. I really admire how she overcame multiple obstacles like being raised dirt poor, being ridiculed for her ambition, being relegated to the role of “girl singer," and the general prejudice of the country music industry against women, especially those with unique voices.
It's difficult for me to relate to the poverty that Parton grew up in. Her song Coat of Many Colors is literally taken from her life, growing up in the Smoky Mountains. Dolly patiently endured what she had to and jumped on every opportunity that presented itself. Her determination to make something of her life and willingness to work herself hard resulted in the woman that I admire today.
Blessed with a pure but unusual voice, Dolly has defied conventional wisdom to become an icon. Her self-awareness led to her stage appearance: blonde bouffant wigs, heavy makeup, and tight clothes. But behind this façade lurks a shrewd woman who knows her own worth (and it has nothing to do with her bra size). She was fortunate to find Carl Dean, the love of her life, early on and have his support for 60 years. Carl eschewed the limelight, leaving that entirely to his wife. (Rumour has it that when she wanted to go out with him incognito, she left the wig and makeup behind and was rarely recognized.)
Dolly went through some frustrating years before she became the philanthropist we currently know. She freely admits that she made mistakes when she neglected to listen to her internal voice. But Dolly wasn't in it just for the money—she wanted to be able to take care of the people she cares about. Her theme park, Dollywood, wasn't a vanity project. Its purpose was to supply jobs and economic support for the community she grew up in. Her other concerns include women's health, education, and literacy (her father was limited by an inability to read and write). Her program to supply books to children is well known. This is what money is for, my friends, and I salute Ms. Parton for knowing and acting on it.
The tone of the book is more academic than I expected. It's not as conversational as I would have preferred, but it was still very readable. It is thoroughly footnoted and many obscure little factoids about people in Dolly's life are fascinating. In short, there is much more to Dolly Parton than meets the eye. Don't make the mistake of dismissing her as a dumb blonde!
Dolly Parton is a force of nature who cleverly disguises herself as a blonde bombshell. I really admire how she overcame multiple obstacles like being raised dirt poor, being ridiculed for her ambition, being relegated to the role of “girl singer," and the general prejudice of the country music industry against women, especially those with unique voices.
It's difficult for me to relate to the poverty that Parton grew up in. Her song Coat of Many Colors is literally taken from her life, growing up in the Smoky Mountains. Dolly patiently endured what she had to and jumped on every opportunity that presented itself. Her determination to make something of her life and willingness to work herself hard resulted in the woman that I admire today.
Blessed with a pure but unusual voice, Dolly has defied conventional wisdom to become an icon. Her self-awareness led to her stage appearance: blonde bouffant wigs, heavy makeup, and tight clothes. But behind this façade lurks a shrewd woman who knows her own worth (and it has nothing to do with her bra size). She was fortunate to find Carl Dean, the love of her life, early on and have his support for 60 years. Carl eschewed the limelight, leaving that entirely to his wife. (Rumour has it that when she wanted to go out with him incognito, she left the wig and makeup behind and was rarely recognized.)
Dolly went through some frustrating years before she became the philanthropist we currently know. She freely admits that she made mistakes when she neglected to listen to her internal voice. But Dolly wasn't in it just for the money—she wanted to be able to take care of the people she cares about. Her theme park, Dollywood, wasn't a vanity project. Its purpose was to supply jobs and economic support for the community she grew up in. Her other concerns include women's health, education, and literacy (her father was limited by an inability to read and write). Her program to supply books to children is well known. This is what money is for, my friends, and I salute Ms. Parton for knowing and acting on it.
The tone of the book is more academic than I expected. It's not as conversational as I would have preferred, but it was still very readable. It is thoroughly footnoted and many obscure little factoids about people in Dolly's life are fascinating. In short, there is much more to Dolly Parton than meets the eye. Don't make the mistake of dismissing her as a dumb blonde!
March 7, 2026
2.5⭐️
Aghhh I can’t believe I’m rating this so low😭🙈 Goodreads… STOP GIVING US THESE CHALLENGES!! I feel bad to this author for rating her book so low, but I also don’t enjoy non-fiction… it felt like I was reading a history book or a textbook.
Maybe add fiction and memoirs as well??
This was boring… I was really expecting a good book regarding Dolly, but it just felt all over the place…
Aghhh I can’t believe I’m rating this so low😭🙈 Goodreads… STOP GIVING US THESE CHALLENGES!! I feel bad to this author for rating her book so low, but I also don’t enjoy non-fiction… it felt like I was reading a history book or a textbook.
Maybe add fiction and memoirs as well??
This was boring… I was really expecting a good book regarding Dolly, but it just felt all over the place…
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.
January 13, 2026
While I went into this think that this was a collaboration of sorts with the author and Dolly, after reading it. I can say that did not seem like the case. It read more like a college research paper on her life more than her story. And if that's what you're into, then you'll enjoy this, but it was very textbook-y and not storytelling as I had hoped. It was factually accurate as it had all its annotations to back up everything but that made every chapter extremely long There were anecdotal stories that were I guess remotely tied to dolly but not close enough that they needed to be included in this book. I think I get where the author was coming from in trying to out this together, but it just missed the mark for me. I wish she would have made it feel less clinical and more bookish. And when she finally got to the story of Carl and Dolly it was rushed through. I know dolly kept him private but for someone who did so much research, youd think there would've been more on that topic.
I wish I could say I loved it because I am a huge, ginormous Dolly fan, but sadly this was just ok.
Thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for my review.
I wish I could say I loved it because I am a huge, ginormous Dolly fan, but sadly this was just ok.
Thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for my 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.
March 5, 2026
Four star read for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Enjoyed the story of Dolly’s life. If you are a Dolly fan, you will enjoy this one. The narrator did a great job with the audible book. 🎧📖
Enjoyed the story of Dolly’s life. If you are a Dolly fan, you will enjoy this one. The narrator did a great job with the audible book. 🎧📖
March 15, 2026
Enjoyed learning more about Dolly, her career and how her songs came about.
March 7, 2026
I went into this excited because I love Dolly Parton. Unfortunately this one just didn’t hold my attention. The writing felt slow and I found myself skimming large parts of it just to get through the book. There were some interesting moments about Dolly’s early life, but overall it felt more like a history summary than a story. I adore Dolly, but this biography just didn’t capture the spark that makes her so special.
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.
February 28, 2026
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the ALC of this book!
I had a lot of love for Dolly Parton and after listening to this I have even more!
This was a biography about Dolly walking through her younger years and covered most of her career to date. This felt like a really good overview of Dolly’s life and gave some insight into her life and early career that I have never thought much about before. And now I think I love Dolly even more!
Would definitely recommend to Dolly Parton fans or those who love a biography! I also thought the narration was done well on the book and I enjoyed all of it.
My personal favorite tidbits of info that stuck with me was the start of Dollywood and the imagination library- though both small pieces made me even more proud to be a fan of Dolly. #MacAudio2025
(Also I had to check what the book looked like at my local bookstore and it has a lot of pictures in the middle section for those who are curious!)
I had a lot of love for Dolly Parton and after listening to this I have even more!
This was a biography about Dolly walking through her younger years and covered most of her career to date. This felt like a really good overview of Dolly’s life and gave some insight into her life and early career that I have never thought much about before. And now I think I love Dolly even more!
Would definitely recommend to Dolly Parton fans or those who love a biography! I also thought the narration was done well on the book and I enjoyed all of it.
My personal favorite tidbits of info that stuck with me was the start of Dollywood and the imagination library- though both small pieces made me even more proud to be a fan of Dolly. #MacAudio2025
(Also I had to check what the book looked like at my local bookstore and it has a lot of pictures in the middle section for those who are curious!)
Read
March 15, 20262026 reads: 49/300
i received a complimentary review copy from macmillan audio as part of their influencer program. i am leaving this review voluntarily.
this biography details the life of dolly parton, from her impoverished childhood in the smoky mountains to international stardom in her adulthood. though i would never call myself a country music fan, i am a fan of dolly parton, specifically her philanthropy and overall character. so, i mostly enjoyed this biography. i think where some of my disinterest came from is the fact that it was a biography, not an autobiography—i am not used to feeling detached when reading someone’s life story. however, i’m not necessarily faulting the author for that, since i’m the one who’s not used to reading biographies. i did enjoy the narration, done by hannah church! this helped me feel more immersed. i’d recommend this to anyone looking to learn more about dolly parton.
i received a complimentary review copy from macmillan audio as part of their influencer program. i am leaving this review voluntarily.
this biography details the life of dolly parton, from her impoverished childhood in the smoky mountains to international stardom in her adulthood. though i would never call myself a country music fan, i am a fan of dolly parton, specifically her philanthropy and overall character. so, i mostly enjoyed this biography. i think where some of my disinterest came from is the fact that it was a biography, not an autobiography—i am not used to feeling detached when reading someone’s life story. however, i’m not necessarily faulting the author for that, since i’m the one who’s not used to reading biographies. i did enjoy the narration, done by hannah church! this helped me feel more immersed. i’d recommend this to anyone looking to learn more about dolly parton.
March 20, 2026
Now what the hell? Where is the HEART ffs? My Queen, Ms. Dolly Parton, is a legend. A philanthropist. A self-made icon. A WOMAN. And this is how you tell her story? Two stars, solely because Dolly is an inspiration and deserves recognition, but I genuinely believe a passionate sixth grader could’ve written something better. Does this author even like Dolly? The entire book reads like the school report of a kid who just learned about their subject for the first time and had never heard of them prior. There is no love here. I have to stop typing now or this will become a full blown rant.
Also, the idea of Nelson Mandela jamming out to Jolene in prison is absolutely frying me, I’m sorry.
Dolly, I love you babe.
Also, the idea of Nelson Mandela jamming out to Jolene in prison is absolutely frying me, I’m sorry.
Dolly, I love you babe.
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!
February 3, 2026
Stopped reading. A rehash of info already written about Dolly with too many footnotes and references. All written in short snippets.
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.
March 11, 2026
“I’m not offended by dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb… and I’m not blonde.”
I loved this book! I listened to the audiobook version, and the narration was great. As a longtime Dolly fan, it wasn’t hard to stay engaged with her story. I blew through it.
Of course I admire Dolly for her incredible success in music, but what stands out even more is her uncanny ability to be completely and unapologetically herself. She’s incredibly witty, and her personality is so clearly shaped by her humble, backwoods upbringing. That mix of self deprecating humor, authenticity, and resilience is part of what makes her so beloved.
The book does a great job of telling the story of her life while also capturing the essence of her character. By the end, I felt like I understood not just the milestones of her career, but the spirit and determination that made Dolly Parton who she is. I would have loved more about her many charitable contributions, particularly in relation to literacy. She’s truly one of a kind!
I loved this book! I listened to the audiobook version, and the narration was great. As a longtime Dolly fan, it wasn’t hard to stay engaged with her story. I blew through it.
Of course I admire Dolly for her incredible success in music, but what stands out even more is her uncanny ability to be completely and unapologetically herself. She’s incredibly witty, and her personality is so clearly shaped by her humble, backwoods upbringing. That mix of self deprecating humor, authenticity, and resilience is part of what makes her so beloved.
The book does a great job of telling the story of her life while also capturing the essence of her character. By the end, I felt like I understood not just the milestones of her career, but the spirit and determination that made Dolly Parton who she is. I would have loved more about her many charitable contributions, particularly in relation to literacy. She’s truly one of a kind!
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.
March 18, 2026
not my favorite biography... I was excited to learn more about Dolly's life and left the audiobook experience disappointed. I knew this book was not written by Dolly Parton, but I was disappointed to find out that she didn't directly contribute to it at all. no interviews with the author, no excerpts, nothing. too many little early life stories bogged down the overall book, while talking so briefly about her huge achievements, philanthropic work, etc. the book felt super imbalanced with the majority focus on the super early years of her life, and felt out of order at times- I was often confused about where we were at in the overall Dolly timeline.
rating this almost-DNF 2 stars with absolutely zero shade directed towards Mother Dolly. I don't usually rate memoirs but this isn't a memoir, it's just a kind of boring, confusing history book. sorrrrrry.
rating this almost-DNF 2 stars with absolutely zero shade directed towards Mother Dolly. I don't usually rate memoirs but this isn't a memoir, it's just a kind of boring, confusing history book. sorrrrrry.
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.
January 19, 2026
This biography had me hooked from page 1! It was so well paced, beginning before Dolly’s birth and culminating with the passing of her husband, Carl. At no point was I bored.
All the people in her life were treated with care and their problems did not take away from their humanity. I think the author did a great job and will read more of her books.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book!
February 12, 2026
I have read and researched a lot about Dolly Parton because I built a Dolly class to teach. This book is a pretty good overview of Dolly’s life and career, but I didn’t really learn anything new. For people who want to learn more about Dolly Parton, this would be a good book, but for anyone who has already done a deep dive on Dolly, this doesn’t have much new to offer. I would recommend it to anyone interested in reading about Dolly!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!
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