As Dolly will tell you, so much of who she is - her creativity, her music, her stance on life - emanates from her faith, but what exactly is that faith? The answer is deeply surprising. In this episode, Dolly tells a story of finding God in an...Read more
Dolly Parton’s America
Dolly Parton’s America is a groundbreaking, nine-part documentary podcast series from WNYC Studios and OSM Audio. Created by Jad Abumrad (Radiolab) and Shima Oliaee, the series ventures beyond the rhinestones to examine Dolly Parton as a profound cultural text. Inspired by a university class tracking her historical impact, the podcast investigates how Dolly maneuvers through “dollitics”—safeguarding a universal appeal while quietly addressing issues of class, gender, race, and Southern identity. Featuring unprecedented, deeply personal interviews with Dolly herself, alongside insights from historians, fans, and cultural critics, this series is a vibrant, intellectual, and deeply moving exploration of an American treasure and the country that claims her.
Latest Episodes:
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She's Alive!
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Traveling Creatures: live music from the seriesIn this second bonus music episode, we play two live songs we recorded, sung by bluegrass musicians Nora Brown and Amythyst Kiah. You can find Nora on facebook @norabrownbanjo, instagram @little.nb, and her music at jalopyrecords.org and on Spotify. Amythyst is on facebook, instagram, and twitter at @amythystkiah, and her music can be...Read more
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Dixie DisappearanceThis episode delves into the controversy surrounding Dolly Parton’s Stampede (formerly known as “Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede”)—a dinner theater that presents the Civil War as a friendly competition between neighbors. In the wake of the Charlottesville Riots in 2017, the Dixie Stampede was called out by the press, and then became embroiled...Read more
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Dolly Parton's AmericaAt the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, we drop in on a history class called “Dolly Parton’s America.” (We borrowed the name for our series!) Taught by Dr. Lynn Sacco, the class is filled with college students who grew up in rural Appalachia, many of whom are the first in...Read more
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Dolly's Wildflowers: live music from the seriesMusic performed by: Justin Hiltner (@hiltnerj, http://justinhiltner.com) Esther Konkara (@esther_konkara) Steph Jenkins (@slhjenkins, http://www.stephaniejenkins.info) Stephanie Coleman (@stephiecoleman) Courtney Hartman (@courthartman, https://www.courtneyhartman.com) Shelley Washington (Read more
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The Only One For Me, JoleneOne of Dolly’s most iconic and successful songs is “Jolene,” a song that, at first listen, is about a romantic rival trying to steal her man: a prime example of the classic “cheating song.” But some see it as flipping a popular country music trope on its head. This idea takes...Read more
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Tennessee Mountain TranceWe journey into the Dollyverse dimension: "Tennessee Mountain Home."Like all law abiding Tennesseans, Jad grew up with the song on a loop. He hadn’t planned to talk with Dolly about it, but much to his surprise, he is drawn into a Tennessee Mountain Trance. The trance opens a portal...Read more
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I Will Always Leave YouPorter Wagoner led the most successful country music television show of its time, and in 1967 he needed a new “girl singer.” He turned to a 21 year old songwriter named Dolly Parton, who’d just recorded her first hit “Dumb Blonde.” So began a nearly decade-long partnership that,...Read more
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Sad Ass SongsWe begin with a simple question: How did the queen of the boob joke become a feminist icon? Helen Morales, author of “Pilgrimage to Dollywood,” gave us a stern directive – look at the lyrics! So we dive into Dolly’s discography, starting with the early period of what...Read more
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Dolly Parton's America TrailerIn this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but why? That simple question leads to a deeply personal, historical, and musical rethinking of one of America’s great icons. Join us for a 9-part journey into the Dollyverse. Hosted...Read more
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