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Abbie Taylor: Highly Recommending Ain't Nobody's Fool by Martha Ackermann

From NLS

Ain't nobody's fool: the life and times of Dolly Parton DB134275
Author: Ackmann, Martha
Reading Time: 8 hours, 20 minutes
Read by: Hannah Church
Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress
Subjects: Biography of Composers and Musicians, Music Appreciation and History, Women, Stage and Screen
"In Ain't Nobody's Fool: 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." -- From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

My 5-Star Review

Being a musician, I love reading about other singers, especially those I like. Because I’ve enjoyed Dolly Parton’s music and sung a few of her songs, this book didn’t disappoint me.
The narrator did an excellent job. When listening, it was as if Dolly Parton were in my living room, telling me her story. I was intrigued to learn what inspired her to write “Coat of Many Colors,” “I Will Always Love You,” and other songs.
Quotes from family, friends, and others in the industry who worked with Dolly added a nice touch. I also enjoyed the music at the beginning and end of the audiobook. If you like Dolly Parton, you’ll love Ain’t Nobody’s Fool.

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