Dolly Parton Announces Powerful New Book Star of the Show: My Life on Stage, Capping Off Her Autobiographical Trilogy
At 79 years old, Dolly Parton is proving once again that her story is far from over. The beloved country music icon has announced her latest project — a sweeping new memoir titled Star of the Show: My Life on Stage, set to be released this fall through Ten Speed Press. With her trademark sparkle, Parton calls it “a celebration of my journey as a performer,” offering fans a rare and intimate look behind the rhinestones and into her decades-long life in the spotlight.
Written in collaboration with music journalist Tom Roland, Star of the Show is the final volume in a three-part autobiographical collection. It follows Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics and Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, completing a trilogy that traces her evolution from Smoky Mountain roots to global superstardom. While the earlier books explored her songwriting and style, this new edition focuses entirely on what Dolly has called her “true calling” — the stage.
The book promises personal stories, cherished memories, and never-before-seen photos covering more than 70 years of performances. From her humble beginnings singing with Porter Wagoner to her meteoric rise as a solo artist in the late 1970s, Dolly reflects on how the stage became not just a place to entertain, but a place to be. Highlights include reflections on her electrifying 1977 hit “Here You Come Again,” her legendary 9 to 5 film debut (and its Oscar-nominated anthem), and more recent career milestones like her show-stopping 2023 NFL halftime performance.
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Through it all, Star of the Show serves not only as a historical document of a one-of-a-kind entertainer, but as a love letter to her fans. “This book is for everyone who’s ever bought a ticket, sang along to a song, or cheered me on from afar,” Dolly shared in her April 17 announcement on Instagram. “I hope it brings a smile, a tear, and maybe even a little inspiration.”
True to Dolly’s flair for grandeur, a deluxe edition of the book will be released, featuring over 350 full-color images and a stunning eight-page foldout listing her performances through the decades. An audiobook version — narrated by Dolly herself — will be released simultaneously by Penguin Random House Audio.
In addition to this release, Parton continues to be one of the most dynamic multi-hyphenates in the entertainment industry. She’s authored a wide range of works, from children’s holiday books to the thriller Run, Rose, Run with bestselling author James Patterson. And through her beloved Imagination Library, she has gifted over 270 million books to children worldwide since 1995.
As for Star of the Show, it arrives in bookstores on November 11, and is now available for preorder wherever books are sold. Whether you’ve followed Dolly since her days on The Porter Wagoner Show or only recently discovered her magic, this is a collector’s gem that promises laughter, tears, and Dolly’s signature dose of truth wrapped in rhinestones.
“I’m not just telling my story,” she writes in the book’s introduction. “I’m singing it, shining through it, and sharing it with all my heart — just like I always have on stage.”