Dolly Parton, the beloved musician and humanitarian, shares her insights on creativity and ambition. She discusses her latest project, ‘Run, Rose, Run,’ which merges music and storytelling through a collaboration with James Patterson. Dolly reflects on overcoming challenges in her career, particularly sexism, while embracing imperfection and the emotional aspects of creativity. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity, finding joy in creation, and the necessity of balancing ambition with self-acceptance.

Dolly Parton, a legendary singer-songwriter and beloved humanitarian, shares her insights on creativity and ambition. She discusses her vibrant new project, 'Run, Rose, Run,' co-created with James Patterson. Dolly reveals her unique songwriting process and how she balances perfection with productivity. With a lifetime dedication to music, she emphasizes the importance of embracing imperfections and viewing setbacks as growth opportunities. She also highlights the power of collaboration in artistry and the significance of authenticity in her journey.

Dolly Parton's $600M empire, Wall Street's Super Six Stocks, and Bilt's credit card for rent. Discussing Dollywood, stock market highs, and how Bilt revolutionized rent payments with loyalty.

It takes an extremely strong song to top the charts three separate times in three separate decades, but "I Will Always Love You" is just such a song. Written and recorded (twice) by Dolly Parton and then re-recorded in show-stopping fashion by Whitney Houston, the ballad has morphed from a fond farewell to a former mentor, to a theatrical goodbye to a lover, to a soaring ode to the very notions of love and loss. We follow that journey from the beginning, with all the vocal tricks, dramatic line-readings, and epic key changes that were added along the way. Band/Artist: Dolly Parton & Whitney Houston Albums: Jolene (1974), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), and The Bodyguard soundtrack (1992) Composed by: Dolly Parton Listen/Buy (Jolene): Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify Listen/Buy (TBLWIT): Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify Listen/Buy (The Bodyguard): Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify ------ ALSO DISCUSSED/FEATURED: The sensational new WNYC podcast Dolly Parton's America "The Last Thing On My Mind" by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner "Applejack" by Dolly Parton from New Harvest...First Gathering, 1977 "Let It Go" from Frozen performed by Idina Menzel ------ OUTRO SOLOIST: Dan Nervo Mr. Dan Nervo has the tiller for this episode's outro solo. Dan plays guitar all around the San Francisco Bay Area in bands like Neon Velvet, and also teaches private guitar lessons. Hit him up if you want to get really good at guitar: https://www.facebook.com/DanNervoGuitarLessons/ ONE 'GRAM AT A TIME If you're interested in occasional music and Portland-related photos and videos, follow Kirk on Instagram @kirk_hamilton. https://www.instagram.com/kirk_hamilton/ NEWSLETTER/MAILING LIST Sign up for Kirk's mailing list to start getting monthly-ish newsletters with music recommendations, links, news, and extra thoughts on new Strong Songs episodes: https://kirkhamilton.substack.com/subscribe STRONG MERCH! Visit the Strong Songs merch store for some very cool t-shirts, mugs, totes, and more: store.strongsongspodcast.com STRONG PLAYLISTS You can find playlists containing every Strong Song as well as all of Kirk's weekly music picks from his other podcast, Kotaku Splitscreen, on both Spotify and Apple Music. SUPPORT STRONG SONGS ON PATREON! The biggest of thank-yous to all of Strong Songs's Patreon patrons. If you want to support Kirk making the show, do so here: https://Patreon.com/StrongSongs NOVEMBER 2019 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS (Thank you!!) andrew walters CALEB ROTACH Chad Barnard Dan Apczynski Dave Florey Glenn Jared Norris Mark Schechter Merlin Mann Ryan Torvik NOVEMBER 2019 HALF-NOTE PATRONS Alex Singer Alexander Polson Amanda Furlotti Andre Bremer Andrew Baker Andrew Lee Arjun Sharma Bill Thornton Brett Douville Brian Amoebas Brooke Wilford Chas Lednicky Chris Brown Cyrus N. White David Stroud Earl Lozada Eero Wahlstedt Elliot Jay O'Neill Emily Williams FlSHBONES Forrest Chang Jaehoon Jeong James Johnson Jasmine Fellows Jeffrey Olson Jennifer Bush John and Sharon Stenglein Jon O'Keefe joujou Juan Carlos Montemayor Elosua Jules Bailey Justin Liew Justin McElroy Kate Albury Kevin Morrell Kevin Pennyfeather Kingy Matt Gaskell Max Schechter Melanie Stivers Michael Blackwell Miriam Juskowicz Molly Mueller Nate from Kalamazoo Nicholas Schechter Richard Toller samuel gardner Shane DeLeon Shaun Wiese SP Tanner Morton Tim Tom Clewer Tom Lauer

This episode explores Dolly Parton's partnership with Porter Wagoner, her decision to strike out on her own, and how she handled the 'hillbilly divorce'. It also discusses the harmonies in country and rock duets, Dolly's rise to fame, her prolific songwriting, and the impact of her song 'I Will Always Love You'.

Dolly Parton & Linda Martell join Beyoncé on her country album 'Cowboy Carter', while Post Malone & Miley Cyrus provide star-studded duets. Discussion on breaking country norms and seeking validation through collaborations. Impact of Beyoncé on country music and the album's themes of personal growth and female empowerment.

Legendary country singer-songwriter, Dolly Parton, joins Glennon Doyle on this heartfelt episode. They discuss starting new ventures, motherhood, and the heartbreak of rejecting Elvis. Dolly shares advice for an aspiring musician and talks about her upcoming book and rock album. They also delve into defying expectations, perseverance, and the importance of embracing both joy and pain.

Beloved musician and humanitarian Dolly Parton opens up about her innovative creative process. She shares insights into balancing ambition with authenticity, revealing how her love for music drives her work. Discussing her latest venture, a novel paired with a companion album, she highlights themes of empowerment and independence. Dolly reflects on resilience, emotional authenticity, and the joy of continued creation, proving that she’s not just burning out but burning bright in her remarkable journey.

Legendary country singer Dolly Parton's 'Dollitics' stance on politics is explored, as she navigates her diverse fan base by staying apolitical. The episode delves into the complexities of her neutrality, the evolution of her song '9 to 5' as a feminist anthem, and the power of music in speaking out against injustice.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce, UK Children's Laureate and children's author, guest edits this insightful discussion, focusing on the necessity of reading to young children as a public health priority. He interviews iconic country music star, Dolly Parton, who shares her journey in writing children's books and her passion for the Imagination Library, which provides free books to kids. The dialogue emphasizes the critical role of storytelling in early childhood bonding, literacy, and overall emotional well-being, highlighting its profound benefits for both children and parents.