Dolly Parton: The Girl from the Tennessee Mountains

Before the rhinestones, the movies, Dollywood, and songs known around the world, there was a girl from the mountains of East Tennessee—and a radio.

In this episode of The Common Room, we follow Dolly Parton from her Appalachian childhood and early performances on Cas Walker’s Farm and Home Hour to her remarkable Grand Ole Opry debut at just thirteen years old.

But this is more than a biography. It is the story of the American musical world that made Dolly possible: the National Barn Dance, the Grand Ole Opry, gospel music, front porches, mountain storytelling, and the extraordinary reach of radio.

We explore Dolly as a songwriter through the stories behind “Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “9 to 5”; her partnership with Porter Wagoner; the humor and intelligence behind her larger-than-life public image; and the faith, family, business sense, generosity, and love of books that shaped her life.

And we ask a question especially suited to Chesterton Radio:

What can an old Grand Ole Opry broadcast tell us about Dolly Parton that a greatest-hits playlist cannot?

Pull up a chair. The Common Room is open.

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