Dolly Parton, Gender, and Country Music

By: Leigh H. Edwards

Narrated by: Lee Ann Howlett

Dolly Parton is instantly recognizable for her iconic style and persona, but how did she create her enduring image? Dolly crafted her exaggerated appearance and stage personality by combining two opposing stereotypes - the innocent mountain girl and the voluptuous sex symbol. Emerging through her lyrics, personal stories, stage presence, and visual imagery, these wildly different gender tropes form a central part of Dolly’s media image and portrayal of herself as a star and celebrity. By developing a multilayered image and persona, Dolly both critiques representations of femininity in country music and attracts a diverse fan base ranging from country and pop music fans to feminists and gay rights advocates.

In Dolly Parton, Gender, and Country Music, Leigh H. Edwards explores Dolly’s roles as musician, actor, author, philanthropist, and entrepreneur to tell how Dolly’s gender subversion highlights the challenges that can be found even in the most seemingly traditional form of American popular music. As Dolly depicts herself as simultaneously "real" and "fake", she offers new perspectives on country music’s claims of authenticity.

"Tremendous book.... Anyone who wants to understand Parton's contributions, not just to country music, but to American culture in general, should read Dolly Parton, Gender, and Country Music." (Kristine M. McCusker, author of Lonesome Cowgirls and Honky Tonk Angels)

"Compelling analysis.... A model of interdisciplinary scholarship. (Barry Shank, author of The Political Force of Musical Beauty)

©2018 Leigh H. Edwards (P)2018 Redwood Audiobooks

Dolly

Dolly Parton, Gender, and Country Music
: Leigh H. Edwards


If you are looking for a biographical book about Dolly, this book isn't for you. On the other hand if you want to find out how Dolly built and shaped her brand, you'll love this.



The narration was well done by Lee Ann Howlett.



I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A little overkill to drive a point home but..

From her music to her vibrant personality, what's not to love about Dolly? Her Barbie doll persona has men all over the world swooning, and women wanting to be like her. This book dives into every gender related thing or situation pertaining to Dolly's image and persona. I did enjoy hearing how Dolly shaped her image, but I do wish the author would have included a few insider tidbits. It would have been a nice way to break up the repetitive use of the word's gender role before every sentence. The narrator was on point though. I think she gave a very good performance. Overall, this was a 3 1/2 star listen for me. I was given a free copy of this book at my request and have voluntarily decided to leave this review.

Interesting analysis of Dolly

Here is an interesting look at Dolly and how her embracement of her femininity and what she has always found to be beautiful impacted the country music industry. This is not a book about her life but a book about her gender and how the way she presented herself throughout the years has affected the country music industry as well as her life. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Dolly

This was a good book,if you want to learn how Dolly dealt with being a woman in a mans world and keeping her music going.It felt like a school course.I thought it would be more biographical,so that was a dissapointment. Lee Ann Howlett was a fine narrator.I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.

I like her music and the voice of the narrator...

.... but I did not like the book too much. In fact I hardly got through. This was due to my expectations I reckon.

I thought the book was a biography about Dolly in which the reader can find out more about her life and career in music.

The book is also about Dolly of course, but the main topic is gender and it sounds more like a doctoral thesis / scientific work rather than a book writen for entertainment / for the fans of Dolly Parton's life and music.

Yawn... well - that is not really what I expected.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Academic paper - not a biography

I am bailing a few chapters in. The book is written in an academic text book style. I learned everything I wanted to hear in the forward. The take away- Dolly used her feminine charm and backwoods roots to disarm men and allow her a platform to make commentary about gender and culture stereotypes in America and country music. I don't think you need chapters to make that point.

A Tour de Force in Gender Studies

This book was a revelation. I have been a Dolly Parton fan for many years but never stopped to consider the impact gender played in shaping her public persona.

Starting at the beginning and following through to present day, author Leigh H. Edwards is extremely thorough in her research and analysis. Where other Dolly Parton biographies have only scratched the surface, this book offers detailed insight into who Dolly really is and how she became the Dolly Parton the world knows and loves.

The narrator also does an exceptional job and is perfectly suited to the material.

Overall, a must read for fans of Dolly Parton and country music in general, as well as those looking to explore gender and the role it plays in shaping celebrity. I look forward to reading more from this author.

*I was given a free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A regurgitation of easily researchable facts.

I felt that this was a reading of a high school research paper as if the author needs to write a paper on a subject of psychological celebrity.
Very disappointing.