Star of the show My life on stage

Parton concludes her trilogy of lavish photobooks charting her life in show business (following Dolly Parton Songteller) with this volume, focusing on her stagecraft, live concerts, and work on albums, TV, and film. A visual feast, this book boasts more than 500 full-color photos of Parton, her costumes, ticket stubs, merchandise, and candid shots at concerts, TV shows, and movies. The charming text reads as if Parton is leafing through stacks of chronologically arranged photo albums and sharing anecdotes about every aspect of her professional life from 1946 to 2025. She recalls the bomb threat that forced an evacuation while recording her London concert for HBO in 1983; trying not to cry when filming her last duet with a seriously ill Kenny Rogers; opening her Tennessee theme park, Dollywood; producing and writing new songs for the Broadway musical 9 to 5; hosting Saturday Night Live ("The hardest job I have ever had in my life."); working during the COVID crisis by reading children's books aloud on YouTube; and more. VERDICT A beautifully curated collection of career-spanning photos and also an entertaining and encyclopedic catalog of Parton's unstoppable work ethic.--Kevin Howell

A photo-filled career retrospective from one of country music's biggest icons. Parton might be the one person all Americans can agree on. The country music star--and actor, author, theme park owner, and philanthropist--has radiated a sweet and positive energy since the beginning of her long performing career, which she chronicles in this colorful book. She writes about her childhood years as a "kid who needed a lot of attention" to her discovery by grocery store magnate Cas Walker, which led to her move to Nashville to pursue her musical dreams full time. Her big break came courtesy of Porter Wagoner, although her first concert with him--she replaced his previous duet partner, Norma Jean--brought her boos: "I thought,Whoa! Well, this will never do. I'm going to have to do something to get these people to change their minds." Fans took to her soon enough, of course, and Parton spins entertaining stories of performing from tiny venues to huge arenas. (One particularly amusing anecdote sees her playing "Me and Little Andy," in which a girl dies and her puppy follows in short order, which led one concertgoer to yell, "Did you have to kill the damn dog?") Parton brings an aw-shucks energy to her biggest successes, including roles in the films9 to 5 andSteel Magnolias--she still seems shocked that she's made it as big as she has. There are plenty of treats for fans: photos of her concerts, instruments, microphones, ticket stubs, and, naturally, the woman herself--one image of her beaming while snuggling a kitten could conceivably bring about world peace. This book is suffused with joy and gratitude; it's a wonderful look back at a remarkable career: What a way to make a living, indeed. As cheerful and bighearted as the legend herself. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.