INDEX

acting career, 171–172, 232

directors and screenwriters, 109

film offers, 15, 165

film roles, 213

first film, 177

impact on marriage, 184

indifference to, 15, 108–109, 182

lack of training, 166

playing mad, 177

preferred actors, 182

proposed Mae West film, 108

search for good scripts, 171, 355

self-critique, 108, 237, 238

star status, 175

See also The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; Nine to Five; Rhinestone; Steel Magnolias; Straight Talk

Adams, Cindy, 223, 371

Alamo Club, 62

Allbritten, Dub, 13

Allen, Woody, 109, 182

ambitions, 1, 54, 64, 70–72, 162, 291

Anspach, Susan, 134

Atkins, Chet, 150

attitude toward money, 334–335

Australia, 83, 217

Azzopardi, Chris, 357, 371

 

“Baby, I’m Burnin’” (song), 304

backup singers and musicians, 74, 96–97, 277

Backwoods Barbie, 347, 348, 350

“Backwoods Barbie” (song), 345, 347, 351

Bailey, F. Lee, 299

Bailey, Jerry, 46, 371

Bales, Barry, 315

“Banks of the Ohio,” (song), 364

“Bargain Store,” (song), 67, 114, 129

Barr, Rosanne, 223

Beasler, Norma Jean. See Norma Jean

beautician aptitude, 272–274

Beckham, Bob, 13

Beethoven, Ludwig van, 121–122

belief in God, 72–73, 97, 274, 333–334. See also religion

Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The (film), 160, 167–168, 172, 180–181

production difficulties, 157, 209–211, 224, 232, 249, 280

songs, 338

Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The (musical), 172, 192

Beverly Hills, California, 193, 254, 275

Bible influences, 35, 36, 102–103, 189, 282–283

Bill Anderson Show, The (TV), 14

Billboard charts, 9, 22–24, 347, 363, 372

birth, 4, 63, 82, 212, 269, 271, 349

Blackfoot band, 311–312

Blue Grass Boys, 313

Blue Smoke (album), 357, 358, 361, 363, 364

Blue Valley Songbird (TV movie), 309, 314, 317, 321

bluegrass, 36, 266, 310–313, 317–319, 327–329, 338, 343

Blue-Niques, 328, 329, 331

Bon Jovi, 363

Bond, Johnny, 313

Bonnie and Clyde (film), 142

Boy George, 243, 310

Bradley, Owen, 320

Branson, Missouri, 309

Bread (band), 328, 330

Brinkman, Chuck, xv

Brooks, Garth, 319

Brown, Danny, 329

Buckingham, Steve, 304, 311, 312, 314–316, 329

Bush, Sam, 310, 314

business interests, 120, 121, 235, 244–245, 309, 367

vs. artistic career, 367

Blue Eye Records, 309, 314, 317

companies owned, 141

competitiveness, 295

Dixie Stampede dinner theater, x, 348

Dolly Parton doll, xix, 120, 131, 141

gross worth, 295, 302, 348

income, 29, 37, 83, 106, 120, 172, 217, 270

lawsuits, 203–204, 225, 252, 337

and LGBT community, 301, 357–362

Lumberjack Adventure dinner theater, x

Nashville headquarters, 348

Parton’s Dailies and Nighties, 309

proposed TV sitcom, 295, 297

record producing, 120, 163, 180, 188, 245, 255

Sandollar Productions, 270, 278

Southern Lights, 309

television projects, 245

television work, 289

website, 351

See also Dollywood

Butler, Carl and Pearl, 37, 191

 

Carson, Johnny, xii, 79, 82, 146, 206, 211, 247

Carter, “Mother” Maybelle, 332

Cas Walker Show, The (TV and radio), 5, 26, 27, 37, 83, 318

Cash, Johnny, 107, 115–116, 202, 313

“Cash on the Barrelhead” (song), 312, 315

CBS Records, 262, 266, 309

Chase, Tony, 286

Cher, 301, 305

childhood, 5, 35–36, 75, 102–107, 140, 238, 300

church attendance, 12, 76, 119, 236, 274

Clanton, Jimmy, 60

Cline, Patsy, 198, 302

clothes, 31, 35–36, 69, 87–88, 122, 173, 242, 284. See also Frederick’s of Hollywood

CMA. See Country Music Association

“Coach of Many Colors” (bus), 74, 130, 132

Coal Miner’s Daughter (film), 198, 212

“Coat of Many Colors” (song), 35, 113, 161, 197, 278, 318, 351, 359

Combine Publishing Company, 13

Cooper, Anderson, 223

Coppage, Noel, xv

Corbin, Everett, 3, 371

cosmetic surgery, 53, 89–90, 229, 292–293, 299, 323, 351–352

Cosmopolitan (magazine), 128, 181

country music, 8–9, 18, 37–38, 42, 77, 112–113, 275–276, 318–321, 317–321

and bluegrass, 318

disrespect for, 112

popularity of, 42, 112, 113

songs of tragedy, 277

Country Music Association (CMA), 51, 52

awards, 23, 52, 59, 79, 130, 171, 302, 310–312

Hall of Fame, 311, 313

“Crackerjack” (song), 197

crossover appeal, xviii, 59, 77, 79, 297, 319, 350

Cunningham, Laura, 127–128, 371

“Curse of the Wild Weed Flower” (song), 41

Cyrus, Billy Ray, 296

Cyrus, Miley, 363, 366

“Daddy Was an Old-Time Preacher Man” (song), 24, 35

Daisy Mae (comic strip character), 145, 210, 216, 269

Davis, Gary, 329

Davis, Mac, 52, 60, 63, 75, 76, 172

songwriting, 275

Davis, Skeeter, 10

Dean, Carl (husband), xi, 11, 83, 135–137, 198–199, 353

aversion to flying, 266, 287

marries Parton, 66, 152, 191

meets Parton, 27, 28, 184–185, 235

Parton’s love for, 142

reclusiveness, 91–92, 213, 215–216, 297–299

renewed wedding vows, 363

work of, 92

DeCaro, Frank, 301, 309, 372

Decca Records, 8–9, 13, 317

Deliverance (film), 271

DeLuise, Dom, 280

DeMain, Bill, 46

Dennison, Rachel Parton (sister), 141, 316

Denton, Bobby, 318

Dickens, Hazel, 312

dieting, 65, 136, 139, 225, 237, 284, 299. See also eating problems; favorite foods

diminishing radio play, 295, 332, 341, 350

disco, 154, 304

disinterest in politics, 123, 279–280, 343

divorce rumors, 217, 353

Dixie Chicks, 311, 319

Doctor Zhivago (film), 238

Dollmaker, The (TV movie), 179

Dolly (album), 172

Dolly (1987–88 TV series), 207, 255–257, 261–265, 286

failure of, 270, 288–289, 292

income from, 261

Parton’s opinion of, 295

Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business (book), xvii, 157, 297–298, 305

Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love (TV), x

Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors (TV), x

Dolly Records, 348

Dollyisms, xvi, xvii, 347

Dolly’s Dixie Fixins (cookbook), 351

Dollywood, x, 278–279, 302, 309, 339–340

attendance, 247, 270, 339, 348

creation of, 219, 221, 247

Gay Day, 344–345, 358

gay undercurrent, 357–358

inspiration behind, 338–339

Jukebox Junction, 294

museum, 253, 308

opening of, 247

Parton family involvement, 286

Splash Country, x, 358

Dollywood Ambassadors, 261

Dollywood Foundation, 279, 309

Donahue, Phil, 247

Douglas, Jerry, 310, 314, 331

drag queens, 303, 335, 357, 358, 362

drinking, 96, 102, 184, 225–226, 298, 352

Dukakis, Olympia, 270, 272

“Dumb Blonde” (song), 9, 11, 12, 14, 29, 70, 147, 244, 313

Duncan, Stuart, 310, 314

Durning, Charles, 280

Dylan, Bob, 188–189, 363, 364

 

eating disorder, 218, 225–229, 236–237, 250, 257, 263–264, 284, 352. See also dieting; favorite foods

Ebert, Roger, 155

Emery, Ralph, 23, 191, 348, 372

“Evening Shade” (song), 33, 41, 42

“Everything Is Beautiful (In Its Own Way)” (song), 18, 20

exercise routines, 146, 187, 228–229, 284–285

 

family, 5, 12, 97–98, 271–272, 286, 287

fan club, 261, 285, 351. See also Dollywood Ambassadors

fan letters, 95

favorite books, 123

favorite films, 109–110

favorite foods, 122, 146, 187–188, 227, 263. See also dieting; eating disorder

feminist icon, 64, 171, 306, 364, 365

“Few Old Memories, A” (song), 312, 315, 316

Ferber, Lawrence, 342, 372

Field, Sally, 214, 270, 272

first auditions, 6

first recording, 7–8, 106, 243

fishing hobby, 18–19, 299

Flatt, Lester, 313

Flip-It Records, 304

Flippo, Chet, 59–60, 79, 159, 372

folk music, 16–17

Fonda, Jane, 167, 171, 176, 178, 228, 245, 281

acting advice, 178

exercise workout, 284

Netflix show, 365

politics of, 178, 179

recruits Parton for Nine to Five, 161, 165, 171, 280, 336, 337

tours South with Parton, 179

Ford, Tennessee Ernie, 17

Foster, Fred, 6, 8, 9, 22, 29, 31, 199, 200

Francisco, Don, 277

Franklin, Aretha, 34

Frederick’s of Hollywood, 83, 122, 295, 301

“From Here to the Moon and Back” (song), 361, 363

“Fuel to a Flame” (song), 10

 

Gallin, Sandy, xv, 181, 183, 217, 262–263, 270

and Mac Davis, 172, 275

Parton signs with, 59

personal relationship with Parton, 183, 184, 304–305

20th Century-Fox deal, 108, 159

and Andy Warhol, 231–232

“Games People Play, The” (song), 343

gay following, 141, 245, 291, 301–306, 343–345, 357–362

gay marriage views, 343–344

gay rumors, 291, 305–306, 345–346, 361

Gayle, Crystal, 116, 129

Geffen, David, 305

Gill, Vince, 310, 338

Gold Band Records, 243, 244

Goldberg, Whoopi, 305

Golson, Barry, 80

Gone with the Wind (film), 218, 238

gospel music, 25, 36, 72, 331

Grammy awards, 171, 302, 308, 363

Grand Ole Opry (radio), 7, 14–15, 31, 34, 102, 107

decline of, 320, 321

Parton’s debut on, 83, 106, 107, 313

Grass Is Blue, The (album), 308, 310–313, 316, 318, 319, 327

“Grass Is Blue, The,” (song) 314–316

“Great Balls of Fire” (song), 304

Great Pretender, The (album), 226

Great Smoky Mountains, x, 4, 24, 271

Great Speckled Bird (newspaper), 33

Grobel, Lawrence (Larry), 79–84, 171, 173, 257, 372

Guerrero, Gene, 33, 372, 373

guitar playing, 16, 35, 106, 180, 212, 240, 244

gun ownership, 111, 112–152, 241–242, 250, 259

Guthrie, Savannah, 223

gynecological surgery, 217, 224, 226, 249

Gypsy Fever band, 59, 129, 131, 132, 135, 154

 

hairstyles and wigs, 51–53, 121, 138, 206–207, 242, 243, 306

Halos & Horns (album), 327–332

“Halos & Horns” (song), 329–330

Hannah, Daryl, 272

“Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby” (song), 9, 200

Harling, Bobby, 272, 273

Harris, Emmylou, 64, 82, 116–117, 294, 296, 310, 353

Hawaii, 217, 238, 287

health problems, 223–225, 228, 234, 248, 250, 280, 284

Heartbreaker (album), 91, 130, 196, 232

Heavens to Betsy (musical), 309

Hefner, Hugh, 80

“Hello God,” 333, 334

Hello, I’m Dolly (album), 11, 22

Hemet, California, 251

Here You Come Again (album), 96, 130, 196, 232

“Here You Come Again” (song), 79, 83, 96, 211, 270, 304, 321

Herring, Michael, 312

“He’s Alive”(song), 277

“He’s Everything” (song), 364

Hickey, Dave, xi

Higgins, Colin, 177

High Times (magazine), xiii, 301

Hill, Eddie, 29, 191

Hilty, Megan, 351

Hirshey, Dave, xvi

Hirshey, Gerri, 128, 144, 347, 373

Hollywood, California, 130, 164, 172–173, 184, 269–290

compared to Nashville, 280, 288

Halloween parade, 213

Hollywood sign, 221

Parton’s home, 259

Sandollar Productions, 278

Velvet Mafia, 305

See also Fredericks’s of Hollywood

“Hollywood Potters” (song), 168

homes, 143, 151–152, 218, 238, 251, 254, 272, 299

Hope, Dorothy, 25

Houston, David, 48

Houston, Whitney, 302, 338, 368

and Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” 297

Howser, Don, 10

Hume, Martha, xv

humility, 31, 164, 214, 244, 306–307, 356

Hungry Again (album), 309, 316–318, 321

Hurst, Jack, 1, 22, 23, 373

 

“I Am Ready” (song), 316

“I Will Always Love You” (song), 46, 269, 278, 302, 306, 337–338, 350, 361, 368

Iannacci, Elio, 363, 373

“If” (song), 328, 330

“If You Go, I’ll Follow You” (song), 203

“I’m in No Condition to Try to Love Again” (song), 10

image, xiii–xvi, 68–70, 87, 111, 148, 212, 213

Imagination Library, x, 81, 309, 339, 348

impersonators, 86, 358, 362

impoverished youth, 149, 212, 253, 300, 334

inability to have children, 262

inability to read music, 20–21, 39, 99

intelligence, 49–50, 161, 187, 258

interview techniques, xiv–xvi

Irwin, Colin, 126, 128

“Islands in the Stream” (song), 250

“It May Not Kill Me, But It Sure Gonna Hurt” (song), 7, 244

“It’s All Wrong, but It’s All Right” (song), 114

Ives, Burl, 17

 

Jacobi, Peter P., 80

Jagger, Mick, 63, 129, 216

Jahr, Cliff, xiii, 209, 247, 373

Japan, 83, 285

“Jeannie’s Afraid of the Dark” (song), 196

Jennings, Waylon, 50

Jerome, Jim, 294, 373

Joel, Billy, 312

John, Elton, 81, 115, 174, 297

Jolene (album), 46

“Jolene” (song), 46, 114, 130, 134, 162, 294, 302, 310

Jones, Grandpa, 320

Joplin, Janis, 116

Joshua (album), 41

“Joshua” (song), 34, 41, 45

“Just a Wee Bit Gay” (song), 357

Just Because I’m a Woman (album), 23

“Just Because I’m a Woman” (song), 23, 34, 39, 350, 365

Just Between You and Me (album), 23

 

Katrina and the Waves, 303, 310

Kennedy Center Honors, 350

Kinfolk (proposed band), 15

Krauss, Alison, 310, 314, 316, 331, 353, 354

Kristofferson, Kris, 343

Ku Klux Klan (KKK), 344, 358

Kuhlman, Kathryn, 73

 

Ladies’ Home Journal, 201, 202, 209, 223, 247, 294, 347

Ladysmith Black Mambazo, 303

Lambert, Miranda, 159

Landrum, Liz, 287, 288

Langdon, Harry, 80

Las Vegas, 84, 162–163, 168, 173, 248

Parton’s debut in, 214

Parton’s income from, 160, 172, 217

Latta, John, xi

Lebowitz, Fran, 302, 303, 305, 306

Led Zeppelin, 328, 330

Lee, Brenda, 13, 318

Leibovitz, Annie, 79

Lennon, John, 346

Leno, Jay, 223

Letterman, David, 294

Liberace, xiv, 146

“Light of a Clear Blue Morning” (song), 64–65

Little, Keith, 316

Little Sparrow (album), 308, 327, 330

Locust Ridge, Tennessee, 4–6, 35, 271

Los Angeles, 83–84, 112,

Palomino Club, 81–82

Parton’s surgyery in, 217

Parton’s office in, 262

Louvin, Charlie, 320

Love Is Like a Butterfly (album), 62

“Love Is Like a Butterfly” (song), xx, 130

Loveless, Patty, 310, 316

Lynch, Claire, 316

Lynn, Loretta, 31, 48, 64, 116, 121, 127, 128, 132, 202

and Coal Miner’s Daughter, 198, 212

 

MacLaine, Shirley, 270, 272–274

Maclean’s (magazine), 363

Madonna, 274, 301

magazine covers, 79, 81, 159, 173, 209, 232. See also Playboy

Magic of Believing, The (book), 123, 147–148, 154

“Making Plans” (song), 203

Malone, Bill, 319, 320

Manson, Charles, 257, 259–261

marriage, 66, 152, 185–187, 191, 199–200, 249, 365–366. See also Dean, Carl (husband)

Martin, Steve, 136, 217

Maynard, Joyce, 292, 373

McCormick, George, 320

McNally, Joel, xiv

“Me and Little Andy” (song), 75–77, 129, 133–134, 196–197

Medlock, Rickey, 311

Medlock, Shorty, 311–312

Mercury Records, 7, 244

Midler, Bette, 68, 82, 301

Mighty Fine Band, 277

Mills, Jim, 315

“Minnie Hemms,” 30, 32

“Miss You” (song), 364

Monroe, Bill, 41, 231, 312–313

Monroe, Marilyn, 23, 109, 129, 210, 231

compared to Parton, 282

death of, 251

Monument Records, 3, 13, 29, 199, 246

Parton contracts with, 6–8, 14, 37, 244

Parton leaves, 22

moonshine, 102

Moore, Dudley, 282

mountain music, 36, 330, 340

Moynihan, Maura, 233, 374

“Mule Skinner Blues” (song), 23, 24, 31, 313

musical life story, 368

musical talent in family, 36, 97, 312

Musto, Michael, xv, 77, 78

My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy (album), 33

 

Nabors, Jim, 214

Nash, Alanna, xii, xiv

Nashville, Tennessee, 37, 272, 297

compared to Hollywood, 280, 288

Music Row, 6, 29, 147

Parton’s arrival in, 6, 7, 26, 27, 37, 66, 239, 244

Parton’s home, 3, 141, 151–152, 218, 229, 238, 299

Parton’s office complex, 34, 327, 328, 347, 348

“Nashville sound,” 165

National Enquirer, 136, 361

Native American ancestry, 97–98

Nelson, Willie, 361, 363

New Harvest . . . First Gathering (album), 83, 130

New York City, 112, 226, 241, 305

first visit to, 110–112, 241

Manhattan residence, 159–160, 217, 254, 272

Newman, Jimmy C., 107

Newton-John, Olivia, 52, 114

nicknames, 73, 92, 142, 147, 217, 339, 346, 350

Nilsson, Harry, 330

Nine to Five (album), 161, 163

“Nine to Five,” (song) 161

9 to 5 and Odd Jobs (album), 171, 317

Nine to Five (film), 157, 159, 160, 165–167, 176, 177

feminist theme, 171

kissing scene, 192–193

as message movie, 166, 336

mooted cast reunion, 365

Parton memorizes entire script, 166, 237

and sexual harassment issue, 177–178

songs, 168

success of, 212

theme song, 171, 173, 179–180

Nine to Five (musical), 342, 343, 345

opening of, 347, 351

Norma Jean, 22, 29–30, 83, 320

nudity, 80–81, 85, 104, 169–170, 174, 193–194, 201

Nunley, Louis, 316

 

Ogle, Judy, 193, 195, 209, 263, 298, 343

California tour with Parton, 215

and gay rumors, 291, 298, 305–306, 345–346, 361

Orbison, Roy, 278

Oscar nomination, 173, 232, 252, 302

Out magazine, 301, 304, 309

Owens, Bill (uncle), 7–10, 25, 27–28, 191, 239, 312

Owens, Jake (grandfather), 25, 35, 36, 76, 236

Owens, Louis (uncle), 15, 24, 32, 41, 49

Owens, Richie (cousin), 316–317

Owens, Robert (uncle), 7

Owepar, 141

 

Palomino club, 81, 82

Parker, Tom, 278

Parton, Avie Lee (mother), 5, 88, 99, 253, 254

illnesses, 99–102, 238

leniency of, 102, 150

marriage, 24, 200–201

pregnancies, 99, 101, 105

resemblance to Dolly, 97–98

and religion, 118

singing of, 172, 277, 364

values of, 212

Parton, Dolly

awards, 130, 171, 348, 350

compared to Elvis Presley, 118

compared to Mae West, 108, 109

given name, 192

Parton, Randy (brother), 48–49

Parton, Robert Lee (father), 5, 100–102, 200–201, 238, 254, 349

disciplining by, 37, 88, 102

illiteracy of, 102, 339

marriage, 24

philandering, 238

resemblance to Dolly, 98

values of, 212

Parton, Willadeene (sister), 100

Parton look-alike contests, 81, 82, 86, 87, 362

“Peace Train,” 303, 304, 310

Peale, Norman Vincent, 60

Pearl, Minnie, 309

Pentecostalism, 25, 76, 226, 236, 274

Penthouse (magazine), 81

Perry, Gregg, 74, 132, 135, 169–170, 193, 194, 209–210

pet dogs, 197, 250, 266

Phillips, Bill, 8, 10

physical appearance, 52–53, 69, 84–89, 148–149, 178, 217, 233, 237, 283–284, 348, 362

Plant, Robert, 330

Playboy (magazine), 79–81, 127, 173

cover picture, 80–81, 85–86, 191, 201

vs. Playgirl, 174

Playgirl (magazine), 171, 173

pop music, 8, 18–19, 37–38, 59, 79, 160–161, 304, 350

porno movies, 110, 112

Porter Wagoner Show, The (TV), xi, 22–24, 31, 34, 244

Posey, Sandy, 19

positivism, 70–72, 123, 140, 146, 147, 160, 205, 240

Poss, Barry, 314

praying, 236, 249, 262, 349, 354

Presley, Elvis, 117–118, 163, 240, 251

Graceland, 152, 348

and Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” 269, 278, 306

prostitutes, 110–111, 211, 212

Parton as a madam, 168

protest songs, 342–343

Puckett, Dwight, 15, 48, 49

“Puppy Love” (song), 63, 243

Pure & Simple (album), xi

“Put It Off Until Tomorrow” (song), 8–10, 13

Putman, Curly, 9, 29, 313

 

Ralph Emery Show, The (TV), 52, 191

Ray, Linda, 308, 374

RCA Records, 22, 23, 26

Parton record sales, 130

Parton signs with, 66

and Jim Reeves, 198

 

record sales, 83, 162, 188, 297

recording vocals, 315

Real Love (album), 250

Reeves, Jim, 197–198

religion, 25, 76, 119, 188–189 See also belief in God

reluctance to have children, 153, 186, 218, 241, 298

Resnick, Patricia, 343

restlessness, 66, 83, 153

Reynolds, Burt, 160, 167, 172, 180–182, 192–193, 209–211, 214

Cosmopolitan centerfold, 181

ego of, 214, 251–252

moodiness, 249

rumored affair with Parton, 214–215

sense of humor, 251

singing of, 251, 281

Rhinestone (film), 232–234, 237–238, 281

failure of, 251

songs, 236, 244

Richie Owens & the Farm Bureau band, 316

Rising Tide Records, 303, 317

Ritter, Tex, 17

Rivera, Chita, 62

Roberts, Julia, 272–273

Robinson, Phil, 281

rock music, 8, 34, 38, 42, 95, 266

Rockwell, John, 129–130

Rodgers, Jimmy, 23, 313

Rogers, Kenny, 232, 282, 297

duets with Parton, 250, 363

Rogers, Will, 121

Rolling Stone (magazine), 59, 60, 79, 159, 191, 193, 372

“Romeo” (song), 296

Ronstadt, Linda, 64, 82, 114, 116–117, 294, 296, 310

Ross, Herbert, 270, 272

Roth, Don, 152

RuPaul, 303, 304, 309

Rush, Jeremy, 327, 374

Rutter, Butch, 62

 

sacred music, 16, 18, 100

“Salt of My Tears” (song), 318

schooling, 5–6, 25, 98–99

Schwarzenegger, Arnold, 79

Scruggs, Earl, 312, 313

“Seeker, The” (song), 72

self-confidence, 107, 160, 172, 204–205, 239, 248, 252, 258

self-deprecation, xiv, 31, 53, 154, 237, 306

Sessums, Kevin, 127, 291

Severson, Kim, 357–358

Sevierville, Tennessee, 4, 42, 101

Dolly Parton Day, 26

Dolly Parton Parkway, 341

sex, 104–106, 123–124

Shepard, Sam, 272

Shinola band, 316

Silver Dollar City theme park, 247

Simon, Neil, 109

singing career, beginning of, 4–5, 25–29, 106

Skaggs, Ricky, 266, 276, 315

Skerritt, Tom, 272

“Sleep with One Eye Open” (song), 315

Smith, Patti, 64

“Something Fishy” (song), 9–11, 14, 19, 22, 34, 244

songwriting, 8, 13–14, 20–21, 49, 240, 356

autobiographical themes, 76, 114, 269, 274–275, 351

banned songs, 67, 114, 129, 350, 365

beginning of, 6, 49

collaborations with uncle Bill Owens, 7–10

income, 297

methods, 20, 21, 38, 39, 113, 180, 188

plagiarism accusations, 252

self-critique, 162

song catalog, 10, 113, 244, 297, 348

wedding songs, 361

youthful compositions, 26

soul music, 38

Southern Baptists, 357

Southern Sounds Studio, 329

spiritual experiences, xii, 215, 250

Spiva, Sidney, 49

sports, 195–196

Stadiem, William, 269, 290, 374

“Stairway to Heaven” (song), 328, 330–331

Stallone, Sylvester, 228, 232, 233, 251, 281

ego of, 251–252

singing of, 251, 281

Starr, Blaze, 68, 70

“Steady as the Rain” (song), 314

Steel Magnolias (film), 269, 270, 272–274, 282, 287

depiction of the South, 272–273

Stevens, Cat, 303, 310, 343

Stevens, Ray, 330

Straight Talk (film), 294, 346, 355

Streisand, Barbra, 84, 96, 130, 175–176, 181–182, 305

and LGBT community, 301

meets Parton, 181

Studio 54, 231, 363, 367

Sugar Hill Records, 310, 314, 327, 328, 342

suicidal impulses, 248–251, 261–262, 352

Sullivan, Ed, 288, 292

Sutton, Bryan, 315

Swift, Taylor, 159, 368

 

tabloids, xiv, 130, 209, 214, 216, 302, 308, 349, 352

tattoos, 223, 229–230

Thomas, Jeff, 192

Those Were the Days (album), 342

Today Show, The (TV), 223, 365

tomboyism, 69, 139–140, 212, 239

Tomlin, Lily, 178, 245, 281

Netflix show, 365

Tonight Show, The (TV), xii, 79, 206, 211, 223

touring, xi, 12–13, 128, 169, 277, 365–366

touring buses, 73–74, 132, 145

“Train, Train” (song), 311

Travelin’ Family Band, 59, 83, 97, 140, 141

“Travelin’ Prayer” (song), 312, 316

Treasures (album), 303–304, 310, 317

Trent, Buck, 34, 313

Trio (album), 281, 296

Trio II (album), 294, 296, 310

Tubb, Ernest, 320

Tucker, Tanya, 116

Twain, Shania, 310–311, 319

20th Century-Fox, 83, 108, 130, 146, 159, 245

Twitty, Conway, 48, 64

“Two Doors Down” (song), 310

Two of a Kind (album), 41

 

Underwood, Carrie, 159

United Kingdom tour, 327

United Way, 339

Urban, Keith, 343

Utley, Kyle, 304

 

Vasquez, Junior, 303, 304

value of privacy, xv, 163–164, 175

Velvet Apple Music, 141

views on aging, 155, 255, 297, 300, 332, 366–367

Vincent, Rhonda, 316

vocal style, 38, 63, 91, 128, 154, 243, 315

voluptuous figure, xii, 53–54, 70, 139, 309, 323, 351

vulnerability of, 76, 129, 134

 

W. W. and the Dixie Dancekings (film), 172

Wagoner, Porter, 26, 33–42, 45

criticisms of Parton, 127

death of, 347, 350

discovers Parton, 22, 83

duets with Parton, 22, 23, 34, 43, 48, 203–204

hires Parton, 29–31, 66, 313, 320

and “I Will Always Love You,” 46, 306, 337–338, 350

lawsuit vs. Parton, 144, 203–204, 306, 337

Parton’s debt to, 32, 43–44

as Parton’s mentor, xiv

quarrels with Parton, 46, 119–120

rumored romance with Parton, 350

split with Parton, xi–xii, 47–49, 127–128, 337–338

Wagonmasters, 26, 30, 313, 320

“Wait ’Til I Git You Home” (song), 275

Walker, Cas, 26, 37, 318

“Walking on Sunshine” (song), 303, 310

Walters, Barbara, 79, 82, 145, 247

Warden, Don, 132

Warhol, Andy, 231–246, 363, 367, 374

paintings of Parton, 231

Wasserman, Harry, xiii

Webb’s Mountain, 24–25

Wells, Kitty, 10, 115, 127

West, Mae, xiv, 60, 133, 210, 300

as gay icon, 82

compared to Parton, 282

proposed film about, 108

“What a Heartache” (song), 210

“Where Beauty Lives in Memory” (song), 67

whistling ability, xx, 313

White Limozeen (album), 269, 276

“White Limozeen,” (song) 274–275

“Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That” (song), 269, 276

Wilburn Brothers Show, The (TV), 14

Wildflowers (proposed musical), 202, 213

Williams, Hank, Jr., 10

Willow Lake, 251, 254

Witherspoon, Reese, 368

women’s movement, 39, 123, 166, 245

work ethic, 264, 266, 297, 321, 322, 347

writing, 17, 19, 153, 235, 240, 255, 289–290

autobiography, xvii, 73, 81, 202–203, 231, 305, 353

children’s stories, 17, 73, 125

cookbook, 351

erotica, 125

poetry, 17, 19, 73

Wildflowers novel, 213

Wynette, Tammy, 31, 64, 128–129, 202

 

“Yellow Roses” (song), 269

“You Can’t Reach Me Anymore” (song), 41

Young, Neil, 303

“Your Kisses Are Charity” (song), 310

“You’re Known by the Company You Keep” (song), 10

Yusuf Islam. See Stevens, Cat