Nominated for the 2020 National Book Critics Circle Award

The National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author of Heartland focuses her laser-sharp insights on a working-class icon and one of the most unifying figures in American culture: Dolly Parton.

“Far beyond the recently resurrected “Jolene” or quintessential “9 to 5,” Parton’s songs for decades have validated women who go unheard: the poor woman, the pregnant teenager, the struggling mother disparaged as “trailer trash.” Parton’s broader career—from singing on the front porch of her family’s cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains to achieving stardom in Nashville and Hollywood, from “girl singer” managed by powerful men to leader of a self-made business and philanthropy empire—offers a springboard to examining the intersections of gender, class, and culture.”

She Come By It Natural (Amazon) (AbeBooks) is just the latest in a long line of appreciation of Dolly Parton and her songwriting. Last year I had the chance to review Unlikely Angel: The Songs of Dolly Parton (review can be found here). That book was dissection of Dolly’s songs and her songwriting skills. This book is a look at how Smarsh’s family not only listened to Parton’s music but seemingly lived their lives like many of the characters in her songs.

The book was originally a four-part series for The Journal of Roots Music, No Depression, back in 2017, and hasn’t really been updated except in the introduction. Smarsh weaves stories of her grandmother, mother and her own life through the examples of Dolly’s songs. That Dolly doesn’t consider herself a feminist (but believes everyone should be treated with respect) but wrote so many female-empowering songs is shown throughout the book. “Parton’s songs for decades have validated women who go unheard: the poor woman, the pregnant teenager, the struggling mother disparaged as “trailer trash.” Parton’s broader career—from singing on the front porch of her family’s cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains to achieving stardom in Nashville and Hollywood, from “girl singer” managed by powerful men to leader of a self-made business and philanthropy empire—offers a springboard to examining the intersections of gender, class, and culture.” She Come By It Natural is more about Smarsh’s experiences with Dolly’s music and how they shaped her views on society through the women in her life.

I’m surprised by all the negative views of this book, but then again, maybe I shouldn’t be. With feminism and female empowerment through songs as the main theme of the book, this seems to ruffle the feathers of the more conservative Dolly fans who seem to be stuck in another era. The feminism that Dolly professes not to be a part of shines through with examples of her songs throughout, despite her protestations that she’s not a feminist. The only thing I wish the book covered more was other women outside of Smarsh’s family and how Parton’s songs impacted them.

Dolly has proven over the years that she’s not some dumb blonde but a talented singer, songwriter, producer, businesswoman and philanthropist. She’s been writing and singing about the disparity between men and women for over fifty years. She Come By it Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs shows how her songs, as well as how she’s lived her life, have influenced many marginalized women throughout the years.

This is the 26th Audiobook I’ve listened to as part of my 2021 Audiobook Challenge.

For more reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com

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