She Come By It Natural: Dolly Parton And The Women Who Lived Her Songs

"Author/narrator Sarah Smarsh's blend of family stories of strong women and cultural insights makes her the best choice to narrate her anthropological profile of Dolly Parton. Expanded from her serialized articles for the music journal NO DEPRESSION, Smarsh's work covers the highs and lows of Parton's career, ranging from the boundary-pushing social content of her songs to her notable business acumen. Smarsh's slightly Midwestern inflection attests to her rural upbringing and the experiential feminism she's witnessed in working-class women who've never heard of Betty Friedan. The academic discourse interwoven with stories of Smarsh's grandmother will appeal to fans of Sarah Vowell and music history podcasts. Listeners will feel like they've just had a fascinating conversation with an enthusiastic friend."