Dolly Parton’s New Book is Too Much Fun

I saw Dolly Parton’s new book in Target a month or so before Christmas.

The moment I saw it, I knew I absolutely had to read this book. Y’all! It looks like a Barbie gift we would have gotten back when we were ten. It’s pink and pretty and Dolly!

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Rarely do I know what I want for Christmas, but this year I had two requests. One was a practical book to help me stay organized with my blog. The other was Dolly Parton’s Behind the Seams My Life in Rhinestones.

Alan, as the excellent husband he is, got it for me.

I made a whole YouTube video about how much fun Dolly Parton’s new book is:

Now I am going to tell you what is so great about this book.

“What is so great” is that this book is a fun time! Remember when What Not To Wear was on t.v.? It is like that, but without humiliating your friends with a camera crew about how badly they dress.

Instead, we focus on this one country music/pop culture icon who is known for her over the top looks!

Dolly!!!

It is a giant hot pink book party where we get to step inside the ultimate closet: Dolly Parton’s closet.

She tells us about the designers she worked with from the very beginning, explaining how she gets such an incredible wardrobe. These are not dresses you buy off the rack. My impression is that every single item is hand-made especially for Dolly.

There are so many full color photos of her outfits.

And it’s not just photos!

She takes us through her whole life in stories about her sense of style, beginning with childhood. Who doesn’t love it when Dolly Parton talks about her Appalachian roots?

We learn about how she used to use plants in the forrest around her home to create make-up. She tells quite a few stories about growing up, and every bit of it is interesting.

I stayed up until one a.m. for two or three nights, enjoying this book. I was sad when I ran out of book to read because I’d finished it!

This looks like a real life Barbie book, but it’s more real than that.

At heart, I am as girly girl as it gets. However, eighteen years of raising boys has taken away about all of the prissy tendencies out of me. You won’t find me doing my nails or spending too much time on my hair. I go to the salon twice a year, and by salon I mean Great Clips.

And yet, reading about Dolly’s wigs, costumes, custom made gowns with matching shoes, made me so happy.

Dolly’s new book, Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, is like a party for the little girl inside of you.

Think about the girl inside you who wanted to wear the hot pink dress with the beads and the sparkly high heels with curled hair and lipstick! I guess it’s a case of living vicariously through Dolly.

And you know what? In the end you do feel inspired to be a prettier version of yourself.

I usually wear pretty tame, comfy clothes. By the end of this book, I thought, “You know what I do not care what’s in style either. I want to wear what I love too.”

Why don’t I have more fun with my clothes?

So if you see me out in public carrying a hot pink purse or wearing red lipstick or an actual dress, well, now you know why.

As of February 8, 2024, this book is half off at Amazon. Alan probably paid $50 for my copy, but it’s on sale now for $25.

Are you a fan of Dolly Parton? Have you seen this book in stores? I’d love to hear what you love about Dolly in the comments.