Tag: dolly parton

10 Great Musical Biographies That Tell the Stories Behind Your Favorite Artists

September 29, 2023

Spotify Premium Audiobooks Music Biography

You might know all the songs and albums of your favorite musicians, but do you know the experiences and inspirations behind their work? Luckily, you can find out by listening to some great musical biographies on Spotify.

With picks that include memoirs from legendary stars including Dave Grohl, Billie Eilish, Gucci Mane, and Dolly Parton, you can discover all the wisdom these greats have to share.

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music

Written and narrated by Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl’s autobiography, The Storyteller, sheds light on what it’s like to be a kid from Springfield, Virginia, who goes on to live out his craziest dreams as a musician. The rock icon reflects on everything from hitting the road with Scream at 18, to his time in Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. He remembers jamming with Iggy Pop and dancing with AC/DC and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. He tells stories about drumming for Tom Petty and meeting Paul McCartney at Royal Albert Hall. Grohl even recounts unexpected moments like bedtime stories with Joan Jett to a chance meeting with Little Richard.

The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl

Written and narrated by Melanie Chisholm

After five women answered a newspaper ad, the Spice Girls were born. They recorded their first single, “Wannabe,” and nearly overnight, Melanie “Melanie C” Chisholm went from small-town girl to Sporty Spice.

The Sporty One follows the meteoric rise of Melanie C and The Spice Girls, from the incredible highs of playing at Wembley, conquering the BRITs, and closing the 2012 Olympics, to the difficult lows. For the first time ever, Melanie C talks about the pressures of fame, the shaming and bullying she experienced, the struggles she has had with her body image and mental health, and the difficulty of finding herself when the whole world knew her name.

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics

Written by Dolly Parton, Robert K. Oermann

Narrated by Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton, Songteller goes beyond the glitz, glamor, and rhinestones to the warmth, heart, and soul of a treasured pop culture icon. In this autobiography, 10-time Grammy Award–winning artist Dolly Parton weaves her words with music and memories to give listeners the stories behind her most cherished songs.

How close did Parton come to singing “I Will Always Love You” as a duet with Elvis Presley? How did she become an actress? And exactly who was “Jolene”? This one-of-a-kind audio experience answers the most burning questions that Parton’s fans have.

The Autobiography of Gucci Mane

Written by Gucci Mane and Neil Martinez-Belkin

Narrated by Guy Lockard

For the first time, hip-hop legend Gucci Mane tells the story of his rise, fall, and redemption in The Autobiography of Gucci Mane. With a string of influential mixtapes and street anthems that pioneered the sound of trap music in the 2000s, the rap icon inspired and mentored a new generation of artists and producers including Migos, Young Thug, Nicki Minaj, Zaytoven, Mike WiLL Made-It, and Metro Boomin.

Taking listeners back to his roots in Alabama, the streets of East Atlanta, and the studio where he found his voice, Gucci Mane reflects on his successes while also confronting his dark past, which included drug addiction, murder charges, and a prison sentence.

But Gucci Mane has changed, and in this music bio, he provides an intimate glimpse into his radical transformation following his 2016 prison release—one that saw the rapper emerge sober, smiling, focused, and positive. This is one of music’s great comeback stories.

Born to Run

Written and narrated by Bruce Springsteen

In 2009, Bruce Springsteen performed at the Super Bowl halftime show. The experience was so exhilarating that he decided to write about it, which then inspired him to tell the story of his entire life.

Vividly recounting his relentless drive to become a musician, his early days as a bar band king in New Jersey, and the rise of The E Street Band, Springsteen fills the pages of Born to Run with humor, originality, and disarming candor. For the first time, the superstar rocker shares the personal struggles that inspired his best work, and shows us why the song “Born to Run” reveals more than we previously realized. This isn’t just a legendary rock star’s memoir. This is a book for anyone who has ever wanted to be baptized in the holy river of rock and roll.

Billie Eilish: In Her Own Words

Written by Billie Eilish

Narrated By Billie Eilish, Maggie Baird, Patrick O’Connell

In this special audiobook companion piece, global pop phenomenon Billie Eilish walks fans through the personal highlights and special moments of her life and career, both on and off the stage.

Billie Eilish: In Her Own Words is full of exclusive and unique content, including memories shared by her parents. Capturing the essence of Billie inside and out, listeners get personal glimpses into her childhood, her life on tour, and more, making this audio edition essential for any fan.

It’s a Long Story: My Life

Written by Willie Nelson and David Ritz

Narrated by Christopher Ryan Grant

It’s a Long Story is the complete, unvarnished story of Willie Nelson‘s life. Told in his distinct voice and leaving no moment or experience unturned, the country legend takes listeners on a ride from Texas and Nashville to Hawaii and his legendary tour bus.

Nelson shines a light on all aspects of his life, including his drive to write music, the women in his life, his biggest collaborations, his lowest lows, and his highest highs—from his bankruptcy to the founding of Farm Aid.

Talking to My Angels

Written and narrated by Melissa Etheridge

Following the success of her first memoir, award-winning rocker and trailblazing LGBTQIA+ icon Melissa Etheridge returns to take stock of her life in the years that have followed.

Talking to My Angels is a profoundly honest look into Etheridge’s inner life as a woman, an artist, a mother, and a survivor. With characteristic wit and courage, Melissa delves into how numerous tragedies served as a catalyst for growth, and what the past two decades have taught her about the value of music, love, family, and life in the face of death. This audiobook also features live, stripped-down performances of many of Melissa’s songs, including “Talking to My Angel” and “Here Comes the Pain.”

Chronicles of the Juice Man: A Memoir

Written by Juicy J and Soren Baker

Narrated by Adam Lazarre-White

The hustle still continues for hip-hop OG Juicy J in Chronicles of the Juice Man, where he shares his invaluable story as an unwavering force in the music industry. Jordan Houston’s rise to stardom was never easy. Beginning with his journey on the streets of Memphis in the ’80s, Juicy J was always inspired by music and had big dreams of becoming a superstar rapper. The Three 6 Mafia member stuck to his plan with determination, rising from a young, poor, ambitious kid to an Academy Award–winning and Grammy-nominated recording artist and entrepreneur. A never-before-seen look into one of the most influential tastemakers in the game, Chronicles of the Juice Man offers Juicy J’s wisdom as a respected industry veteran.

Tell It Like It Is: My Story

Written and narrated by Aaron Neville

Tell It Like It Is shares the trials and tribulations of legendary singer and songwriter Aaron Neville through the lens of his faith, family, and music.

Scoring his first number-one hit in 1966 with “Tell It Like It Is,” the artist went on to form the Neville Brothers with his siblings Art, Charles, and Cyril. Aaron was the breakout star, and over the next six decades, he’s enjoyed four platinum albums, three number-one songs, and entry into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

But few people know the challenging and circuitous road Aaron took to fame. Born in a housing project in New Orleans, he struggled as a teenage father working to raise a family while building his career as a musician, surviving a stint in jail for car theft and battling heroin addiction for many years. Now for the first time, fans can discover the inside story.

Eligible Spotify Premium users in the U.K. and Australia can now look forward to 15 hours of audiobook listening per month on any audiobook marked “Included in Premium.” Learn all about it.

Ben Affleck Reveals the ’80s Classics That Inspired His New Movie, ‘AIR’

April 10, 2023

For all that Michael Jordan accomplished on a basketball court, his signature sneakers are an equally important part of his legacy. And in the new movie AIR—which Ben Affleck directs and stars in alongside Matt Damon, Viola Davis, and Jason Bateman—fans can discover how one of the world’s most legendary shoes came to be.

But more than just exploring the mythology of Air Jordan and his game-changing kicks, the movie also stands out for its soundtrack. Featuring the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Run-D.M.C., REO Speedwagon, and Chaka Khan, the AIR soundtrack is a non-stop parade of iconic ’80s hits.

To celebrate AIR’s release, Ben took the nostalgia a step further and created a playlist of the ’80s classics that inspired him during filming. Jumping from pop to rock to hip-hop (and everything in-between), 1984 includes tracks from Prince, Dolly Parton, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Van Halen, Sheila E., and more.

For the Record had the opportunity to speak with AIR’s music supervisor, Andrea von Foerster, who gave us the inside scoop on how she and Ben helped bring the movie to life through its music.

Were there ways you used the soundtrack to enhance the narrative?

Ben directed an amazing film that feels authentically ’80s, visually and musically. There was so much good music from that time, and we used many of the songs from a narrative point of view. Using lyrics that matched what was happening in certain scenes was a great way to add energy and comedy. For example, Run-D.M.C.’s “My Adidas” plays as Michael Jordan meets with Adidas, and REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling” helps set the tone as Nike CEO Phil Knight goes on a run and decides whether or not to make an offer to Michael.

Were there any songs that became a must-include for the soundtrack?

Right at the start of the process, Ben sent me a 1984 playlist as a jumping off point. As we got closer to the final edit, the song choices evolved. Sometimes we decided we could beat what we originally had in mind, and other times we needed to pivot due to budgetary restrictions. “My Adidas” and “Born In The U.S.A.” are discussed in the film, so we definitely wanted to keep those.

We also didn’t have a composer on this film, so we licensed existing scores from other ’80s films. Seven of those were from the electronic group Tangerine Dream. But then we needed to find the right music for two spots in the film, so we commissioned Paul Haslinger, a former member of Tangerine Dream, to compose music for those moments.

Andrea von Foerster

Are there any songs on the soundtrack that you consider deep cuts or forgotten gems?

I think it depends on how old you are. I’m not that far behind Matt and Ben in age, so we have the same consciousness of music. But if you’re younger, you might not know all the songs. So I think most people will know “Born in the U.S.A.,” but they may not know the Violent Femmes’ “Prove My Love.” Rufus and Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody” is also an amazing song that some people might discover for the first time. There was a moment when it played during the premiere and everyone in the theater started singing it. It’s such a good song.

If you had to guess, what would Michael Jordan have had in his Walkman in 1984?

I think it’s safe to say he was listening to Prince, like any self-respecting human alive at that time.

And then I’d guess Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Van Halen, Run-D.M.C., Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Whodini, Kool & The Gang, Fleetwood Mac, and The Sugarhill Gang.

Check out all the sights and sounds of 1984 in AIR, playing in theaters now. And to discover more classics of the era, check out our playlist ’80s Hits.

Country Crossover Icon Shania Twain Is Spotify’s EQUAL Ambassador of the Month

September 15, 2022

“Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” “Any Man of Mine.” “You’re Still The One.” The list of hit singles from country legend Shania Twain goes on and on. And while the Canadian star grew up singing and performing in the ’80s, she really hit her stride in the ’90s when she released three albums that introduced her bold and unapologetic persona to the world.

Shania’s success is unparalleled. She has won five Grammy Awards, sold over 100 million records, and accumulated over 1 billion streams across her Spotify catalog—making her not only the best-selling female artist in country music, but one of the best-selling artists of all time.

Shania took her career to new heights in 1997 when she released Come On Over, a genre-spanning album that attracted a global fan base and proved she was a pop force to be reckoned with. But even after the release of her Greatest Hits album, Shania continues to push boundaries with her music. This year the singer released the track “Not Just A Girl” as well as a compilation album that is a companion to her new Netflix documentary, Not Just A Girl.

Shania’s boundary-breaking attitude makes her the perfect Ambassador of the Month for Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program. EQUAL aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. Fans can find Shania’s new song on this month’s EQUAL Global playlist.

For the Record caught up with the superstar to learn more about what inspires her and how she’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry.

The artists who have most inspired me are _____.

Especially as a kid, artists like Dolly Parton and Tanya Tucker. I thought I could maybe be the next Tanya Tucker, in fact. I really learned a lot of my songwriting from Dolly Parton. Olivia Newton-John was a big inspiration for me. Gladys Knight always being the biggest, most beautiful voice I thought I’d ever heard. When I got into my teens, I started to really draw most of my inspiration from rock singers. I was a big Heart fan. I was getting into the big hair and lots of hairspray. Annie Lennox was one of my absolute favorite singers for her range. I thought it was incredible. And she had such a strong, yet feminine face and such an eye for fashion and her own personal styling. So, I guess my influences evolved as I got older. I started to really get inspired by some of the new, more recent voices as I was especially regaining my own voice after a struggle with it. So I was really targeting the higher voices like Ariana Grande and Sia, with her punch and her power. So in more recent years, I’ve been focusing on the voices that have the most flex and agility, just from my own vocal training.

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is _____.

Don’t be a follower. If you really plan on being a leader, then it’s probably not a good idea to get into the habit of following what other people are doing, what other artists are doing stylistically. Just be your own boss.

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is _____.

Acceptance . . . more unity. Music is very uniting. We just need to be celebrating music, regardless of our gender. It’s the artist’s responsibility to put their best foot forward. So it’s not because of your gender that you should be accepted, it’s because of your greatness. But then we, as an audience and as streamers, have to give artists that door. Even if we have to kick the door down, the door still has to be there. So give us a chance to get out there to the fans and let the public decide.

A few up-and-coming women artists I’m excited to watch are _____.

Mickey Guyton—I think you’re incredible. I love your personality and I think you’re going to be around for a really long time. I look forward to everything that you have coming up next. I’m also a big cheerleader for Tiera Kennedy because, Tiera, I believed in you right from the beginning. So just keep it going. Keep those great songs coming; keep songwriting. There’s so many fabulous women that are just in front of you. I mean, Brandi Carlile is one of the best female songwriters I think I’ve ever known. So keep looking to these other great songwriters in front of you, and I look forward to seeing more of you.

My girl-power anthem is _____.

Is this, like, a trick question or something? Cause I know I have at least a dozen or more . . . but I’m going to say right now, in my spirit, it’s “Roar” by Katy Perry.

Hear Shania’s new hit, as well as songs from other women artists, on our EQUAL Global playlist.

Spotify rapporterar intäkter för första kvartalet 2022

April 27, 2022

Idag publicerar Spotify sina finansiella resultat för första kvartalet 2022. Klicka här för att ta del av hela den finansiella pressreleasen och kolla in höjdpunkterna nedan:

Vill du höra mer? Lyssna gärna på vår Q&A-webcast på IR-sajten här.

Klicka nedan för att kolla in trailers från några av våra senaste original och exklusiva podcasts.

Spotify Reports First Quarter 2022 Earnings

April 27, 2022

Spotify Q1 2022 earnings results showing growing users and subscribers. we have reached 422 million monthly active users, up 19% year over year. We have reached 182 million subscribers, up 15% year over year.

Today, Spotify announced our first quarter 2022 financial performance. Click here to review the full earnings release, and take a look at the highlights below:

Interested in hearing more? You can listen to the webcast Q&A on the IR site here.

Click below to check out a sizzle reel of audio trailers from a few of our recent original and exclusive podcasts.

Dolly Parton and James Patterson Collaborate on a New Bookcast Audio Experience

February 23, 2022

Imagine the songwriting prowess of country icon Dolly Parton combined with the skillful storytelling of best-selling author James Patterson all rolled into a unique audio experience.

Dream no more—the pair has joined forces to create the Run, Rose, Run Bookcast, which blends audio storytelling with original music and sound elements in an immersive listening experience. Run, Rose, Run will combine their co-authored fiction novel with an original soundtrack written, produced, and recorded by Dolly. It’s available for free exclusively on Spotify, with new episodes releasing weekly.

“We are honored to partner with Dolly Parton and James Patterson on Run, Rose, Run, a trailblazing audio experience from two of the world’s most prolific creators that combines Spotify’s core elements—music and spoken audio,” said Dawn Ostroff, Spotify’s Chief Content and Advertising Business Officer. “This unique audio experience exemplifies the limitless potential of audio and Spotify’s commitment to partnering with exceptional creative talent on new innovative formats.”

Set in Nashville, Run, Rose, Run follows an aspiring female musician who goes to the country music capital to pursue her dreams. She carries with her a brutal secret that serves as the inspiration for her heart-wrenching songs, and she soon learns that her hidden past threatens the future she’s trying to build.

“I still can’t believe that I get to launch Spotify’s first-ever Bookcast with my buddy James Patterson. What a great way to reach out to listeners all around the world,” said Dolly Parton. “When we wrote this book together, I felt I could contribute best by sticking to my first love, music. James and I hope that listeners will be able to feel the connection between the book and the album as we work to bring this story and these characters to life, as only two storytellers can.”

The friendship and fandom are mutual.

“I’ve been a fan of Dolly Parton’s storytelling for years, so I was thrilled to collaborate with her on Run, Rose, Run and bring these characters to life,” said James Patterson. “The music she’s created around this project is incredible, and I’m grateful that Spotify has given us the opportunity to bring listeners a new experience of the book and album.”

Dolly Parton will release the Run, Rose, Run soundtrack on March 4 through Butterfly Records in partnership with Ingrooves/UMG, following the premiere of the Bookcast. It’s the first soundtrack for a novel. On March 7 the novel will be released simultaneously with the last six episodes of the Bookcast.

Stream the first two songs from the Run, Rose, Run album starting today, only on Spotify.

Songs to Soundtrack Your Vaccination Journey

April 9, 2021

So many of our life moments—major and mundane—are soundtracked by music. Weddings, workdays, graduations, birthdays, commutes, workouts . . . the list goes on and on. Recently, we’ve seen an all-new type of celebratory soundtrack pop up around the world: The COVID-19 Vaccine playlist.

Since January 1, Spotify fans have created more than 7,700 vaccine-related playlists globally. And based on the songs they’ve added, it’s clear that optimism, excitement and humor are key themes across tracklists.

Some frequently added songs include:

In the past 90 days, we’ve even seen a 350% increase in fan-generated Spotify playlists specific to the COVID-19 vaccine. And as “what vaccine did you get?” starts to become a commonplace question, people are repping the manufacturers by naming their playlists after specific vaccine types.

So, to help soundtrack your own vaccine journey, we’ve created a new playlist to take you from the pre-shot pump up, to the jab itself, to the post-vaccine celebration. We even worked alongside the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative to include a link to Get Vaccine Answers directly in the playlist, ensuring all Americans are informed and have the resources they need before, during, and after the shot.

Get jazzed for the jab with our new playlist below.

Get in the Holiday Spirit with Dolly Parton, Jose Mari Chan, Black Pumas, and More

November 18, 2020

In a year that’s brought unprecedented challenges, Spotify data suggests that listeners may be seeking comfort from holiday music earlier than usual in 2020. While festive playlists usually snowball in December, we’re seeing our most popular holiday playlist, Christmas Hits, streamed at a higher rate in September and October compared to previous years. Many think it’s never too early to crank yuletide tunes, and it shows: Listeners have already streamed more than 6.5 billion minutes of Christmas tracks this year.

In this episode of our podcast, Spotify: For the Record, we look at which songs are making it to the top of our listeners’ Christmas lists. One favorite is “Last Christmas,” which was originally released in 1984 by Wham! To date, there are about 1,200 covers of the hit on Spotify.

In addition to digging into the data, we also get in the spirit by chatting with some iconic artists about their holiday hits, including Dolly Parton, who recently released her first Christmas album in 30 years. In the episode, the country legend joins us to talk about the inspiration behind A Holly Dolly Christmas and what it was like to duet with Michael Bublé in the song “Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas.”

Aside from Parton, we also chat with beloved Filipino artist Jose Mari Chan. Known as “The Father of Christmas Music” in the Philippines, Chan shares the inspiration behind his iconic holiday tunes, which have been a staple of festive celebration in the country for the last three decades.

This episode is no longer available as of November 2021, however you can get more great stories and news delivered audibly by following our podcasts, Spotify: For the Record, Spotify: Mic Check, and Spotify: Discover This.

Audio Connects Us All in Spotify’s Newest Campaign, ‘Listening Together’

May 7, 2020

What are you listening to right now? Whatever it is, chances are you’re not the only one. Every moment, more than 30,000 people around the world press play on the same song on Spotify. Suffice it to say, listening connects us, even when we aren’t expecting it. Now, through our new global campaign, “Listening Together,” we’re celebrating audio’s unique power to unite us—even when we’re apart.

Whether you’re streaming pop, hip-hop, or opera, the initiative highlights the power of audio to bring us closer together through a visualization-based microsite, artist-influenced Together With playlists, and more.

Listening Together Microsite

Back in 2014, media artist Kyle McDonald had a great idea to find the “serendipity” of two listeners pressing play on the same song within moments of each other. Fast forward seven years to today, and Spotify has hundreds of millions of listeners around the world pressing play on the same song within the same moment. The connections are exponential, and with our new microsite, we’re visualizing those serendipitous clicks and taps in a real-time way like never before.

Say multiple people hit play on “Imagine,” or “Bored in the House.” A virtual, rotating 3D map of Earth will display the track name, as well as the country and city where the connection is happening. And you’ll be there to watch as the connection happens, and which track brought them together at that very moment.

Want to see for yourself? Check out the Listening Together microsite here to watch in real time as fans around the world listen to the same track, at the same time.

Listening Together With Playlists

During this time, we’ve also enlisted the help of artists like Selena Gomez, Lil Yachty, and Dolly Parton to share the music and podcasts that are soundtracking their days. Our new Listening Together With playlists feature these artists, as well as Lennon Stella, Anitta, Grimes and others sharing commentary about what they are currently listening to. Here’s a sample of what each artist had to say about what they’ve been streaming, and why.

“Listening to music brings me such hope and joy even during these hard times.” — Dolly Parton

“I’ve been listening to kind of down-tempo vibes while I game.” — Lil Yachty

“I’ve been listening to an eclectic mix of classics and current music while feeling inspired to cook new dishes.” — Selena Gomez

We’re constantly adding new playlists from your favorite artists and creators. This week, check out Alicia Keys’ “Cooking Together” playlist for her favorite nourishing tracks.

Whether in good times or challenging ones, Spotify believes in the limitless power of audio. Our hope is that these playlists will allow listeners to forge a common bond with people around the world who are also using audio to stay connected.

Check out how people are Listening Together on the new microsite, or stream our flagship Listening With playlist.

Spotify and Country Music Icon Reba McEntire Announce New Podcast Launching in Early 2020

October 29, 2019

One of country music’s iconic superstars, Reba McEntire, is partnering with Spotify to launch a new original podcast in early 2020. Fans worldwide can tune in to hear Reba’s trademark wit and wisdom as she and expert guests share honest, comedic takes on struggles we all face when it comes to confronting life’s challenges, making good decisions, and creating happiness around us. In a nutshell, it’s Reba’s interpretation of ‘living your best life.’

With her new show, Reba will be joining the growing list of names (lookin’ at you Kevin Bacon), opinion makers (Bill Simmons) and musicians (Midland) who have created podcasts exclusively for Spotify.

“I am so excited to be partnering with Spotify on my new podcast and I’m even more excited to be connecting with my fans in a way I haven’t done before,” says Reba. “I’m looking forward to sharing some of what I’ve learned from my own life challenges and hopefully learning more along the way. Spotify is the perfect platform to share this journey with my fans, old and new!”

One of the most successful female recording artists in history, McEntire has sold over 56 million albums worldwide and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame and Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. She has won 15 American Music Awards, 16 ACM Awards, nine People’s Choice Awards, six CMA Awards, three GRAMMY® Awards, an ACM Career Achievement Honor, was a 2018 Kennedy Center Honors recipient, and is one of only four entertainers in history to receive the National Artistic Achievement Award from the U.S. Congress.

And she’s not slowing down. This year, she released her new studio album Stronger Than the Truth to rave reviews and received the Artist of a Lifetime award at the 2019 CMT Artists of the Year ceremony. On November 13, she will co-host the 53rd Annual CMA Awards with Carrie Underwood and Dolly Parton.

“We are so honored that one of country music’s most beloved stars, Reba McEntire, has chosen to launch her podcast exclusively on Spotify next year,” says Brittany Schaffer, Head of Artist & Label Marketing for Spotify Nashville. “We are all longtime fans of Reba’s extraordinary music, her career, and her razor sharp insights, and are certain that fans will absolutely love hearing a strong female icon like Reba share her advice and personal thoughts on all!”

Spotify is dedicated to collaborating with artists in the country music space, from legends to rising stars. So stay tuned for the launch date and more details—and in the meantime, tune in to Reba’s newest album.

Why Dolly Parton’s Star Power Works 24-7, Not Just 9 to 5

January 25, 2019

Country music icon Dolly Parton just celebrated her seventy-third birthday, and her megastar status shows no signs of fading. Legions of new listeners are discovering classic Dolly songs due to her enduring—and commanding—presence in pop culture.

Put it this way: If you don’t follow country music, you probably don’t know that Parton released four new albums in the past eight years. But it was hard to miss the buzz over Parton’s instrumental role in the soundtrack of Dumplin’, the recent Netflix movie starring Danielle Macdonald and Jennifer Aniston. Including hits “Here I Am” and “Girl in the Movies,” the soundtrack exposed millions of younger listeners to a wide swath of Parton’s music, particularly chart-topping classics like “Jolene” and “9 to 5.”

Just three days after Dumplin’ premiered on December 7, streaming of Parton’s entire catalog popped 132 percent compared to the previous month. The biggest surges came from listeners under 29 and living in the Northeast of the U.S., outside Parton’s traditional Southern stronghold. All the more impressive is that Parton’s rise into the millions of daily streams came during the heart of the holiday season, when most artists’ hits make way for Christmas music.

It isn’t just Dumplin’ luck, however, that Parton transcends the country genre. It’s consistency. Parton’s star power routinely gets a boost from her heartfelt tunes that enhance TV shows and movies.

Her 2006 song “Travelin’ Thru” for the soundtrack to the film Transamerica was nominated for an Academy Award. (“Girl in the Movies” was up for a Golden Globe this year.) On an episode of “The Voice” in 2016, Miley Cyrus brought down the house crooning “Jolene,” a heartbreaking bluegrass ode to jealousy, alongside Parton. Her tunes have also played on everything from “Dancing With the Stars” to “So You Think You Can Dance” to “Britain’s Got Talent,”and the list goes on.

Parton will continue to pop up in pop culture — and likely once again expand her following — later this year, when Netflix runs a Parton-produced eight-episode series about her life and music. Expect the popularity of her music—old and newer tracks alike—to rise again.

Enjoy Parton’s new songs and updated recordings of her classics on the Dumplin’ soundtrack here. Or take a deep dive with our exclusive This Is Dolly Parton playlist.

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