From “Sad Ass Songs” to “I Will Always Leave You,” Dolly Parton’s America is the nine-episode, deep-dive podcast we didn’t know we wanted and now can’t stop obsessing over.
The series weaves together interviews (turns out there are legit “Dolly-ologists”), clips and music to tell a nonlinear story. We track Parton’s rise from hillbilly songwriter to “girl singer” on Porter Wagoner’s music show to solo country superstar. (Wagoner’s ego never quite recovered.)
Creator and host Jad Abumrad, who scored an introduction to Parton because his physician father became unexpected friends with the singer, also explores topics such as “How did the queen of the boob joke become a feminist icon?” (Short answer: Read her lyrics.)
One annoyance: The clips we hear of Parton’s songs are often chopped-up and augmented unnecessarily with electronica effects for atmospheric flair. If it sounds a lot like Radiolab, it comes honestly: Abumrad was that show’s creator.
Details
Available on major podcast players including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, more details at wnycstudios.org
