Why’d she come in here lookin’ like that? Dolly Parton will answer that question in a new book coming later this year.
Ten Speed Press will publish the country music superstar and longtime fashion icon’s Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, co-written with Holly George-Warren and curated by Rebecca Seaver, in the fall. The press describes the book as “a beautifully illustrated celebration of Dolly Parton’s iconic sense of style through entertaining personal stories and 450 full-color photographs, including exclusive images from her private costume archive.”
Parton, known for her hit singles including “9 to 5,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “Jolene,” has long drawn attention for her elaborate outfits and costumes, including her signature blonde wigs. (She memorably once said that she wasn’t offended by “dumb blonde” jokes, because “I know I’m not dumb, and I also know that I’m not blonde.”)
Her new book, Ten Speed says, features “the largest reveal of her private costume archive.”
“The sky-high heels, famous wigs, bold makeup, eye-catching stage clothes—she shares them all,” the publisher says. “Along the way, Parton discusses memorable outfits from her past…and the daring styles that continue to entertain and inspire today.”
Parton has written several books before, including the novel Run, Rose, Run, a collaboration with James Patterson; Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, written with Robert K. Oermann; and Dolly Parton’s Billy the Kid Makes It Big, a children’s book written with Erica S. Perl and illustrated by MacKenzie Haley, which is set to be published next month.
Behind the Seams has a publication date of Oct. 17. There’s no word yet as to whether there will be an accompanying ice cream, but her fans can hope.
Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.
