Episode #281 | 7.21.26

Dolly Parton: How the Country Icon Nearly Became the Subject of Her Own Murder Ballad

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In this episode

They tried to take her songs. They tried to take her fame. They even threatened to take her life – not once, but multiple times. Listen to find out how Dolly Parton avoided becoming just another tragic heroine in a murder ballad – and instead became one of the most commercial and critically acclaimed artists in music history.

Sources

Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton, by Martha Ackmann

Dolly Parton: My Life and Other Unfinished Business, by Dolly Parton

I Shot a Man in Reno: A History of Death by Murder, Suicide, Fire, Flood, Drugs, Disease and General Misadventure, as Related in Popular Song, by Graeme Thomson

Dolly Parton cancels concerts amid threats (UPI Archives)

Dolly Parton's Unforgettable Visit to The Friendly City (Weelunk)

The 1983 Dolly Parton tour that ended in death threats (Far Out)
Fayette County man threatened to bomb several places unless he spoke with Dolly Parton, police say (WTAE)

Darkness led Dolly to the light (LA Times)

Death threat at Jamboree (Sunday News Register)

Dolly threats arrest made (The Intelligencer)

‘Man in Black’ Trial Continues (The Intelligencer)

Man Gets 6 Months for Threatening Call (The Intelligencer)

Dolly Parton Wrote ‘Jolene’ and ‘I Will Always Love You’ in One Day (Out)

What We Can Learn from Dolly Parton’s Business Savvy and Her $1 Million Donation to the Moderna Vaccine to Fight Covid-19 (Forbes)

Credits

Hosted by Jake Brennan.

Written by Zeth Lundy.

Copy edited by James Sullivan.

Mixed by Matt Beaudoin.

Produced in partnership with the Exactly Right Network and iHeartPodcasts.

DISGRACELAND theme song, “Crenshaw Space Boogie,” written and produced by Jake Brennan. Performed by Jake Brennan, Bryce Kanzer, Jay Cannava, and Evan Kenney. Mixed and engineered by Adam Taylor.

*illustrations by Avi Spivak @avispivak