This was the book I didn't know I needed in my life! In a hard season, reading about Dolly's life, both personal and professional, was such an unexpected grace. I always love to hear the behind-the-scenes stories of my favorite artists, and this one delivered on that count, as expected. But I was unprepared for the poignancy of reading Dolly's story against the backdrop of our current cultural climate. Thank you, Sarah Smarsh, and thank you, Dolly Parton. This book is a joy.

While I thought that this was a book about Dolly Parton it is more a book of the author telling how Dolly's songs affected her family and other women who had come from similar circumstances as Dolly. It tells of the struggle Dolly had because of her background and the way she dressed and looked. It is more a book about the trials that women have faced while trying to make it in a man's world. If the cover had not depicted Dolly then I probably would not have expected to learn a lot more about Dolly's life. Because it was not what I anticipated that it would be, I gave it a 3 star rating.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of the story.

I greatly enjoyed the author's narrative. While I am a fan of Dolly, the person, I don't listen to much of her music. So the author's reflections of how Dolly's music influenced feminism and , women evolving in the music industry, was fresh and captivating. .

It's a solid read even if you are not a Dolly fan.

I went into She Came By It Natural by Sarah Smarsh expecting a straight forward music bio. What I got was much more complex and interesting. The focus of the historical analysis is less on the rote facts of the life of Dolly Parton, but on how her music embodied and influenced a generation of women. The author has a lot to say about women who are underprivileged, under educated, and under estimated, and all of what she has to say is interesting. Sometimes the book felt rambling, as if there was too much disparate information being covered over too small of a space. On the whole, however, it was illuminating and fresh.

Review to be posted to @honeyedwordsreads Instagram upon publication of the title.

I loved Smarsh's previous book and tore through this Dolly Parton bio as soon as I got approved the arc. It's marvelous and full of heart. Love, love, love. RTC.

Dolly Parton iconic talented a fascinating woman.The author shares Dollys role as a feminist icon.Sharing her connection with other wonen. The way she was treated by society ,reporters such as Barbra Walters .A very interesting look at Dolly Parton.The authorbhs writing style point of view continues to draw me in.#netgalley#scribner

What sets this apart from other examinations of Dolly's career and personal life is how it fixates upon what her music means to the women who were so often the subjects of her songs. As Smarsh points out several times, these women (and Dolly) didn't necessarily know the terms associated with their need for freedom, for escaping oppression in whatever form, for their demands regarding equality, but they felt it in their hearts, acting upon it.

To approach Dolly's work via this angle is clever and fresh, as, not only are there tons of books you could read about Parton, but the lady's put out her own autobiography. It's quite beneficial to (and especially in this day and age) assess Dolly's work in totality, if, for no other reason, to key in on her positive attitude toward those who are accosted for trying to be themselves and/or to achieve equality.

Smarsh makes the case for her being about as Christian as one can get, and I'm in full agreement. Dolly doesn't shove her religion in your face, she'll hug you no matter what, she gives without expectation of reciprocation...the list goes on. It's not breaking news that Parton is a role model for everyone, but this book comes at a time when faux-Christianity dominates the news and inhabits political positions going all of the way to the top, and, as an East Tennessean, it's relaxing and refreshing that Dolly's still, well, DOLLY.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the advance read.

I didn’t really care for this book too much. I thought it was a book about Dolly Parton, but it was a book about Dolly and feminism. And Dolly herself has said she’s not a feminist, that she just wants everyone to be equal, It says this very statement in this book, as well. Although I didn’t really like the book in general, there were some places in particular that discussed Dolly and her life and her thoughts on things that Interested me. That’s why I gave the 2 stars instead of 1. So, if you’re looking for a autobiography or biography on Dolly, it’s not that at all. Or it isn’t in my opinion anyway. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review #SheComesByItNaturally . My thoughts and views are my own.

Smarsh provides an episodic overview of Parton's career and uses quotes from past interviews Parton has given as a lens through which to explore how she (Smarsh) has felt about feminism and the world as a poor white girl and woman. The book tells the reader more about Sarah Smarsh's take on feminism than Parton's, but that's not really a bad thing; and since Dolly Parton has always cheerfully allowed the public to take what it wishes from her life and career, it actually seems fitting.

She Come by it Natural by Sarah Smarsh is an insightful look at what feminism means to rural women, poor women, under-educated women, blue-color women, and how Dolly Parton exemplifies this grace-filled and pure definition of empowered womanhood. It is also a book for every woman who has ever been tested by hard times, who has ever looked for and found an unconventional role model, and who has ever chaffed at the feminist label because it doesn't quite fit her life.

I am one of those women, and I really felt at home in this book.

The author's background in academic feminism combined with her own personal experience of feminism as a rural woman of a working-poor mother brought a level of honesty to the book that was refreshing. Like a lot of women who grew up in the 70s, I took up the one-size-fits-all banner of feminism, only to find it didn't really represent who I was or even who I wanted to be. I think a lot of us have been similarly put off by academic definitions and militant stereotypes of feminism, and this book is a wonderful reminder of what real feminism looks and sounds like: It isn't just a woman with a blowhorn spewing anger, it is also a petite lady in skin-tight clothes with big hair and high heels who speaks truth to the challenges of being a woman, and encourages others to be courageous in owning their lives, their pasts and their futures - however that may look to them.

Dolly's story is inspiring in and of itself, but placed in the context of feminism and specifically the brand of feminism grown in poor, working women, that story becomes almost a parable. From her poor, rural upbringing to her bold decision to go to Nashville at 18, to her relationship to Porter Wagner and other men who misjudged her strength, to decisions about her public persona and what that imagery represents to her and others, this is a book that deserves a spot in feminist libraries as well as on the bedsides of women everywhere.

This review is based on an advance copy read.

Less biography, more political analysis of Dolly’s role in feminism. Ironic because (as mentioned in this book many times) Dolly doesn’t consider herself a political figure. That being said, I adore Dolly and I’ll read anything about her.

*Thank you to Net Galley and Scribner for the advanced copy*

The most difficult part of writing this review is trying to come up with a way to introduce Dolly Parton. First of all, she's a household name. Second, she successfully wears so many different hats it makes it impossible to simply describer her. She's a businesswoman, singer, songwriter, author, actress, producer, etc who never lost touch with her Eastern Tennessee roots.

Growing up, Dolly shared a one room cabin with her parents and 11 siblings. She split for Nashville the day after graduating college and began writing songs for other country music artists. After the success of her first country single, "Dumb Blonde," Dolly signed on to The Porter Wagoner Show, where she was taken advantage of and dealt with Wagoner's passive aggressive antics, before really branching out on her own.

Smarsh's book takes a look at Dolly through the lens of poverty and feminism. Smarsh also grew up poor and draws comparisons between Dolly and the working class women in her life. throughout the book. Smarsh considers herself a feminist, Dolly does not. She operates on the principle that everyone is equal and deserves to be heard. While she might not say she is a feminist, she certainly acts like one. Dolly is in complete control of her aesthetic. She has earned her money and she'll spend it on whatever she damn well feels like be it face lift, wigs, funding for the COVID vaccine or producing Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

This book also discusses Dolly's close ties to Eastern Tennessee. She's remains a presence through her non-profit that provides books to children (regardless of income), extensive financial relief to residents of natural disasters, her theme park, Dollywood. It's clear through Dolly's actions that she truly cares and will always consider herself an Eastern Tennessee girl.

Overall, I enjoyed this glimpse into Dolly's life. Based on what I knew about Dolly before reading this book, Smarsh paints an accurate picture of Dolly, a spunky and ambitious woman with a no BS attitude ready to take down whatever stands in her way. I enjoyed the comparisons Smarsh made to her own life and thought it provided helpful context to the choices Dolly has made in her life.

Dolly Parton is definitely someone whose fandom cuts across class, political, and gender lines, so I was intrigued by the title and synopsis of She Come By It Natural. I think the subtitle is a little misleading - while Smarsh frequently refers back to her grandmother and mom, that subtitle led me to expect a more detailed comparison of Dolly "and the women who lived her songs" (e.g., interviews with such women) that's just not part of the scope of this book.

She Come By It Natural is a collection of four long-form magazine articles Smarsh wrote as a series that was published in 2017. The essays ("parts" here) are comprised of analysis more than anything - when biographical information is integrated, it's generally to support Smarsh's analysis. The author also pulls from concerts, interviews, and TV appearances Parton's done.

I thought it was really interesting to examine Parton from this lens - in part, the music she wrote, but also, the songs (written by others) she chose to sing, the movies she starred in, her responses to rudeness over the years, her business choices, and perhaps most of all, her appearance. It's a short book, considering how long Parton's been a mainstay in country music, and how big of a footprint she's made on other media too.

There were places where I didn't totally agree with Smarsh's view, as well as places where I thought her argument needed to be expanded. And, while there was a foreword and two footnotes, I couldn't help but want a further update. She Come By It Natural doesn't publish until this fall, but at times gave me the feeling of going back in time a few years. (Women on country radio and Stampede in particular are two sections where I would've appreciated additional information.)

Overall, I enjoyed learning a bit more about Dolly, considering her choices/career from this lens, and also taking a big picture view at cultural changes over the past few decades.

I really think this book is more of a 4.5 on the rating scale. Country music is not my favorite genre of music, but I do love Bluegrass and Roots. Dolly Parton has long been someone I admire. The more I've learned about her the more I love her. She Come By It Natural just expanded my view of how this living legend came to be and how she "takes no prisoners" in her business life. The author, Sarah Smarsh, parallels her hardscrabble life and childhood with the childhood of Miss Parton, drawing comparisons of family, opportunities and tenacity in both women. It comes as no surprise that the Country Music industry is not very supportive of women artists and the opportunities (especially in the current time) for women are frustratingly unavailable when compared to men. This book shows how Miss Parton forged her own pathway, staying true to herself despite everyone telling her she was too (fill in the blank) and needed to be different. It's a lesson all women, especially girls need to hear. Dolly Parton has shown over a career spanning decades that she has her finger on the pulse of music and writes and performs music that resonates with everyone that loves a good story and tune. As if that wasn't enough, she also has a heart as big as Tennessee when it comes to supporting her home and community by her generous giving and her amazing charitable works, especially The Imagination Library that encourages childhood literacy around the world.

Growing up I loved listening to Dolly Parton but never really knew her story until I was well into my 30's. I since then have grown to love and respect her even more and this book is amazing. It tells of her natural talent and how she never let anyone tell her no. After visiting Dollywood a few years ago with my family, I knew that she had built this up with love and hard work. For anyone who is looking for a good read, this is your book!

"She Come By It Natural" is an intellectualized fourth wave feminist critique of Parton's songs and portions of Parton's life. At times, the book can be well-written, with parallels drawn between Parton's songs and her life and those of other women, particularly how Parton was treated by the media (and other powerful women like Barbara Walters). Other times it devolves into standard ivy league Leftist nonsense, beginning with a musing as to whether people who do not like rap music are actually racists, praising the hate filled Women's March of Antisemitic Hate that made Sarsour a national figure of renown, and throwing in willy-nilly attacks on President Trump by imagining what he thinks and feels. Virtue signaling gone wild.

Dolly, Dolly, Dolly! Who doesnt love this woman?? I've been a fan since 9 to 5, great song and funny movie. Reading this book about her made me more of a fan. She has a bright light about her that draws you to her and she brightens your day. I adore Miss Dolly and this book is a must for any country fan!

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Though Dolly Parton wouldn't call herself a feminist in the vein that Sarah Smarsh sometimes to leans toward in She Come by it Natural, Parton is the steel magnolia to Sarah Smarsh's Midwestern bluestem and rye grass that under girds much of the prairies. Alongside the native grasslands and Smoky Mountain hollers, the strains of music plucked with frosted 3 inch nails wafts through a look at our American treatment of women during recent eras. Songs that make much of the scorned woman who smiles back at her oppressor and then saunters away with a better paycheck or a better deal. Like one character in a song who "makes off" with the mobile home as she leaves her loser of a man.

Smarsh aptly shows how Dolly uses her appearance during times when many women are throwing off the male social expectations, the 'feminine ideal' of the sexy office assistant for the more masculine pantsuit and marching for the ERA. In fact, nearly a whole chapter is devoted to Parton's undaunted take on plastic surgeries and all the nips and tucks that some women, not the women Smarsh admires, keep hush-hush. Smarsh connects messages in Parton's songs to the forgotten among us: the working class, the waitress, an hourly fast food worker, the women who up and leave when they are sick and tired of the grind, the system, or some lowlife man who won't pick up his own underwear. Just because a gal doesn't march in a parade, she can slam the door off its hinges as she makes her point that the life behind it, "ain't gonna get it."

Smarsh's well-written and thoughtful book draws on Parton's autobiography and many other sources to make the case that roots music and its deep connections to culture. In the particular cultural forefront, Smarsh's own people two-step through the narrative to their own life's dance. What Parton has going for her is her own solid Christian faith. Parton's faith is lived out in her philanthropies, self deprecating humor, service to others, and her downright rejection of public snark with a mean motivation. Smarsh highlights that subtle grace Dolly Parton has stemming from her beliefs, the hardworking and hard living people who she continues to generously reach out to. Perhaps that is the essence of Dolly that is so attractive and sustaining.

If you've ever sung along with lyrics that mourn a loss, celebrate an exit, or show how a dumb blonde is no body's fool, you'll love the book. In fact, you probably "come by it natural."

Awesome book! I have always lived in East Tennessee so I have always loved Dolly! I agree that all of her songs have touched so many lives and have helped them get through though times.

I thought this was a book for children (even young adults, but it reads like a book for grownups. I don't think students will be very interested in a meditation on poor women and what keeps them down or how they rise to the top. A simple biography of Dolly Parton would have sufficed.