Dolly Parton Announces New Anti-Bullying Children’s Book
By Movieguide® Contributor
Dolly Parton just announced the release of her third children’s book, Dolly Parton’s Billy the Kid Makes it Big.
The book will tell the story of Billy the Kid, a bulldog that loves to bark along to country music and wants to head to Nashville and become a star. When he has a run-in with some bullies, Billy must rely on his friends and his favorite songs to help him regain his self-confidence and become a country star.
“I am so proud to bring this book and the message it conveys to life,” Parton said of the new book. “Years back I wrote a song ‘Makin’ Fun Ain’t Funny’ for my children’s album I Believe In You. I wanted kids to understand how harmful bullying can be to someone.”
She continued, “When I launched the Doggy Parton line of pet products earlier this year, my god-dog Billy got to be the star of the show. Since he’s a big star now, I knew a story with him at the center could help drive home important messages in a unique way. I hope this is the first of many books with Billy.”
Parton’s previous children’s books include 1994’s Coat of Many Colors and 2009’s I Am a Rainbow.
Billy the Kid Makes it Big will hit bookstores on April 25, 2023.
Movieguide® previously reported on another one of Parton’s book projects:
Country music legend Dolly Parton and best-selling author James Patterson joined forces to create a unique literary offering for country music and Patterson fans alike. “Run, Rose, Run” reached No. 1 on Amazon.com even before being released. The book officially dropped March 7.
Both Parton and Patterson are champions of literacy programs, but until a couple of years ago, had never met.
“We liked each other right away. And we kind of made the deal right there — no lawyers. We didn’t want anybody in the way,” Patterson says.
The new country music-inspired “Run, Rose, Run” is being released in conjunction with Parton’s studio album of the same name that debuted March 4. Rolling Stone calls the album “a sturdy reminder of her songwriting greatness and vocal command.”
“He’d give me ideas for the songs. I gave him ideas that he expanded on for the characters and incorporated in the book,” says Parton, whose “Run, Rose, Run” album includes 12 new songs. “So it really was a magical team.”
The story in Parton and Patterson’s novel follows the life of Ruthanna Ryder and examines the Nashville music scene through the eyes of women. As described in an article on Fox News:
The narrative has music and romance and cheering crowds, and lyrics to Parton songs such as the mid-tempo rocker “Big Dreams and Faded Jeans.” On the darker side are unscrupulous executives, unwanted physical advances and the male-oriented ways of the market, defined by a radio consultant’s “salad” theory, in which men are the essential artists, “the lettuce,” the women more like tomatoes, “to be sprinkled into airplay now and again as garnish.”
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