Dolly Parton's America is a 2019 podcast hosted by Jad Abumrad and reported and produced by Shima Oliaee at WNYC Studios. It is a nine-part non-fiction series based on Dolly Parton's career and enduring legacy.[1] The series begins with how Abumrad learned that his father, Naji Abumrad, a doctor, had befriended Parton after she survived a minor traffic accident. Abumrad sought out an introduction to Parton in an effort to understand how she remains one of the most popular and well respected musicians in America.[2] Each episode covers a different aspect of Parton's career, from her early life, to her unique approach to politics, her most famous songs and creation of the Dollywood theme park.[3] The name of the podcast was based on a history class at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville also titled Dolly Parton’s America taught by Dr. Lynn Sacco.[4]
Dolly Parton's America received largely positive responses from most mainstream media, including NPR,[5] The Guardian,[6] Vulture[7] and others. The New York Times called it "a genial, compulsively listenable crash course in Parton's lasting appeal."[8] The podcast won a Peabody Award in the Podcast/Radio category.[9]
| 1 | "Sad Ass Songs" | October 15, 2019 |
| 2 | "I Will Always Leave You" | October 22, 2019 |
| 3 | "Tennessee Mountain Trance" | October 29, 2019 |
| 4 | "Neon Moss" | November 5, 2019 |
| 5 | "Dollitics" | November 12, 2019 |
| Bonus | Live Music from the Series | November 26, 2019 |
| 6 | "The Only One For Me, Jolene" | November 19, 2019 |
| 7 | "Dolly Parton's America" | December 3, 2019 |
| 8 | "Dixie Disappearance" | December 17, 2019 |
| Bonus | Live Music from the Series | December 24, 2019 |
| 9 | "She's Alive" | December 31, 2019 |