In this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but why? That simple question leads to a deeply personal, historical, and musical rethinking of one of America’s great icons. Join us for a 9-episode journey into the Dollyverse. Hosted by Jad Abumrad. Produced and reported by Shima Oliaee. Dolly Parton’s America is a production from OSM Audio and WNYC Studios.
Another NEW SHOW Recommendation from Jad Abumrad! Our Common Nature
Host Ana González interviews Jad Abumrad about her new podcast "Our Common Nature," a musical journey with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, revealing Jad's role in their connection.
15 Oct 2025
Jad Abumrad’s new show - Fela Kuti: Fear No Man
Jad Abumrad explores the life, work, and legacy of Nigerian singer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, questioning music's power in a world facing crisis.
6 Jul 2021
The Vanishing of Harry Pace Trailer from the Creators of Dolly Parton's America
Jad Abumrad and Shima Oliaee explore the forgotten legacy of Harry Pace, the visionary founder of Black Swan Records, in this interview episode.
31 Dec 2019
She's Alive!
Host W. Kamau Bell interviews Dolly Parton about her surprising faith journey and her enduring legacy plans.
24 Dec 2019
Traveling Creatures: live music from the series
Host W. Kamau Bell interviews bluegrass musicians Nora Brown and Amythyst Kiah about their live performances featured in "Dolly Parton's America."
17 Dec 2019
Dixie Disappearance
Host Jad Abumrad explores Dolly Parton's business decisions and the national conversation around historical representation in this interview episode.
3 Dec 2019
Dolly Parton's America
Host Jad Abumrad interviews Dr. Lynn Sacco about her "Dolly Parton's America" history class, exploring Southern identity and shame through the lens of the iconic singer.
26 Nov 2019
Dolly's Wildflowers: live music from the series
Musicians Justin Hiltner, Esther Konkara, Steph Jenkins, Stephanie Coleman, Courtney Hartman, Shelley Washington, Bora Yoon, and Caroline Shaw perform live music from "Dolly Parton's America" series.
19 Nov 2019
The Only One For Me, Jolene
Host Jad Abumrad and Professor Nadine Hubbs explore how Dolly Parton's "Jolene" subverts country music tropes, offering a fresh perspective on the iconic song.
12 Nov 2019
Dollitics
Host Jad Abumrad explores Dolly Parton's "Dollitics" strategy of maintaining political neutrality to connect with a diverse fanbase, questioning its desirability and possibility today.
5 Nov 2019
Neon Moss
In this episode, we go back up the mountain to visit Dolly’s actual Tennessee mountain home. But, can you ever go home again? Dolly tells us stories about her first trips out of the holler, and shares with us where she lives now. Back on the mountaintop, standing under the rain by the Little Pigeon River, the trip triggers memories of Jad’s first visit to his father's childhood home, and opens the gateway to dizzying stories of music and migration.
29 Oct 2019
Tennessee Mountain Trance
We journey into the Dollyverse dimension: "Tennessee Mountain Home."Like all law abiding Tennesseans, Jad grew up with the song on a loop. He hadn’t planned to talk with Dolly about it, but much to his surprise, he is drawn into a Tennessee Mountain Trance. The trance opens a portal to many questions about country music, authenticity, nostalgia and belonging. And to a place called Dollywood. We visit the replica of Dolly’s childhood cabin and find thousands of other pilgrims similarly entranced. Along the way, we meet Wandee Pryor, who lived in a Dolly dreamworld as a girl. And also, halfway around the world, Esther Konkara, the self-proclaimed “Kenyan Dolly Parton,” who sings "Tennessee Mountain Home" as an ode to the hills of Nairobi - hills she has not yet left. The Tennessee Mountain home begins to seem like part of a Disney fairytale.But then, Jad and Shima get a call from Dolly’s nephew and head of security Bryan Seaver, who makes an irresistible offer.
22 Oct 2019
I Will Always Leave You
Porter Wagoner led the most successful country music television show of its time, and in 1967 he needed a new “girl singer.” He turned to a 21 year old songwriter named Dolly Parton, who’d just recorded her first hit “Dumb Blonde.” So began a nearly decade-long partnership that, behind the scenes, was as contentious as it was commercially successful. This episode tells the story of the “Porter years,” the period during which Dolly arguably discovers her power - both as a performer and songwriter - and then makes the difficult (and radical for its time) decision to strike out on her own. Through interviews with Dolly, country music star Marty Stuart, Wagonmaster Buck Trent, and Porter’s daughter Deborah Wagoner, we explore how Dolly handled what’s sometimes called the great “hillbilly divorce” with such characteristic grace.
15 Oct 2019
Sad Ass Songs
We begin with a simple question: How did the queen of the boob joke become a feminist icon? Helen Morales, author of “Pilgrimage to Dollywood,” gave us a stern directive – look at the lyrics! So we dive into Dolly’s discography, starting with the early period of what Dolly calls “sad ass songs” to find remarkably prescient words of female pain, slut-shaming, domestic violence, and women being locked away in asylums by cheating husbands. We explore how Dolly took the centuries-old tradition of the Appalachian “murder ballad”—an oral tradition of men singing songs about brutally killing women—and flipped the script, singing from the woman’s point of view. And as her career progresses, the songs expand beyond the pain to tell tales of leaving abuse behind.
How can such pro-woman lyrics come from someone who despises the word feminism? Dolly explains.
3 Oct 2019
Dolly Parton's America Trailer
In this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but why? That simple question leads to a deeply personal, historical, and musical rethinking of one of America’s great icons. Join us for a 9-part journey into the Dollyverse.
Hosted and created by Jad Abumrad and Shima Oliaee.
Who has been a guest on Dolly Parton's America
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Jad Abumrad
Dolly Parton
Nora Brown
Amythyst Kiah
Justin Hiltner
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
16,731 ratings
Pitching Dolly Parton's America
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting pitches.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
