The Faith of Dolly Parton
Lessons from Her Life to Lift Your Heart
Dolly Parton has entertained, educated, and inspired millions of fans for over five decades. Whether she’s writing songs, performing live, recording new albums, acting in or producing new movies and TV programs, expanding her wildly successful Dollywood amusement park, helping children around the world learn to read with her Imagination Library nonprofit, or donating millions of dollars to schools, charities, and people in need, the Queen of Country Music has never been shy about crediting her Christian faith for her success.
“A belief in God is essential,” Dolly shares. “You have to believe in something bigger than yourself. We grew up believing that through God all things are possible.” Growing up in the little mountain church where her grandfather preached, Dolly started singing hymns and playing guitar at services when she was only six. Consequently, she has never been shy about discussing her faith and relationship with God. “People say, ‘Well, I am surprised that you talk about your faith,’ and I say, ‘Why not? That’s who I am. That’s what keeps me going,’” she explains.
Tennessee native, Dolly fanboy, and award-winning writer Dudley Delffs now spotlights ten faith lessons as evidenced in Dolly’s life, music, interviews, and attitude. The Faith of Dolly Parton focuses on the ways Dolly’s life can inspire you to be more authentic, to trust God during hard times, to stay grounded during the good times, and to always keep your sense of humor.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
Amy Grant
singer, songwriter, Grammy Award winner
“I have admired Dolly Parton for a long time ... as an entertainer, a songwriter, a brilliant business woman, a philanthropist, and as a friend. No matter what her trials and triumphs, her faith in God has remained an unchanging constant in her life. As author Dudley Delffs explores the deep roots of Dolly’s faith, we come to understand that faith is what motivates her to selflessly give so much back to the community and to audiences around the world. Join me in accepting the author’s challenge to go deeper in our own faith and live a little bit more like Dolly, one of the most beloved Tennesseans of all time.”
Bill Haslam
Governor of Tennessee
"Dudley’s book gives great insight into why so many people around the world love Dolly Parton. While Dolly is one of the biggest superstars, she has never forgotten who she is and where she came from and the faith that anchors her life."
Jane Kirkpatrick
award-winning author of
All She Left Behind
“Three amazing strands of stories are woven into this fabulous book. The thread of biography speaks of a fascinating woman whom we tend to think we know, but whom I admire even more when seeing her through the lens of faith. The thread of memoir shared through the author’s blending of his own life story with Dolly’s is a gift of hope and connection. And the final thread, that of devotional, invites us to more. Reading this book reminded me of my own faith journey and the gift of story told through music, words, and life. I love this book! You will too!”
Donnie Winokur
author of Chancer: How One Good Boy Saved Another
"The Faith of Dolly Parton is a little book filled with big dreams! Dudley Delffs weaves together his unique spiritual journey with the wonder and wisdom of Dolly Parton’s with a heartwarming result. I was uplifted by the inspirational gifts of both and delighted by the author’s humor and the joy hidden in the stories of Dolly’s life. Inside this book, part memoir and part biography, lies a map for readers to unfold their own prayers and dreams."
Craig Groeschel
pastor, Life.Church; New York Times bestselling author
“You may know Dolly Parton as a legendary singer, songwriter, music producer, actor, author, philanthropist, or entrepreneur. But those external successes are born out of a deep personal faith in Jesus Christ. In The Faith of Dolly Parton, award-winning author Dudley Delffs guides you through ten powerful lessons based on the music, character, and heart of this entertainment legend.”
Chris Hodges
senior pastor of Church of the
Highlands; author of The Daniel Dilemma
“The Faith of Dolly Parton made me smile one minute and reconsider what I thought I knew about her the next. Dudley Delffs uses his own spiritual journey to frame the way Dolly’s Christian faith has anchored her life throughout her many career accomplishments and personal milestones. The result is a warm, down-home conversation about much more than Dolly and country music, offering us a reflection on the beautiful, mysterious ways God uniquely uses each of us for his kingdom.”
MEET THE AUTHOR
Dudley J. Delffs, Ph.D., is an award-winning writer of fiction and non-fiction, and president and founder of Creative Fidelity, Inc., an agency focused on writing, editing, and consulting for top-tier authors, agents, and publishers.
A former English professor turned publishing executive (with divisions of Random House and HarperCollins), Dudley has worked with dozens of New York Times bestselling authors.
Dudley’s first novel, Forgiving August, was published by Pinon Press in 1993. He then turned to non-fiction and wrote A Repentant Heart and The Prayer Centered Life, both published by NavPress. His first mystery novel, The Martyr’s Chapel (Bethany House, 1998), won the Colorado Authors League Top Hand Award for fiction that year. A sequel, The Judas Tree (Bethany House, 1999), was released the following year. His most recent book is The Faith of Queen Elizabeth (Zondervan, 2019).
About his latest project, Dudley says, "I had always admired Dolly as a talented performer and gifted songwriter, but through the years I came to appreciate her wisdom and intelligence, her business sense, her huge heart for helping others, and her faith in God."
A lifelong fan of Dolly Parton, Dudley lives in Sewanee, Tennessee with his wife and children. Learn more at www.dudleydelffs.com.
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