Dolly Parton Memoir to Be Published After Reported $13m Deal

A memoir by Dolly Parton is set to be published after her death by Grand Central Publishing, following a bidding war that reportedly reached $13m, according to Page Six. The country music star died in August at the age of 80, and details of the book, including what it covers and when it was written, have been kept under wraps.

Neither Grand Central nor representatives for Parton’s estate had commented publicly on the reports at the time of writing, so the figures below are based on anonymous sources cited by Page Six and trade publications, and should be treated with caution.

What Do We Know About the Dolly Parton Memoir?

Very little. Page Six Hollywood, which first reported the deal on 29 October, said Grand Central had acquired the memoir and that the sale was negotiated by Folio Literary Management, the agency that has represented Parton before. Kirkus Reviews, summarising the report, said it was unknown what the book will cover or when it was written.

The Independent reported that Parton had apparently been working on the book in secret, and that it was not yet clear how much she disclosed about her life or her private health battles. No title, publication date or cover has been announced.

Publishers Lunch, the US book trade newsletter, added that Steve Troha and Jeff Kleinman at Folio had told publishers in an email in August, shortly after Parton’s death, that there were “several Dolly-blessed projects already in the works, including the autobiography”. That suggests the memoir was planned with her approval while she was alive, although the full extent of her involvement is not clear.

How Much Was the Book Deal Worth?

According to Page Six, publishers stopped bidding after Folio told them it already had an offer of about $12m. “They were all like, ‘WTF? You have $12 million, and we aren’t beating that,'” one source told the website. Grand Central then offered more and closed the deal, reportedly at $13m.

Not every source agrees on the figure. Publishers Lunch reported that another source said “the Grand Central deal was made for a lower amount — but involved a bigger cut of the royalties than usual with a 50/50 split”. Either way, it would be one of the largest deals for a music memoir, although not a record: Britney Spears sold the rights to her memoir for a reported $15m in 2022, The Independent noted.

What Books Did Dolly Parton Write?

Parton, best known for songs such as “Jolene”, “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You”, wrote more than a dozen books. They include the 1994 autobiography Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business; the children’s books Billy the Kid Makes It Big and Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas; and the thriller Run, Rose, Run, which she co-wrote with James Patterson.

Her love of books also reached far beyond her own titles. Her Imagination Library programme posts free books to young children, and is one reason many readers outside country music know her name. A new memoir is likely to attract strong interest from both music fans and general readers.

What Is Happening With Parton’s Estate?

The book news comes as her estate sets out how her legacy will be managed. Earlier this week, the estate named her niece, Danielle Parton, as its brand ambassador. “Like so many of you, losing her has changed something for me,” Danielle Parton said in a video. “It made me think of the stories, values, and lessons that she left behind, and the responsibility that our family has to care for them.”

The estate is also in a legal dispute with Parton’s nephew and former head of security, Bryan Seaver. The Independent reported that the estate was granted a temporary restraining order against him last month, after a filing by the company that now manages her business accused him of a campaign of intimidation in an attempt to obtain significant sums of money. Mr Seaver has denied trying to extort money from the estate and said other claims were taken out of context. The next court hearing is scheduled for 3 November.

Why Are Posthumous Memoirs So Valuable to Publishers?

Celebrity memoirs are among the most dependable sellers in publishing, and a book by a much-loved star published after their death can have an especially large audience. The deal also comes during a difficult period for some parts of the industry, as smaller independent publishers such as Catapult have struggled. Readers interested in how books reach the shelves can read our guides to self-publishing a book and reading more books.

MediaPavilion will update this story if Grand Central or Parton’s estate confirms the deal or announces publication details.

Featured image: Dolly Parton accepting the Liseberg Applause Award in 2010, by Curtis Hilbun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0. File photo.

Sources

• Kirkus Reviews — Report: Secret Dolly Parton Memoir Sells for $13M (30 October 2026).
• The Independent — Dolly Parton’s secret memoir reportedly set to be published after $13 million bidding war (30 October 2026).
• Publishers Lunch — Dolly Parton Memoir Sold to Grand Central, Page Six Says (30 October 2026).
• Page Six — Posthumous Dolly Parton memoir sells for eye-popping sum (29 October 2026).