Marking the 35th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s first RCA solo album – JUST BECAUSE I’M A WOMAN – this various artist collection of the same name spotlights the songwriting talent of one of the most gifted performers in American music history. Dolly has penned over 3000+ songs and fresh, new covers of many of her all-time classics are included here: “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5,” “Jolene” and “ Two Doors Down”; interpretations of some of her best recent material are also present, including “The Grass Is Blue,” “Little Sparrow” and “Dagger Through The Heart.” Featuring an all-woman cast, JUST BECAUSE I’M A WOMAN has songs by a veritable who’s who of contemporary female recording superstars like Shania Twain, Alison Krauss, Melissa Etheridge, Sinéad O’Connor and Shelby Lynne. Newcomer Mindy Smith also dazzles with her brilliant reading of “ Jolene,” which will be the first single.

Dolly Parton's success as a performer and pop culture phenomenon has overshadowed her achievements as a songwriter. But she sees herself as a songwriter first, and with good reason. Parton's compositions like "I Will Always Love You" and "Jolene" have become American standards with an impact far beyond country music. Lydia R. Hamessley's expert analysis and Parton's characteristically straightforward input inform this comprehensive look at the process, influences, and themes that have shaped the superstar's songwriting artistry. Hamessley reveals how Parton's loving, hardscrabble childhood in the Smoky Mountains provided the musical language, rhythms, and memories of old-time music that resonate in so many of her songs. Hamessley further provides an understanding of how Parton combines her cultural and musical heritage with an artisan's sense of craft and design to compose eloquent, painfully honest, and gripping songs about women's lives, poverty, heartbreak, inspiration, and love. Filled with insights on hit songs and less familiar gems, Unlikely Angel covers the full arc of Dolly Parton's career and offers an unprecedented look at the creative force behind the image.

Dolly Parton's success as a performer and pop culture phenomenon has overshadowed her achievements as a songwriter. But she sees herself as a songwriter first, and with good reason. Parton's compositions like "I Will Always Love You" and "Jolene" have become American standards with an impact far beyond country music. Lydia R. Hamessley's expert analysis and Parton's characteristically straightforward input inform this comprehensive look at the process, influences, and themes that have shaped the superstar's songwriting artistry. Hamessley reveals how Parton's loving, hardscrabble childhood in the Smoky Mountains provided the musical language, rhythms, and memories of old-time music that resonate in so many of her songs. Hamessley further provides an understanding of how Parton combines her cultural and musical heritage with an artisan's sense of craft and design to compose eloquent, painfully honest, and gripping songs about women's lives, poverty, heartbreak, inspiration, and love. Filled with insights on hit songs and less familiar gems, Unlikely Angel covers the full arc of Dolly Parton's career and offers an unprecedented look at the creative force behind the image.