Dolly Parton: the girl from the mountains who came to her "happy end"

Poletno branje: V ritmu besed On September 1, 2026, at 6:39 PM local time, the Slovenian television channel TV SLO aired its popular literary programme Poletno branje at 5:50 PM. The episode featured a special focus on autobiographies and biographies of internationally renowned musicians from the 20th century. Hosted by Nina Cijan, the show included contributions from music journalist Petra Lovšin, along with two musicians who were also authors of books, Alen Steržaj, bassist of the band Big Foot Mama, and Jernej Dirnbek, guitarist and vocalist of the band Mi2. The segment highlighted the growing trend of personal narratives among artists, offering readers insight into the lives and creative processes of legendary figures. The programme explored the historical evolution of musical biographies, tracing their origins back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when works on classical composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Ludwig van Beethoven began to appear. By the 20th century, this genre expanded significantly, particularly in the United States, where jazz musicians started publishing autobiographical accounts often co-authored with collaborators. Notable examples include Louis Armstrong’s and Benny Goodman’s memoirs before World War II, followed by George Gershwin’s work during the war and biographies of Bing Crosby and Duke Ellington after the conflict. The 1960s and 1970s saw the rise of rock and roll biographies, including Keith Richards’ Life, which won the prestigious Norman Mailer Prize for Biography. Other notable titles covered in the programme included biographies of The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and numerous other iconic performers. The show also addressed the relative scarcity of biographical literature within the punk genre, despite its cultural impact. While fewer books have been published on punk musicians compared to other genres, several key figures have contributed to the field. These include Patti Smith’s Just Kids, Steve Jones’ Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol, Marky Ramone’s Punk Rock Blitzkrieg: My Life as a Ramone, and Kathleen Hanna’s account of founding the Riot Grrrl movement and the band Bikini Kill. John Lydon, better known as Johnny Rotten, authored Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs, a raw and unfiltered look at the punk scene. These works offer a glimpse into the rebellious spirit and artistic integrity that defined the genre. In addition to international contributions, the programme touched upon the limited availability of Slovenian-language biographies and autobiographies of local rock and punk musicians. While there are some publications, such as the anthology Pankrti, Teksti and the retrospective publication N'č se ne premakne te iste legendarne skupine, the selection remains sparse. This reflects both the smaller scale of Slovenia’s music scene and the broader challenges faced by independent creators in securing wider recognition. The discussion extended to the broader implications of autobiographical writing in music, emphasizing how these texts serve not only as records of individual journeys but also as reflections of societal changes and cultural movements. The programme underscored the importance of preserving these voices, ensuring that future generations can learn from the experiences and struggles of past artists. As the broadcast concluded, viewers were encouraged to explore the rich tapestry of musical storytelling through literature, highlighting the enduring power of narrative in shaping our understanding of art and identity. The episode left audiences with a renewed appreciation for the intersection of music and writing, reinforcing the idea that behind every song lies a story waiting to be told.