Dolly Parton may be 79 years old, but she’s still a kid at heart.
On Tuesday, Parton announced plans for her third children’s picture book in her New York Times bestselling series featuring a French bulldog named Billy the Kid. The newest book, Dolly Parton’s Billy The Kid Dances His Heart Out, will be available on December 2.
In Parton’s newest story, Billy the Kid – a French bulldog but also a music star – confronts his fear of dancing in front of an audience. Billy the Kid has landed a gig opening for Dolly Parton’s Doggy Dance Pawty. He enrolled in dance lessons to prepare but developed a crush on his teacher, Bella. He thinks Bella is beautiful and graceful, but his nerves make him dance even worse. Billy hopes to conquer the routine and Bella’s heart in time for Dolly’s Doggy Dance Pawty.
“I am excited to introduce Bella into Billy’s life in our new book!” Parton said in a statement. “Creating stories that are fun, real, and carry life lessons hopefully makes it meaningful for children and their parents to experience the joy of reading together.”
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Dolly Parton’s Billy The Kid Dances His Heart Out—Available on December 2
Parton even wrote a new song to accompany the book. She’ll release her song “Bella” on the same day as the book.
Dolly Parton’s Billy The Kid Dances His Heart Out will be available in hardcover and as an audiobook, which Parton will personally narrate.
“There is no greater joy than working with Dolly on a book about dogs, dancing, and love,” said President & Publisher of Penguin Workshop Francesco Sedita. “And to get a brand-new song from Dolly in the process has been a dream come true. We’re so excited to give Dolly—and her god-dog Billy—a brand new stage.”
Parton’s past children’s books include Coat Of Many Colors in 1994 and I Am A Rainbow in 2009. The icon introduced her new character, Billy the Kid, in 2023. The character is inspired by her god-dog. Her first book in the franchise — Billy the Kid Makes It Big — was a New York Times bestseller. Parton’s 2024 yuletide installment, Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas, was lauded by critics as adorable.
The children’s book series is one of many projects that Parton announced this month. In addition to these books, she also has a new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum called Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker. The exhibit highlights pivotal moments over the course of the East Tennessee native’s 60-year career.
The exhibit will be open from May 20 until September 2026.
Parton also recently revealed a new photography book, STAR OF THE SHOW: My Life on Stage, available November 11. The book follows Songteller, which focuses on lyrics, and Behind the Seams, which explores her fashion. In STAR OF THE SHOW, she shares a definitive view of her career as a performer. The book traces her early years with Porter Wagoner through leaving the partnership and earning her first million-selling song, “Here You Come Again.”
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
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