LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky author Kim Michele Richardson has revealed that the late Dolly Parton gave her an unpublished 15-song album Parton recorded that was inspired by Richardson’s bestselling “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.”

“For 4 years, I’ve sat on this, never once talking to reporters until now — always protecting Dolly’s generous gift to me,” Richardson wrote in a Facebook post Friday.

“It’s been such an honor, extremely humbling to know Dolly saw her reflection in my pages and was inspired to place me as a small rhinestone in her big sparkly life.”

Officials at Louisville’s Frazier History Museum recently said in a post:

“In 2019, Kim Michele wrote The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek — a tribute to the Pack Horse Librarians who delivered books to rural residents in Eastern Kentucky in the 1930s. The book quickly became a New York Times best seller. In 2021, Dolly Parton — country music icon and founder of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library — read the novel and felt inspired to record a soundtrack.”

“The fact that she kept my book on her nightstand for years and was so inspired that she created an album (yet to be published) of 15 songs she titled “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” for me has been life changing and one of my greatest gifts and biggest joys,” Richardson wrote on August 25 when Parton died of cancer at 80.

“I am blessed and honored to have crossed paths with her in this lifetime,” Richardson wrote.

“In one of her personal letters to me, Dolly wrote, ‘The greatest gift is to twice give it.’ Rest in peace dear Dolly, I aim to do just that to honor you, and thank you for sharing your gifts to the world. I will always love you.”

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