“I May Look Fake but I’m Real Where It Counts”: Authenticity and Positivity in the Songs of Dolly Parton

We examined the music catalogue of Dolly Parton to determine the extent to which her songs reflect the mood and attitude of the sociocultural environment. Compared to other songs in the same period, Parton’s songs are higher in authenticity and positivity, less self-focused, and more anchored in the present.