Martha Ackmann with Anastasia Stanmeyer, Ain't Nobody's Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton
2026-07-20 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | The Mount, 2 Plunkett Street, Lenox, MA, United States
Since 1993, the Summer Author Series has brought award-winning biographers to The Mount. This year’s Series explores lives and ideas that have challenged convention. From unsung heroes to innovators, these talks invite us to reflect on how acts of courage—large and small—have challenged assumptions and expanded our collective imagination.
A captivating portrait of a true American original, Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton traces Dolly Parton’s journey from an impoverished childhood in the Smoky Mountains to international stardom. In this conversation, biographer Martha Ackmann and Anastasia Stanmeyer, editor of Berkshire Magazine, explore Dolly’s defiance of industry gatekeepers, her resilience in the face of backlash and personal struggle, and her extraordinary impact—from reshaping country music and popular culture to building Dollywood, launching the Imagination Library, and changing lives through her far-reaching philanthropy.
The Mount wishes to thank Linda Saul-Sena and Mark Sena for supporting this program.

IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION:

This one-hour talk takes place in The Mount’s Event Tent, an open-air, 400-seat tent adjacent to the parking lot. Please be mindful of the weather and plan accordingly.
In the event of extreme weather, such as excessive heat or severe thunderstorms, this program may be moved indoors to The Mount’s Stable Auditorium, which has a limited capacity. All ticket holders will be notified by email at least two hours before the scheduled start time if a venue change is necessary. General admission tickets are valid for outdoor events only. If the program is moved indoors, General Admission tickets will be automatically canceled, and a full refund will be issued.
If you have concerns about the weather, we recommend selecting the Rain or Shine Ticket option (a $5 add-on) at the time of purchase. Rain or Shine Tickets guarantee admission, whether the program takes place outdoors or is moved indoors.
Seating for all programs at The Mount is first-come, first-served. If you have seating preferences, we recommend arriving fifteen minutes early.
Accessible seating is available. To discuss arrangements, please contact us by phone: 413-551-5111 x5; or email: programs@edithwharton.org. For more information about accessibility, review The Mount’s accessibility webpage.
A book signing will follow this talk. Books can be purchased at the event from The Mount Gift & Bookstore or in advance via Bookshop.org
Questions? Email: programs@edithwharton.org; or phone: 413-551-5111 x2

Martha Ackmann is a journalist and author who writes about women who have changed America. Her essays have appeared in The Atlantic, the Paris Review, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. She is also a frequent commentator for New England Public Radio and has been featured on CNN, National Public Radio, and the BBC. Martha is the recipient of fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. Her books include: The Mercury 13: The True Story of Thirteen Women and the Dream of Space Flight; Curveball: The Remarkable Story of Toni Stone, the First Woman to Play Professional Baseball in the Negro League; and These Fevered Days: Ten Pivotal Moments in the Making of Emily Dickinson.
Anastasia Stanmeyer has been editor of Berkshire Magazine since its 2012 debut. She began her journalism career with daily newspapers, writing for publications such as The Tampa Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and Dallas Morning News. Then she moved over to magazines, contributing to Time, Asiaweek, Newsweek, and Stern, among others. She was based in Asia for 12 years and has covered regions under major political and social change. Anastasia has interviewed individuals such as Mother Teresa, Yo-Yo Ma, James Taylor, Annie Lennox, John Williams, and Governor Maura Healey, among others. She received a Political Science degree from the University of Kansas and has lived in the Berkshires since 2008. She was an MCLA Hardman Journalist in Residence in 2015 and sits on the 1Berkshire Alliance Board of Directors. She has lectured in area high schools, colleges, and middle schools, as well as mentoring students.
