The Good Cookin' Sisters

Dolly Parton and her youngest sister, Rachel Parton George, share their new cookbook, potatoes, and the taste of home.

- ARIEL KNUTSON

Dolly PARTON is the fun house of celebrities.

Turn one corner: She's a once-in-a-generation singer and songwriter with more than 50 albums. Keep going: She's a charismatic actress; she's a theme park owner; she's a philanthropist; she's a fashion icon. And now? Dolly's a cookbook author with her sister, Rachel Parton George.

There's a common thread to Dolly's extraordinarily diverse range of mind-boggling accomplishments: She's a storyteller. Perhaps that's part of her magnetism. When she narratesespecially about home, family, and traditionpeople stop and listen. In a sea of ever-growing celebrity and influencer cookbooks, Dolly and Rachel's Good Lookin' Cookin' stands out for its thoughtful storytelling. It offers a more personal glimpse into a revered family and a collection of recipes that highlights home and the Parton siblings' sisterly bond.

This isn't Dolly's first dip into the food world. While Good Lookin' Cookin' is her first mass-market cookbook, Dolly has authored recipe books in partnership with Dollywood (her theme park). She's also teamed up with Duncan Hines, Lodge Cast Iron, and Krispy Kreme and even launched her own wine. The sister twist is something special, though.

The Partons grew up in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Dolly is the fourth child in the lineup of 12 kids, and Rachel is the youngest. Despite the 13-year age gap, the two have always been close. Rachel even quit school after eighth grade to follow her sister on tour, where she occasionally did Dolly's makeup and sang backup. (In addition to their cookbook collab, Rachel currently works as the executive director of Dolly's company, Dolly Parton Enterprises.) "We've always gotten along really good," Dolly says. "It was a joy all the way around to work on something creative together."