A posthumous memoir by Dolly Parton has sold to Grand Central Publishing in a deal valued at $13 million following a competitive bidding process, according to Page Six Hollywood and other reports.
The project, represented by the literary agency Folio, generated significant interest from major publishers. While details regarding the manuscript’s contents or composition date remain undisclosed, the sale follows the death of the music icon in August at age 80.
Industry sources indicated that the bidding process intensified as offers approached $12 million, ultimately resulting in Grand Central Publishing securing the rights with an improved proposal. Some reports suggest the deal structure involved a lower initial advance supplemented by a substantial royalty split, rather than a flat $13 million payment.
The acquisition is among the most lucrative literary deals in recent years, comparable to those signed by high-profile figures such as Britney Spears, who secured a $15 million deal in 2022, and Bruce Springsteen, whose 2016 memoir deal was valued at more than $10 million.
Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, publishes numerous bestselling authors, including Nicholas Sparks, David Baldacci, and Harlan Coben.