Image Credit: Spotify

Country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton collaborates with best-selling author James Patterson on a unique audio experience.

The two writers join forces to co-author fictional novel Run, Rose, Run. Alongside this release, Spotify are exclusively publishing a Bookcast that blends audio storytelling with original music and sound elements, for an immersive listening experience, plus an original soundtrack – the first for a novel – written, produced and recorded by Dolly.

“Set in Nashville, Run, Rose, Run follows an aspiring female musician who goes to the country music capital to pursue her dreams. She carries with her a brutal secret that serves as the inspiration for her heart-wrenching songs, and she soon learns that her hidden past threatens the future she’s trying to build.” The novel and all episodes of the Bookcast will be available on March 7th.

We are honored to partner with Dolly Parton and James Patterson on Run, Rose, Run, a trailblazing audio experience from two of the world’s most prolific creators that combines Spotify’s core elements—music and spoken audio. This unique audio experience exemplifies the limitless potential of audio and Spotify’s commitment to partnering with exceptional creative talent on new innovative formats.

Dawn Ostroff, Chief Content and Advertising Business Officer, Spotify

I still can’t believe that I get to launch Spotify’s first-ever Bookcast with my buddy James Patterson. What a great way to reach out to listeners all around the world. When we wrote this book together, I felt I could contribute best by sticking to my first love, music. James and I hope that listeners will be able to feel the connection between the book and the album as we work to bring this story and these characters to life, as only two storytellers can.

Dolly Parton

I’ve been a fan of Dolly Parton’s storytelling for years, so I was thrilled to collaborate with her on Run, Rose, Run and bring these characters to life. The music she’s created around this project is incredible, and I’m grateful that Spotify has given us the opportunity to bring listeners a new experience of the book and album.

James Patterson

After considerable investments into podcasts over the past five years, audiobooks is the next logical step for Spotify, whose goal is to become the world’s audio network. Spotify first started experimenting with audiobooks back in 2020, then significantly ramped up its collection last year, from partnerships with Storytel and Findaway. This unique mixture of music and spoken word could be the key to Spotify succeeding against strong competition from Amazon-owned Audible. The next step is presumably building a dedicated hub for audiobooks, rather than having them exist alongside podcasts.