Dolly Parton‘s new cookbook is out. The Country Music Hall of Fame member released Good Lookin’ Cookin’: A Year of Meals— A Lifetime of Family, Friends, and Food, written with her sister, Rachel Parton George, on September 17. The book is filled with more than 80 of the Parton family recipes, sharing their own heritage, growing up in the mountains of East Tennessee, with the rest of the world.

Parton loves to spend time in the kitchen, but her cooking skills began as a way to help feed herself, her parents, and her 11 siblings.

“[It was] out of necessity,” Parton tells People. “We’d have to climb up on the chairs to peel potatoes, turnips or whatever. We were really helping out when Mama was not well, or in bed with a kid or having a new baby or whatever… so my first [lesson] came out of just really being a necessity of us helping mom as the older girls.”

Their family might have been large, and their budget meager, but Parton’s parents made sure all meals were enjoyed together as a family.

“That was breakfast, lunch and dinner. We called it breakfast, dinner and supper,” Parton reflects. “When we were growing up, it was a must that we all kind of be around the table after Daddy got home from work. It was just a thing that we had in our house to sit around the table and talk, and eat with a mouthful.”

One recipe that isn’t in Good Lookin’ Cookin‘ is one of the Parton family staples growing up, although it might seem unsavory to most.

“Mama used to make groundhog,” Parton reveals. “That was Daddy’s favorite thing. A groundhog is just like a big fat hog that runs around in the woods. But mama used to call them whistle pigs because they were that much like a pig. It tastes very much like a pig, but I wouldn’t want to eat one now.”

Parton’s family survived on very little by way of material wealth, so it makes sense that one of her favorite smells growing up remains today: freshly-baked bread.

“I still love the smell of bread cooking,” Parton says.  “Whether it just be some loaf bread that Rachel’s doing or some cornbread. I just think nothing says [home] more than just the smell of bread.”

Good Lookin’ Cookin‘ features multi-course menus for holidays like New Year’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and more.

“I love good cooking, but not as much as I love my sister Rachel,” Parton said when the book was announced. “So, getting to combine the two was a joy beyond belief for me. I do believe you’re going to love all these great recipes, and I think you’re gonna have as much fun reading these stories and things that we put together for you as we did. I can’t wait to get this book in your hands, and for you to get this food on your table.”

Parton has spent the last few years focusing on other business ventures besides a new cookbook. The 78-year-old recently launched her own line of beauty products, Dolly Beauty, along with her own Dolly Wine, and is currently building a Songteller Hotel in downtown Nashville. A musical about her life, Hello, I’m Dolly, will open on Broadway in 2026.

Purchase Good Lookin’ Cookin’: A Year of Meals— A Lifetime of Family, Friends, and Food here.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of True Public Relations / Jim Wright