Parton began performing as a child,[3] singing on local radio and television programs in the East Tennessee area.

After making musical connections while performing on The Cas Walker Show, Parton and her uncle, Bill Owens, managed to get a guest spot on the Grand Ole Opry on July 25, 1959.

[6] Parton was introduced by Johnny Cash before she performed a cover of George Jones' "You Gotta Be My Baby" and received three encores.

[12] During this early period at Monument, Parton wrote songs recorded by a variety of artists, including Bill Phillips, Skeeter Davis, Hank Williams Jr., and Kitty Wells.

"Dumb Blonde" was released as a single in November 1966[15] and debuted at number 64 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated January 21, 1967.

The album's third single, "Something Fishy", was released in May[16] and debuted at number 61 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated June 10.

The two remaining tracks, "Dumb Blonde" and "I've Lived My Life", were written by Curly Putman and Lola Jean Dillon, respectively.

Skeeter Davis recorded "Fuel to the Flame"; released as a single in January 1967, it peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Billboard published a review of the album in the issue dated October 28, 1967, saying, "Dolly Parton has a little girl voice but it's Lolita in style on the honky-tonking, carousing "Dumb Blonde".

Singing at the top of her form throughout the entire set, the lark offers "Dumb Blonde", "Put It Off Until Tomorrow", "Fuel to the Flame", "The Giving and the Taking", and eight others.

He described "Dumb Blonde" and "Something Fishy" as showing the "wisecracking, smart-cookie side of Parton" and "The Company You Keep" and "I've Lived My Life" as "moralizing while providing the listener with plenty of enjoyment.