I Believe in You (Dolly Parton album)

The album was originally announced on July 5, 2014, with the release of the title track, "I Believe in You", as a free download on Parton's official website. The release stated, "All families who receive the gift of Imagination Library books were also presented with a free download of Parton's song, "I Believe in You", that she wrote for the Imagination Playhouse at Dollywood. Eleven additional songs will soon be made available for purchase, with 100 percent of sales supporting the longevity of the Dollywood Foundation."[2]

On October 18, 2016, Parton re-released her children's book, Coat of Many Colors, based on her hit song of the same name. This new version of the book featured new cover art and illustrations, as well as a free download of the song "Makin' Fun Ain't Funny".[3] This version of the song features different instrumentation than the version featured on the album.

On August 15, 2017, Parton formally announced the album's upcoming release at a press conference at her management's Nashville office in front of reporters and their children, saying "I love kids and I am so excited. It just seems like the right time [to release a children's album]. Since I'm getting so old, I'm getting back into my second childhood." She also revealed the album's cover and track listing, as well as singing three songs from the album and reading a story to the children.[4]

The album was made available for pre-order on September 15, 2017, along with the release of the album's title track, "I Believe in You".

Following the album's release, Parton released animated lyric videos for all thirteen of the album's tracks via her Vevo channel on November 17, 2017.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
Drowned in Sound	[6]
Renown for Sound	[7]
The Spill Magazine	[8]

The album has received mixed to positive reviews from critics. James Christopher Monger of AllMusic felt that Parton's "effusive personality and seemingly ageless voice lend themselves well to the [children's] genre", that her "natural charisma and easy demeanor help keep things from becoming too cloying", and "with all proceeds from the album going to her bookworm charity, it's awfully hard to find fault with any of it."[5] Elizabeth Andrews of The Spill Magazine judged Parton's first foray into children's music a successful one, and that the album "is a gift to share with parents, kids, the young at heart among us, and anyone needing a bit of a pick-me-up."[8] Drowned in Sound, however, criticized the production of the album, saying it was "as counterfeit as much of Parton's idealised America has been throughout the years, and sounds like it was made on a Casio keyboard for the most part"; nevertheless, "there's plenty for children to like about this album and it's hard to turn up the nose at the moral message which is at the core of the songs."

The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard Kid Albums chart,[9] and peaked at number 3 in its third week.[10] It also peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in its third week, with 4,800 copies sold.[11] It has sold 25,500 copies in the United States as of April 2018.[12]

Adapted from the album liner notes.