"Better Get to Livin'" is a single by Dolly Parton. It was released on August 28, 2007, by Dolly Records as an iTunes exclusive and the first single from Dolly's forty-second solo studio album, Backwoods Barbie. It was released to country radio on September 28, 2007. The single marked the first release from Dolly's newly formed Dolly Records. The song was written and produced by Dolly with Kent Wells. It peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
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Track listing
- Better Get to Livin' (Dolly Parton, Kent Wells) 3:36
Recording
"Better Get to Livin'" was recorded at Blackbird Studio A in Nashville, Tennessee.
Music video
The music video was directed by Steve Lippman. It is set at a carnival and was filmed on location at a farm in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It premiered on CMT's website on November 26, 2007, and had its television premiere three days later on CMT Top 20 Countdown.
Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price reviewed the single for Billboard. She described the track as "uplifting" and said it show's Dolly to be a "sage philosopher" instead of a "country kewpie." She makes note of Dolly's recent appearance performing the song on Dancing with the Stars and says that radio DJs "would do well to keep it in the limelight." She said the "heart of the track is Parton's sweetly distinctive vocal," with additional praise for Sonya and Becky Isaacs backing vocals. She praised the lyrics as "well-crafted" and "encouraging." She felt the track is the "musical equivalent of getting a much-needed pep talk from your favorite aunt."
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Commercial performance
"Better Get to Livin'" debuted at number 57 on the Billboard Hot County Songs chart dated September 29. It peaked at number 48 on the chart dated February 2, 2008, its eleventh week on the chart. It charted for 16 weeks.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the Backwoods Barbie liner notes.
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