Raising the Duttons
A mother's account of how one small decision—enrolling her children in violin lessons—grew into one of America's longest-running family acts and how faith, discipline, and determination carried her family through seven adoptions, a federal investigation, a bus crash, and a theater fire, creating a legacy now carried forward by three generations.
The Story We Never Saw Coming
Imagine finding the strength to turn a demanding daily grind into a source of lasting joy and profound purpose for an entire family—
a story nobody saw coming, least of all the mother who started it.
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REVIEWS
What Readers are Saying
"A compelling read! Sheila Dutton takes us behind the scenes of the Dutton family story. With warmth and honesty, she shares the perseverance behind their remarkable journey. I loved getting to know the woman behind the music and discovering the hard work that shaped three generations of performers. A beautiful reminder that the most meaningful journeys are often the ones we don’t plan."
— Kristine Delano, best-selling author of "The Lies We Trade"
“I loved the book. I had a hard time putting it down. I want to read it again.”
— Genene Hill, Journalism Educator
“A captivating tale of faith, tenacity, and determination—a multigenerational family that has weathered hardship and misadventure but also has brought joy to millions through the magic of their music. A must-read for the whole family.”
— Nyhl Henson, Technotainment® Founder; MTV, Nickelodeon, and CMT Visionary
Meet Sheila
Sheila Porter Dutton is the matriarch and co-founder of The Duttons, one of America's longest-running family performing acts. Alongside her husband, Dean, she raised fourteen children — seven biological, seven adopted — while building a touring music and variety show with more than 10,000 live performances worldwide. Sheila recently retired as CEO of the business but still plays the bass and performs regularly. This is her first book.
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Raising the Duttons:
© 2026 The Duttons. All rights reserved.
A memoir about finding the strength to turn a demanding daily grind into a source of lasting joy and profound purpose for an entire family, and the unexpected path they took to get there.