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50 years of Dolly

Dolly Parton released her first full-length album, “Hello, I’m Dolly” on Feb. 12, 1967. The album, which debuted on Monument Records, contained Parton’s hits “Dumb Blonde” (written by Curly Putman) and “Something Fishy” (written by Parton). Both singles reached the top twenty on the country singles charts, and the album itself reached #11 on the country albums chart.

“I can’t believe it’s been 50 years since I did my first album,” Parton said. “What a wonderful 50 years it has been. Thanks to my Uncle Bill Owens and Fred Foster for believing in me early on. And thanks to all the fans out there…I hope to have at least another 50 years!”

Produced by Fred Foster, “Hello, I’m Dolly” caught the attention of Porter Wagoner, who ultimately invited Parton to become a member of his band and appear on his popular weekly television show. These appearances led to Parton’s rise to superstardom and she became a bonafide household name.

The album contained Parton’s versions of three songs she wrote that had already been hits for other artists: “Put it Off Until Tomorrow” (Bill Phillips), “Fuel to the Flame” (Skeeter Davis), and “I’m in No Condition” which charted by Hank Williams Jr.

Now, in 2017, her collaboration with Pentatonix on “Jolene,” was awarded a Grammy in the Country Duo/Group Performance category, marking her eighth win. The Recording Academy inducted Parton’s self-penned hit JOLENE into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

“Oh my Lord I am so excited to have won the Grammy with Pentatonix on my old song Jolene,” she said. “I am so happy and am so very proud of Pentatonix. The song is one of my favorites. Thanks to the Grammys, but most importantly thanks to all the fans. I love you all.”

The award-winning collaboration between Pentatonix and Parton happened through a partnership with Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, which has enjoyed success with both acts in the past with exclusive editions of albums from each. In Parton’s case, the partnership stretches back to her 2009 “Backwoods Barbie Collector’s Edition” project, which was followed by the release of “An Evening With…Dolly” and became the first Gold album-ever certified by the RIAA for Cracker Barrel Music. That relationship has continued with her latest Dolly Records / RCA Records release Pure & Simple. Released in the summer of 2016, the album – which netted Dolly her first chart-topping album since 1991 – was released in a deluxe Cracker Barrel-exclusive edition that featured live performances of her classic hits “9 To 5” and “Jolene” from the Glastonbury Festival, along with a 48-page ZinePak magazine filled with photos and interviews highlighting memorable stories from Parton. The collaboration is not part of any of the packages.

“Cracker Barrel is thrilled to have brought these two extraordinary talents together, Dolly Parton and Pentatonix, as part of our Spotlight Music Program for the exclusive collaboration of “Jolene.” We share in the celebration of their GRAMMY Award win as they are both a special part of the Cracker Barrel family,” said Don Hoffman, VP of Marketing at Cracker Barrel.

CTK Management CEO Danny Nozell said, “The collaborative video produced by Cracker Barrel between Pentatonix and Dolly has been viewed over 22 million times and has now won a Grammy. Dolly proves, once again, that she is making music that the fans will respond to.”

Parton’s 2016’s Pure & Simple North American Tour was the highest grossing tour of her career, performing over 60 shows.

To learn more about this American icon, visit www.DollyParton.com. To purchase a download of Jolene, visit Amazon at smarturl.it/PTXJoleneAmz.

Appalachian heartwarming with Dolly and Stella Parton, Crystal Gayle to join Opry

Dolly and Stella Parton are coming back to NBC on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 9 p.m. (E.S.T.) with “Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.”
Both sisters make special appearances in the film, while Dolly introduces the film and serves as narrator.

DOLLY PARTON'S CHRISTMAS OF MANY COLORS: CIRCLE OF LOVE -- Season: 1--  Pictured: Dolly Parton as Painted Lady -- (Photo by: Quantrell Colbert/NBC)

DOLLY PARTON’S CHRISTMAS OF MANY COLORS: CIRCLE OF LOVE — Dolly Parton as Painted Lady  (Photo by: Quantrell Colbert/NBC)

The greatly anticipated Georgia-lensed sequel to last year’s “Coat of Many Colors” is a family-oriented, faith-based movie starring Jennifer Nettles (Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter and actress), Ricky Schroder (Golden Globe® Award-winner for The Champ, NYPD Blue), Alyvia Alyn Lind (Blended), Kelli Berglund (Lab Rats), Mary Lane Haskell (Coat of Many Colors), Cameron Jones (Shortland Street), Stella Parton (Green Corn), Hannah Nordberg (American Pastoral), Farrah MacKenzie, Parker Sack, Forrest Deal, Dylan Michael Rowen, Blane Crockarell and Gerald McRaney (Major Dad).
The film continues with the story of young Dolly Parton as the Parton Family experiences a true Christmas miracle drawing the Partons closer together than ever – with deepened faith and love for one another. The film delivers Christmas joy and peril as an unexpected blizzard threatens the Parton family while Dolly’s and Stella’s father and his kids make sacrifices to raise enough money to finally buy his loving wife the wedding ring he could never afford. Meanwhile, an important person in little Dolly’s life begins to see that her amazing voice and musical gift might just be made for something bigger than rural Tennessee.
For those who wish to have it as a stocking stuffer, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will make it available on DVD on Dec. 20 with special features for $19.98. To learn more about Dolly, visit
DollyParton.com or about Stella, visit StellaParton.com.
Grammy-winning songstress Crystal Gayle was surprised during a recent Grand Ole Opry performance by Opry member Carrie Underwood with an invitation to become an official Opry member. Gayle will be formally inducted into the Opry on Jan. 21, 2017 by her sister, Opry legend Loretta Lynn. Gayle made her Opry debut nearly 50 years ago on the Ryman Auditorium stage, singing the country classic “Ribbon of Darkness” at age 16.
Underwood surprised the sold-out Opry at the Ryman crowd by joining Gayle on the smash hit crystal-gayle“Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” Seconds after finishing the duet, Underwood turned to Gayle and said, “You are an inspiration to so many of us. You are important to country music, and you are important to the Opry, which is why I was asked tonight to ask you if you would like to join our Opry family officially.”
Accepting her friend’s invitation with a hug, Gayle said, “I have always felt like I was a member of the family and this is just so special.”
“For more than half of the Opry’s 91 years, Crystal Gayle has been lending her signature vocals to Opry shows and connecting with Opry audiences as well as with everyone backstage,” said Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. “She is family, and we are very excited that she’ll become an official Opry member early next year.”
For more information, visit
crystalgayle.com.

 

Stella is a Mountain Songbird

One of my favorite music and acting friends is my former film co-star Stella Parton.

She enjoyed in recent months the opportunity to be depicted as a youth and to portray another character – “Corla Bass” in the NBC movie “Coat of Many Colors” highlighting the experiences of the Appalachian family highlighted in her sister’s hit song of the same name. Read more

NBC and Dolly’s family films

I was recently pleased to discover that my former television home NBC is to partner with my longtime friend and former movie co-star Dolly Parton.

The network signed a development deal with the American icon for a series of films.

Read more

A hall of fame event

One of my favorite events of the year is the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame induction honoring those who have shared their lives with us on the road singing His message.

Among this year’s 2010 SGMA class of Hall of Fame inductees are Danny Gaither, Little Jan Buckner-Goff, and Sam Goodman, Bill Hefner, Connie Hopper and Arthur Smith. Read more

Southern gospel music and Dolly too…….

Hearing good four-part harmony is something that has always made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Ever since the days when the sounds of “The Gospel Singing Jubilee” helped me energize sleep out of my pre-school eyes as we got ready to go to church, Southern gospel music has been part of my life.

Read more