Dolly's Tin Can And Tobacco Stick Microphone

Dolly takes center stage with her microphone made from an old tin can and a tobacco stick wedged between the boards of her Front Porch.

If you had gone from cabin to cabin across the mountains of Appalachia in the 1940s and 50s, you would have observed a wide variety of activities. You might have caught a glimpse of a young boy watching his grandfather whittle a slingshot handle from a piece of white oak. On down the dirt road, you may have seen a mother lovingly teaching her children how to churn butter. Up the mountain on Locust Ridge, however, something extra special was happening at the Parton’s Tennessee Mountain Home…

Dolly's Tin Can And Tobacco Stick Microphone

Jewel Chats About Dolly Parton, Imagination Library & More

Singer/songwriter and Dolly Parton fan, Jewel talks about her new song,

“My Father’s Daughter,” the Imagination Library and more

Jewel’s latest project, “Picking Up the Pieces,” is her 12th album. This self-produced recording is a collection of what the artist calls a throwback to her first album, “Pieces of You.” She says she abandoned all she had learned from the music business over the past two decades in order to achieve her goals with this album. In doing so, she called on Dolly Parton to join her on the album’s first single, “My Father’s Daughter.”

Jewel was kind enough to talk about why she chose Dolly for the song. Much like Dolly’s “Coat of Many Colors,” this song is an autobiographical telling of Jewel’s family and childhood. She says her unique lifestyle, growing up on a remote Alaskan homestead, is part of why she looked up to Dolly, both musically and as a role model. She said,

“I loved that Dolly always was very unapologetic about who and what she is. She was just very proud of who she was and where she came from, and that gave me a lot of courage as a young woman to say and speak my mind and to be exactly who I was and to be authentic.”

Jewel Chats About Dolly Parton, Imagination Library & More

A Message From Dolly Parton

“It is true that I had kidney stones. I had them removed three weeks ago and I am doing just fine! I am back to work and last week I was at Dollywood filming parts for my new movie “Coat of Many Colors,” which premieres December 10th on NBC. With the 30th Anniversary of Dollywood, I did a full week of activities promoting my new DreamMore Resort’s opening. There is absolutely no truth at all that I have stomach cancer. I love and appreciate everyone’s concern.” – Dolly Parton

A Message From Dolly Parton

Sold-Out Kenny Rogers Concert Raises $60,000 for Dolly’s Imagination Library

Days after announcing his retirement on the TODAY show, Kenny Rogers raises $60,000 for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library as the final artist in Dollywood’s Showcase of Stars benefit concert series.

Dolly’s long time friend and duet partner Kenny Rogers returned to Dollywood to help raise money and awareness for her Imagination Library, a book gifting program for kids from birth to age five. Just days after announcing his retirement on the TODAY show, Kenny sang to a sold-out crowd, giving everyone a night to remember at Dollywood’s D.P. Celebrity Theatre. Fans from around the world made their way to Pigeon Forge, TN, for a chance to see “The Gambler” performing songs from his treasure chest of mega hits in an intimate setting.

During a special meet and greet before the concert, we asked Kenny what about Dolly and her Imagination Library made him want to come be a part of the benefit concert series. He said,

“You know she’s an amazing person. She can take something and really grow it into something fantastic. She said they’ve shipped 70 million books! I think it’s a great idea. I’m glad to be a part of this and I hope it helps!”

Sold-Out Kenny Rogers Concert Raises $60,000 for Dolly’s Imagination Library

Kenny Rogers in concert at Dollywood

Kenny Rogers plans his return to Dollywood and recalls his favorite Dolly memories

Kenny Rogers - DollyParton.com

In the midst of a fierce thunder and lightning storm in South Dakota, Kenny Rogers sat down to talk about his upcoming performance at Dollywood. The concert will benefit Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. He also talked about his relationship with Dolly throughout the years.

Kenny will perform one show on Sept. 27, 2015, as part of the Showcase of Stars concert series at Dollywood. His personal connection to the park goes back to the beginning. He said,

“I remember the opening when Dolly and I were there and I think she was a little hesitant as to whether or not the park was going to work or not and sure enough it did. And 25 years later I was there and I have to tell you that I have two boys 11-years-old and they much prefer Dollywood over Disney World. They said the people were so much nicer and I think the food’s better there too.”

read full story here - Kenny Rogers Talks Dollywood, Dolly And More

The Band Perry Concert Raises $75k+ For Imagination Library

The Band Perry came home to East Tennessee for Dollywood’s Showcase of Stars and raised over $75,000 for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Dollywood’s D.P. Celebrity Theatre packed in an enthusiastic crowd of fans eager to hear The Band Perry perform their hits on home turf. With an intimate, acoustic setting, the vocally gifted siblings did not disappoint. Performing hit after hit, from “If I Die Young” to “Better Dig Two,” their harmonic voices were the perfect blend of what Dolly calls “blood harmony.” Kimberly even surprised the audience with her rendition of Dolly’s mega-hit song, “I’ll Always Love You,” and as you can imagine, the crowd went wild.

Although Kimberly, Reid and Neil were all happy to be back home in East Tennessee playing for fans at Dollywood, they were also there to show their love and support of Dolly’s book gifting program for children, the Imagination Library. When asked what it was about the program that made them want to get involved, Kimberly said, 

“We are big believers in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. With Imagination Library specifically, the three of us grew up loving, loving to read. It was one of the greatest loves that we remember and some of the earliest memories that we remember.”

Check out The Band Perry’s website for show dates and times.



read full article here - The Band Perry Concert Raises $75k+ For Imagination Library

'Puppy Love' - Dolly Parton's First Single

‘Puppy Love’ becomes Dolly’s first single at age 13

‘Puppy Love,’ written by Dolly at age 11, along with her Uncle Bill Owens, was released by Goldband Records in 1959. The lyrics showcase Dolly’s ability, even at a young age, to write relatable songs. In this upbeat song, she sings about the hot and cold emotions of young love. “Girl Left Alone” written by Dolly, her Aunt Dorothy Jo Owens and Uncle Bill Owens appeared on side B.

Dolly and her grandmother, Rena Owens took a 30-hour bus trip to the recording studio in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Remembering the fateful journey, Dolly said,

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget the way the inside of that bus smelled. It was a combination of diesel fuel, Naugahyde, and people who were going places.”

read full story - 'Puppy Love' - Dolly Parton's First Single

Dollywood Wins Three Golden Ticket Awards

Dolly Parton holds Dollywood’s previous Golden Ticket Award Wins

Dolly Parton’s theme park continues to rack up accolades from Amusement Today’s annual Golden Ticket Awards. This year Dollywood earned three “best of” awards and placed in the top-five in seven additional categories. Dolly said,

“Every time they announce the Golden Tickets results, I am so proud to hear how much folks love and respect Dollywood. This is our 30th anniversary season, and if you would have told me all those years ago that we would win all these awards, I’m not sure even I could have dreamed it! I truly am thankful for all of the guests who have continued to support us and for all the new folks who visit us each year! I also am grateful for the dedicated team at my Dollywood Company for providing our guests a memorable experience when they come see us.”

The Golden Ticket Awards are the most sought-after awards in the business of amusements and attractions. Pete Owens, Public Relations Director for the Dollywood Company, said,

“As a park, it is always gratifying to be honored by your peers and experts. We are particularly proud of the designation as friendliest park. That goes to what Dollywood is also about and why we encourage our guests to love every moment with their families.”

read fully story: Dollywood Wins Three Golden Ticket Awards

"Coat Of Many Colors"

Dolly Parton releases eighth solo album, “Coat of Many Colors”

In October 1971, Dolly Parton released her eighth solo album, “Coat of Many Colors.” The song, “My Blue Tears,” was released as the album’s first single in the summer of 1971 and was followed by the release of the album and title track in fall of the same year.

Dolly wrote the title song about her mother, Avie Lee,  who sewed the now famous coat from fabric scraps, weaving love in every stitch along with a reassurance that Dolly and her siblings were rich despite their lack of money. She pinned the words on the back of a dry cleaning receipt while touring with her duet partner, Porter Wagoner.

The album rose to No. 7 on the U.S. Country Albums Chart. The title track climbed to No. 4 on the U.S. Country Chart.

"Coat of Many Colors" full article

Carl Dean

Dolly marries Nashville native, Carl Dean

On Memorial Day 1966, Dolly married Carl Dean in Ringgold, GA. The only people to attend the small service were Dolly’s mother, the preacher and his wife.

The couple had met two years earlier in Nashville. Dolly recalls the first time they talked outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat. She was 18 and he was 21. She said,

“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me). He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”

Carl prefers to stay in the background and is rarely seen with Dolly.

Carl Dean

'Hello, I'm Dolly'

Dolly releases first full-length solo album, ‘Hello, I’m Dolly’

Dolly’s first full-length solo album was released on Feb. 13, 1967, by Monument Records. Though she had already been featured on the 1963 Kitty Wells/Patsy Cline tribute album, ‘Hello, I’m Dolly’ was the first studio-recorded solo album that Dolly could call her own.

Two hits from the album, including ‘Dumb Blonde’ and ‘Something Fishy,’ reached No. 24 and 17, respectively, on the U.S. country singles charts, while the album itself peaked at No. 11. Both feats were quite significant at the time, considering Dolly was largely an unknown female artist.

The album, which caught the attention of Porter Wagoner, is credited with bringing Dolly more mainstream popularity when Porter invited her to join his popular weekly television show ‘The Porter Wagoner Show‘ in late 1967. She was later signed to Porter Wagoner’s organization and became his labelmate at RCA Victor.

Dolly and her Uncle Bill Owens, who was instrumental in getting her career off the ground, wrote ‘Put It Off Until Tomorrow,’ a chart-topping hit in 1966 for country artist Bill Phillips who featured Dolly as the background vocalist on his recording.

'Hello, I'm Dolly'

"Jolene" Next NBC Television Movie

Image by Curtis Hilbun

Dolly and NBC announced “Jolene” will be the next television movie in their series about Dolly’s life and songs

The news was shared at the NBCUniversal Television Critics Association Summer Tour held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Dolly and members of the cast of “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” were on hand discussing the first film of the series, set to air during upcoming 2015 holiday season.

The song, “Jolene” was first released in 1973 as the first single to the 1974 album of the same name. It became her second No. 1 country single and went on to become one of her signature hits.

In live shows, Dolly oftenly tells fans she wrote the song after her husband started spending a lot of time at the bank talking to a red haired teller with green eyes. Dolly says with a laugh,

“I knew my husband was spending more time at the bank than we had money.”