www.dollymania.net                News                          October 2014

Oct. 31:
Dolly Previews HBO 'Sonic Highways' Interview


Dolly's official social media on Thursday promoted her upcoming interview on Friday's 11 p.m. premiere of the Foo Fighters' Sonic Highways episode about Nashville, linking to a preview clip her people posted to her official YouTube feed available here or in the media player above.

More From 'Billboard' Dolly Coverage
Billboard magazine on Thursday posted online an extended version of a piece that ran as a brief sidebar in the new issue of the print magazine in its 50th anniversary tribute to Dolly. The print version had short quotes about her from her key staff members, while the online version features longer quotes from each of them plus a quote from Dolly about each of the staff members. Read it here.


Oct. 30:
HBO Premieres Nashville 'Sonic Highways' On Friday
HBO has announced that the Nashville episode of their new Foo Fighters series, Sonic Highways, featuring an appearance by Dolly, will premiere as the third weekly episode of the program at 11 p.m. Eastern Friday.

BBC Shopping Dolly Glastonbury Special
A source tells me that the BBC has produced a one-hour special titled Dolly Parton: Live From Glastonbury 2014 which is being sold to networks internationally and will likely be released digitally. I understand it features basically her full concert from the British festival. No word on when it might air in the U.S.

'Billboard' Features 19 Pages Of Dolly
Subscribers have begun receiving their Nov. 1 issues of Billboard magazine featuring Dolly and it should be available on newsstands any day now. The print version features a five-page spread of her Q&A and photos that had previously been posted online and linked from here in addition to 14 pages that contain advertisements congratulating her on the 50th anniversary of her move to Nashville featuring kind words from people such as the CMA, ACM, Sony, Kenny Rogers, Reba McEntire, Sandy Gallin and her manager, lawyers, accountants, distributors, publicist, agent and more.

Canadian Radio Hearts Dolly
Dolly was recently profiled on the CBC Radio program Sunday Edition explaining the "phenomenon" that is Dolly. Take a listen here.

'Rolling Stone' Remembers 'Islands In The Stream'
Rolling Stone Country Online on Wednesday profiled the 31st anniversary of Dolly and Kenny Rogers's "Islands In The Stream" hitting No. 1 on the pop charts. Read it here.


Oct. 28:
Dolly, Sambora Sing On BBC Covers Album
A new double-CD from the BBC Radio 2 of previously unreleased covers of '80s classics has two Dolly connections. Sounds of the 80s, coming out in the U.K. on Rhino Records on Nov. 10, features a recording of Dolly and Richie Sambora performing the Bon Jovi hit "Lay Your Hands On Me" and The Shires covering Kenny Rogers and Dolly's "Islands In The Stream." No further details are available, but since it's a BBC album and the network broadcast her Glastonbury performance, Dolly and Sambora's track is likely the live performance of the song from that concert, since he did not appear on the album version from Blue Smoke. Thanks, Lee!

'Blue Smoke' Passes 220,000 Copies Overseas
Dolly's Blue Smoke last week sold another 2,000 copies overseas to bring its U.K. total in 20 weeks of release to 220,000 units.

NPR Examines 'Stairway,' 'We Used To'
NPR examined a copyright infringement lawsuit claiming Led Zeppelin stole the opening of "Stairway To Heaven" from another band and helped illustrate the similarities of select songs by comparing it to the opening of Dolly's "We Used To." (Although Dolly wrote and recorded the song, the introductory instrumentation was likely devised by Porter Wagoner, who is credited with producing and arranging Dolly's album that contained the song.) Take a listen here or in the media player below.


Oct. 27:
'Blue Smoke' Drops Out Of Top 40 In U.K.
Dolly's Blue Smoke this week falls out of the top 40 pop albums overseas, dipping eight spots to No. 43 U.K. in its 20th week there, remaining at No. 1 on the country compilations tally for a 20th week. Also on the country compilations chart, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series, Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony) regains 12 places to No. 6 and Harris's Original Album Series, Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) gains six to No. 13 on that list.


Oct. 25:
'Billboard' Celebrates Dolly's 50 Years In Music City


Billboard magazine on Friday premiered an interview with Dolly on a wide range of subjects in recognition of the 50th anniversary this year of her move to Nashville to pursue a career in music. Check out the Q&A here, a photo gallery here and a behind-the-scenes video here or in the media player above. The print edition of the interview is scheduled for the Nov. 1 issue of the magazine, which should be available next week.

Dolly's Lifetime Holiday Movie Comes To DVD
Lions Gate Home Entertainment has announced a DVD release next month of Lifetime's holiday film last year that featured Dolly, A Country Christmas Story, which featured her hosting a singing competition and two of the contestants performing songs she had written for the movie. The film will be joined by The Twelve Trees Of Christmas and Kristen's Christmas Past on the DVD under the title Lifetime Holiday Triple Feature hitting stores Nov. 4. Pre-order your copy here.

Sing Dolly's Song For U.K. Commercial
The Waitrose U.K. commercial featuring a crowd-sourced choral version of Dolly's song "Try" has launched its submission website to record your vocals to add to the choir for the company's Christmas television spot. Add your voice through Oct. 28 here.

Critics Compare Dolly And Taylor
Two different columnists on Friday compared country songstress Taylor Swift's spreading of her pop wings on her upcoming album with Dolly's late-1970s experience crossing over to pop. Check out analysis from Canada's National Post Arts section here and Britain's Telegraph Culture section here.

Dollywood Christmas Fest Details Released
Details have emerged about Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas festival, which runs Nov. 8 through Jan. 3. New this year is a huge focus on Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, which this year is a Dollywood exclusive. Not only will there be costumed characters from the holiday special including Clarice, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster and Yukon Cornelius, but they will take pictures with guests in the new Rudolph's Holly Jolly Junction in the Valley Exhibition Hall. Then Clarice's kitchen allows them to play reindeer games or decorate custom Christmas cookies. Also, a giant snow globe featuring scenes from the movie with narrator Sam the Snowman will sit outside of Miss Lillian's. Returning is last year's holiday addition, Dollywood's A Christmas Carol and its Dolly hologram as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and previous shows Christmas in the Smokies, An Appalachian Christmas, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, O' Holy Night, Kingdom Heirs: Heart of Christmas and Carol of the Trees. The nightly Parade of Lights, Santa's Workshop and Smoky Mountain Miniature Railroad also return, as do special holiday menus at various restaurants.

Dolly Plugs New BBC Season Of Country
The BBC has enlisted Dolly to promote its new season of country music-themed programming on BBC 4 and BBC Radio 2 called Country Nights. Check out the promo teaser video released Friday here or in the media player below.


Oct. 24:
Chenoweth Includes 'Little Sparrow' On New CD
Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth has covered Dolly again. Her first-ever live album, Coming Home, was announced Thursday, which features her live version of Dolly's "Little Sparrow." The 15-song set was recorded at the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center in her hometown of Broken Arrow, Okla., and is a counterpart to her first television special, Kristin Chenoweth: Coming Home, on PBS Nov. 28. Other selections on the album include "Popular" and "For Good," which she originated in the musical Wicked, as well as standards "I Could Have Danced All Night," "Over The Rainbow," "Bring Him Home," "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" and "Maybe This Time" (which she had performed on Glee). She also covers the Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer duet "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" and the 19th century ballad "Hard Times Come Again No More," which Dolly herself had adapted into "Hush A Bye Hard Times" in 1980. She previously honored Dolly on her 2011 album Some Lessons Learned, on which she covered Dolly's "Change" and wrote and recorded the tribute number "What Would Dolly Do?" Reserve your copy of her new album here!


Oct. 23:
'Touch Your Woman' Available In U.S.
A week and a half after its release overseas for download, Dolly's remastered 1972 album Touch Your Woman became available for U.S. download from retailers including Amazon and iTunes on Wednesday. Get your copy here!

U.K. Mid-Week Chart Update
U.K. mid-week sales updates have Dolly's Blue Smoke slipping out of the top 40 pop albums charts in its 20th week of release overseas, down from No. 35 last week. Full charts come out Sunday reflecting the entire week's sales, and in the past her position has tended to lower less than the mid-week numbers indicated. For example, last week the mid-week numbers had it falling to No. 40 when it only lost one to No. 35.

Dollywood Adds DreamMore Resort Spire
Dollywood on Wednesday placed the final spire on the roof of its new DreamMore Resort hotel as construction on the facility adjacent to Dollywood's Splash Country water park continues for its anticipated May 2015 opening. Check out a story from Knoxville's WBIR here.

LGBT Website Promotes Dollywood Vacations
Gay Star News this week profiled Tennessee as an LGBT vacation spot, highlighting Dollywood as the top draw for gay tourists. Read the piece here.


Oct. 22:
Dolly Up For People's Choice Award
You may now vote for Dolly as Favorite Female Country Artist at this year's People's Choice Awards. She is one of the 12 initial nominees. Final nominees will be announced for public voting starting Nov. 4. Cast your ballot here!


Oct. 21:
'Blue Smoke' Sold 2,400 Overseas Last Week
Dolly's Blue Smoke last week sold about 2,400 copies in the U.K., bringing its 19-week cumulative sales total to about 218,000 units.

Dr. Robert F. Thomas Remembered
The Daily Star in Oneonta, N.Y., caught up with local resident Vern Thomas, son of the famed Dr. Robert F. Thomas, the Methodist missionary doctor who delivered Dolly and her siblings and whom she immortalized in song, who informed the paper's columnist of his father's famous connections. Read more here.


Oct. 20:
'Blue Smoke' Remains In U.K. Top 35 This Week
Although mid-week sales updates indicated Dolly's Blue Smoke was on track in this week's U.K. charts to fall six spots to No. 40, it only inches down one place to No. 35 in its 19th week of sales in Britain, Sunday's charts show. The album retains its top position on the country compilations chart for a 19th week in a row, where Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series, Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony) loses six to No. 18 and Harris's Original Album Series, Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) rises one to No. 19 on that list.


Oct. 18:
Dolly Gets Honored With New Opera
Chamber opera ensemble Rhymes With Opera has a new Dolly-themed show opening its new season Nov. 14 and 15 at HB Playwrights Theater in New York City. Heartbreak Express In Concert, a concert presentation of excerpts from a new opera by composer George Lam and librettist John Clum, follows four Dolly fans as they prepare to meet their idol: a pair of sisters who won an essay contest to meet her, and a gay couple who have amassed a huge Dolly collection and are seeking Dolly's permission to manufacture a new Dolly doll they designed. Between the original opera movements, a vocal trio called Siren will perform classic Dolly covers. Learn more here.

'The Voice' Star Shares Love For Dolly
Former The Voice contestant RaeLynn says Dolly is a dream duet partner, telling The Atlanta Journal-Constitution here: "If I ever got to sing with her, that would be ridiculous. I can't even talk about meeting her, I'll throw up. She's everything. She's funny, she doesn't care what anyone thinks about her, she has awesome style … she's just Dolly."

Foo Fighters Star Loves Her, Too
Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl has a similar opinion, telling The Leader Post while promoting his new HBO series Sonic Highway, which features her in a future episode: "Man, nobody is cooler than Dolly Parton. And her story is amazing." Check out the story here.


Oct. 16:
Mid-Week Numbers Suggest No. 40 For 'Blue Smoke'
British mid-week sales charts show Dolly's Blue Smoke losing six spots to No. 40 pop in its 19th week of sales overseas. Full charts come out Sunday reflecting the entire week's sales, and in the past her position has tended to lower less than the mid-week numbers indicated.

Classic Dolly Added To YouTube
Vevo has acquired the rights to post clips from the 1978 NBC special Fifty Years of Country Music (which was released on DVD a few years ago as Country's Greatest Stars Live), adding to its Dolly page her duet of "Mule Skinner Blues" with Bill Monroe, ""Cowgirl and the Dandy" and an abbreviated version of ""All I Can Do" (which she performed as part of a medley of her biggest hits on the program). Click on each link to watch the recently-posted clips.

Magazine: Dolly Did It Before Taylor
Mic magazine corrects people who think Taylor Swift invented the country-pop crossover, saying that was Dolly in 1973. Read the piece here.

Home Not Owned By Dolly Gets Attention
The Press Enterprise in Riverside, Calif., has a tale this week of how locals still misidentify a home there as being built and owned by Dolly (she once rented a home in the community and owns a small house in nearby Idyllwild which is currently on the market but had no connection to this particular house) and includes a few stories about her time in town. Read more here.

Sing A Dolly Song In British Commercial
Amateur singers and choirs are being encouraged to participate in a British store's holiday advertisement singing Dolly's song "Try." Visitors may upload their versions to a "Donate Your Voice" website Oct. 18-28, and then a producer will combine them into one performance for the commercial. Learn more from The Daily Mail here.

'Jolene' Performed On 'The Voice'
Monday's The Voice saw Gwen Stefani select Dolly's "Jolene" for her two contestants to sing on the program in a head-to-head competition. Check it out here or in the media player below.


Oct. 14:
'Blue Smoke' Sells Another 3,000 Overseas
Dolly's Blue Smoke last week sold about 3,000 copies in the U.K., bringing its 18-week cumulative sales total to about 215,500 units.

'Unlikely Angel' Returns To ABC Family This Season
ABC Family on Monday announced its annual 25 Days of Christmas programming schedule Dec. 1-25, including Dolly's film Unlikely Angel at 7 a.m. Dec. 13.

Graham Norton Recalls Working With Dolly
Britain's The Daily Mail on Monday released an excerpt from Graham Norton's new memoir, The Life and Loves of a He Devil, which comes out in the U.S. on Oct. 23. The selected section features a story about his TV special with Dolly, concluding with the phrase: "Dolly casts a spell stronger than even she is aware of. So much of her is a frothy façade — the high hair, the pink nails, the giant bosoms, but behind it all is a brain the size of a planet and a heart that beats for the world." Read more here and order your copy of the book here.


Oct. 13:
'Touch Your Woman' Coming To Digital Release
Dolly's 1972 classic Touch Your Woman is the latest in Sony Legacy's digital re-release series to be released. Amazon shows the album becoming available for download in Europe on Monday, although U.S. availability has yet to be confirmed. However, previous releases in the series have become available stateside the same week as overseas in the past. Since the releases (voted on by fans here) started coming out the middle of last year, Dolly has seen re-issues of 1974's Love Is Like A Butterfly in March, 1975's The Bargain Store in December 2013, 1969's My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy in October 2013 and 1982's Heartbreak Express in July 2013. The latest release features the title track, which went to No. 6 on the country singles chart and earned Dolly her seventh Grammy nomination (her third consecutive nod for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Female), in addition to "Will He Be Waiting," "The Greatest Days Of All," "A Lot Of You Left In Me," "Second Best," "A Little At A Time," "Love Is Only As Strong (As Your Weakest Moment)," "Love Isn't Free," "Mission Chapel Memories" and "Loneliness Found Me."

Dolly Still In U.K. Top 40
Although mid-week sales updates indicated Dolly's Blue Smoke was on track in this week's U.K. charts to fall 16 places to No. 36, it loses 14 to No. 34 in its 18th week of sales in Britain, Sunday's charts show. The album retains its top position on the country compilations chart for an 18th week in a row, where Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series, Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony) holds steady at No. 12 and Harris's Original Album Series, Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) drops five to No. 20 on that list. Stateside, the music video for Dolly's "Home" from her Blue Smoke falls off the Great American Country (GAC) top 20 countdown, down from No. 9 in its 16th chart week. The song has been removed from the network's weekly ballot for fan voting on the countdown.

Annual Fan Gathering Finalized For May
The unofficial annual Dolly fans' dinner for her Homecoming weekend in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., has been scheduled, organizers have informed Dollymania.net. The fifth annual event will take place the evening of Dolly's May 1 parade through town and will be at Riverstone Resort on Dollywood Lane. Tickets for the 8 p.m. party will be available at www.fandinner.com starting Nov. 1. Prices are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.


Oct. 10:
London Concert Grossed $3.4 Million
Almost four months after the concert took place, Live Nation on Thursday released the data from Dolly's June 27 and 28 engagements at London's O2 Arena from her Blue Smoke World Tour, the first British date to disclose its gross. The two nights ranked as the No. 11 concert of the week's reporting on the Billboard Box Score, grossing $3.4 million in ticket sales and selling 27,627 seats, or 89 percent of the 31,180 seats available.

Video From March Released
Blue Ridge Country Mag this week released a brief video taped from Dolly's appearances at Dollywood in March to open it for the new season. Check it out here.


Oct. 9:
UK Mid-Weeks Show Dolly Falling To No. 36
British mid-week sales charts show Dolly's Blue Smoke tumbling 16 places to No. 36 pop in its 18th week of sales overseas. Full charts come out Sunday reflecting the entire week's sales, and in the past her position has tended to slip much less than the mid-week numbers suggested.

Foo Fighters' Show Schedule Starting
Although the air date for the Nashville episode of the Foo Fighters' HBO series Sonic Highway which features Dolly has yet to be announced, we now know it won't be in the eight-episode program's first two weeks. The show will premiere Oct. 17 with Chicago, followed Oct. 24 by Washington, D.C. The shows airs weekly on Friday nights on the cable network.

Win Dolly-Signed Guitar In Charity Auction
Dolly has donated an autographed guitar for a charity auction to benefit the Conservancy for the Parthenon and Centennial Park in Nashville and its Musicians Corner, a series of 18 free family events each year in Centennial Park. As of press time, her guitar was at $750. The auction, here, ends Oct. 28.


Oct. 8:
'SNL' Star Dratch Recalls Work With Dolly
Former Saturday Night Live cast member Rachel Dratch chatted with Seth Meyers on Late Night Monday about her career, including her appearances with Dolly as an extra in her 1992 film Straight Talk. They showed a quick clip from the movie and a couple of still pictures of her in the background and Dolly in the foreground. Watch here or in the media player below.

Vote For Kenny & Dolly In 'Boot' CMA Poll
AOL's The Boot is polling readers on which song should win the CMA's Musical Event of the Year. As of press time Tuesday evening, Dolly and Kenny Rogers were in fourth place of the five nominees with "You Can't Make Old Friends." Vote here.


Oct. 7:
'Blue Smoke' Sells Another 4,500 Overseas
Dolly's Blue Smoke last week sold about 4,500 copies in the U.K., bringing its 17-week cumulative sales total to about 212,500 units.

Bentley Records His Dog's Encounter With Dolly
Dierks Bentley shared his six biggest "fan girl moments" with Rolling Stone, saying one was Dolly and Alison Krauss. He recalled: "Alison Krauss is probably my Number One. She came into the studio to sing on my first record. Dolly Parton was there, too. My dog Jake ran up to Dolly Parton and he put his nose up her skirt. We were like, 'Oh my God, don't do that.' I didn't know Dolly and she said, 'Watch out there little doggie, don't start something you can't finish.'" Read the full list here.


Oct. 6:
'Blue Smoke' Stays In U.K. Top 20 Pop Albums
Although mid-week sales updates indicated Dolly's Blue Smoke was on track in this week's U.K. charts to fall 10 places to No. 26, it only dips four spots to No. 20 in its 17th week of sales in the Britain, Sunday's charts show. The album retains its top position on the country compilations chart for a 17th week in a row, where her Ultimate falls out of the top 20, down from No. 20, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series, Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony) loses three to No. 12 and Harris's Original Album Series, Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) inches down one to No. 15 on that list. Stateside, the music video for Dolly's "Home" from her Blue Smoke moves back into the top 10 of the Great American Country (GAC) top 20 countdown, regaining three to No. 9 in its 16th chart week. You may vote once per day for the video here.

RCA Studio A Appears To Be Saved
A last-minute bid by a noted preservationist and property developer interested in promoting tourism centered around the development of roots music during the history of Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans as the "American Music Triangle" signed an agreement to purchase the famed RCA Studio A, where several hits including Dolly's "Jolene" were recorded. As was previously reported, a developer had purchased the property and planned to demolish the studio for condominiums, resulting in a grassroots effort to save the historic studio. Organizers of the effort had been citing "Jolene" as the most iconic recording to come out of the studio and as an example of the history that would be lost by razing it. The new agreement provides AMT Trust, a nonprofit organization, time to create a preservation plan prior to closing the actual sale of the property to them by year's end. Read more from The New York Times here.

Marie Osmond Dons Dolly Drag For Vegas Show
Marie Osmond for several weeks has been releasing teaser videos of her transformation into several icons for photographs that will be used in a "Showstoppers" segment in her new Las Vegas show with brother Donnie. Earlier icons included Madonna, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and the Bride of Frankenstein, but Friday's teaser was Dolly. The video was available for a few days, with Marie's official Facebook page even sharing it over the weekend, but by Sunday evening it had been deleted from both Facebook and YouTube.


Oct. 3:
'Blue Smoke' Comes In At No. 12 For Year Overseas
The Official U.K. Charts Company on Thursday revealed its list of the best-selling titles for the quarter and for thus far in the year, and Dolly's Blue Smoke ranks No. 4 for the quarter and No. 12 for the year with 208,000 copies sold through last week. Hers is the highest-ranked album of the year by a performer classified as a "vintage artist." See the full top 40 for the year here.

Magazine Praises Porter & Dolly Boxed Set
Mojo included the Porter & Dolly boxed set Just Between You And Me: Complete Recordings 1967-76 in its list of the third quarter's 10 best re-issues. Check out the full list here.

Paper Discusses Long-Term Impact Of Dolly Movie
The Shreveport Times looks at the lasting impact of the filming of Dolly's movie Steel Magnolias in Natchitoches, La., more than a quarter-century ago. Read it here.

Storytellers Coming To Dollywood's New Resort
The International Storytelling Center has announced a partnership with Dollywood's DreamMore Resort to highlight the art of storytelling. Read more from The Johnson City Press here. Thanks, Chris!


Oct. 2:
Dolly Helps Scotch Music Book With Story, Song
Dolly has written the forward and contributed a previously-released song to a new book on Old World music's move to her homeland, Wayfaring Strangers: The Musical Voyage From Scotland and Ulster to Appalachia. The book is by NPR The Thistle and Shamrock host Fiona Ritchie and Doug Orr. A companion CD included with the book contains Dolly's 1994 live recording of "Barbara Allen" with Altan. Check out a story on the book from NPR's Wednesday episode of Here And Now here, which reprints Dolly's forward, and order your copy here.

British Mid-Week Chart Update
Midweek sales charts show Dolly's Blue Smoke overseas dropping 10 places to No. 26 on the U.K. pop albums charts in its 17th week of sales. The full chart will come out on Sunday reflecting the entire week's sales, and most weeks since its release the CD's final chart number has been higher than its midweek position.

Win Dollywood Trip For Your Baking Skills
Want to win a trip to Dollywood? Then get out your baking pans! The creators of the new Baked Occasions cookbook coming out next week are having a contest to celebrate their favorite singer. Create a birthday cake for Dolly, photograph it, post it to Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #BakedforDolly and tags @brooklynbaker and @abramsbooks, and fill out the entry form here through Oct. 31. One grand prize winner will be chosen based on originality, creativity and ability to be replicated and will receive airfare for two, accommodations for two nights at a Dollywood property, two tickets to Dollywood, two tickets to Dixie Stampede, a signed copy of the cookbook and a package of goodies from Baked NYC. Two runners-up will receive the baked goods and autographed cookbook.


Oct. 1:
Dolly, Governors Celebrate 10 Years Of Tennessee Library
Dolly joined the Governor's Books from Birth Foundation anniversary bus on Tuesday for the final stop in its statewide tour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her Imagination Library going statewide in partnership with the foundation. Also on hand were First Lady Crissy Haslam, who has been leading the tour for the past several weeks, current Gov. Bill Haslam and former Gov. Phil Bredesen, who originally campaigned for office on the promise to take Dolly's program statewide and created the foundation to do so, among other dignitares. Coverage of the appearance, including the little boy who upstaged Dolly during the ceremony, is available from WKRN here and The Tennessean here. Dolly's complete remarks are available from Channel 5 here and in the media player below. The official Imagination Library's Facebook page posted some photos from the ceremony here, as did the Governor's Books from Birth Foundation here and here.