Minneapolis/St. Paul, July 12-24
Past news
March 19:
Final Store Coverage Available
To wrap up your Dollymania coverage of Dolly's Trinkets & Treasures ribbon cutting, Jason has provided a series of shots from inside the store itself. Check them out here. Also, Dolly Records added a YouTube video message from Dolly, viewable in the media player above or by visiting YouTube here, and Country Weekly spoke with Dolly at the event for a piece in its April 5 issue, with a few notes from it posted to their website on Thursday here.
Grascals Still On The Road
Wonder what Dolly's former backing band The Grascals are up to nowadays? Well, they chatted with The Toledo Blade here this week and included a few Dolly mentions.
Big Apple Boob Show
New York got a burlesque tribute to Dolly Thursday night at Joe's Pub. Learn more here.
Listen To BBC Interview
You still have a few days to listen in on part 2 of Dolly's BBC Radio 2 interview with Michael Ball, available for online streaming through next Tuesday here.
Chart Updates
Steve Martin's The Crow - New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, featuring a Dolly and Vince Gill collaboration, remains steady at No. 3 bluegrass albums in its 56th chart week, according to the March 27 Billboard charts released Thursday. Lady Antebellum's Need You Now holds steady at No. 1 country and falls two to to No. 3 pop in its seventh week, while Gary Allan's Get Off On The Pain debuts at No. 5 pop, No. 2 country.
March 18:
New Shots Available
The next group of galleries from Dolly's Trinkets & Treasures ribbon cutting are now available for your enjoyment in that section of the site here. Thanks, Jason!
Miley Chats About Dolly
Miley Cyrus dishes on how wonderful her godmother Dolly is, why she loves Lady Gaga, what's wrong with today's country music and why Rupaul's Drag Race is her favorite TV show in an online preview of an interview in this weekend's Parade magazine available here.
'Faith' Cover Art Revealed
Music blog Country On-Demand has obtained a first draft of the likely cover art for the May 4 compilation Letter to Heaven: Songs of Faith and Inspiration and the order that the 16 previously-announced tracks are to appear on the project. Check them out here. Thanks, Dustin!
March 17:
New Ribbon Cutting Footage, Photos Available
Coverage continues tonight of Dolly's Nashville store ribbon cutting from Friday. Check out a 14-minute video from Dolly Records in the media player above or by visiting YouTube here, where you see Dolly exclaim at the event that she's "Dolly Scissorhands!" And your next set of galleries from Dollymania correspondent Jason Worley have been added to that section of the site here. And, yes, there are still more to come!
Place Meet-And-Greet Bids Via Phone
In an exception to their usual practice, the 17th annual Las Vegas Night to benefit the Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation at LeConte Medical Center in Sevierville, Tenn., has decided to take closed advance bids from individuals unable to attend the event's live auction. As was previously reported, Dolly has donated a meet-and-greet, complete with photo, during her May 7 Homecoming in Pigeon Forge. Interested bidders may contact Dale Carr of Thompson-Carr & Associates at 865-712-7653 by noon Eastern on Friday to place their closed bids. An opening bid of $1,000 has been established for the item. The live auction will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Music Road Convention Center in Pigeon Forge. Tickets, $50, are available from 865-446-9628.
March 16:
Continuing Ribbon Cutting Coverage
Your Dollymania coverage of Dolly's Friday appearance to cut the ribbon at her Nashville store continues tonight with several new galleries of shots from correspondent Jason Worley posted to that section of the site here. Also, Dolly Records posted a video to YouTube of the crowd outside the event, available in the media player above or by clicking here. More are still to come! A gallery of several Associated Press shots is available here. Nashville Country Club has posted footage from the event here. And CMT announced she will be seen on this weekend's CMT Insider, presumably from the store event as well. At the appearance, Dolly revealed she's not currently recording and has no plans to do so for a while now. Neither does she plan to tour in coming months. Instead, she's working on a stage version and movie version of her life story, wants to take some time to write some new music, is preparing for her April appearance at Kenny Rogers' anniversary concert, hopes to pull together a television special for taping later in the year for the 25th anniversary of Dollywood and expects to do significant promotion for the national tour of 9 To 5: The Musical.
Dolly On 'Glee'?
Although there's no indication that producers have approached her, Dolly is one actor's choice for a guest spot on the FOX hit Glee. According to Entertainment Tonight here, Jayma Mays, who plays guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury, said: "I think we need a Cher episode…or maybe someone that sings country like Dolly Parton."
Dolly Wanted Connie's Story
Did you know Dolly pursued singer Connie Francis to produce a movie on her life, but she always turned her down because of a decade of working with Gloria Estefan on a failed attempt to capture the story on film. Francis revealed the information in an interview with Daeida magazine here.
BBC Reminder
Don't forget to listen to the second hour of Dolly's interview on BBC Radio 2 with Michael Ball, which airs Tuesday in the U.K. and should available afterward for online streaming here (you still have a few hours to listen to last week's first hour online here).
March 15:
Trinkets & Treasures Pics Available
Thanks to Dollymania correspondent Jason Worley, check out the first galleries of shots from Dolly's ribbon cutting for her Nashville Trinkets & Treasures store on Friday here. More will be posted in coming days. Also, make plans to watch Access Hollywood on Wednesday (in most cities there's also a Thursday repeat) for an interview with her at the event. Finally, want to see who were the contest winners for Dolly's meet-and-greets at the ceremony? Their photos have been posted by Dolly Records to Flickr and are available here.
'Real Live' Heading To MP3 Download
Dolly's 1970 concert album A Real Live Dolly will be available as an MP3 download for the first time this week. The out-of-print album had been issued on CD for the first time ever, complete with four bonus outtake tracks (two of which were previously unreleased at the time), as a companion to the four-disc Dolly boxed set in October for those who ordered the collection directly from Sony Music, but it was not available in stores or for downloading. The set will be available, complete with the bonus tracks, here from Amazon.com starting on Monday and will also be available from Amazon U.K. for British fans.
'Letter To Heaven' Order Information Up
In related news, Amazon has added an order page for Letter to Heaven: Songs of Faith and Inspiration, the Sony collection featuring Dolly's 1971 gospel album Golden Streets Of Glory with six additional tracks, including one previously unreleased song recorded for that album, "Would You Know Him," hitting stores May 4. Reserve your copy here.
March 13:
Dolly Cuts Ribbon At Store
Although Dolly's Trinkets & Treasures retail store in Nashville has been open for nearly four months now, she was on hand Friday to cut the ribbon and promote its Second Avenue location. Check out a video from Nashville's WKRN here, a story from WSMV here, a story from CMT.com here and a photo gallery on CMT.com here. Look for more pictures here soon! Thanks in advance, Jason!
'9 To 5' Heading To Oklahoma
Dolly's 9 To 5: The Musical will play Tulsa, Okla., June 14-19, 2011, The Tulsa Performing Arts Center has announced. Thanks, Jim!
Dollywood Partner On TV
That the show's premiere scored second only to Dolly's 1987 variety show as the biggest series premiere audience is not the legend's only connection to CBS' Undercover Boss, it turns out. The network this week announced that Joel Manby, president and CEO of Dollywood partners Herschend Family Entertainment, will be the corporate head going "undercover" as a low-level worker in his own company on the March 28 episode. No word at which of the many theme parks the company owns or manages he worked for the series.
Dolly Song Contest Coming Up
The deadline is approaching for contestants wishing to sing in the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition, a Sevierville, Tenn., talent show featuring songs written by hometown girl Dolly. Entries must be postmarked by April 9 to compete for the prizes in the May 15 contest, and you must sing a Dolly-written tune listed on Dollymania here. Learn more at www.bloominbbq.com.
March 12:
Store Opening Reminder
Don't forget if you're in the Nashville area on Friday to stop by Second Avenue next to the Wildhorse Saloon for the ribbon cutting at the Music City retail store for Dolly Records, Dolly Parton's Trinkets and Treasures. Although her record label website has not revealed the exact time of the festivities (other than to say to expect them to begin around 11 a.m.), The Nashville Scene reports here that Dolly's appearance should take place at 12 noon. Also, remember that those dressed as Dolly or wearing as much of their Dolly fan gear as possible will receive tickets for a random drawing for 10 meet-and-greet passes at the event (in addition to the 15 lucky fans who won contests previously held).
'9 To 5' Heading To Memphis
The national tour of Dolly's 9 To 5: The Musical has added yet another city to its itinerary: Memphis, Tenn., where the cast will stop Nov. 2-7 at the Orpheum Theatre, according to The Commercial Appeal here and Broadway World here.
Chart Updates
Steve Martin's The Crow - New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, with its Dolly and Vince Gill collaboration, holds steady at No. 3 bluegrass albums in its 55th chart week, the March 20 Billboard charts revealed Thursday. Lady Antebellum's Need You Now holds steady at No. 1 country and regains one to No. 1 pop in its sixth week with 126,000 copies sold, while Blake Shelton's EP Hillbilly Bone debuts at No. 3 pop, No. 2 country with 71,000 units moved.
March 11:
Another Rare Dolly Cut Coming Out
Another track from RCA's treasure trove of unreleased Dolly material will see the light of day in May, it was revealed Wednesday. A May 4 release from Sony Music's RCA Nashville/Legacy imprint titled Letter to Heaven: Songs of Faith and Inspiration will feature the previously unreleased track "Would You Know Him" from the recording sessions for her 1971 gospel album The Golden Streets of Glory. The 16-track CD will also feature all 10 songs from that full record plus "Comin' for to Carry Me Home," which was issued as the first single from the original album but was dropped from the final track listing before the full album was released. The CD will also include "Letter to Heaven," "Sacred Memories," "God's Coloring Book" and "Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man" with Porter Wagoner. Read more from CMT.com here.
British Interview Available Online
The first hour of Dolly's interview on BBC Radio 2 with host Michael Ball aired Tuesday in the U.K. and is available for online streaming here for about six more days. The second hour is slated to air next week to cover "Stairway to Heaven," her friendship with Tammy Wynette, her image, her musical collaborations and even her attempt at a British accent. London newspaper The Guardian noted the broadcast here.
Dolly Raises $400K For Park
Friends of the Smokies has announced that Dolly's efforts as international ambassador for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary have netted nearly $400,000 for the park's Trails Forever endowment to maintain hiking trails. She wrote the Dollywood musical Sha-Kon-O-Hey! to celebrate the anniversary, with a benefit premiere of the show raising $110,000 and her limited edition fund-raising soundtrack CD to the show contributing another $250,000 thus far, The Knoxville News Sentinel reports here.
Dolly's Oscar Shout-Out
In case you missed it, Neil Patrick Harris' comment about two-time Academy Award nominee Dolly in his opening song-and-dance number from Sunday's awards telecast is available online here. Near the song's end, he proclaimed that the night's co-hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were "the biggest pair since Dolly Parton."
March 10:
Two Dollywood Parades Planned
For those who have been asking, Dollywood officials tell Dollymania that Dolly is scheduled be on the park grounds both during season passholders' preview day on Friday, March 26, and the official 25th anniversary season opening to the public on Saturday, March 27. Weather permitting, she is planning to ride in park parades on both days, it was confirmed. Saturday's parade is planned for 3 p.m. and will run from the Heartsongs Theatre to Dolly's Closet, which is serving as the 25th anniversary headquarters, according to the park schedule available online. A time or route for Friday's parade was not available, nor was information on any other appearances over the weekend. In a press release on the anniversary, Dolly noted: "Everyone knows that I'm a dreamer, and the 25th anniversary of my Dollywood theme park is the continuation of a country girl's dream of a special place where families can experience and enjoy all that my Smoky Mountain home has to offer. I'm inviting everyone to join us all season long as we celebrate the dreamer in YOU, too!" Opening day will feature the unveiling of its new attraction, Adventure Mountain. A daily entertainment showcase will also take place in the Adventures in Imagination area along with photographic exhibits in Valley Exhibition Hall on the park's 25 years of growth. And season passholders will be eligible for prizes – 25 given away per day throughout the season – with chances racked up based on number of visits to the park. Multi-media presentations will also share Dolly's most heartfelt memories. The Festival of Nations also comes back with the return of "Imagine'" and the premiere of three new shows: DRUM! From Nova Scotia, Jallamay from Peru and Invaders from Trinidad and Tobago. Image from last year's season opening is copyright © 2009 T. Duane Gordon/Dollymania.net. May not be reproduced without prior written consent. See more shots from that weekend here!
Queen Dolly
Thanks to Ron from the Country Music Hall of Fame for alerting me to a new exhibit that has opened on the museum's second floor dedicated to country's greatest duet pairs, with emphasis on Porter Wagoner and Dolly, Tammy Wynette and George Jones and Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. Large photos of the three duos welcome visitors to the exhibit, which is named after a Porter & Dolly song, "The Right Combination: Kings & Queens of Country Duets." (Click on the photo for a larger version.)
Another Ohio Library Opens
Mt. Vernon, Ohio, is about to become the 15th community in the state to start sending books to children via Dolly's Imagination Library literacy program, The Mt. Vernon News reported here Tuesday. The program there is sponsored by the local United Way, Kiwanis Club and others in the community.
March 9:
Commercial For 'Trinkets' Released
Dolly on Monday released a new commercial to promote her Trinkets & Treasures retail store in Nashville. As a reminder, she will be present Friday morning at the Second Avenue outlet for a ribbon cutting. Check out the spot in the media player above or by visiting YouTube here.
White Stripes Releasing 'Jolene' Again
Jack White's male-vocal cover of "Jolene" is coming out once again. His band, The White Stripes, first recorded the staple from their live concerts as a B-side to a limited-release vinyl single several years ago, following it up a few years later with a live version that was released as a single in Britain from a U.K. concert DVD. Later this month, a concert CD taken from a 2007 Canadian tour will hit stores featuring a new live version. Listen to the album, Under Great White Northern Lights, in a streaming audio preview from NPR here, and reserve your copy (being released March 16) here!
March 8:
Win May Meeting With Dolly
Dolly has donated herself once more for the Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation, which supports the LeConte Medical Center in Sevierville, Tenn. Last time, it was a night at her East Tennessee home for two fans and a dinner/mini-concert for 10 of their friends – a megaprize that went for $75,000. This time it's a meet-and-greet with photo during her May 7-8 "Homecoming" for the annual Pigeon Forge Dolly Parade. The item has been contributed for the charity's 17th annual Las Vegas Night, which will take place at 6 p.m. March 20 at the Music Road Convention Center in Pigeon Forge. All proceeds from this year's event will help purchase equipment for the Dolly Parton Birthing Unit in the hospital's Dolly Parton Center for Women's Services. It is a live auction, so you must be present to participate. Tickets, $50 each, include dinner and drinks and are available from (865) 446-9628. Read more from The Seymour Herald here.
Seattle Added To Musical's Tour
Dolly's 9 To 5: The Musical will roll into Seattle, Wash., April 5-24 next year at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, the next city revealed on its 2010-2011 tour, Broadway World reported here Saturday.
Dolly On U.K. Radio This Week
BBC Radio 2's Michael Ball will start a two-program interview with Dolly on his show Tuesday, according to the network's website here. It promises to "break loose from the familiar 'life story' approach to this Nashville superstar. Instead, in a long and revealing conversation, Ball finds out what makes Parton tick, how she keeps her family life private, how she became a canny businesswoman and how even she takes the wig off sometimes." Thanks, Brian!
'CW' Features Dolly Spread
Thanks to Jason for alerting me that the new issue of Country Weekly features a two-page spread on Dolly's preview tour of the hospital she helped build in her hometown of Sevierville, Tenn. The images, taken by amazing photographer Curtis Hilbun, first appeared here on Dollymania following the event.
For the archive of monthly news stories, click here.
