Forty-seven years ago Tuesday, “It's All Wrong, But It's All Right” debuts on the country singles chart; two months later it spends two weeks at No. 1, while its B-side, “Two Doors Down,” reaches No. 19 pop and No. 12 adult contemporary. Forty-four years ago Friday, 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs marks its sixth of 10 weeks at No. 1 on the country album charts (Dolly's fourth and longest stay atop the chart); it also reaches No. 11 pop and gold status for more than 500,000 copies sold (Dolly's fifth). Forty-five years ago Saturday, “Starting Over Again” (written by Donna Summer) debuts on the singles charts; it would become Dolly's 12th country No. 1 two months later and reach No. 36 pop.
Upcoming television appearances
(All times Eastern unless noted)
March 18, 11:30 a.m., HBO Family, Steel Magnolias (re-runs 5:11 a.m. March 25)
The RCA Sessions (1968-1976), 22-song digital collection of rare Porter & Dolly songs first released on the 2014 complete recordings boxed set, April 5
Love & Music 1973 Porter & Dolly album, digital release, March 29
We Found It 1973 Porter & Dolly album, digital release, Feb. 1
Dolly visited Dollywood over the weekend to open its 40th season, in her first public appearance since her husband of almost 60 years, Carl Dean, passed away at age 82 March 3. At an event Friday in the park's newly-renovated Celebrity Theater she thanked fans for their messages of support and condolence, welcomed them to the park's 40th season, reflected on its history, and she and the park's president teased the park's largest-ever attraction coming in 2026.
“Before I start all that I just wanted to take a minute to thank all of you for all the flowers and cards and the well-wishes for losing Carl,” Dolly told the crowd immediately after taking the stage and welcoming them to the park. “You know, I loved him. And he would want me to be working today. I expect to be working. So anyway I just wanted you to know that, of course, I will always love him, and I'll miss him. But I just wanted you to know that I will always love you.”
Dolly also noted it's the 30th anniversary of her Imagination Library, 25th anniversary of Splash Country, and 10th anniversary of the park's DreamMore Resort. She took questions from the media, closing the media event singing live and accompanying herself on the guitar for the park's 25th season theme song, “Celebrate The Dreamer In You.”
The day ended with a park tour in an open top car and an appearance at her niece Heidi's show. It was the largest crowd ever for preview day, with the parking lot filling to capacity and closing for the first time ever on preview day (with cars directed to park at Patriot Park instead to take the city trolley to Dollywood). While Dolly was on park Saturday as well, weather canceled her appearances including a planned park tour that afternoon.
Watch a Dollymania Presents news video of the media appearance and parade on YouTube here or in the media player above and look for additional coverage including photo galleries over coming weeks.
Dolly noted she will return to the park for an appearance in May for the park's actual anniversary, since it opened May 3, 1986, so a new retrospective show of past park entertainment, “Play On,” will debut on May 3 this year.
The I Will Always Love You Festival continues through April 13 featuring the return of “Sing-a-Long With Dolly” and “Trio, Again featuring Three Times A Lady.” Also performing through both this festival and April 18-June 8's Flower and Food Festival is the Dolly bio-musical “From The Heart: The Life and Music of Dolly Parton.” Later this spring the Wilderness Pass Restaurant will open as will a new 750-space parking lot to help alleviate the two dozen instances last season when the parking lot reached capacity and closed. Smoky Mountain Summer with the “Gazillion Bubble Show: Evolution” and “Chris Perondi's Stunt Dog Experience” returning runs June 14-Aug. 3, while Harvest Festival with Great Pumpkin LumiNights runs Sept. 12-Oct. 27. The season wraps up Nov. 1-Jan. 4 with Smoky Mountain Christmas.
Additional coverage includes WATE here, here and here; WVLT here and here, The Knoxville News Sentinelhere, Paradehere, and interviews from WJHL here, Knoxville News-Sentinelhere, WHNT here, and The Tennesseanhere.
The park's official live feed of the event is available on social media here or in the media player below
'Coat' Goes Silver In U.K. Dolly's 1971 single “Coat Of Many Colors” has reached digital silver award status from the BPI for selling downloads and experiencing streams equivalent to having sold 200,000 units. The certification was awarded on Feb. 28.
Carl's Song Makes British Charts We're still a day away from seeing if Dolly's new single "If You Hadn't Been There" from her upcoming Broadway musical released earlier this month in memory of her husband debut on the U.S. charts, but it already showed up on the British tallies on Friday. The track debuts at No. 21 on both the U.K. all-genre sales chart and downloads chart but doesn't have enough streams to break the top 100 overall pop singles tally across the pond. Short & Sweet Deluxe Edition, featuring its Dolly duet, slides one to No. 2 on the pop charts, one to No. 9 Scottish, and one to No. 11 physical sales, holding steady at No. 1 streaming and gaining two to No. 14 downloads and one to No. 11 sales. Elsewhere across the pond, Post Malone's country album F 1 Trillion, featuring a Dolly duet, holds steady at No. 2 country albums and. Beyonce's Cowboy Carter, featuring Dolly appearances, rises one to No. 5 country and No. 4 Americana. On the country compilations albums chart, Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 holds steady at No. 2, Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection slips two to No. 7, Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA -- Family, Faith & Fables rises one to No. 10 in its seventh chart week, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe falls out of the top 20, down from No. 17, Glen Campbell Duets: Ghost On The Canvas Sessions with a Dolly collaboration declines four to No. 20, and Original Album Series by Linda Ronstadt featuring Dolly appearances increases four to No. 16 while the volume by Emmylou Harris also featuring Dolly appearances inches up one to No. 14.
Down Under, The Wiggles' country album with two Dolly collaborations and two additional Dolly covers gets attention. The collection, which also features Orville Peck and others, debuts at No. 3 country and No. 40 pop in Australia. The children's band spoke with Rolling Stone Australia about the project and working with Dolly here. Carpenter's loses one to No. 4 pop albums, while Post Malone's F 1 Trillion dips one to No. 7 country and Cowboy Carter drops three to No. 34 Australian country albums.
In the U.S., Carpenter's Short & Sweet Deluxe Edition holds steady at No. 5 pop, falling two to No. 5 album sales and current album sales, holding steady at No. 6 streaming and No. 3 Canadian. Post Malone's F 1 Trillion loses two to No. 24 Top 200 albums, holding steady at No. 3 country albums and improving one to No. 15 Canadian albums. Beyonce's Cowboy Carter drops 12 to No. 36 country albums, one to No. 13 Americana/folk albums, and off the Top 200 and current sales lists, down from No. 128,and to No. 50.
Dolly Home Goods Sold $7 MM Lifetime Brands held its fourth quarter profit and outlook conference call last week, Morningstar reported here, and the brand revealed Dolly's home goods they produce saw $7 million in sales last year, with the company on pace to complete its phase one development with Dolly in the first quarter of this year. In related news, Dollar General unveiled a new season of products from her home goods line in their stores and Parade Home & Garden reported on it here.
NPR Highlights Dolly In Music History NPR has been celebrating Women's History Month with 100 years, 100 moments of women's music history and chose Dolly to represent 1973 for the recording of “I Will Always Love You” as her ballad to leave Porter Wagoner's show and strike out on her own. Read more here.
First created as "Duane's Dolly Pages" in 1996, and becoming Dollymania in 1998, this is the oldest continually operating Internet site dedicated to Dolly Parton and the ONLY regularly-updated resource about her available anywhere in the world!
Past news
March 10: Full Wiggles Country Album Released
With Dolly's single from her upcoming Broadway musical being released Friday in memory of her late husband (and reaching No. 1 on the all-genre sales chart at iTunes), the release of the full-length Wiggles country album, Wiggle Up, Giddy Up, was overshadowed. The album contains a second duet with Dolly that had been removed from her own children's album as well as a second Dolly cover (previously released was their collaboration "Friends" and a re-working of "9 To 5" as "Counting 1 To 5"). The full CD includes their collaboration "We Will Always Be Friends," streamable on YouTube here and in the media player above, and a cover of "Love Is Like A Butterfly," streamable on YouTube here or in the media player below. Purchase the album from Amazon here.
'Please, Please, Please' Falls Off Country Chart After one week as Dolly's 113th chart country single and 76th top 20 hit, her collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter on "Please, Please, Please" this week falls off the country singles chart, down from No. 17, the March 8 Billboard numbers released Tuesday showed. The deluxe album, Short & Sweet Deluxe Edition, containing the re-recorded track slips three to No. 5 pop, two to No. 3 album sales and current album sales, two to No. 6 streaming, and one to No. 3 Canadian. Elsewhere on the charts:
In the U.S., Post Malone's F 1 Trillion, with a Dolly duet, falls three to No. 22 Top 200 albums, holding steady at No. 3 country albums and No. 16 Canadian albums. Beyonce's Cowboy Carter drops nine to No. 24 country albums, one to No. 12 Americana/folk albums, 46 on the Top 200 to No. 128, and 12 to No. 50 current sales.
On the British charts, Carpenter's album regains two to No. 1 on the pop charts, one to No. 1 streaming, and three to No. 16 downloads, losing four to No. 8 Scottish, eight to No. 12 sales, and six to No. 10 physical sales. Elsewhere across the pond, Post Malone's country album F 1 Trillion, featuring a Dolly duet, holds steady at No. 2 country albums and falls off downloads and streaming, down from No. 99 and No. 92, respectively. Beyonce's Cowboy Carter drops three to No. 6 country and five to No. 5 Americana. On the country compilations albums chart, Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 holds steady at No. 2, Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection loses one to No. 5, Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA -- Family, Faith & Fables regains three to No. 11 in its sixth chart week, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe loses 10 to No. 17, Glen Campbell Duets: Ghost On The Canvas Sessions with a Dolly collaboration re-enters the top 20 at No. 16, and Original Album Series by Linda Ronstadt featuring Dolly appearances holds steady at No. 20 while the volume by Emmylou Harris also featuring Dolly appearances re-enters the top 20 at No. 15.
Down Under, Carpenter's loses one to No. 3 pop albums, while Post Malone's F 1 Trillion dips two to No. 6 country and Cowboy Carter drops two to No. 31 Australian country albums.
March 8: Dolly Honors Carl With Song
Dolly on Friday paid public tribute to her late husband, Carl, by releasing the single "If You Hadn't Been There" in his memory. The song, which she wrote a few years ago inspired by her Uncle Bill Owens, Porter Wagoner, Fred Foster, Carl, and others who helped her along the way, is to be featured in her Broadway musical Dolly: An Original Musical. When she announced the Nashville premiere a few weeks ago, she had said the song was coming soon as a single but a release date was never announced until it was decided to use it to honor Carl, who passed away Monday. Stream the tribute on YouTube here or in the media player above and download from Amazon here.
In releasing the song, Dolly shared on social media: "I fell in love with Carl Dean when I was 18 years old. We have spent 60 precious and meaningful years together. Like all great love stories, they never end. They live on in memory and song. He will always be the star of my life story, and I dedicate this song to him."
The release came one day after Dolly issued a statement on social media: "This is a love note to family, friends, and fans. Thank you for all the messages, cards, and flowers that you've sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl. I can't reach out personally to each of you but just know it has meant the world to me. He is in God's arms now and I am okay with that. I will always love you. – Dolly"
Dollywood Media Event For Diamonds Only Dollywood on Friday revealed that this year's media event on preview day will be limited to invited longestime Diamond season passholders only, which suggests they have a huge crowd of media, VIP guests, and Dolly's family members scheduled to fill the theater next Friday morning to open the park for its 40th season since there are so few seats available for passholders that they can't even open up registration for all current Diamond passholders. It has yet to be announced whether Dolly will be in attendance. She had been scheduled to participate in the media event, but the passing of her husband on Monday could impact that. A park spokesperson told The Knoxville News-Sentinel earlier in the week that she will decide on her own how she will be involved in the season opening. Diamond passholders who have kept them since inception of the pass level will be invited to the event via email over coming days, and Diamond passholders who are not invited may stand in a stand-by line at the Celebrity Theater the day of the event for any seats invited passholders don't take. In addition, the first 5,000 passholders in attendance will receive the first of five collectors' stickers being released at various events throughout the year for the 40th anniversary.
March 3: UPDATE -- In Memoriam: Carl Dean, Dolly's Husband Passes At 82
Carl Thomas Dean, longtime private husband to Dolly, died Monday, March 3, at age 82, three months shy of their 59th wedding anniversary. The couple had been together nearly 61 years. He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie. Our prayers from Dolly's fans are with her and their family at this time. May he rest in peace.
The two famously met outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat in Nashville shortly after Dolly moved to town to pursue a career in music. Their first official date a few days later was dinner at Carl's parents' house where he proclaimed she was the girl he was going to marry.
They dated for two years before marrying on May 30, 1966, across the state line in Ringgold, Ga., to keep it out of the Tennessee papers since her record label at the time had asked her not to marry. They kept their marriage secret for a year until she had her first hits under her belt and her label told her they could marry.
She wrote several songs about him and for him over their marriage, including "From Here To The Moon and Back" as discussed in the media player above, even attributing her recent rock album to his love of rock and roll.
However, he remained out of the spotlight. He attended her first awards ceremony, where she and her Uncle Bill Owens were honored for writing the top 10 Bill Phillips hit "Put It Off Until Tomorrow," but she said he had such a bad time he asked to never be invited to any music industry events ever again in the future. He remained at home when she toured or made movies, and he worked a regular job as an asphalt paver.
In recent years, he had been in ill health and that influenced Dolly's decisions to retire from touring and to build an entertainment studio in Nashville in partnership with her management for recording TV specials, interview remotes, and albums closer to home to avoid having to leave him for lengthy periods of time.
The passing was announced on Dolly's official social media with a notation that he will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending and a request from the family for privacy during this difficult time.
In the statement, Dolly said: "Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy."
No word has been released on whether the passing will imapct her regular annual appearance at Dollywood's season opening festivities.
'Please, Please, Please' Enters Country Top 20
Dolly's collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter on her former pop No. 1 "Please, Please, Please" has brought Dolly her 113th chart country single and amazing 76th top 20 country hit as the duet debuts at No. 17 on the March 1 Billboard Hot Country Songs chart thanks to 6.3 million streams and 2,000 paid downloads in its first week of availability. The song returned to several other charts under Carpenters' name only, presumably because more than 50 percent of the streams/sales of were her original from the reissued deluxe version of the album rather than its bonus cut with Dolly (as the song also climbs 21 spots to No. 25 pop on the Hot 100 and No. 13 digital song sales without Dolly listed). The deluxe album, Short & Sweet Deluxe Edition, propels the album back to No. 2 pop, No. 1 album sales and current album sales, No. 4 streaming, No. 2 Canadian, and No. 1 vinyl. Billboard notes here that Dolly extends her record for the most decades with a top 20 entry on the country charts with seven from her first in 1967 through this year earning eight in the '60s, 34 in the '70s, 27 in the '80s, three in the '90s, one each in the 2000s and '10s, and now two in the '20s. Next week, Carpenter's album will dip three on the pop albums tally to No. 5. Elsewhere on the charts:
In the U.S., Post Malone's F 1 Trillion, with a Dolly duet, slips two to No. 19 Top 200 albums, two to No. 16 Canadian albums, and four current albums list to No. 46, holding steady at No. 3 country albums. Beyonce's Cowboy Carter falls 10 to No. 15 country albums, nine to No. 11 Americana/folk albums, 50 on the Top 200 to No. 82, and 14 to No. 38 current sales, falling off the overall sales top 50, down from No. 36.
On the British charts, Carpetner's album falls two to No. 3 on the pop charts, holding steady at No. 2 streaming and losing two to No. 4 Scottish, two to No. 4 sales, 11 to No. 19 downloads, and two to No. 4 physical sales. Elsewhere across the pond, Post Malone's country album F 1 Trillion, featuring a Dolly duet, rises three to No. 2 country albums, loses two to No. 99 downloads, and re-enters streaming at No. 92, while Beyonce's Cowboy Carter slides one to No. 3 country, holding steady at No. 1 Americana, and falling out of the top 100 streaming and downloads, down from No. 95 and No. 87, respectively. On the country compilations albums chart, Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 inches down one to No. 2, Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection loses one to No. 5, Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA -- Family, Faith & Fables falls four to No. 14 in its fifth chart week, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe rises one to No. 7, and Original Album Series by Linda Ronstadt re-enters the top 20 at No. 20.
Down Under, Carpenter's loses one to No. 2 pop albums, while Post Malone's F 1 Trillion rises one to No. 4 country and Cowboy Carter loses six to No. 29 Australian country albums.
Dolly's 'CMT Crossroads' Released To Paramount+ Paramount+ last week released more than 100 episodes of MTV Unplugged, VH1 Storytellers and CMT Crossroads to its streaming service including 2003's episode of the CMT mash-up series featuring Dolly with lesbian rock icon Melissa Etheridge.
Dollywood Readies 40th Season Opening We're less than two weeks away from Dolly's theme park opening for its 40th season, and she has plenty of surprises in store. Preview day is March 14 and public opening day is March 15, and leading up to those dates more than 100 off-season construction projects are wrapping up. In addition to Dollywood's birthday, their Splash Country water park celebrates its 25th season, DreamMore Resort and Spa 10th season, HeartSongs Lodge and Resort its second season and Dolly's Imagination Library early childhood literacy program its 30th anniversary as it approaches 265 million books distributed. A new Wilderness Pass Restaurant and 750-space parking lot will open later this spring, Country Fair and The Village are being refreshed with a new splash pad coming to the former and reimagining of the Heartsong Theater into Imagination Playhouse permanently (with the Heartsong movie being remastered and moving to the Dreamsong Theater that houses Heidi Parton's Kin & Friends show). The new theater's offerings of Dolly musical adaptations of her Imagination Library stories will host performances March through September plus new story time and character meet-and-greets during the Summer Celebration. A 40th anniversary retrospective show, "Play On," will debut May 3 with songs and scenes from past iconic shows at the park, and "From The Heart: The Life and Music of Dolly Parton" will return after earning the Golden Ticket for Best New Show. The drones return for the Summer Celebration with a new show as well as the return of the "Gazillion Bubble Show": and "Chris Perondi's Stunt Dog Experience." Things start with the I Will Always Love You Music Festival March 15-April 13, Flower and Food Fesitval April 18-June 8, Summer Celebration June 14-Aug. 3, Harvest Festival with Great Pumpkin LumiNights Sept. 12-Oct. 27, and Smoky Mountain Christmas Nov. 1-Jan. 4.
Coverage includes WCYBhere and in the media player below, WLOS here, WVLT here, WJHL here and The Knoxville News-Sentinelhere and here.
Feb. 24: Dolly's First Collab With The Wiggles Released
Australian children's performers The Wiggles on Thursday released a double Dolly single with one song being one of her two contributions to their upcoming country album, Wiggle Up, Giddy Up, and a re-worked cover of one of her most famous songs. In a press release, Dolly observed: "Well, I just wiggled my way out into the Wiggles' world! I had so much fun being a part of this project, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we have." The band released "Friends" with Dolly, available for streaming on YouTube here or in the media player above and available for download from Amazon here, and "Counting 1 to 5," a Wiggles cover of "9 To 5" re-written into a counting lesson, available on YouTube here or in the media player below. The band announced it will release its other collaboration with Dolly from the album, "We Will Always Be Friends," as a single the day the full CD is released, March 7. No word on whether it will also be a double Dolly single, as they also include a cover of "Love Is Like A Butterfly" on the album as well. Both "Friends" and "We Will Always Be Friends" are songs Dolly wrote about 20 years ago for adaptations of Imagination Library books for Dollywood's Imagination Playhouse Theater. Both songs appeared on the first edition of her children's album I Believe In You which had been sold exclusively to staff and volunteers of the book program in 2015, but both songs were removed from the final commercial version of the album released to stores two years later.
New Frozen Meals, Dessert Coming A new line of individual frozen meals from Dolly's food deal with Conagra and a third family-sized frozen dessert were revealed by the food giant at last week's Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference. While no date for shelving this year is yet to be revealed, officials from the company announced the chicken and dumplings, beef pot roast, shrimp and grits, and country fried steak will be hitting freezers at groceries nationwide as will a biscuit dough peach cobbler, which will join her cheesecake and chocolate pie. Click on the image at left from Conagra's presentation for a better look.
Imagination Library Becomes Political Fodder In Indiana Dolly's early childhood literacy program has been dragged into partisan politics yet again. Two years ago, Indiana became one of the now 21 states to invest tax dollars into the program to make it available statewide to all children as a key component of their comprehensive education strategy because research has shown it to be perhaps the single most cost-effective and impactful reading program available today, having been documented to dramatically raise incoming literacy levels of participating children and maintaining those gains through elementary school.
When the state allocated $2 million for the first year and $4 million for the second year at the urging of Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, he said at the time: "I learned from a very young age that reading is the key to education and opportunity. The ability to read can transport children to places they have never been before and open doors they never knew existed. By making Dolly Parton's Imagination Library available in every zip code, we are giving Hoosier children the tools they need for literary success." The state then went about helping each county that did not already have a privately-funded affiliate to establish one, relying on this state subsidy for half of the local share of costs.
Although the program operates in Dolly's name, she just covers its centralized administration through her Dollywood Foundation including sending regional directors to communities interested in starting the program and mentoring them in doing so, selecting the books, negotiating with the publisher, ordering the books, and mailing them. Local communities then pay just the actual book purchase and postage for the children in their community as their local share, about $24 per child annually. According to the program's most recent publicly-available tax return, the books cost about $60 million (the portion covered by local philanthropy) and administration and other programs about $5 million. The program operates across all 50 states but is statewide in 21 states where the state government has entered into a contract to provide all local communities a 50 percent match in state taxpayer funds to support the program, leaving each local affiliate to have to raise $12 per child annually instead of $24. This partnership, pioneered in Tennessee about 20 years ago, has allowed the program to expand exponentially in recent years and surpass over 260 million books distributed to over 3 million current enrollees per month in the U.S. plus Great Britain, Australia, and Canada.
Although Indiana has enjoyed multiple years of budget surplus and currently has a $2.5 billion reserve fund, new Republican Gov. Mike Braun decided the program was unnecessary and cut it from his budget. Democrats and some Republicans tried to restore it to the two-year budget, but the Republican supermajority in the legislature refused to do so. Parents, teachers, and public library officials were outraged and loudly complained from all over the state to the governor.
Dollywood Foundation President Jeff Conyers released a statement to The Daily Beasthere about the situation when asked, saying: "We are hopeful that Governor Braun and the Indiana Legislature will continue this vital investment by restoring the state's funding match for local Imagination Library programs. The beauty of the Imagination Library is that it unites us all—regardless of politics—because every child deserves the chance to dream big and succeed.For the past two years, the State of Indiana has been a proud partner in bringing Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to over 125,000 Hoosier children each month. Together, we've helped nurture a love of reading, given families precious moments of joy, and built a foundation for lifelong learning."
That comment was misreported by numerous media outlets as coming on behalf of Dolly personally by her spokesperson instead of explaining it was by the foundation president on behalf of himself.
The Indiana Library Federation noted this is the first time a state government has reneged on its obligations to the program after entering into an agreement to support it statewide in the program's 30-year history. As of this month, 125,000 Indiana children are enrolled in the program and over the past two years they have received 1.8 million books in 89 of the state's 92 counties. Officials had expected to begin operations in those final three counties before the end of this year.
In response to the outrage, Gov. Braun declined to ask the legislature to consider reinstating the funding, and his budget passed as proposed with the full cut to the program. However, he announced he has asked his wife, First Lady Maureen Braun, to take on responsibility for raising the entire sum from private philanthropy to continue supplementing the program statewide, a very difficult if not impossible task. Tennessee and other states with statewide programs have often sought additional funds from private sponsorship to add to tax dollars, but given the huge number of participating children and the overall cost, the scope of the program's statewide status makes it impossible to continue at that level without the majority of the match coming from a legislative allocation.
Conyers responded to the news, according to multiple reports, with the following statement: "I deeply appreciate Governor Braun's commitment to early childhood literacy and the leadership of First Lady Maureen Braun in championing Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The Imagination Library brings the joy of reading to over 125,000 Hoosier children each month and we are encouraged by Governor and First Lady Braun's support to ensure its future in Indiana. We look forward to working with the Governor and First Lady, state leaders, and Local Program Partners to keep books in the hands of Indiana's youngest learners and strengthen this foundation for a lifetime of success."
'IWALY' Tops Another 'Billboard' Critics' Poll Billboard magazine's critics released another list last week with Dolly on top. After having named her the best country artist of all time and "I Will Always Love You" the best country love song of all time, their critics named her original recording of the track as the best break-up song of all time in all genres of music. Check it out here.
See Dolly's Heartsongs Costumes Thanks to correspondent Jason Worley for visiting Dolly's costume exhibit at Dollywood's Heartsong Lodge resort and sharing the images with us in a gallery here. The curated collection, open through March 12 in the Acoustic Lounge, is open to all resort hotel, dining, merchandise, or spa patrons daily and is also accessible Thursday nights for Tennessee residents and Dollywood season passholders without a stay or additional purchase. Operating hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 5-8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon and 5-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Dolly Helps Sabrina Dominate U.K., Aussie Charts Dolly's new duet with Sabrina Carpenter will allow her Short & Sweet Deluxe Edition to recapture the No. 2 album spot in the U.S. when charts are released Tuesday, Billboard confirms, as the expanded edition sold 74,000 copies, had almost 2,000 album-equivalent single song downloads, and streams equal to 84,000 units for total credits of 160,000 for the week.
On the British charts, which are released on Fridays and capture new releases faster than the U.S. tallies, the album regains the No. 1 spot on the pop charts, up from No. 5, holding steady at No. 2 streaming and gaining 12 to No. 2 Scottish, 16 to No. 2 sales, 63 to No. 8 downloads, 16 to No. 2 physical sales, and 16 to No. 2 vinyl sales. Although the success is largely due to Dolly's new duet vocals on a re-recorded "Please, Please, Please," the U.K. charts didn't see fit to add Dolly's name to the single credit as it re-enters the pop top 100 overseas at No. 9, and gains 22 to No. 12 streaming, 36 to No. 20 sales, 64 mto No. 18 downloads, 19 to No. 16 audio streaming, and 45 to No. 6 video streaming. Elsewhere across the pond, Post Malone's country album F 1 Trillion, featuring a Dolly duet, holds steady at No. 5 country albums and re-enters the top 100 pop downloads at No. 97, while Beyonce's Cowboy Carter gains one to No. 2 country, holding steady at No. 1 Americana, and sliding 23 to No. 95 streaming and 21 to No. 87 downloads. On the country compilations albums chart, Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 holds steady at No. 1, Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection loses one to No. 4, Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA -- Family, Faith & Fables falls three to No. 10 in its fourth chart week, while Dolly's The Monument Singles falls back out of the top 20, down No. 6, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe re-enters the top 20 at No. 8, and Original Album Series by Linda Ronstadt falls back off the top 20, down from No. 18.
Down Under, Carpenter's album regains the No. 1 pop position, up from No. 4, while the song "Please, Please, Please," again without crediting Dolly, jumps 22 places to No. 17 on the Australian pop singles chart. Post Malone's F 1 Trillion rises one to No. 5 country and drops out of the top 50 pop albums chart, down from No. 47, while Cowboy Carter slips seven to No. 23 Australian country albums.
In the U.S., Post Malone's F 1 Trillion holds steady at No. 17 Top 200 albums, No. 3 country albums, and No. 14 Canadian albums, gaining two on the current albums list at No. 42. Beyonce's Cowboy Carter dips one to No. 5 country albums, holds steady at No. 2 Americana/folk albums, and loses 13 on the Top 200 to No. 32, eight to No. 36 sales, and one to No. 24 current sales.
Feb. 17: Sabrina Carpenter Duet Drops On 'Please, Please, Please'
Pop star Sabrina Carpenter on Friday released her promised expanded edition of her Grammy-winning album Short & Sweet Deluxe Edition fesaturing a remix of her No. 1 single "Please, Please, Please" as a duet with Dolly. The country-influenced arrangement also featured censoring of one line from a curse word at Dolly's request. Download your copy from Amazon here and stream on YouTube here or in the media player above. Dolly released behind-the-scenes footage of the two listening to the finished song to her social media here.
Potential Musical 'Dollys' Revealed, Symphony Singers, Too Dolly last week announced 15 finalists from the search for Dolly casting call for her upcoming bio-musical Dolly: An Original Musical. Check them out in a reel posted to social media here. She also last week revealed several vocalists who will be touring with the upcoming symphonic showcase of her music, Threads: My Songs In Symphony. Learn more about those singers here.
Dollywood Named A 'Forbes' Best Employer Forbes magazine last week named Dolly's theme park, Dollywood, to its list of the best 498 midsized employers in the U.S., one of just 15 companies in the travel and leisure sector.
U.S., U.K., Aussie Chart Updates Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA -- Family, Faith & Fables loses its pole position on the U.K. country compilation albums chart after two weeks, the charts released Friday confirmed. The album falls six to No. 7 for the week in its third chart week, while Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 regains one to No. 1, Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection rises two to No. 3, and Dolly's The Monument Singles holds steady at No. 6, but The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe falls out of the top 20, down from No. 20, and Original Album Series by Linda Ronstadt holds steady at No. 18. Post Malone's country album F 1 Trillion, featuring a Dolly duet, regains three to No. 5 country albums while Beyonce's Cowboy Carter gains one to No. 3 country, holding steady at No. 1 Americana, and sliding 20 to No. 79 pop, off the Scottish chart (down from No. 85), eight to No. 72 streaming, off the top 100 sales chart (down from No. 71), and 46 on the downloads list to No. 20.
Down Under, Post Malone's F 1 Trillion rises one to No. 6 country, while Cowboy Carter slides two to No. 16 Australian country albums. Malone's album holds steady on the top 50 Australian pop albums at No. 47.
In the U.S., Dolly's Little Sparrow falls back off the bluegrass albums chart, down from one week at No. 14, the Feb. 15 Billboard charts released Tuesday showed. Post Malone's F 1 Trillion gains three to No. 17 Top 200 albums, and one to No. 3 country albums, falling one to No. 14 Canadian albums, and re-entering the top 50 current albums list at No. 44. Beyonce's post-Grammy push gives her Cowboy Carter, a 33-point gain to No. 4 country albums and 12-point climb to No. 2 Americana/folk albums, re-entering the Top 200 at No. 19, sales chart at No. 28, and current sales at No. 23.
Feb. 10: Dolly Duets With Sabrina Carpenter Fresh off her Grammy wins, pop artist Sabrina Carpenter last week announced she would be releasing a deluxe version fo her album Short & Sweet on Friday featuring a collaboration with Dolly on a remix of her No. 1 hit "Please, Please, Please." Announcing it on social media, Carpenter said: "as a thank you for giving this album 2 Grammy's :') short n' sweet deluxe is now available for pre order.. and yes that does say featuring Miss Dolly Parton…. she wouldn't want me to swear but holy shit!!!!!" Dolly responded with a heart and butterfly emoji. Reserve your copy here!
'IWALY' Named Country's Best Love Song By 'Billboard' Billboard on Friday named its critics' choices for the 50 best love songs in country music history and Dolly came in at No. 26 with "Rockin' Years" with Ricky Van Shelton (a song written by her late brother, Floyd Parton) and No. 1 with her own "I Will Always Love You." See the full list here.
'Jolene' Goes Triple Platinum Overseas Dolly's single "Jolene" was certified three times platinum in the U.K. on Jan. 31 for sales and steams equivalent to 1.8 million, it was announced by BPI on Friday.
Illinois Could Get Dolly Plates A bill was introduced last week in the Illinois Senate that if passed would make the state the third, after Tennessee and Ohio, to offer specialty license plates to benefit Dolly's Imagination Library early childhood literacy program if it passed. The legislation is SB 1506.
Hospital Gift Highlighted The Union Medical Center in Dolly's mother's hometown in rural South Carolina held its ribbon cutting last week and Dolly sent a video message in recognition of her $100,000 gift to build a healing garden on the property in honor of her mother. Check out a news story here.
'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' Reboot Nearing With Dolly EP Buffy The Vampire Slayer fans went crazy earlier last week upon news that the series was nearing closure on a deal with Hulu to order a reboot pilot starring and executive produced by lead Sarah Michelle Gellar. Variety shared the exclusive report here, which also noted Dolly has signed on to executive produce for Sandollar Films. The company she owned with her late manager Sandy Gallin produced the original film and co-produced the original TV show, but Gallin was the listed executive producer instead of Dolly. Now that he is deceased, she will take on that role.
Dolly Costume Exhibit Opens At Resort Dollywood may be temporarily closed until the new season starts but the park's Heartsong Lodge & Resort is hosting an exhibit of pieces from Dolly's wardrobe now through March 12. The curated collection is displayed in the Acoustic Lounge and is open to resort guests. Items include outfits from Dolly's 2021 appearance on Grace & Frankie, her 2002 Halo & Horns tour, her 1970 cover of The Fairest of Them All and other items from her archives selected by Dolly's niece and Director of Archive Services, Rebecca Seaver. The exhibit is open to all resort hotel, dining, merchandise, or spa patrons daily and is accessible Thursday nights for Tennessee residents and Dollywood season passholders without a stay or additional purchase. Operating hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 5-8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon and 5-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Seattle Men's Chorus Plans Dolly Shows The Seattle Men's Chorus in April will debut a new tribute show about Dolly and her music which they will perform April 6 in Seattle, April 13 in Bellingham, May 3 in Tacoma, and May 18 in Everett. Read more about it from Broadway Worldhere.
Dolly Sends Wishes To High School '9 To 5'-ers Dolly sent video greetings to the actors at Elkhart High School appearing in a production next month of her 9 To 5: The Musical. Learn more from WNDU here.
Family Album Remains No. 1 In Minor U.K. Chart Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA -- Family, Faith & Fables retains its No. 1 position for a second consecutive week on the British country compilation albums chart, it was revealed Friday. The project falls off the overall album sales tally, down from No. 100, physical album sales, down from No,. 94, and Americana albums, down from No. 22. Elsewhere on the compilations list, Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 regains three to No. 2, Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection inches up one to No. 5, and top 20 re-entries are seen for Dolly's The Monument Singles at No. 6, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe at No. 20, and Original Album Series by Linda Ronstadt at No. 18. Post Malone's country album F 1 Trillion, featuring a Dolly duet, slips two to No. 8 country albums while Beyonce's Cowboy Carter sees an uptick following its Grammy wins, gaining three to No. 4 country and eight to No. 1 Americana while re-entering pop at No. 59, Scottish at No. 85, streaming at No. 64, sales at No. 71 and downloads at No. 20.
Down Under, Post Malone's F 1 Trillion holds steady at No. 7 country, while Cowboy Carter gains 17 to No. 14 Australian country albums. Malone's album re-enters the top 50 Australian pop albums at No. 47.
In the U.S., Dolly's Little Sparrow re-enters the bluegrass albums chart at No. 14 on the Feb. 9 Billboard charts released Tuesday. Post Malone's F 1 Trillion drops two to No. 20 Top 200 albums, losing one to No. 4 country albums and No. 13 Canadian albums, and falling back off the top 50 current albums list, down from No. 49. Beyonce's Cowboy Carter, which won't see its post-Grammy bump on the U.S. charts until later this week, falls back out of the Top 200 albums, down from No. 179, losing seven to No. 37 country albums and two to No. 14 Americana/folk albums.
Feb. 3: Jimmy Carter Beats Dolly For Grammy Dolly on Sunday lost the Grammy for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording for the audio book of Behind The Seams: My Life In Rhinestones to the late former President Jimmy Carter for a collection of Sunday School lessons. Other nominees were The Beatles, George Clinton, and Barbra Steisand. The win marked Carter's fourth Grammy for spoken word recording. It marked Dolly's first nomination in the category, expanding her number of genres to 10. However, Beyonce's first-time nominations in the country and Americana genres took her out of a tie with Dolly for the female artist with the most nominations in different genres to 11. Their previous three-way-tie-holder Janet Jackson fell to third place with nine genres. Beyonce was the night's big winner, with her album Cowboy Carter, on which Dolly provides two voice-overs plus wrote the classic "Jolene" which is covered on the project, won Album of the Year as well as Country Album of the Year. In addition, she won Country Duo/Group Performance with Dolly's goddaughter Miley Cyrus for "II Most Wanted."
Dolly Musical, Dolly U Announced At Belmont
Dolly on Tuesday officially announced the dates and details of what she had previously revealed months ago: that her bio-musical Dolly: An Original Musical will debut in Nashville for a test run this summer prior to next year's move to Broadway. In an appearance at Belmont University here or in the media player above, she revealed tickets went on sale Tuesday for the four-week engagement which includes a world premiere preview Friday, July 18, continuing through Aug. 7, with the official opening night occurring Aug. 8. The run ends Aug. 17. She said her favorite song from the show was "I Wouldn't Be Here If You Hadn't Been There," about those who elevated her to where she is today and which she said she would be releasing as a single, and director Bartlett Sher said his was "God, Sex, and Music," which he said encapsulated Dolly herself and her contradictions. The show also served as the first project for Dolly U, a new partnership Dolly has created with Belmont to provide immersive educational experiences for students with the performing arts, working on all aspects of production. Tickets are available here. The show is still casting, with 126 video submission slots for members of the Actors Equity union eligible to submit to casting directors Carrie Gardner and Jason Thinger, by Feb. 14 for the three Dollys, Porter Wagoner, Carl Dean/Johnny Cash, young Judy Ogle, adult Judy, and Sandy Gallin.
'DNA' Debuts Overseas Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA -- Family, Faith & Fables must have shipped all of its U.K. sales last week because it debuted on the British charts much higher than it did in the U.S. The collection pops in at No. 100 overall album sales (includes downloads), No, 94 physical album sales, No. 22 Americana albums and No. 1 U.K. country compilation albums. Stateside, on the other hand, the album never sold enough in one week to appear on any all-genre sales charts and only appeared on the bluegrass albums list, one that only takes sales of a few hundred copies to enter the top 10. Elsewhere in Britain, Post Malone's country album F 1 Trillion, featuring a Dolly duet, slips three to No. 6 country albums while Beyonce's Cowboy Carterloses two to No. 7 U.K. country albums and five to No. 9 Americana albums. On the country compilation albums list, in addition to Dolly's family album, Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 drops two to No. 5 and Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection inches down one to No. 6, while Original Album Series by Linda Ronstadt falls back out of the top 20, down from No. 20.
Down Under, Post Malone's F 1 Trillion loses two to No. 7 country, while Cowboy Carter slips three to No. 31 Australian country albums. Malone's drops out of the top 50 Australian pop albums, down from No. 49.
In the U.S., Post Malone's F 1 Trillion drops two to No. 18 Top 200 albums on the Feb. 2 Billboard charts released Tuesday, remaining steady at No. 3 country albums, losing one to No. 12 Canadian albums, and re-entering the top 50 current albums list at No. 49. Beyonce's Cowboy Carter, loses 21 to No. 179 Top 200 albums, holding steady at No. 30 country albums, and gaining one to No. 12 Americana/folk albums.
Jan. 27: 'You'll Never Walk Alone' Duet Released
Demaree, a single mother in Tennessee who was a child star on Broadway, has released a new duet with Dolly of the classic "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the musical Carousel. She explains in a story from Nashville's NewsChannel5 here or in the media player below that the duet came about because her mother befriended Dolly's assistant Judy Ogle through work and they were at Judy's house one day when Dolly showed up and her mother informed Dolly that Demaree had a dream of recording a duet with her. The song was chosen because of its special connection to her mother – who found strength in the song when her high school was performing the musical following her own mother's death from being struck by a car while walking. Listen to the collaboration on YouTube here or in the media player above and download it from your favorite retailer including Amazon here.
Big Broadway Announcement Coming Tuesday Producers of Dolly: An Original Musical say a "huge announcement" will be coming at 10 a.m. Central/11 a.m. Eastern Tuesday.
Fans Seek To Rename Airport For Dolly Instead Of Trump A Tennessee legislator has introduced a bill asking that Nashville's airport be renamed after President Donald Trump, which spurred some Dolly fans to create an online petition asking they instead rename it after Dolly. Check out a report from The Leaf Chroniclehere and sign the petition, which as of press time had over 1,200 signatures, here.
New Dolly Kitchenware Line Available Thanks to Tony for alerting me to a relatively new collection of authorized Dolly Kitchenware Essentials from Mainstream International available now from Amazon here. For sale now are a set of seven kitchen towels (one for each day of the week), an apron and towel set, and an oven mit set.
Dollywood Donates Locomotive Engine Dollywood recently donated its display locomotive, Southern Railway 2-8-0 No. 107, built in 1887, to the Knoxville & Holston River Railroad for preservation in exchange for a donation to the region's Hurricane Helene relief efforts, Trains reported here. For decades, the train has sat outside exposed to the elements adjacent to the parking lot for the theme park's "yellow house" off-park ticket office at the corner of Parkway and Dollywood Lane in Pigeon Forge.
U.S., Canadian, Aussie Chart Updates Post Malone's country album F 1 Trillion, featuring a Dolly duet, inches down one to No. 16 Top 200 albums on the Jan. 25 Billboard charts released Tuesday, remaining steady at No. 3 country albums and No. 11 Canadian albums, falling out of the top 50 current album, down from No. 48.
Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon's holiday album Holiday Seasoning, featuring his Dolly duet "It's Almost Too Early For Christmas," falls out of the top 10 comedy albums, down from No. 4.
Beyonce's Cowboy Carter, with a "Jolene" cover and Dolly voice-overs, tumbles 51 places to No. 158 Top 200 albums, 12 to No. 30 country albums, and three to No. 13 Americana/folk albums, falling off current albums, down from No. 29.
Down Under, Post Malone's F 1 Trillion loses two to No. 6 country, while Cowboy Carter rises one to No. 28 Australian country albums. Malone's drops 30 spots to No. 49 Australian pop albums.
Across the pond, Beyonce's album loses two to No. 5 U.K. country albums and remains steady at No. 4 Americana albums. Malone's album regains one to No. 3 country and falls off the top 100 streaming charts, down from No. 97. The U.K. country compilations tally sees Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 stay at No. 3 and Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection slide one to No. 5, Glen Campbell Duets: Ghost On The Canvas Sessions, with a Dolly duet, falls out of the top 20, down from No. 10, and Original Album Series by Linda Ronstadt dips six to No. 20 while Emmylou Harris' first entry falls back out of the top 20, down from No. 18.
Jan. 20: 'Smoky Mountain DNA' Special Teaser Released
Thanks to Benjamin for alerting me to a teaser video now available on Venmo here or in the media player above for the multi-part docuseries on her album Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA -- Family, Faith & Fables. The docu-series was originally expected to premiere at the album's release in November, but the project's website has said it should come out sometime this year. (The video was moved behind a password-protected wall, but several copies have been posted to YouTube including one here.)
Dolly Gains Another U.K. Silver Record Fourteen years after its release, Dolly's 2011 album Better Day, was certified silver by BPI in the UK last week for sales in excess of 60,000 copies since release. Dolly's management seems to have mistakenly claimed it went silver in July 2014 alongside Blue Smoke but it apparently wasn't at that sales level at the time.
Dolly Makes 10 Most Influential Artists The Luminate Index, a new music artist ranking system from the publishers of Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter, has released in inaugural list of the world's most influential artists in the United States to help businesses make product partnership decisions, and Dolly is the only country artist to make the top 10. The rankings are based on 30 percent streaming (where Dolly usually ranks very low), 15 percent social media presence, 25 percent public awareness, 15 percent public perception, and 15 percent fan engagement. The top 10 for 2024 were:
10. Dolly
9. Lady Gaga
8. Ariana Grande
7. Shakira
6. Eminem
5. Rihanna
4. Elton John
3. Beyonce
2. Adele
1. Taylor Swift
New Product News Such popularity has led to numerous recent business opportunities including a new home goods line from Lifetime Brands called "Dolly's Jeweled Mosaic Collection" coming to stores in spring 2025 but seen at home expos such as here, naming of Shannon Foster as general manager of her upcoming Songteller Hotel in Nashville which aims for a 2026 opening with a Dolly museum, restaurant, and entertainment venue here, and an interview with digital magazine Food & Beverage about her new wine collection here.
'Whorehouse' To Be Re-Issued On BluRay Kino Lorber Studio Classics has announced it will soon release a new BluRay of The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas featuring Dolly from 1982. No details yet on bonus material or release date but the studios say it was made from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, which suggests a 4K release could be in the future.
Dolly Suit At Grammy Auction Dolly has donated one of the outfits she wore to her 2019 MusiCares Artist Of The Year ceremony to this year's MusiCares auction, which has announced this year's proceeds will go to musicians who lost their homes in the recent California wildfires. Originally estimated to go for $3,000, Dolly's item is currently at $6,000 in online bidding. The final auction occurs the morning of the Grammy Awards, Feb. 2. Bid here.
More Grammy Records Noted Billboard last week noted Dolly is the No. 1 female and No. 1 vocalist for the most years to have received at least one nomination with 37. Only composer John Williams surpasses her with 42. Read the full list here.
Trans-Lesbian 'Jolene' Cover Released Tears for the Dying, a goth-punk group fronted by the trans-feme niece of Chip Young, the session guitarist Dolly taught her signature "Joelene" guitar riff to perform on the original recording of the song, last week released their cover of "Jolene," singing it from a gender-queer trans lesbian perspective. Read an interview about the project here and watch the video here.
U.S., U.K., Aussie Chart Updates It appears Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA -- Family, Faith & Fables lasted only seven weeks on the bluegrass albums chart, falling out of the top 15 in the Jan. 18 numbers released Tuesday, down from No. 5 in its final week.
Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon's holiday album Holiday Seasoning, featuring his Dolly duet "It's Almost Too Early For Christmas," slips two to No. 4 comedy albums.
Post Malone's country album F 1 Trillion, featuring a Dolly duet, slides one to No. 15 Top 200 albums and one to No. 3 country albums, falling four to No. 48 current albums and rising one to No. 11 Canadian albums.
Beyonce's Cowboy Carter, with a "Jolene" cover and Dolly voice-overs, falls 70 to No. 107 Top 200 albums, nine to No. 18 country albums, four to No. 10 Americana/folk albums, and three to No. 29 current albums sales, falling back off top album sales, down from No. 39.
Down Under, Post Malone's F 1 Trillion loses one to No. 4 country, while Cowboy Carter falls 11 to No. 29 Australian country albums. Malone's gains 16 to No. 19 Australian pop albums.
Across the pond, Beyonce's album loses one to No. 3 U.K. country albums and three No. 4 Americana albums. Malone's album dips one to No. 4 country and seven to No. 97 streaming charts, falling off the pop chart at No. 93 at No,. 90. The U.K. country compilations tally sees Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 stay at No. 3 and Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection remain at No. 4, Glen Campbell Duets: Ghost On The Canvas Sessions, with a Dolly duet, rise nine to No. 10, and Original Album Series by Linda Ronstadt gains two to No. 14 and Emmylou Harris' first entry loses five to No. 18.
For the archive of monthly news stories, click here.
"Dollymania: The Online Dolly Parton Newsmagazine. Your premier resource for Dolly Parton news and information." These pages are not affiliated with Dolly Parton, Dolly Parton Enterprises or Dollywood. Original text and images are copyrighted by Duane Gordon/www.dollymania.net or by their respective owners and published here with permission. These may not be reproduced without prior written consent.
Carl Thomas Dean, longtime private husband to Dolly, died Monday, March 3, at age 82, three months shy of their 59th wedding anniversary. The couple had been together nearly 61 years. He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie. Our prayers from Dolly's fans are with her and their family at this time. May he rest in peace.
