Feb. 28: Library Celebrates 100 Millionth Book At Library Of Congress Dolly on Tuesday presented her children's book Coat Of Many Colors to the U.S. Library Of Congress as the 100 millionth book distributed by her Imagination Library children's charity. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden interviewed Dolly about the program before Dolly read (and sang) the book to a small group of children. Hayden also announced that the last Friday of each month from March through August will feature a 10:30 a.m. Imagination Library storytime in the Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building in D.C. which will be free and open to the public. The storytimes will also feature music and special guests and will be livestreamed on the Library of Congress' Facebook and YouTube pages. Watch Dolly's Tuesday appearance on YouTube here or Facebook here. Don't forget she'll appear Wednesday on ABC's 7 a.m. Good Morning America and 12:38 a.m. Nightline. ABC News covered Tuesday's appearance here. Other coverage included The Washington Post here and CNN here. Photo at left by Shawn Miller courtesy Library Of Congress. Click on it for a larger view.
Feb. 25: Overseas Chart Updates The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe holds steady on the British country compilation albums chart in its 76th chart week to No. 10, it was announced Friday. On the same tally, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series: Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) also holds steady at No. 9 as Ronstadt's Original Album Series (featuring one Dolly cover and one track with Dolly harmony) gains one to No. 14 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) remains at No. 11.
Library Of Congress Reminder Don't forget to watch Dolly present the 100 millionth Imagination Library book to the U.S. Library Of Congress in D.C. at 10 a.m. Eastern Tuesday on YouTube here or the media player below or Facebook here. And remember she'll also appear on ABC's Good Morning America Wednesday morning and Nightline Wednesday night.
Feb. 23: Dolly Sets Two ABC Appearances Next Week Dolly will celebrate Tuesday's Library of Congress presentation of her 100 millionth Imagination Library book with two ABC appearances on Wednesday. She'll appear on the network's 7 a.m. Good Morning America, where she'll perform "Coat Of Many Colors," and 12:38 a.m.'s Nightline that night for a sit-down interview.
Dolly Beer To Debut Knoxville brewery Pretentious Beer Co. will on Friday premiere its Dolly Dolly beer a double india pale ale with Cascade, El Dorado and Citra Hops plus Tennessee honey. The drink will be featured at the brewery from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. A Facebook event is available here.
Feb. 22: 100 Millionth Library Book Ceremony To Be Livestreamed The Dollywood Foundation has announced that fans will be able to watch Dolly present the 100 millionth Imagination Library book to the U.S. Library of Congress on Tuesday as the 10 a.m. Eastern ceremony will be livestreamed via YouTube here and Facebook here. In addition those in the Washington area will be interested to know that limited public viewing space is available on the mezzanine level of the Great Hall on a first-come/first-serve basis. In a release Dolly noted: "I'm really looking forward to dedicating my Imagination Library's 100 Millionth Book to the Library of Congress. It's a big honor and one that I'm so very proud to share with the many special partners and local affiliates who have helped make this day possible. Together we can all Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More."
Backstage At Dollypalooza Vice recently took a photojournalist backstage to give a behind-the-scenes look at New York's annual celebration of all things Dolly, Dollypalooza. Check out the piece here.
Survey: Put Dolly In 'Hello, Dolly' Broadway World surveyed readers whom they would like to take over for Bernadette Peters in Hello, Dolly on Broadway and Dolly herself was the clear winner they reported here.
Dolly Dog Finds Fame Did you know there was a canine fashion icon on social media called Dolly Pawton? Britain's The Standard profiled the dog here.
Feb. 19: Library Of Congress To Celebrate 100 Millionth Dolly Book The 100 millionth book distributed by Dolly's Imagination Library early childhood literacy program will be inducted into the national archives of the Library of Congress, The Mountain Press reported here on Sunday. The 10 a.m. Feb. 27 ceremony is just Dolly's latest recognition by the U.S. Library of Congress, which previously named her a Living Legend in 2004, placed her "Coat Of Many Colors" in the National Recording Registry in 2012 and honored Imagination Library with a Literacy Award in 2014. According to the article, Dolly is expected to be in attendance at the ceremony.
Overseas Chart Updates The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe holds steady on the British country compilation albums chart in its 75th chart week to No. 10, it was announced Friday. On the same tally, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series: Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) gains two to No. 9 as Ronstadt's Original Album Series (featuring one Dolly cover and one track with Dolly harmony) holds steady at No. 15 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 three to No. 11.
Feb. 16: Rick, Stella Bring Back Up Webster Scandal The first accuser of Dolly's former publicist, Kirt Webster, this week lashed out at Dolly's response to Nashville's installment of the #MeToo sexual assault scandals, and Dolly's sister continued to speak out, while Dolly and her team maintained their silence. Austin Rick whose accusation that Webster forced him into a sexual relationship in exchange for helping him start a country music career led to at least one other client, one reporter, one intern and more than 20 former employees of Webster's, both male and female, to come forward with accusations he had either sexually assaulted or sexually harassed them as well told The Nashville Scenehere: "Dolly's take on this makes me sad. For all the good she's done during her career, it's ironic to me that she draws her morality line at sexual abuse. Apparently that's not important enough for Dolly to want to get to the bottom of. The only comment she's given is to say that she hopes I'm a liar. She hopes that myself and Kirt's at least 24 other victims are all conspiring to peddle terrible falsehoods all so that she doesn't have to think any differently about her 'friend' who has been maliciously exploiting her all along to get his twisted jollies off." When news of the scandal first broke and after multiple former Webster employees told multiple media outlets that he regularly exchanged meet-and-greet passes at Dolly's past several tours for oral sex from gay fans who wanted to meet her and other employees went public with tales of constant sexual harassment in his workplace, Dolly released a statement which many fans and even her own sister thought was inadequate: "I've worked with Kirt Webster for many years and he has done a wonderful job. I am hoping that the accusations are not true." Dolly has made no further comment since and that continued this week when her sister, Stella, continued to sound the alarm on the situation to FOX News here saying: "It's a good ol' boys town and it's always been a good ol' boys town. They hide behind their religion, all of them, a bunch of Southern Baptist hypocrites." She added that while Dolly "does not condone" the behavior she has "always been very selective about talking about stuff like that. I don't know why she can't speak out, but I will." She added she has spoken to her sister about the allegations but would not disclose what Dolly told her. FOX News noted Dolly has not hired a new publicist since firing Webster in November, instead using her management staff and Dollywood's media relations staff. When asked for comment on the FOX News story, her rep referred the network to her previous statement, and her manager and record label both declined to return repeated requests from the network for comment.
'Dumplin'' Soundtrack Adds Macy Gray Another guest on the Duplin' soundtrack with Dolly is now known. R&B star Macy Gray posted photos of herself in the studio with Dolly producer Linda Perry and Mavis Staples working on the project for the upcoming Jennifer Anniston film.
Dolly Lobbys For Pre-1972 Recordings Dolly this week joined 212 other artists asking Congress in a print advertisement to pass the CLASSICS Act, which would add federal copyright protection to songs recorded before Feb. 15, 1972. Under current law, a loophole allows streaming internet-based services to play recordings made before that date without paying any royalties to the performers. The bill before Congress would close the loophole.
Feb. 13: First Look At 'Dumplin'' Soundtrack
Rhonda Vincent on Monday gave fans the first look at the behind-the-scenes action of Dolly's work on the soundtrack for the film adaptation of the novel Dumplin' produced by and starring Jennifer Anniston. Vincent went live on Facebookhere (or in the media player above) to show Dolly and the film's music director Linda Perry (former lead singer of 4 Non Blondes and wife to actress Sara Gilbert) at the control board as gospel legend Mavis Staples records vocals for a Dolly duet. Vincent gushes about the soundtrack and that she had just finished playing and singing on the track. Unfortunately fan comments alert Vincent to the death reported Monday morning of singer Daryle Singletary with whom Vincent recorded a duets album last year.
Feb. 12: New 'Straight Talk' Blu-Ray Coming Kino Lorber Studio Classics on Wednesday announced a special edition re-release of Dolly's 1992 film Straight Talk. The new version, coming out April 17, will be available both on Blu-Ray and DVD and feature audio commentary by director Barnet Kellman as well as the original theatrical trailer. The movie was previously released on Blu-Ray, but without any special features, in 2011. The new release will also for the first time feature the original film artwork from the theatrical run for the cover art of the disc case, seen at left. List price will be $20 for the Blu-Ray and $12 for DVD. Reserve your copy from Amazon here!
Adams Does Dolly, Warhol, Others For Magazine Shoot Actress Amy Adams recently recreated several of Andy Warhol's famous Polaroid images he took to create celebrity portrait paintings, including Dolly's, for a cover story in Garage magazine. Check out the photos in The Hollywood Reporterhere.
Dolly Look-A-Like Contest Coming To New York Time Out magazine reports that New York's Mable's Smokehouse in Williamsburg will host a Dolly-themed night and Dolly look-a-like contest "Hello Dollies!" Feb. 23. The 9 p.m. event will feature a $10 cover for non-contestants. Learn more here.
Overseas Chart Updates The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe gains one on the British country compilation albums chart in its 74th chart week to No. 10, it was announced Friday. On the same tally, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series: Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) dips one to No. 11 as Ronstadt's Original Album Series (featuring one Dolly cover and one track with Dolly harmony) loses three to No. 15 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 three to No. 14.
Feb. 4: Overseas Chart Updates The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe gains two on the British country compilation albums chart in its 73rd chart week to No. 11, it was announced Friday. On the same tally, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series: Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) dips two to No. 10 as Ronstadt's Original Album Series (featuring one Dolly cover and one track with Dolly harmony) loses one 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) holds steady at No. 17.
A Brief Hiatus Your webmaster will be out of town and not updating the site for the next week. Look for the next update the evening of Sunday, Feb. 11.
Kino Lorber Studio Classics on Wednesday announced a special edition re-release of Dolly's 1992 film