Feb. 28: Dolly Charts First Rap Hit Dolly has made her debut on the rap charts. "Powerful Women," her collaboration with rapper Pitbull, debuts on the March 2 Billboard rap digital song sales chart released Tuesday at No. 4. Elsewhere on the charts, Dolly's Rockstar sold about 1,250 copies to reach about 258,000 sold as it falls five places to No. 43 current album sales in its 14th week there.
Feb. 26: 'Midnight Blue' With Melissa Manchester Released
As promised, Melissa Manchester on Friday released her re-recording of her hit "Midnight Blue," this time as a duet with Dolly. Check out the music video of the two friends catching up over drinks and checking out the sites of Nashville here or in the media player above. Download the track from your favorite streaming service including Amazon here. Check out an interview with Manchester and the video's Thursday premiere on Billboardhere.
'9 To 5' Dolly's First Triple-Platinum U.K. Single Dolly collected her first-ever British triple-platinum single award this month for her 1980 classic "9 To 5." The song was recognized for the certification on Feb. 16. Since it was made available digitally for download in the UK in 2007, it has sold 1.8 million copies there to reach this level. It became her first double-platinum British single in 2021. She has two other double-platinum British singles: "Islands In The Stream" with Kenny Rogers and "Jolene," with both songs reaching that status in 2022.
2.2 Million Watch 'Dolly Parton's Pet Gala' On CBS Dolly Parton's Pet Gala on Wednesday night ranked 8th of the evening's 13 broadcast network shows with 2.2 million viewers and a 0.2 rating. The special gave CBS a third place finish for the time slot after NBC's 6.5 million and ABC's 2.4 million viewers, besting FOX's 1.7 million and The CW's 370,000 viewers. The show is streaming on Paramount+ including via Amazon here.
Dolly Congratulates Beyonce On No. 1 Dolly last week posted her best wishes to Beyonce via social media regarding her country single "Texas Hold 'Em" debuting at No. 1 on the country singles chart. She said here: "I'm a big fan of Beyonce and very excited that she's done a country album. So congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country number one single. Can't wait to hear the full album! Love, Dolly" As of press time, fan reactions were overwhelmingly positive, with the post on Facebook seeing over 280,000 positive reactions (likes, loves, cares) and only about 1,400 negative reactions (laughs, surprise, anger, or sadness), or roughly one-half of one percent.
35th Anniversary 'Steel Magnolias' 4K Coming Blu-Ray.com reported last week that a 35th anniversary 4K Blu-Ray edition of Steel Magnolias will be released April 23 from Sony. The report here indicates the 4K restoration was done from the original camera negatives, it features Dolby Vision/HDR Presentation and new Dolby Atmos Track. Special features will include the 1990 TV pilot of the Steel Magnolias televisions series adaptation and previous special features of director's commentary, In Full Bloom: Remembering Steel Magnolias featurette, 10 deleted scenes, theatrical trailer, and English SDH subtitles.
Food Line To Add Frozen Pie, Cheesecake, Mac & Cheese Some photos have come out indicating additional items to come in Dolly's Conagra Foods line including thaw-and-serve "decedent chocolate pie," thaw-and-serve "original whipped cheesecake," and family-sized frozen "homestyle macaroni & cheese." No release date has been announced. Thanks, Douglas!
Dollywood Announces End Of 'Dreamland Drive-In' Dollywood President Eugene Naughton and Vice President of Marketing and Puiblic Relations Pete Owens last week released a video detailing the new entertainment offerings coming to the park in its 2024 season and announcing the retirement of fan favorite Dreamland Drive-In, which will be replaced with a new show in 2025. Watch the discussion here. As of press time Sunday night, no announcement has been made yet of "Gold Event" passholder admissions for any opening weekend media event as has been the case the past couple of years, but if any announcement is made, it should appear on the park's official Passholder Hub here.
New Dolly Doc Trailer Released EM Productions has released a new trailer for a Dolly documentary called Dolly Parton: Still Rockin'. No word on where the full doc will air. Check out the trailer on YouTube here.
Feb. 22: Dog Gala Airs On CBS, 'Puppy Love' Released
Dolly Parton's Pet Gala aired on CBS Wednesday night, and Dolly celebrated by releasing a new recording of her first single, "Puppy Love," in honor of her goddog, Billy the Kid. Stream it on YouTube here or in the media player above, and download the single here. The show is available for streaming on Paramount+. Three of the costumes dogs wore in tribute to Dolly on the program have been added to ebay in a charity auction to benefit the Nashville Humane Society after Dolly autographed them. The Glastonbury outfit is here, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame outfit here, and angel costume here. Opening bids on each is $500. Thanks, Sheldon!
'Rockstar' Sells Less Than 2,000 Copies Dolly's Rockstar sold about 1,900 copies to reach about 257,000 sold in its first 13 weeks of release. The Feb. 24 Billboard charts announced Wednesday see the album fall off the 50-position album sales chart, down from No. 42, and drops 13 to No. 38 current album sales in its 13th week there.
'USA Today' Interview Released Dolly has a new interview in USA Today. Check out a video version here and text version here.
Feb. 19: Pitbull Duet Drops, Manchester Collab Coming
Dolly on Friday dropped a surprise collaboration with Latin rapper Pitbull, whose catchphrase happens to be the Spanish exclamation "dale" (pronounced very similarly to "Dolly"). "Powerful Women" mashes up his rapping with a new recording of Dolly's "9 To 5," although she also "raps" a verse herself. The track was part of Pitbull's special EP Daytona 500 Edition Trackhouse, which features additional duets with Tim McGraw, Nile Rogers of Chic, and Vikina. Stream on YouTube here or in the media player above, and download it from Amazon here or from your retailer of choice. It's not the only Dolly duet out soon, as Melissa Manchester announced on Friday that next Friday will see the release of her new album, Re:View, featuring some new versions of her classics including a recording of her 1975 single "Midnight Blue" as a duet with Dolly. The track was co-written by Manchester with legendary composer/lyricist Carole Bayer Sager, who wrote Dolly's hits "Heartbreaker," "You're The Only One," and "The Day I Fall In Love." Pre-order the song here or Manchester's full album here. Check out her Facebook announcement of the collaboration here or in the media player below. Finally, industry insiders claim rumors that Dolly and goddaughter Miley Cyrus may appear on the new country album from R&B icon Beyonce. Check out that story here.
Almost Time For 'Dolly Parton's Pet Gala' On CBS
Don't forget to tune in for the first-ever Dolly Parton's Pet Gala Wednesday at 9 p.m. Eastern on CBS. The network last week released a preview video, viewable on YouTube here or in the media player above, and a slew of still photos available on Broadway Worldhere. The show features many celebrities and their dogs, co-hosts Dolly and Jane Lynch, and performances of "9 To 5" by Dolly and Carly Pearce, "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly and Lainey Wilson, and "Jolene" by Dolly and Carly Pearce in addition to Chris Janson singing "Hound Dog" to an actual dog and songs by Joy Oladokun, Grace Bowers and KC of KC and the Sunshine Band. Check out pink carpet coverage from Womans Worldhere and several sneak peaks from CBS here, here, here, and here.
Dollywood Readies For 2024 Season
Dollywood on Thursday hosted a construction update preview for the media (your webmaster was invited but unfortunately had work-related conflicts) that included a preview of the still-under-construction Dolly Parton Experience that is expected to open in late May, announcement that the traditional turnstiles will be removed this season and a new QR-code-based ticketing system used, and that Lightning Rod will re-open in mid-March with a high-speed lift chain instead of its previous launch system that kept malfunctioning since opening.
The Dolly Parton Experience will revitalize the entire area around her former Chasing Rainbows Museum. The centerpiece exhibit, Songteller, replaces that facility and will include an immersive 200-foot-tall, 360-degree projection mapping space similar to the touring Van Gogh Exhibition from last year around the U.S. The Behind the Seams building will house her costumes and show her style process, rotating out several outfits throughout the year, and showing them in museum-quality environmentally-controlled cases for the first time. DreamSong Theater will receive a $1 million renovation and be redubbed the Sight & Sound Theater with her new kinfolk "From The Heart" show as well as a new stage production of her life story.
Back Porch Theater will get a new "Sing-a-long with Dolly" show of her biggest hits, while Showstreet Palace Theater will feature "Trio, Again," a tribute to the music Dolly has recorded with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. In addition to the re-opening of her old tour bus for viewing, the area will also feature "Dolly-ized" restrooms and interactive technology such as a smartphone-based digital scavenger hunt. Also, DreamMore Resort & Spa is being renovated. The park added 23 days to its calendar for this season, which kicks off with Season Passholder Day March 8 and public opening March 9. While Dolly's appearances that weekend have yet to be announced, she almost never misses opening weekend. The first festival of the new year is the return of her "I Will Always Love You Music Festival," which runs through April 14. Check out coverage from Attractions Magazinehere, The Knoxville-News Sentinelhere, WVLT here, WATE here, WJHL here, FOX 17 here, and WBIR here or in the media player above.
Estefan Seeks That Dolly Cover Gloria Estefan wants Dolly or Kelly Clarkson to record a song she's written, she told People in an interview here.
Latifah Seeks Dolly On 'Equalizer' Episode And Dolly's Joyful Noise co-star Queen Latifah told Entertainment Tonight last week that she almost succeeded in getting Dolly to guest star on her action series The Equalizer last season but it didn't work out, so she's hoping to get her on an episode of season four. Read more here.
Feb. 15: 'Rockstar' Sells Another 2,500 Copies Dolly's Rockstar sold about 2,500 copies to reach about 255,500 sold in its first 12 weeks of release. The Feb. 17 Billboard charts announced Tuesday see the album lose 21 to No. 42 album sales and eight to No. 25 current album sales in its 12th week on each. Dolly drops off the Artist 100, down from No. 84.
'Young Sheldon' Uses 'Let It Be'
The CBS sitcom Young Sheldon returns Thursday and since the Super Bowl has been promoting its premiere with a teaser featuring Dolly's "Let It Be" cover. Watch it here or in the media player above.
Snoop Wants Dolly Duet Snoop Dogg wants to collaborate with Dolly, he said in an interview this week. Read more here.
Promoting Dolly's 'Pet Gala' Special
CBS is plugging next week's Dolly Parton's Pet Gala. Check out a promotional video here or in the media player above. And check out an interview from the show's pink carpet on E! where she talks about the special, that the most recent conversation about rebooting Buffy The Vampire Slayer through her production company was a few months ago, and that she had spoken with Elle King following her Opry birthday tribute appearance and repeated the call for fans to forgive and forget her drunken performance. Watch here or in the media player below.
Feb. 12: Dolly Says Leave Elle King Alone
Extra TV last week became the first to ask Dolly for her reaction to Elle King's drunken and profanity-laiden rant at the Grand Ole Opry celebration almost a month ago for Dolly's 78th birthday, and she responded with her typical grace. Saying King has been "going through a lot of hard things lately" and had too much to drink, Dolly said everyone should "forgive that and forget it and move on, cause she felt worse than anyone every could." King cancelled all appearances scheduled for about one month after the appearance, which prompted the Opry to issue an apology on X in response to an audience member's complaint. Check out the interview here or in the media player above.
Dolly Museum At Dollywood Previewed Dollywood recently sent out photos teasing the new Dolly Parton Experience museum opening at the park this spring, and Knoxville news channel WATE made them into a story here.
Florida Pirate Voyage Breaks Ground Dolly's third Pirate Voyage dinner theatre broke ground last week in Panama City, Fla. Watch a story from WJHG here. Meanwhile, the chain's second restaurant, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., opened for its sixth season Friday. In a press release, Dolly said: "My Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show is an unforgettable experience, with incredible performers that bring an exciting adventure to life. I think everyone visiting here in the Smokies is going to love them as much as I do. The pirates and mermaids, the sea lions and all the special effects – there is so much going on in this show that it's hard to figure out where to look! I love feeling like a kid again watching everything come to life in my Pirates Voyage – no trip to Pigeon Forge is complete without it!" Its original location is in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Dolly Talks To Bloomberg Bloomberg Business asked Dolly for her secrets as a successful businesswoman, and that interview is available from The Straits Timeshere.
Ohio Celebrates 400K Imagination Library Kids Ohio's First Lady last week celebrated Dolly's Imagination Library hitting the milestone of enrolling 60 percent of eligible children in the state, which boasts the largest group of children of any state participating in Dolly's early childhood literacy program: 400,611. A total of 13 million books have been mailed to Ohio children since her efforts on behalf of the program took it statewide in 2019, although a few million books had been sent to children in the state prior to 2019 as several dozen communities launched it independent of the state in those earlier years. In a press release, Dolly added: "Congratulations to First Lady Fran DeWine and to all of our Ohio program partners for reaching these amazing milestones! Thank you for everything you do to support my Imagination Library and inspire a love of reading in children across the state." (Disclosure: Your webmaster ran an affiliate of Imagination Library in Ohio from 2008 to 2018, for about half of that time being the largest individual chapter of the program in the state and helped over two dozen other counties to adopt the program during that time, laying the groundwork for the First Lady's project to sign up the last half of remaining counties in the state when she took on the project.)
U.K., Aussie Chart Updates Across the pond, Dolly's Rockstar: Deluxe slips one to No. 13 in its 12th week on the Americana albums charts. Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 and Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection both lose one to No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, as they are unseated at the top of the British country compilations albums chart by a Toby Keith compilation. On the same tally, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe gains one to No. 12, Original Album Series from Linda Ronstadt loses four to No. 15 and from Emmylou Harris her first volume in the series gains four to No. 16 while her second volume (each of which contains Dolly appearances) falls out of the top 20, down from No. 16. Down Under, Rockstar loses one on the Australian country albums chart to No. 36, as Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection drops two to No. 18.
Zach Williams Works With Dolly Again Zsch Williams told Christian music publication CCM last week that in early March he will release his final single from his current album, which instead of the album version he has re-cut as his second collaboration with Dolly, following up their Grammy-winning duet "There Was Jesus". The new track is called "Looking For You." Check out the interview here. In related news, Williams videoed himself showing Dolly an American Idol audition McKenna Breinholdt performing their first duet and Dolly reaction and released it last week. Watch that video here or in the media player below.
Feb. 7: 'Rockstar' Still In Top 20 Current Albums Dolly's Rockstar sold about 3,200 copies to reach about 253,000 sold in its first 11 weeks of release. The Feb. 10 Billboard charts announced Tuesday see the album fall back off the 50-position independent label albums chart and country albums chart, down from No. 44 and No. 31, respectively, in its eighth week on each, while it slips three to No. 21 album sales and one to No. 17 current album sales in its 11th week on each. The track "Jolene" with Maneskin falls off rock digital song sales, down from one week at No. 13, and Dolly drops 25 to No. 84 on the Artist 100.
Dolly's Stampede Nears 37th Season Dolly's flagship dinner theatre Dolly Parton's Stampede in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., opens its 37th season Thursday. The world's most visited dinner attraction, Dolly noted about the equestrian-centered show in a press release: "My Stampede dinner show is an unforgettable experience, and it's so great to see all the talented performers and horses when I'm visiting the Smokies. I love that folks who visit get to sit down together and share a big feast while watching an incredible show. There's nothing better to me than being with my family and friends and creating memories, and that's what so many families get to do when they come to Stampede for a fun night out."
Dolly Remembers Toby Keith Singer Toby Keith died from stomach cancer Feb. 5 at age 62, and Dolly was among those remembering him. On social media, she said: "It's always hard when we lose our brothers and sisters in country music. Toby Keith was one of the greats in every way. He will be missed but his music and legacy will live on. Love, Dolly."
Feb. 5: Chris Stapleton Beats Dolly For Grammy Chris Stapleton's "White Horse" bested Dolly Sunday for the Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance over her re-recording of her first top 10 single, "The Last Thing On My Mind." The other nominees were "In Your Love" by Tyler Childers, "Buried" by Brandy Clark, and "Fast Car" by Luke Combs. It marked Dolly's 54th career Grammy nomination. Also, Becky Isaacs Bowman's Songs That Pulled Me Through The Tough Times, which features a duet with Dolly on her classic "Early Morning Breeze," lost Best Gospel Roots Album to the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Dolly 'Rockstar' 8-Track Pre-Sales Sell Out Dolly last week revealed a new limited-edition 8-track version of her Rockstar album to be released April 11 in honor of National 8 Track Day. The 100 copies being manufactured sold out on her official website store in about 24 hours. The official listing only shows 16 tracks but the photo that accompanies it appears to contain all 30 of the original release.
Dolly Outfit Up For Auction Auction house Juilien's last week announced another Dolly costume will be in its legends auction on Feb. 27: the green pantsuit she wore in concert in the mid-1970s and on the cover of her album The Beginning. The outfit has an estimated sale value of $30,000-$40,000, although most of her costumes nowadays go for half that. It had previously failed to sell for that range when offered on ebay. Check out a video for the next auction here.
Osborne Joins Dolly For Pet Special Kelly Osborne shared a sweet photo from last week's taping of Dolly's upcoming CBS special Dolly Parton's Pet Gala airing Feb. 21. Check out coverage from Peoplehere.
U.K., Aussie Chart Updates After a one-week rebound due to the release of Rockstar: Deluxe, the album this week falls back off British top 100 downloads after a ninth week at No. 56. The title slips three to No. 12 in its 11th week on the Americana albums charts. Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 remains steady at No. 1 U.K. country compilations albums, where No. 2 album Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection also remains steady while The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe gains five to No. 13, Original Album Series from Linda Ronstadt loses four to No. 11 and from Emmylou Harris re-enters the top 20 for her first volume at No. 20 while her second volume (each of which contains Dolly appearances) remains at No. 16. Down Under, Rockstar loses nine on the Australian country albums chart to No. 35, as Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection drops two to No. 16.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Album Released Former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle on Friday released his tribute album to the band containing Dolly's solo version of "Free Bird," about which he spoke to Garden & Gunhere. Band leader Ronnie Van Zant's widow allowed her to use the late singer's vocals on the version Dolly included on her rock album as a duet, but for the band's tribute album she refused, so this version of the same session is a Dolly solo. Download it here or stream it from YouTube here or in the media player below.
