Beyonce on Friday released her long-awaited country album, Cowboy Carter, and as Dolly let slip at opening weekend, a cover of "Jolene" is included. The lyrics have been re-written as an angrier, more threatening conversation with the title character, starting off with "Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, I'm warning you don't come for my man." Dolly herself appears on the album in a 23-second spoken track introducing the song. Willie Nelson also appears on two song introductions, and duets with Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Shaboozey, Linda Martell, and more are also included. Download your copy here and stream the song in the media player above or by visiting YouTube here.
Dolly Calendar Collection Coming In August Andrews McMeel Publishing has announced six new authorized Dolly calendars (click on photo for a larger view) being released for 2025 on Aug. 27 this year:
Dolly Parton 2025 Wall Calendar: A Collection of Iconic Album Covers: A year's worth of Dolly Parton's iconic album and single covers over the course of her musical career. The full-color images and QR codes that link to her music make the calendar a wonderful addition to any room or office. Preorder here.
Dolly Parton 2025 Mini Wall Calendar: Beautiful black and white photos of Dolly Parton taken throughout her musical career paired with her song lyrics will keep fans inspired and entertained. The calendar includes grid space for notes, appointments, and reminders, and is the perfect size for any small space. Preorder here.
Dolly Parton 2025 Monthly Pocket Planner: Perfect for nine-to-fivers, this stylish and petite functional planner is ideal for fans on the go. With Dolly-themed artwork on each page, planning grids for notes, appointments, and reminders, the calendar also features a perforated notes section for to-dos, reminders, and lists, making it a valuable companion. Preorder here.
Dolly Parton 2025 Weekly Desk Pad Calendar: With decorative artwork adorning each page, this distinctive desk pad that doubles as a mouse pad will ensure users are organized each week, with tasks in clear view, to-dos checked off, deadlines met, and progress toward goals outlined. Perfect for at home or office use, it provides ample space for recording tasks, appointments, reminders, notes, and a month-at-a-glance on each tear-off weekly page. Preorder here.
Dolly Parton: A Year in Songs Deluxe Organizer 2025 Hardcover Monthly/Weekly Planner Calendar: Style and practicality abound in this fashionable and functional calendar. In an ultra-feminine design complete with iridescent foil accents on the cover, this spiralbound calendar features reinforced monthly tabs, two pockets for storage, pages for notes, and timeless quotes from Dolly Parton songs. Preorder here.
Dollyisms 2025 Softcover Monthly/Weekly Planner Calendar: This one-of-a-kind retro spiral-bound planner has plenty of space to jot down appointments, meetings, and activities, and features twelve unique Dollyisms guaranteed to inspire, motivate, and bring fun into your year. Preorder here.
March 27: 'Lookin For You' Gets Second Chart Week "Lookin' For You" with Zach Williams earns a second week on the Hot Christian Song chart, losing 13 places to No. 38, the March 30 Billboard charts released Tuesday revealed. The song falls off the 15-position Christian Digital Song Sales chart after one week at No. 7. Dolly's Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection dips two to No. 49 for a 26th chart week.
Vinyl Me Parton Project Concludes Vinyl Me Please on Tuesday revealed it will not be continuing its Vinyl Me Parton record club for a second year. "Thank you for spending this last year celebrating Dolly with us, it made this year more fun, and more pink!, than we could have imagined back in 2021," the company said in an email to Vinyl Me Parton subscribers. However, they noted: "Just because Vinyl Me, Parton is ending, doesn't mean we'll never have Dolly records again. We will!"
Dollywood Nominated For 'USA Today' Awards Dollywood has been nominated in several categories for USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. The park is up for Best Theme Park, Lighting Rod for Best Roller Coaster, DreamMore and HeartSong each for Best Theme Park Hotel, Aunt Granny's for Best Theme Park Restaurant, and Splash Country as Best Outdoor Water Park. Vote once per day through April 22 here.
March 25: Dolly's Rap Chart Run Ends After three weeks on the rap charts, Dolly is there no more as "Powerful Women"with rapper Pitbull falls off the 10-position rap digital song sales chart, down from No. 8 in its third week, the March 23 Billboard charts released Tuesday revealed. Elsewhere on the charts, "Lookin' For You" with Zach Williams debuts at No. 25 Hot Christian Songs and No. 7 Christian Digital Song Sales. Dolly's Rockstar also falls off the 50-position current albums sales chart after 16 weeks of charting, suggesting it has fallen to around 1,000 copies sold per week and about 262,000 units sold since release, and Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection re-enters the 50-position country albums chart at No. 47 for a 25th chart week. Across the pond, Dolly's Rockstar: Deluxe holds steady at No. 22 in its 18th week on the U.K. Americana albums charts. Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 remains steady at No. 1 on the British country compilations albums chart while The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe and Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection switch places at No. 2 and 3, respectively, and the Original Album Series sees three collections with Dolly on the top 20 as Linda Ronstadt gains two to No. 13, Emmylou Harris's first volume rises two to No. 15, and Harris' second volume re-entering the top 20 at No. 16. Down Under, Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection loses three to No. 20.
'Honky Tonk Angels' On Vinyl From VMP Honky Tonk Angels, Dolly's 1993 trio project with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette, has been released on vinyl by Vinyl Me Please as a bonus in addition to its Vinyl Me Parton series of 12 Dolly albums, the last of which was released this month. The new LP is limited to 2,000 copies and is available here.
Chicago Dolly Tribute Show Coming Those in the Chicago area should pop in to "Great Moments In Vinyl" on April 4 for their tribute to Dolly at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. Read more from Broadway Worldhere.
Patterson Talks Dolly Collaboration Author James Patterson talked again last week about working with Dolly on their novel Run, Rose, Run. He appears on the ABA Journal podcast here to discuss his new book, about a lawyer on trial for murder. He mentions the Dolly collaboration a couple of times throughout the interview but is asked to discuss it in more detail about 25 minutes in. He also repeats the note that the strikes delayed the film adaptation of the novel and that he doesn't know if that will happen or not. "We'll see," he said.
Dollywood Makes Top 100 'USA Today' Employers USA Today last week named Dollywood one of its Top Workplaces USA award winners, placing 86th on the national list of companies with more than 2,500 employees, the only theme park to make the list.
March 18: More Dollywood Opening Weekend Coverage
The Dollymania Facebook live feeds from Dollywood's 2024 season opening and an additional video clip have been posted and are available here and here or in the media players above and below. In addition, the third Dollymania gallery from the weekend's appearances has been posted to that section here.
Dolly Promotes Cookbook With Rachel
Dolly and her sister Rachel celebrated St. Patrick's Day on social media promoting their upcoming cookbook Good Lookin' Cookin' with a clip of them making an Irish feast on social media here or in the media player above.
Lodge Cast Iron Line Announced Dolly last week announced her latest homegoods deal with a line of custom cast iron pans from Lodge. Learn more from Food and Winehere.
Dolly Singing Contest Returns For 20th Year The annual Dolly singing competition in her hometown, the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition in Sevierville, Tenn., returns this year for its 20th offering. Contestants must upload an audition video of them performing a song written by Dolly and upload it by April 12. A total of 20 finalists 13 and up and 10 in the 12-and-under category will perform at the May 18 Bloomin' BBQ Music & Food Festival. Prizes include autographed Dolly guitars and a recording session. More information here. Contestants may refer to the list of Dolly-penned songs on Dollymaniahere.
March 13: 'Rockstar' Gets Gold Record Award From RIAA Dolly's Rockstar has gone gold. The RIAA certified the album for half a million credited units on Tuesday. As Dollymania reported, sales data indicated it met the RIAA criteria for gold certification in early January after seven or eight weeks of sales, but the certification wasn't issued until this week. Normally, one album sale counts as one unit, but since the project featured two CDs or cassettes and four vinyl albums, each CD or cassette set sold counted as two units toward the gold status and each album set sold counted as four units, allowing it to meet the 500,000-unit threshold after selling just about 240,000 total copies. This marks Dolly's first studio album released since Trio II in 2001 to go gold. (Since then, she's had three gold album certifications but they were compilations released in 2003 that took 19 years to reach gold and released in 1999 that took 24 years to reach gold plus her studio album Jolene, which was certified gold 49 years after release.) In a press release, Dolly celebrated: ""When I set out to make my rock album, I always hoped it would be embraced by my fans as well as people who may not listen to my music. I am thrilled to receive this Gold record! Thank you to everyone who was a part of this project. I guess I can now officially say I am a rockstar!"
Dolly's Rap Single Gets Third Chart Week Dolly has earned a third week on the rap charts, as "Powerful Women"with rapper Pitbull regains one digit in its third week on the rap digital song sales chart to No. 8, the March 16 Billboard charts released Tuesday revealed. Elsewhere on the charts, Dolly's Rockstar sold about 1,500 copies to reach about 261,000 sold as it holds steady at No. 45 current album sales in its 16th week there.
Another Dollywood Opening Gallery Posted The second Dollymania gallery from the weekend's Dollywood season opening appearance has been posted to that section here.
March 12: Dollywood Opening Gallery Posted The first Dollymania gallery from the weekend's Dollywood season opening appearance has been posted to that section here.
March 11: Dolly Opens Dollywood For 2024 Season
Dolly returned home to Dollywood to open the park's 39th season with appearances at passholder preview day on Friday and public opening day Saturday to kick off the 2024 season and "I Will Always Love You" Music Festival. The festival returns for its second year and welcomes three new shows: From The Heart: The Life & Music of Dolly Parton, Sing-A-Long With Dolly, and Trio, Again.
On Friday, she and Dollywood President Eugene Naughton welcomed fans in a media event at Celebrity Theater and previewed the three new shows, including Dolly joining in on the sing-a-long to her "Two Doors Down" as well as in the Heart inclusion of the Broadway adaptation of her "9 To 5." She also toured the park in her Dewitt vehicle that afternoon. On Saturday, she made unannounced pop-ins at the Heart show and Trio show to welcome the crowds. Dollymania.net footage from the media event is available on YouTube here or in the media player above.
The park was named last week to Southern Living's "South's Best Attractions" list in its The South's Best Awards and an article headlined "Why Dollywood is Better than Any Other Theme Park."
From The Heart in Celebrity Theater will run through both the "I Will Always Love You" Music Festival (now-April 14) and Flower & Food Festival (April 19-June 9). Narrated by Dolly, the show summarizes her childhood in the Smoky Mountains, her teenage travels to Music City and work on Knoxville's Cas Walker Show, her time on Monument Records after moving to Nashville following high school, her years with The Porter Wagoner Show, her breaking out on her own, her pop crossover, her collaborations, her return to her roots, her witty "Dollyisms," and her songs. The cast is stellar, with multiple spectacular singers taking on Dolly's classics. The stage is amazing with a turntable and set pieces shooting across the stage carrying cast members behind them to appear "out of nowhere." The "Coat Of Many Colors" segment is particularly moving, as is the ending when Dolly herself sings "Smoky Mountain Memories" swathed in light on video. Costumes are gorgeous. My only critiques are the wigs were a bit messy, the Porter Wagoner offered an interesting interpretation of Porter as influenced by Elvis Presley, and for someone so well-known for her figure, it was a bit odd for the actresses playing her to not be padded to suggest her famous silhouette. But overall it is a wonderfully-entertaining and adequately reverent tribute to a legend and one of the best productions ever at the park.
Sing-A-Long With Dolly at Back Porch Theater features three hosts dressed in 60s-inspired costumes leading the crowd in watching an animated Dolly on screen with the lyrics of her biggest hits and a bouncing butterfly to follow as the audience sings along. The brief show is a fun romp through Dolly's catalog.
Trio, Again at Showstreet Palace Theater features Three Times A Lady, consisting of Nashville singer-songwriters Lauren Mascitti, Kenney Scott and Hannah Blaylock, performing songs from the three Trio albums Dolly recorded with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. The three ladies possess powerful voices and have learned how to closely harmonize so tightly they really do replicate the Trio's unique sound. The ones singing Emmy's and Linda's parts are fortunate to have natural voices in similar registers as the originals, allowing them to more easily imitate each performer's unique vocal characteristics in order to sound very much like them. The Dolly performer's voice isn't in as high of a natural register, given that particular characteristic of Dolly's voice is very rare, but she effectively employs her signature trills and tonal qualities to sound similar on the upper harmony parts even if her solos, while absolutely gorgeous, aren't as reminiscent of Dolly as the other two are of their originals. Overall, the show is a master class in live performances including a really tight band.
Dolly said: "I'm so excited for everything we have in store for our guests in 2024. We're investing a lot of time and money into our entertainment this year, and I think the work we've put into these shows really is going to be noticed. One of those new shows is 'From the Heart.' It is a Broadway-style production about my music and my life, and John Dietrich (co-writer/director) and I can't wait to hear what guests think about it. We also have 'Trio, Again featuring Three Times A Lady' to celebrate the Trio albums I did with my good friends Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Those were such fun albums to make so I'm glad we are going to have a show to remember those. And you know, the last show might be my favorite. I always hear people everywhere I go singing my songs, so we thought it would be good to give folks a place to come and do it with their friends. We're doing a show called 'Sing-a-long with Dolly' so guests can come to the park and sing along to my songs as loudly as they want. I'm sure it will be a joyful noise! But if Eugene is leading the singing, it might just be noise."
Dolly teased the Dolly Parton Experience to open May 24 with the entire Adventures in Imagination area transformed into an interactive storytelling experience of Dolly's life and career to replace the Chasing Rainbows Museum. That date will also see the opening of a revamped family show called Heidi Parton's Kin & Friends. She also said the park's largest-ever sit-down restaurant is being added, and the plans are continuing for several more resorts on the property after opening the second, HeartSong Lodge, last year.
After the flower festival will come the Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration June 15-Aug. 11, Harvest Festival with Great Pumpkin LumiNights Sept. 9-Oct. 28, and Smoky Mountain Christmas Nov. 1- Jan. 5.
Other coverage included Kyle Grainger's interview with Dolly on WVLT here and a story on Friday's media event from them here, a livestream of the entire press event from The Knoxville News-Sentinelhere and story here, and stories from WJHL here, WBIR here and WATE here.
New Zach Williams Duet Drops
Dolly and Zach Williams on Friday released their second duet, "Lookin' For You", which is available for streaming on YouTube here or in the media player above,. Download it from your favorite retailer including Amazon here.
Amazon Gets Exclusive Glitter Funko Pop Amazon on Friday released an exclusive "Diamond" glitter version of the orange Dolly Funko Pop with a banjo. Get the special release here.
March 6: 'Powerful Women' Remains On Rap Chart Dolly has earned a second week on the rap charts, as "Powerful Women"with rapper Pitbull loses five spots in its second week on the rap digital song sales chart to No. 9, the March 9 Billboard charts released Tuesday revealed. The rapper met Dolly in person in Nashville last week (click on photo at left for larger version) and gushed about her on stage in his next concert (watch in a Facebook Reel here. Elsewhere on the charts, Dolly's Rockstar sold about 1,500 copies to reach about 260,000 sold as it dips two digits to No. 45 current album sales in its 15th week there.
Dolly, Rachel Cookbook Coming Sept. 17 While Dolly has teased it a few times in interviews over the past few months, Penguin Random House on Tuesday officially announced she and her sister Rachel will release a cookbook called Good Lookin' Cookin' in hardcover, ebook, and four-hour audio book on Sept. 17 from their Ten Speed Press imprint which has released Dolly's recent coffee table books. (For comparison, this book will be 272 pages and weigh just over a pound versus about 350 pages for the coffee table books that weigh over five pounds each.) Get the hardcover book here or audio book here. The publisher promotional copy reads:
You're invited to pull up a chair to a year of meals, friends, and fun with the Partons, as Dolly and her sister (and favorite cook) Rachel share beloved, crowd-pleasing recipes and family stories.
"Hey, good lookin'—what ya got cookin'?"
This is what Dolly Parton sings to her sister Rachel Parton George whenever she walks into her kitchen. It's what you do when a love for good music and good food runs in the family.
In Good Lookin' Cookin' Dolly and Rachel share tips for hosting events all year long, including twelve multi-course menus of cherished recipes for New Year's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more. You'll learn how much butter or whipped cream goes into a "Dolly Dollop," what condiment is almost always on the table at Parton family meals, and what special dish Rachel makes at Dolly's request every year for her birthday. Recipes include American classics such as Country Ham and Biscuits, Barbecue Spare Ribs, Family Favorite Meatloaf, Slaw of Many Colors, Watermelon Fruit Salad, Mac and Cheese, and Strawberry Shortcake.
Filled with more than 80 delicious dishes as well as photographs of Dolly and Rachel cooking and hosting all year long, Good Lookin' Cookin' is a treasured cookbook that will make you feel like part of the Parton family. With their trademark warmth and sisterly love, Dolly and Rachel remind you that cooking doesn't need to be serious – it should be fun! And always good lookin'!
Dolly Does Another Duncan Hines Video
Duncan Hines this week released a video promoting Dolly's new Banana Nut Muffin Cake Mix. Check it out here or in the media player above.
Williams Duet Drops Friday Zach Williams announced this week that his remix of "Lookin' For You" as a duet with Dolly will be released with a music video on Friday.
Pennsylvania Considering Statewide Imagination Library Pennsylvania legislators introduced a bill this week in honor of Read Across America Week to provide state funds to take Dolly's Imagination Library early childhood literacy program statewide there if passed.
Viral Fan Serenaded By Dolly Passes Away LeGrand Gold, the fan who went viral a few weeks ago for a video of Dolly singing to him over the phone in the hospital, has died of cancer at the age of 48. Read more here.
March 4: Get Dolly Media Event Tickets Monday For Dollywood Dollywood announced last week that the gold and diamond passholder access for limited tickets to Dolly's media event to open the new season at the theme park on Friday will become available at 11 a.m. Eastern Monday. As has been the case the past couple of years, free ticketing for the event will be handled via Eventbrite. The link to begin ordering tickets will be posted to the park's website on the page about Friday's Passholder Preview Day here at 11 a.m. Monday. The media event is 10:30 a.m. Friday at Celebrity Theater and tickets are only available to gold and diamond passholders, Pre-K Imagination passholders accompanying a gold or diamond passholder parent, or unticketed children age 3 and under accompanying a gold or diamond passholder parent. Silver passholders, regardless of age, and Bring-A-Friend ticket holders attending that day are ineligible for admission to the media event. All attendees must have event tickets to enter. Check-in will be 8:30-10 a.m. Friday at the main gate, and those checking in after 10 will not be admitted.
Dolly On Petty Tribute Coming May 31 Big Machine Label Group, which released Dolly's rock album with her own label, Butterfly Records, will on May 31 drop Petty Country, a country artist tribute to the late Tom Petty. Dolly will perform his "Southern Accents" on the compilation.
West Hollywood Honors Dolly West Hollywood, Calif.., celebrates Women's Month with a series of street pole banners honoring significant women in history and on Monday will debut this year's two new banners. The West Hollywood City Council will unveil banners of Dolly and trans pioneer Marsha P. Johnson, who is often credited with throwing the first brick at the Stonewall riot that kick-started America's modern LGBTQ rights movement. The banners will be unveiled in Council Chambers at 6 p.m. local time.
U.K., Aussie Chart Updates Across the pond, Dolly's Rockstar: Deluxe drops two to No. 22 in its 15th week on the Americana albums charts. Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 and Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection remain steady at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, on the British country compilations albums chart, while Original Album Series from Linda Ronstadt slips six to No. 20 and volume 1 in the series by Emmylou Harris re-enters the top 20 at No. 17 (both collections contain collaborations with Dolly). Down Under, Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection holds steady at No. 18.
