Vincent Discusses Dolly Friendship Rhonda Vincent gushes to The Roanoke Times this week about her close friendship with Dolly. Check out the interview here.
Oct. 29: Little Changes On Charts Dolly-related titles don't move too much on the Nov. 6 Billboard charts released Thursday. Rhonda Vincent's Taken, featuring a Dolly duet, dips seven spots to No. 69 country and holds steady at No. 2 bluegrass albums in its fifth chart week. Steve Martin's The Crow - New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, with his own Dolly collaboration, slides one to No. 10 in its 87th week on the bluegrass chart, On the overall charts, Sugarland gets the No. 1 country and pop album with 203,000 units moved in the first week of release for its new The Incredible Machine , while Darius Rucker's Charleston, SC 1966 loses one to No. 2 country and eight to No. 10 pop with 37,000 copies sold in its second week. Industry watchers expect Taylor Swift's Speak Now to blow away all titles released thus far this year and top next week's chart with upwards of 1 million copies sold in its first week.
'9 To 5' Soon Goes To Texas Publicity has begun for Dolly's 9 To 5: The Musical heading to the Lone Star State, where it plays Houston Nov. 9-21 and San Antonio Dec. 7-12. The Houston Press on Thursday featured an interview with cast member Mamie Parris here about how she landed her role. The show is currently in Tampa, Fla., through Sunday and plays Memphis Nov. 2-7.
Oct. 28: '9 To 5' Hits Florida
Dolly's 9 To 5: The Musical opened Tuesday night in the Tampa, Fla., area, where it plays through Sunday. Star Diana DeGarmo stopped by FOX 13 here (and in the media player above) for a chat. The St. Petersburg Times on Wednesday offered a mixed review here, while local blog Watermark gave a more positive slant in an interview with co-star Mamie Paris here.
'Stairway' Makes Cover List Did Dolly do the best version of "Stairway To Heaven"? According to the music blog of The Houston Press, yes. The paper's website offered a list of 10 country covers that topped the quality of the original pop or rock recordings, and Dolly's recording of the Led Zeppelin classic came in at No. 9, with the reviewer noting "something about the way Dolly gets inside this classic-rock eternal says she's a lady who knows." Read more here.
Oct. 25: '9 To 5' On Its Way To Florida
After wrapping up its Huntsville, Ala., run, Dolly's 9 To 5: The Musical is on its way to the Tampa, Fla., area for a Tuesday through Sunday engagement. Check out a story about it from The Bradenton Herald over the weekend here. Meanwhile, the Victoria Theatre Association up the road from your webmaster in Dayton, where the show will be at the Schuster Performing Arts Center Feb. 1-6, on Friday posted to YouTube a "sizzle real" from the tour viewable in the media player above or by clicking here as well as a musical montage clip here.
U.K. Chart Updates Dolly: Live From London loses four spots this week on the top 20 British country compilation albums chart to come in at No. 19 in it 42nd week on the tally, it was announced Sunday. The Essential Dolly Parton, a 2005 collection, drops off the 20-position list, down from No. 16 the previous week, its 205th on the chart.
CMT Footage Available CMT.com last week re-posted to its website several clips from Dolly's Greatest Moments taping for the network, giving them the name "Dolly's Greatest Stories." These include "9 To 5," "Ultimate Duet," "Elvis and Me," "Country Girl" and "Hit Weezer."
Oct. 23: Sony Repackaging Three Dolly Classics Sony Music has put together three of Dolly's most revered solo albums in one boxed set collection as its second installment on her from its "Triple Feature" series. Dolly Parton Triple Feature, Vol. 2 includes 1971's Coat Of Many Colors, 1973's My Tennessee Mountain Home and 1974's Jolene. These will be the 2007 "American Milestone" series re-issues that collectively contained nine bonus tracks, seven of which had been previously unreleased at that time. Amazon.com shows the collection coming out Nov. 9, although Wal-Mart's website claims it was released a few weeks back. Reserve your copy here! The label's first Dolly "Triple Feature" collection, Columbia recordings White Limozeen/Eagle When She Flies/Slow Dancing With The Moon, hit stores last year.
'9 To 5' Tour Continues Dolly's 9 To 5: The Musical was to hit its fifth city on its national tour Friday night: Huntsville, Ala., where it plays through Sunday. Check out a preview from The Huntsville Timeshere. Next, it heads to Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday.
Oct. 22: Vincent Falls On Charts Rhonda Vincent's Taken, with its Dolly duet, tumbles a good bit in is fourth week on the country albums tally, the Oct. 30 Billboard charts showed. The title falls 33 places to No. 62 country and one to No. 2 bluegrass albums. Steve Martin's The Crow - New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, featuring a Dolly collaboration, rises two to No. 9 in its 86th week on the bluegrass chart, On the overall charts, Darius Rucker's Charleston, SC 1966 debuts at No. 1 country and No. 2 pop, while the self-titled debut from The Band Perry debuts at No. 2 country, No. 4 pop.
More From The Opry Thanks to Chris for sending in some shots from Dolly's recent Grand Ole Opry birthday appearance. Check them out in that section of the site here!
Oct. 21: Paisley's 'Hits' Includes 'Going' Duet Brad Paisley has revealed his duet with Dolly, "When I Get Where I'm Going," will be featured on his upcoming greatest hits compilation, Hits Alive, which lands in stores on Nov. 2. The track listing for the set was released Tuesday showing that the No. 1 hit will be among 14 studio recordings on disc one. An 11-track second disc will feature live concert versions of several songs. Reserve your copy here!
Oct. 20: Check Out Opry Pics Now working on the final few catch-ups that have gotten behind since being out of town earlier this month: Here's the first gallery from Dolly's recent appearance at the Grand Ole Opry to celebrate its 85th birthday. Check the shots out here thanks to Dustin!
Oct. 18: Dolly To Tour, Release CD Next Year Dolly plans to release a new album between late spring and early summer 2011 and will soon tour, including Europe and Australia, she revealed in an interview published over the weekend by The Huntsville Timeshere. The story's focus was Friday's upcoming opening of her 9 To 5: The Musical in the Alabama city – something she had been planning to attend for a surprise appearance, but she noted that's unlikely now due to the need to travel to California for some early work on her film Joyful Noise that begins filming in January ("I had actually planned to come to Huntsville, but I think I have to go to Los Angeles to do some pre-records for the movie," she told the paper. "I will be there in spirit."). However, it also shined a light on what she has planned in the near future. The album, on which she is currently working, will "have some uplifting gospel flavor and some country," she said. After that, she'll hit the concert circuit. "In the fall and winter, I will do some touring and go to Australia and to Europe," she said. (The paper appears to have mistakenly identified this as after the movie is released, but since that's not expected until early 2012, it was most likely supposed to read that the tour would follow the CD's release.)
Dolly To Honor Wright At Gay Awards She won't be there in person, but Dolly will participate in the 20th anniversary OUTMUSIC Awards in New York City on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, it has been announced. She is scheduled to appear at the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) Academy of Recording Arts event via satellite to present newly-out country artist Chely Wright with its Vanguard Award during the ceremony. Others being honored include Lifetime Achievement Award winner Melissa Etheridge, OUTMUSIC Icon Award winner Sylvester, Pillar Award winner Sheryl Lee Ralph, Heritage Award winner Randy Jones of the Village People and Person of the Year Cyndi Lauper. The ceremony, in the Town Hall Theater at Times Square, will be hosted by The Big Gay Sketch Show cast members Julie Goldman and Jonny McGovern with comedienne Tammy Peay. The ceremony also features a special appearance from Carol Channing and will air on the LOGO network (already a Dolly-loving channel that shows Jake's Adventures In Dolly World and For The Love Of Dolly).
British Chart Updates Dolly: Live From London climbs back up the top 20 British country compilation albums chart this week, gaining four to No. 15 in its 41st week on the tally, it was revealed Sunday. The Essential Dolly Parton, a 2005 collection, earns a 205th chart week by holding steady at No. 16.
Oct. 16: More From Gospel Opening Thanks to Kelly for sharing some of her shots of Dolly at Dollywood's National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration opening. They've been posted to that section of the website here.
Chart Updates Rhonda Vincent's Taken, featuring a Dolly duet, slips a little in its third chart week, losing eight spots to No. 29 country but holding onto the No. 1 slot on the bluegrass albums tally, the Oct. 23 Billboard numbers confirmed. Steve Martin's The Crow - New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, also with a Dolly collaboration, dips one to No. 11 in its 85th week on the bluegrass chart, On the overall charts, country succeeds country again, as Toby Keith's Bullets In The Gun debuts at No. 1 country and pop, while Kenny Chesney's Hemingway's Whiskey falls one to No. 2 country and pop in its second week. Across the pond, the Dolly compilation A Life In Music: Ultimate Collection from 1997 drops off the top 100 Irish pop albums chart, down from No. 86 last week, its fourth week on the tally in 13 years.
'9 To 5' Notes Dolly's 9 To 5: The Musical closes its Des Moines, Iowa, run on Sunday before moving next Friday to Huntsville, Ala. The Des Moines Register gives it a mixed review here, as does Creative Loafing Charlottehere.
'First Dog' Heads To Hollywood The indie picture First Dog, which features original music by Dolly, will be shown next Friday night at the 14th Annual Hollywood Film Festival, it's been announced. Read more from Broadway Worldhere.
Oct. 14: Gospel Fest Pictures Added Coverage from the recent the Dollywood National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration opening continues tonight with reader-submitted shots from Chris Goff that have been added to that section of the website here. Thanks!
Travelin' Dolly In Hollywood Gary and Larry Lane have this week's Travelin' Dolly picture on Dolly's official record label website, DollyPartonMusic.net, showing Dolly perched above the Hollywood sign. Check it out here, and see another shot they submitted – of her sitting at her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – here. Thanks for sharing, guys! They also tell me that their episode of The Food Network's Celebrity Chefs of Beverly Hills featuring a dinner catered using only recipes from Dolly's cookbook has moved up a week to Nov. 2. The episode has been titled "Dollywood Comes To Hollywood." They also update me that their first cut of the documentary From Hollywood To Dollywood is almost through being edited.
Oct. 13: Happy Halloween From Dolly
Dolly on Tuesday released a new video diary, this time focusing on the upcoming Halloween holiday and telling her oft-repeated story about once losing a Dolly look-a-like contest. Watch it in the media player above or by clicking here.
'9 To 5' Heading To Canada For the first time in several months, a new city has been added to the tour roster for Dolly's 9 To 5: The Musical: Toronto, Ont., Canada. The musical will play there June 29 through July 10, Dancap Productions announced Tuesday. Check out coverage from The National Posthere and CTV here. In related news, the show opened in Des Moines, Iowa, Tuesday night, prompting coverage from The Des Moines Register for a phone interview with Dolly here and Radio Iowahere for an interview with Diana DeGarmo. The show runs there through Sunday.
Next Dollywood Pics Posted Check out the next set of galleries from correspondent Harrell Gabehart of the Dollywood National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration opening in that section of the website here.
Concert Raises $450K Keith Urban's We're All For The Hall fund-raiser concert for the Country Music Hall of Fame last week that welcomed Dolly as the evening's featured guest performer raised nearly $450,000, organizers announced Tuesday. Read more from CMT.com here.
Oct. 12: Musical Songbook Now Due In December Dolly's 9 To 5: The Musical songbook, originally slated to hit stores from the Hal Leonard Corporation publishing house on Oct. 1, has been pushed back two months to Dec. 1, it was revealed Monday. The songbook is also being described as containing "vocal selections" from the show, which suggests it won't contain all of its songs. You may reserve your copy here. On the road, the touring company rolls into its fourth city Tuesday, Des Moines, Iowa, where the show continues through Sunday. No word on whether Dolly will make an appearance there, as she did in each of the first three cities on the national tour: Nashville, Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C. After Iowa, the cast moves down to Huntsville, Ala., for three nights: Oct. 22-24.
Gospel Fest Pictures Begin Your official Dollymania coverage of the recent opening of the Dollywood National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration kicks off tonight with a summary and several galleries of great pictures from correspondent Harrell Gabehart in that new section of the site here. Look for more as the week progresses!
Library Gets National Fund-raising Help Dolly and her Imagination Library literacy project have signed on for this year's Paul Mitchell beauty school national fund-raiser, which runs from February through April, it was announced Monday. The schools in cities across the country hold "FUNraiser" events with a goal of collecting $1.5 million to be split among six charities: Dolly's Dollywood Foundation, the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, Children's Miracle Network (represented by Donnie and Marie Osmond), Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation, Food 4 Africa and one other new organization for 2011, the Morris Animal Foundation (represented by one of its board members, Betty White). "We're so excited to welcome Betty White and Dolly Parton this year," said Paul Mitchell Schools Dean and cofounder Winn Claybaugh. "Both of these incredible women will play an active role in motivating and encouraging our 12,000 future professionals as they take part in thousands of grassroots 'FUNraisers,' from cut-a-thons and car washes to fashion shows and charity balls. They've also joined an elite group of wonderful celebrities who've supported us in the past, including Larry King, Fran Drescher and Vidal Sassoon." In a press release, Dolly explained: "All of the wonderful folks at Paul Mitchell Schools love kids as much as I do, so it is an honor to work with them to bring the joy of books to kids all over America." The events culminate in the Magic of Memories Dinner in Newport Beach, Calif., on May 1, featuring hosts Leeza Gibbons and Paul Mitchell CEO John Paul DeJoria with special guests Dolly, White and the Osmonds. Over the past seven years, the schools have raised $4.6 million for charity.
Dolly Hands Out Award Dolly last week was on hand for the International Entertainment Buyers Association convention in Nashville, where she presented former manager Jim Morey, the event's keynote speaker, with the organization's Industry Achievement Award. Morey was Sandy Gallin's business partner in Gallin Morey & Associates, which became Morey & Associates when Gallin changed careers in 1998. Morey's company also represents Miley Cyrus at Dolly's recommendation. Check out a picture of the two and the award from Music Row.comhere.
Oct. 11: Dolly Wows Opry Crowd
Many stars were on the stage at The Grand Ole Opry Saturday night to celebrate its 85th anniversary, but observers noted the biggest cheers and strongest reactions from the audience were reserved for just one performer: Dolly. For her first segment, the 8:30 p.m. half-hour to close out the first half of the evening's program, segment host Bill Anderson introduced her, saying: "There are people who are stars; there are legends; there are icons. This lady is all three and then some." She performed "Jolene," an especially powerful version "I Will Always Love You" (which she introduced noting how the Opry always reminds her of longtime duet partner the late Porter Wagoner, in whose memory she dedicated the performance that night – thanks to Chuck for forwarding a YouTube clip here) and "9 To 5," closing with an encore of that song's chorus. She returned to the stage after Anderson's closing number to join him and a bevy of other entertainers surrounding an oversized birthday cake to sing "Happy Birthday To You." Her set list was almost the same – just swapping out "Coat of Many Colors" for "I Will Always Love You" – when she returned to close out the final half-hour segment of the second half of the program at 11 p.m. Again, the segment ended with "Happy Birthday To You," at the end of which when Anderson sang "and many more," Dolly replied with "many, many more!" Perhaps the second-biggest crowd pleaser of the evening was Taylor Swift, who gushed to WSMV television here about being able to perform on the same show as Dolly (the video report also includes a comment about the show from Dolly) and to AOL's country music blog "The Boot" here about getting to meet Dolly (the article includes a photo of them together). The admiration was mutual, as Dolly praised Swift from the Opry stage during her second segment, saying, "She is absolutely precious." Although there were a handful of tickets available the night before the show, it was sold out by curtain time, which usually happens each time Dolly makes an Opry appearance. Dolly was also interviewed on FOX News.com backstage at the Opry that evening. Watch it here or in the media player above. Thanks, Aaron!
British Chart Updates Dolly: Live From London slips six spots to No. 19 in its 40th week on the top 20 British compilation country album chart, it was revealed Sunday. The Essential Dolly Parton, a greatest hits collection from back in 2005 spanning five record labels and 34 years in her career, re-enters the top 20 British compilation country albums tally at No. 16, marking its 204th chart week since release.
NY Pops Talks Of Possible Dolly Concert Could Dolly soon be appearing with the New York Pops orchestra? If its new director has his way, she will. According to an interview with The New York Daily News over the weekend, incoming director Skitch Henderson says his dream collaboration is Dolly, and he has been working for seven years to design a retrospective of her life and music in which she would perform with the orchestra, something he says has recently been submitted to her directly, so he hopes it will happen. Read more here.
Gospel Award Coverage Continues Coverage of Dolly's recent James D. Vaughn Impact Award from the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame made the bluegrass blog Cybergrass over the weekend here. Look for Dollymania coverage to resume throughout this week with photos and a story from site correspondent Harrell Gabehart (now that your webmaster is back home and otherwise caught up from being on vacation).
In Memoriam: Solomon Burke Solomon Burke, "The King of Rock & Soul," died Sunday, shortly after arriving in Amsterdam, where he was preparing for a concert later this week, it was announced. He was 70. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member in 2006 put out a country album, Nashville, featuring several collaborations with country artists, including a cover of Dolly's "Tomorrow Is Forever" as a duet with Dolly herself. The pairing earned Dolly her most recent Grammy nomination as a performer, Best Country Collaboration with Vocals (she was also nominated as a songwriter that year and has had one subsequent nomination as a songwriter since then, but it was her most recent for singing). Read more on his life from USA Todayhere.
Oct. 9: Dolly Hits Charlotte
Dolly was in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday night for her touring company of 9 To 5: The Musical, and local TV station WBTV captured her backstage in a meet-and-greet. Watch the footage in the media player above or by clicking here. The show continues in the city, the third stop on the tour, through Sunday and next moves to Des Moines, Iowa, Tuesday through Oct. 17.
Grand Ole Opry Reminder Don't forget that Dolly joins several stars to celebrate the 85th anniversary of The Grand Ole Opry Saturday night in Nashville with shows at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets for both are still available but are only for sale via phone at 1-800-SEE-OPRY or in person at the Opry box office. Send in your shots afterward here (although it may take a little while to get them posted, since we have a backlog of photos to go through from her most recent Dollywood appearance!). I understand Dolly is expected to perform "Jolene," "Coat Of Many Colors" and "I Will Always Love You" in both shows. The evening's schedule is as follows:
7 p.m. -- Jim Ed Brown, Connie Smith, Jimmy C. Newman, Del McCoury Band
7:30 p.m. -- Mike Snider, Sunny Sweeney, Jack Greene, Trace Adkins
8 p.m. -- Roy Clark, Taylor Swift, Opry Square Dancers
8:30 p.m. -- Bill Anderson, Dolly
9:30 p.m. -- Jim Ed Brown, The Whites, Ray Pillow, Del McCoury Band
10 p.m. -- George Hamilton IV, Jan Howard, T. Bubba Bechtol, Trace Adkins
10:30 p.m. -- Roy Clark, Taylor Swift, Opry Square Dancers
11 p.m. -- Bill Anderson, Dolly
Another Gospel Compilation Coming Overseas audiences are getting a little something extra from Dolly's gospel collections coming out this fall, it has been revealed. While the U.S. will see a 14-song Playlist: The Very Best Gospel Of Dolly Parton hitting stores next Tuesday, European stores will get Gospel Collection on Oct. 25, which will feature the same 14 songs plus four more: "Heaven's Just A Prayer Away," "Letter To Heaven," "Lord, Hold My Hand" and "Yes, I See God." Amazon.com is showing it as an import into the U.S. with an estimated delivery in the States of Nov. 2 by pre-ordering it here.
Back On The Irish Charts A Dolly compilation from over a decade ago showed back up on the Irish pop albums chart this week for the first time in years. A Life In Music: Ultimate Collection, first released as a TV-advertised disc back in 1997 in the U.K. and Ireland, snags a fourth week on the top 100 since its initial release, coming in at No. 86, it was revealed Friday. The 25-song compilation from Sony spanned her entire career from the 1960s through the late-90s when it first came out.
Oct. 8: New Dolly Book Coming In January Dolly will be the subject early next year of a new biography, but this time its focus will be not on her life but her art. "The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection," a collection of books on music icons providing "critical analysis and commentary" on their work rather than their personal lives, has announced that the 20th installment in the series will be about Dolly. The Words and Music of Dolly Parton will on Jan. 31 join the list of books that the series has released over the past four years on subjects as varied as Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Carole King, David Bowie, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Sting, Prince and Paul Simon. Dolly will mark their first country artist to be profiled. The 224-page hardcover book is promised to focus on the "what special combination of talent and intelligence fuels her music and underlies her drive" including interviews with producers, engineers, collaborators and more. It is written by International Bluegrass Music Association editor Nancy Cardwell. Reserve your copy here!
Vincent Climbs High In Second Chart Week Second-week sales of Rhonda Vincent's new CD, Taken, with its Dolly duet, shot it up the charts this week, the Oct. 16 numbers released Thursday by Billboard confirmed. The album jumps an impressive 38 places to No. 21 country in its second week on that tally, also climbing one spot to No. 1 bluegrass albums. Also on the bluegrass list, Steve Martin's The Crow - New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, with its own Dolly collaboration, holds steady at No. 10 in its 84th week, On the overall charts, country succeeds country, as Kenny Chesney's Hemingway's Whiskey debuts at No. 1 country and pop, pushing last week's chat-topper, The Zac Brown Band's You Get What You Give , down one to No. 2 country and down two to No. 3 pop in its second week.
Tweet Gets Attention With the recent rash of publicized suicides of LGBT youth due to anti-gay bullying, the folks who manage Dolly's official Twitter account for her this week posted a quote from her that she made to the Associated Press back in 2006 when discussing her Oscar nomination for writing the song "Travelin' Thru" about a transgender individual: "I can relate to people who are struggling and trying to find their true identity." The notation has gained notice in the LGBT media, such as AfterElton.com here.
More '9 To 5' Coverage The Charlotte stop on Dolly's 9 To 5: The Musical national tour earns coverage this week from The Charlotte Observerhere and Gaston Gazettehere, while photos from the tour showed up Thursday on Broadway Worldhere and Playbillhere.
Bluegrass Coming Back To Dollywood Dollywood on Thursday announced that following a two-year absence, fan requests are bringing back the popular Barbeque and Bluegrass Festival next season. The event will run Aug. 19 through Sept. 5 in 2011 and will feature returning headliner Ricky Skaggs for opening weekend with two daily concerts Aug. 19 and 20. Additional guest performers will be announced closer to the time of the festival on the park's website. "I'm a huge bluegrass music fan, that's for sure, and the more I talked to folks, the more I heard how much they wanted my Barbeque & Bluegrass festival at Dollywood – both the music and the delicious barbeque," Dolly noted in a press release. "I'm bringing it back and better than ever! Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder will get things started, and I've got some other big names to tell you about later!"
Oct. 7: Dolly Is Heading To Charlotte Dolly will make an appearance at Thursday's performance of her touring 9 To 5: The Musical in Charlotte, N.C., show writer Patricia Resnick has revealed. She let the cat out of the bag via her official Facebook page on Monday. Thanks, Mike! The show opened in the city, its third stop on the tour, Tuesday night. Check out a story on cast member Diana DeGarmo from Fox Charlotte here and coverage of her appearance to promote the show last Saturday in Atlanta here, where I'm told she also popped in at the evening show as well (thanks, Mary!).
Dolly Highlight Of 'All For Hall' Concert
Dolly brought the house down at Keith Urban's We're All For The Hall fund-raiser concert Tuesday night for the Country Music Hall of Fame. The final guest artist of the evening, she entered the stage to a standing ovation that lasted until she left the stage two songs later. Backed by Vince Gill and Urban on guitar and harmony vocals, she offered her classic "Jolene," introduced by saying how proud she was to have been inducted into the Hall of Fame herself, and then for her "hero song" cover that each guest was asked to do, she chose George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," noting one of the first songs she sang in public was the early Jones hit "You've Gotta Be My Baby" and that Curly Putman, who wrote her first hit single, "Dumb Blonde," co-wrote "He Stopped Loving Her Today." She left the stage but returned with Alan Jackson and Martina McBride to join in with Urban and Gill at the end of the show's finale song, Don Williams' "Tulsa Time." Videos of her performances have already hit YouTube, such as her stellar performance of the Jones song in the media player above or by clicking here, and "Jolene" both here and here. Photos from the event are available from Broadway Worldhere, Terra.comhere and CMT.com here, while text stories are available from Country Weeklyhere and CMT here.
Dolly Fulfills Ill Child's Wish Known for her big heart as much as anything else, Dolly did not disappoint a young lady from Michigan with health problems whose wish it was to meet the superstar. The meeting was arranged by the charity Kids Wish Network. Read more about Amanda, shown at left with Dolly, and her family in a press release from the organization posted here with additional photos.
'Blue Valley Songbird' DVD Gets Re-Issued A "budget" re-issue DVD of Dolly's Lifetime made-for-television movie Blue Valley Songbird is hitting stores nationwide. Some retailers are showing it was released this week, while some are showing it coming out next week, but the product from Echo Bridge Entertainment will be offered in three distinct versions. First, available for order from Amazon here, is just the film itself. The second, available here, combines it with an instrumental CD of country music mixed in with rainstorm sounds called Fresh Country Rain. The third, available here, is a "double feature" DVD paired with the Amy Grant TV movie A Song From The Heart. Thanks, Jason!
Oct. 4: Dolly Appearances Continue (Greetings from paradise – your webmaster still has a few days left down here and things get back to normal :) But here's a brief update.) Don't forget Dolly is in Nashville this week for additional appearances. Tuesday brings the Country Music Hall of Fame fund-raising concert, We're All For The Hall, in which she will perform. Then Saturday night she, Taylor Swift, and others will celebrate The Grand Ole Opry's 85th anniversary. The appearances follow Wednesday's stop at Dollywood to open the National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration (she also held the Tennessee Mountain Home visit for auction winners Tabby and Sabrina and several of their friends – She toured the grounds, sang "These Old Bones," "Amazing Grace," "Where The Roses Never Fade," "My Tennessee Mountain Home, "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" and "Rocky Top," as well as harmony on Paul Couch's lead for "Cabin On A Hill.") Check out a video of her park appearance from Knoxville's WBIR here, and look later this week for a written report and several galleries of photos from Dollymania correspondent Harrell Gabehart. She also popped in on the touring company of her 9 To 5: The Musical in Atlanta, appearing at the show's 2 p.m. Saturday performance to thank the audience for coming. She said she brought fudge for the cast and would be back in town soon to begin filming Joyful Noise with Queen Latifah. Thanks, Rodney Mason, for the Atlanta note and photos! Click on the one above for a larger view, and see Dolly leaving the theatre for her bus here!
British Chart Update Dolly: Live From London gains one to No. 13 in its 39th week on the top 20 British compilation country album chart, it was revealed Sunday.
Oct. 1: Dolly Accepts Award At Park I'm told Dolly was charming as usual at Dollywood on Wednesday, as she opened the park's National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration. She made a media appearance that morning on stage in front of her Chasing Rainbows Museum, at which she took questions and performed "The Seeker" with the Kingdom Heirs. All of the award nominees for the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony/Singing News Fan Awards walked a red carpet from Showstreet Theatre to Celebrity Theatre, although Dolly rode her DeWitt car that route. At the ceremony, she accepted the James D. Vaughan Impact Award. Thanks to Chris Goff for a couple of preliminary photos here and here (the latter is a larger version of the shot at right). More to come, because although your webmaster is in Key West, Dollymania photographer Harrell Gabehart was at the park and says he got some great shots! Thanks!
Compilation, Re-issue Coming Out In November The American Legends music series has announced that it will re-issue one of her Columbia Records-era compilations and one of her early pop crossover albums as a two-disc set in a "collector's" tin case on Nov. 9. Super Hits/Heartbreaker features the 1999 10-song compilation of her greatest hits from her 1987-1995 period at Columbia Records and her 1978 disco-infused RCA album. The collection is available now for pre-orders from Amazon.com here.
Vincent Debuts High In Bluegrass Rhonda Vincent's new album, Taken, which features a Dolly duet, is the week's "Hot Shot Debut" on the Oct. 9 bluegrass albums chart, Billboard revealed Thursday. The CD comes in at No. 2 on that tally, also debuting at No. 59 on the overall country music album chart as well. Also on the bluegrass list, Steve Martin's The Crow - New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, which also includes a Dolly appearance, sllips two to No. 10 in its 83rd week, The overall country charts have two new entries at the top: The Zac Brown Band's You Get What You Give debuts at No. 1 country and pop, while Billy Currington's Enjoy Yourself lands at No. 2 country, No. 9 pop.
Known for her big heart as much as anything else, Dolly did not disappoint a young lady from Michigan with health problems whose wish it was to meet the superstar. The meeting was arranged by the charity 
I'm told Dolly was charming as usual at 
