www.dollymania.net                News                          November 2014

Nov. 28:
Holiday Album Re-Enters Top 200 Pop Albums Stateside
Dolly's Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers makes its annual re-entry to the Top 200 pop albums chart this week, re-entering at No. 192 for a 26th chart week since its 1984 release in the Dec. 6 charts released Thursday, also gaining four places to No. 13 country catalog albums for its third week on that chart this season, its 94th chart week on that tally since release. Her Brad Paisley duet, "When I Get Where I'm Going," re-enters the Christian digital songs chart at No. 16 for a 10th week and Christian/gospel digital songs chart at No. 16 for a fifth week.

Burt Selling His Belongings For Cash
Burt Reynolds is putting up hundreds of his personal belongings for auction due to money woes. Julien's Auctions will have a two-day public auction Dec. 11 and 12 in Las Vegas. Among the items up for grabs: his badge from The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, a horse-drawn carriage from Dollywood that was a gift from Dolly and is expected to fetch between $3,000 and $5,000, and a motorized stage coach from 1979 that was redesigned to use for his 1988 wedding to Loni Anderson which the description notes has an interior custom designed by Dolly. Check out the auction catalog here.


Nov. 27:
Dolly Wishes All A Happy Thanksgiving
Dollywood on Wednesday released the following holiday message to fans from Dolly: "I love coming home to the Great Smoky Mountains to visit family and friends for Thanksgiving. I remember the crisp mornings, smells of home cooking, and stories around the dinner table that bound us as a family. I'm sure you have the same special memories! Take time this season to give thanks for all God has given you and your family. Love every moment together. From my Dollywood family and me, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and a blessed holiday season. Love, Dolly"

Mid-Week Tallies Have Dolly Back In U.K. Top 25
Mid-week sales updates overseas have Dolly's Blue Smoke gaining one spot in its 25th week in the U.K. to regain the No. 25 pop albums position. The full week's charts will be released Sunday.

Chenoweth Special With Dolly Song Airs Friday
Kristen Chenoweth's concert special airs on PBS stations nationwide Friday night, and Tulsa Word reviewed the companion CD, Coming Home, here, noting that her cover of Dolly's "Little Sparrow" is the most memorable performance from the concert for "how it builds to a startlingly raw and angry climax."

'Rolling Stone' Recalls 1982 Dolly Special
Rolling Stone this week had a flashback to Dolly, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Brenda Lee's special to promote their 1982 double album The Winning Hand. Check it out here.

Rimes Covers Dolly Song On Holiday EP
LeAnn Rimes has released a holiday EP, One Christmas: Chapter One, which features a cover of Dolly's top 10 holiday classic "Hard Candy Christmas" from The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, which Rimes has cited as her favorite track on the project.


Nov. 25:
'Blue Smoke' Stays In UK Top 30, Re-Enters Down Under
Dolly's Blue Smoke this week slips two spots to No. 26 in its 24th week on the British pop albums chart, selling about 7,600 more copies to bring its cumulative total since release to about 241,500 units. The album retains its No. 1 spot on the U.K. country compilation albums chart for a 24th week and re-enters the Australian top 40 country albums tally at No. 29 for a 19th week. On the main U.K. country albums list, her boxed set Dolly holds steady at No. 7. Back on the U.K. country compilations chart, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series, Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony) inches down one to No. 7 while her Original Album Series, Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) falls out of the top 20, down from No. 13, and Ronstadt's own Original Album Series (featuring one Dolly cover and one track with Dolly harmony) also leaves the top 20, down from No. 16.

Dolly In The Irish Media
A brief Dolly interview hit Ireland over the weekend, making The Belfast Telegraph here and TV3 here.

Holiday Show Parodies Kenny & Dolly Special
Kansas City, Mo., comedy troupe Late Night Theatre is sending up Kenny Rogers & Dolly's 1984 holiday special A Christmas To Remember in their new Christmas parody I Will Always Love You running Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights Dec. 5-22 at Missie B's. The show features Kenny & Dolly impersonators and "guest stars" Whitney Houston and the casts of The Brady Bunch and The Facts Of Life. Learn more from Camp KC here and the event's Facebook page here.


Nov. 22:
Another 'Steel Magnolias' Anniversary Story
Another media outlet joined this week's celebration of the 25th anniversary of Dolly's movie Steel Magnolias with Biography.com choosing its 12 favorite quotes from the film. Read them here.

Vote For Dolly In People's Choice Awards
Don't forget to cast your ballot for Dolly at the People's Choice Awards, where she is up for Favorite Female Country Artist, her first nomination for that awards show in nine years. You may vote repeatedly through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Dec. 4 online here, Facebook here and the People's Choice iOS and Android apps.


Nov. 21:
Berlin Concert, Holiday Duets Album On Charts This Week
Another of Dolly's summer concerts showed up Thursday on the Box Score of show grosses published by Billboard magazine, this time her July 6 engagement at Berlin's O2 World. The concert ranked No. 137 of the shows listed this week, grossing $513,182 with 91 percent of the 6,986 available tickets sold. In other chart news, the Nov. 29 tallies see her 1982 recording of "Hard Candy Christmas" fall off the digital holiday songs chart after one week at No. 37, its 27th chart week since creation of the chart, and Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers gain six spots to No. 17 in its second week this season on the country catalog albums chart, its 93rd chart week on that list since release.

Another 'Steel Magnolias' Rewind For Anniversary
Entertainment Tonight on Thursday also took a look back at the 25th anniversary of Dolly's film Steel Magnolias with a piece flashing back to its premiere. Check out the footage here!


Nov. 20:
Paper: Dolly Rumored For Possible Vegas Show
Could Dolly be heading to a Las Vegas residency? Her name is among those being touted as possible sucessors to Shania Twain upon the end of her two-year run at Caesar's Colosseum on Dec. 13. The female replacement will be "a country superstar with a myriad of No. 1 hits," which according to The Las Vegas Sun here has led to rumors that it could be Dolly, Reba, Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood. Twain will welcome the new singer to the venue and announce her identity prior to the end of her run next month.

U.K. Mid-Week Chart Update
Mid-week sales updates have Dolly's Blue Smoke slipping seven spots to No. 31 on the U.K. pop albums chart in its 24th week of release overseas. The full charts reflecting the entire week's sales will be released on Sunday.

'30 Days Of Dollywood' Announced For 2015
Dollywood has announced that "30 Days of Dollywood" celebrating the park's 30th anniversary season will run May 3-June 1 featuring daily guest giveaways inside the park of gift items, food, merchandise and more. The event kicks off with a Homecoming Celebration on May 3, which follows Dolly's previously-announced May 1 date for next year's annual Dolly Parade through Pigeon Forge. The park's Smoky Mountain Christmas continues through Jan. 3, when it closes for the season. The 2015 season opens March 21. Thanks, Chuck!

Dollywood Christmas Show Wins Industry Award
Dollywood on Wednesday won two Brass Ring Awards from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA): Best Overall Production for Dollywood's A Christmas Carol, featuring Dolly's hologram as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Best Radio Commercial.

Dolly Adding New Barn To Nashville-Area Home
Dolly this week received approval from the Brentwood, Tenn., Board of Zoning Appeals to place a fourth barn on her estate outside of Nashville. The 2,400-square-foot barn on her 63-acre property off Crockett Road will be located 2,150 feet from the intersection with Concord Road and match the architecture of the estate's other barns. Read more from The Tennessean here.

Vote For Dolly In People's Choice Awards
Don't forget to cast your ballot for Dolly at the People's Choice Awards, where she is up for Favorite Female Country Artist, her first nomination for that awards show in nine years. You may vote repeatedly through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Dec. 4 online here, Facebook here and the People's Choice iOS and Android apps.

Chocolate Drops Singer Covers Dolly On New CD
Carolina Chocolate Drops member Rhiannon Giddens on Wednesday announced that her solo debut album, Tomorrow Is My Turn, will be released Feb. 10 on Nonesuch Records and will feature a cover of Dolly's 1969 song "Don't Let It Trouble Your Mind." Check out her version of the tune here or in the media player below.


Nov. 18:
Opryland Auctions Dolly Tree With Meet-And-Greet
Gaylord Opryland Resort is auctioning off a Dolly meet-and-greet as part of its celebrity fundraiser tree benefit. The 2014 Parade of Trees includes a Dolly entry decorated with large pastel butterflies. It comes with 38 Imagination Library books, one personal book from Dolly, one cookbook, four Dollywood tickets, an autographed Dolly 8x10 and a meet-and-greet with Dolly. The auction, proceeds from which will benefit her Imagination Library early childhood literacy project, continues through 10 p.m. New Year's Eve and as of press time bids were at $220. Place your bid here. The tree, along with other trees sponsored by other country music celebrities, is on display at the Nashville resort.

'Blue Smoke' Approaching 235,000 Copies Overseas
British sales of Dolly's Blue Smoke nearly doubled last week to about 7,600 copies last week in its 23rd week overseas, reflecting its return to the U.K. top 25 pop albums tally. Since release, the CD has sold about 234,000 units overseas.

Dolly Receiving Australian CMA Honor
Dolly has been announced as the 2015 recipient of the Country Music Awards of Australia Top Selling International Album of the Year Award for the biggest-selling country music import of 2014 for Blue Smoke. The awards will be handed out on Jan. 24 Down Under. Read more here.

Radio Show Seeks Dolly Fans
Radio producer Cordelia is seeking Dolly fans for an upcoming radio piece about what it means to be a fan. So if anyone has a story they'd like to share about how being a Dolly fan has enriched or complicated their life, contact her here.


Nov. 17:
CMT Names Dolly No. 4 Most Influential Artist Of All Time

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CMT on Saturday revealed Dolly is the network's No. 4 choice for its All Time Top 40 most influential artists ever countdown with words from several artists including Kenny Rogers, Kacey Musgraves and Jennifer Nettles, about why Dolly is the best. Check out the written version of the story here and the video here or in the media player above.

'Blue Smoke' Re-Enters UK Top 25 Pop Albums
A week after returning to the U.K. top 40, Dolly's Blue Smoke this week moves back into the British top 25 pop albums tally, rising six to No. 24 in its 23rd week of release overseas, also retaining the No. 1 place on the country compilations chart for a 23rd week. On the country albums tally, her boxed set Dolly moves up eight places to No. 7. Back on the country compilations chart, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series, Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony) holds steady at No. 6 while her Original Album Series, Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) gains three to No. 13 and Ronstadt's own Original Album Series (featuring one Dolly cover and one track with Dolly harmony) re-enters the top 20 at No. 16.

Hall Of Fame Showing Kenny & Dolly Christmas Special Dec. 14
People planning to be in Music City on Dec. 14 will want to check out a rare public showing of Dolly and Kenny Rogers' classic 1984 holiday special A Christmas To Remember. The Country Music Hall of Fame Museum will show the special at 2 p.m. Dec. 14 in its Ford Theater as part of its Kenny Rogers: Through The Years exhibit. Museum admission or membership is required for admittance.

'Steel Magnolias' 25th Anniversary Celebrated
Several media outlets over the weekend celebrated the 25th anniversary of the release of Dolly's classic film Steel Magnolias. The Huffington Post offered a look back at photos from its various premieres here and a 12-things-you-didn't-know piece here. Entertainment Weekly recalled several of its first reviews here. Buzzfeed offered the 29 tear-jerking scenes from the movie here. And MSN had a "Where Are They Now" piece on the film's cast here.


Nov. 14:
Dolly Christmas Recordings On The Charts
Dolly's annual holiday chart returns have begun, as the Nov. 22 Billboard charts released Thursday showed her 1982 recording of "Hard Candy Christmas" re-entered the digital holiday songs chart at No. 37 for a 27th chart week since creation of the chart, and Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers re-enters the country catalog albums chart at No. 23 for a 92nd chart week there.

Dollywood 2015 Opens March 21
Next year's opening date for Dollywood has been announced: March 21, 2015. Dolly usually makes several appearances for opening weekend and then returns for her Dolly Parade in May, which it was previously reported here will take place May 1. The year's final festival, Smoky Mountain Christmas, runs through Jan. 3, when the park closes for the season.

'Wayfaring Strangers' Authors Talk On Radio
NPR station WFAE's Charlotte Talks has an interview this week with Wayfaring Strangers: The Musical Voyage From Scotland and Ulster to Appalachia authors Fiona Ritchie and Doug Orr about their book, which features a forward by Dolly. Take a listen here.

Naomi Talks About Dolly In The Nude
Naomi Judd was on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live Wednesday night and claimed she has seen good friend Dolly completely naked.


Nov. 12:
'Blue Smoke' Continues Overseas Chart Rebound
Midweek sales updates overseas indicate Dolly's Blue Smoke appears to be continuing its resurgence on the British charts, as sales through Wednesday have it increasing another two spots to No. 28. Final charts reflecting the entire week's sales will be released on Sunday.

'Try' Could Be 2014's U.K. Christmas No. 1
British website Fundraising says the Waitrose online choir version of Dolly's "Try" is among eight charity singles vying for the coveted Christmas No. 1 spot on the U.K. singles chart. Check out the other contenders here.

Cohen Chats About Dolly Magazine Cover
I'm told Tuesday night's Watch What Happens Live on Bravo had The New Yorker Magazine illustrator, who presented host Andy Cohen with the issue with Dolly on the cover, which they said was groundbreaking.


Nov. 11:
U.K. 'Blue Smoke' Sales Pass 225,000 Copies
Dolly's Blue Smoke last week saw a British sales increase of more than 60 percent last week to about 3,800 copies sold, bringing its 22-week cumulative total to 226,300 units since release overseas.

Get Dolly's 'Hollywood Reporter' This Week
The Nov. 15 edition of The Hollywood Reporter featuring a Dolly profile previously reported here is on its way to subscribers and newsstands. The issue features a three-page profile that includes the Q&A posted online a few days ago (which is basically the same as her Q&A in sister publication Billboard with a couple of different questions and photos from the same photo shoot) and five full-page congratulatory Dolly advertisements that previously appeared in the print edition of Billboard.


Nov. 10:
'Blue Smoke' Makes It Back To U.K. Top 40
Dolly's Blue Smoke re-enters the British top 40 pop albums chart this week, rising 14 spots to No. 30 in its 22nd week of release overseas, also retaining the No. 1 place on the country compilations chart for a 22nd week. On the country albums tally, her boxed set Dolly re-enters the top 20 at No. 15. Back on the country compilations chart, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series, Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony) holds steady at No. 6 while her Original Album Series, Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) re-enters the top 20 at No. 16.


Nov. 8:
Waitrose Premieres 'Try' Holiday Commercial


British retailer Waitrose on Friday premiered its crowdsourced holiday commercial featuring Dolly's song "Try." For a week in October, vocal submissions were solicited from the public online and a producer mixed them into a choral arrangement of the tune to accompany footage of a young girl trying over and over to make gingerbread cookies using ingredients and advice from Waitrose. Watch it here or in the media player above.

'Hollywood Reporter' Shares Dolly 'Billboard' Story
Billboard sister publication The Hollywood Reporter is sharing in the celebration of Dolly's 50th anniversary of moving to Nashville to pursue a music career. Its Nov. 14 edition out next week features a version of the Q&A with Dolly which was recently published in Billboard. An online version was posted here Friday featuring several questions and answers that were in the Billboard version plus two new ones (what is her biggest splurge and what is next on her agenda) and a photo gallery here featuring seven images that were in the Billboard online gallery plus one that had not been included there (plus the "walk away" image in color that Billboard had in black and white).

Grammy Charity Auction Has Two Dolly Items
The Grammys this week launched its Country Christmas auction to benefit the Grammy Foundation, MusiCares Foundation and CMA Foundation, and it features two Dolly items: a Kenny and Dolly autographed Once Upon A Christmas here and a Dolly-signed Here You Come Again here. As of press time, the high bid for the holiday autograph was $202.50 and for her signed first million-seller was $150. Bids continue until Nov. 15.

Remember To Vote For Dolly At People's Choice Awards
Don't forget to cast your ballot for Dolly at the People's Choice Awards, where she is up for Favorite Female Country Artist, her first nomination for that awards show in nine years. You may vote repeatedly through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Dec. 4 online here, Facebook here and the People's Choice iOS and Android apps.

New U.K. Documentary Airs
Dolly and several other singers participated in a documentary on Nashville and country music called The Heart of Country which aired on BBC4 in Great Britain on Friday. Coverage of the special is available from The Spectator here and The Northern Echo here.

Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas Arrives
Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas festival kicks off for this year on Saturday, and Knoxville's Local 8 Now News previewed it on Friday here.

'EW' Writer Cries Over 'Me And Little Andy'
Entertainment Weekly on Friday posted a "Popwatch Confidential" on embarrassing songs that make the publication's staff members cry, and its senior writer chose Dolly's "Me And Little Andy." Read more here.

Radio Show Discusses 'Rhinestone'
Comedian Paul Scheer's Earwolf Network online radio program How Did This Get Made?, which takes on a movie thought to be so bad it's good and analyzes it. This week's program, featuring regular co-hosts Jason Mantzoukas and June Diane Raphael plus guest co-host Matt Jones, spends over an hour and 20 minutes chatting about, and ribbing, Dolly's 1984 movie Rhinestone with Sylvester Stallone. Dolly receives high praise several times, but Stallone takes a licking. Listen here or in the media player below, but warning, it has several incidents of foul language.


Nov. 6:
CMA Award Goes To Urban, Lambert
Dolly and Kenny Rogers on Wednesday lost the CMA Award for Musical Event of the Year for their latest duet, "You Can't Make Old Friends." The award, presented early on ABC's Good Morning America, went instead to Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert.

Dolly Happy For People's Choice Nomination
Dolly on Wednesday reacted to the news released the day before that she had been nominated for a People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Country Artist, her first People's Choice nod in nine years and her first nomination in this specific category in 20 years. In a press release, she said: "I am so excited to be nominated for a People's Choice award.  It is always a good feeling to be recognized for whatever you do. This year has been an amazing year!  I released a new album 'Blue Smoke,' traveled to Australia, Europe, and across America and even performed for 170,000 people at one show - woo that makes me tired just saying it." Vote for Dolly here.

Lots Of Press Coming Overseas
In a separate press release, it was announced that Dolly will have an interview and performance special airing Nov. 29 on QVC UK in addition to a Nov. 7 rebroadcast of the documentary special Platinum Blonde on BBC Four. The release also confirmed that the "previously unreleased" version of "Lay Your Hands On Me" with Richie Sambora that appears on the BBC Radio Two compilation Sounds of the 80s, which it was previously reported here comes out Nov. 10, is as was speculated here the live performance from her Glastonbury concert that had been broadcast on the BBC. Also, her Glastonbury concert will repeat on BBC Four Nov. 21, she'll appear on ITV's Good Morning Britain Dec. 9, and profiles will appear overseas in Glamour, The Guardian and The Mirror.

Ovation Has 'Unlikely Angel' On Christmas
Ovation on Wednesday announced its holiday broadcast schedule, which includes a Christmas morning broadcast of Dolly's Unlikely Angel at 9 a.m. Eastern. It was previously reported here that the holiday classic will air on ABC Family Dec. 13.

Dolly Promotes Dollywood's Christmas
Dollywood on Wednesday also issued a press release touting its Smoky Mountain Christmas festival, which as was previously reported here starts Saturday and features an exclusive appearance by Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and his friends. In the release, Dolly stated: "I'm so glad we're able to add Rudolph and his friends to our Smoky Mountain Christmas. With all of the beautiful lights and decorations, it truly is the most special time of year at my Dollywood. Why they're even going to bring back that hologram of me! I'm still not sure this world is ready for two Dolly Partons, but I'm excited folks can see 'the other Dolly' help ole Scrooge understand what truly makes the holidays special."


Nov. 5:
Dolly Finalist For People's Choice Award
Dolly on Tuesday picked up a nomination for Favorite Female Country Artist at next year's People's Choice Awards. She faces Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Lucy Hale and Miranda Lambert. As was reported here, she was one of the 12 initial nominees placed for public voting and this means she was one of the top five vote-getters to advance to the final nominees. Voting is now live and continues through Dec. 4. Vote for Dolly here.

CMT Top 20 Includes Dolly Later This Month
Although what she is doing on the show has not been revealed, Dolly is identified by CMT as appearing on its "All Star Lineup" episode of Hot 20 Countdown for the weekend of Nov. 15.


Nov. 4:
Dolly Sells Another 2,350 Copies Overseas
Dolly's Blue Smoke sold about 2,350 copies in Britain last week to total 222,500 units moved overseas since its release there 21 weeks ago. It was the week's No. 44 pop album.

ABC Celebrates Country Music
ABC is giving Dolly some recognition this week in advance of Wednesday night's Country Music Association Awards, for which she is nominated with Kenny Rogers for Musical Event of the Year for "You Can't Make Old Friends." Good Morning America on Monday morning looked at five favorite songs on several artists' playlists, and The Band Perry picked Dolly's "I Will Always Love You." Read more here. In addition, the network on Monday night premiered Countdown to the CMA Awards: 15 Songs That Changed Country Music, which featured current artists performing classic hits, including Kenny & Dolly's "Islands In The Stream" as sung by Lady Antebellum, the No. 12 song on the tally. Check out a clip of the performance here. Dolly's "I Will Always Love You" was No. 15 on the list.


Nov. 3:
More From Dolly Posted By HBO's 'Sonic Highways'


HBO's Foo Fighters Sonic Highways on Nashville premiered Friday with a very in-depth overview of Music City featuring interviews with Dolly, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and others throughout. HBO on Friday posted to YouTube an extended clip of Dolly's interview with several comments that were cut from the final broadcast version. Watch it here or in the media player above.

'Today' Talks 'Steel Magnolias' Anniversary
NBC's Today on Saturday celebrated the 25th anniversary of Dolly's classic film Steel Magnolias with 13 facts about the movie and play that most observers wouldn't know. Read the list and watch a video with playwright and screenwriter Robert Harling talking about it here.

Overseas Chart Update
Dolly's Blue Smoke inches down one spot this week to No. 44 U.K. pop albums in its 21st week there, remaining at No. 1 on the country compilations tally for a 21st week. Also on the country compilations chart, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series, Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony) holds steady at No. 6 while her Original Album Series, Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) falls off the top 20, down from No. 13 on that list last week.

Miley Dresses Up As Dolly For Halloween
Pop sensation Miley Cyrus last week dressed up for Halloween in a costume that most observers said appeared to be her godmother Dolly. Check it out here.


Nov. 1:
Get Discount On Fan Gathering Tickets
As was previously reported here, tickets for the fifth annual unofficial Dolly Fan Dinner, taking place May 1 following Dolly's annual Homecoming Parade through Pigeon Forge, went on sale Saturday. This year, fan dinner organizer Todd Davidson has partnered with former Dolly Collectors' Convention organizer Jeremy Brown to create this event for ultimate Dolly fans. Tickets to the event at Riverstone Resort on Dollywood Lane, including dinner, are $20 by April 21 or $25 thereafter, but organizers are offering Dollymania.net readers a 50 percent discount using the code DOLLYMANIA before Dec. 31. Get tickets from Eventbrite here.