Opera Cover Now Available In U.S.
It took them a few months, but Amazon is now importing Welsh diva Katherine Jenkins's new CD, Living A Dream, released earlier this year in Europe featuring her Italian opera version of Dolly's "I Will Always Love You" under the title "Ti Amero Per Sempre." Get your copy here!

Dec. 29:
Take A Whiff
In one of the most unique year-end list inclusions, celebrities and TV critic Terry Morrow of The Knoxville News-Sentinel gave Dolly a nod in Wednesday's paper as the year's best-smelling celebrity. Noting her scent "like a field of fresh country flowers," he added: "I could sniff her all day long." Read his celebrity list of the year here.

Neb. Library A Success
The only Nebraska chapter of Dolly's Imagination Library literacy program is nearing the 1,000-child mark, The Columbus Telegram reported here this week. The program, sponsored there by the local United Way, has been offered to the public for about 16 months. Dolly's nationwide program provides one free, hardcover, age-appropriate book per month to every child birth to age 5 in a participating community whose parents sign up. Her Dollywood Foundation covers all administrative costs, while local sponsors pay the approximate $27-per-child annual cost of book purchases and postage.

Dec. 28:
Park's Year Draws To A Close
When Dollywood's 20th season comes to a close Friday, nearly 2.4 million visitors will have come through its gates, a 7.3 percent increase over last year's attendance, according to a reporting in Tuesday's Knoxville News-Sentinel of the annual top parks list released this week by Amusement Business magazine. The publication ranked the park at No. 25 among North America's most popular amusement and theme parks, but it had one of the largest growth percentages of the entire list. The adjacent water park, Dollywood's Splash Country, saw about 370,000 folks for the year. Read the story here. The park re-opens April 1 next year.

'Billboard' Best Of Lists Come Out
Billboard has released its year in music lists, including the selections for 2005's best discs from both the magazine's critics and other singers. Dolly's Those Were The Days only made one such list, Lee Ann Womack's, coming in at No. 4. She says: "The concept surprised me at first. She's the only person I know of that could pull it off and she did it so beautifully." Bettye LaVette's I've Got My Own Hell To Raise, with its smashing cover of "Little Sparrow," earned a No. 1 spot from R&B editor Gail Mitchell, No. 5 position from staff writer Todd Martens and honorable mention from Billboard.com editor Barry A. Jeckell. Jeckell also gave Martina McBride an honorable mention for Timeless, which features Dolly on "I Still Miss Someone." Her disc also came in at No. 3 on Rascal Flatts' list and No. 8 on senior touring editor Ray Waddell's tally. George Jones's Hits I Missed . . . And One I Didn't, with its Dolly duet "The Blues Man," came in at No. 2 in Womack's favorites and No. 3 for Nashville chart manager Wade Jessen. Finally, Brad Paisley's Time Well Wasted, featuring Dolly harmony on their current hit "When I Get Where I'm Going," made it to No. 2 for Billboard contributor Deborah Evans Price and No. 4 for Nashville Bureau Chief Phyllis Stark. See the full lists here.

And A CMT List
CMT.com on Tuesday issued its list of the eight best compilation albums of the year and chose to include RCA/Legacy's The Essential Dolly Parton, calling the two-disc set "essential, definitely . . . . Blessed with a winning personality, staggering talent and a desire to compete, it's no wonder she remains a hero to singers, songwriters and celebrities everywhere." Read the full list here.

Dolly In Print
I'm told Dolly gets a two-page spread in a new book sold at the Cracker Barrel chain of restaurants. The book accompanies the store's American Music Legends CD series, in which Dolly had an installment released earlier this year. Her section of the book includes reflections by photographer Les Leverett on shooting the cover for her Bubbling Over album and Porter Wagoner's story on Dolly's gift of returning his songs to him at no charge (Dolly had bought his catalogue for a pretty hefty price tag as he was facing some financial problems, but when he had saved up enough money to buy them back a few years ago, she responded to his offer by giving them to him for free). Thanks, Solomon!

Dec. 27:
'9 To 5' DVD Coming To Europe
Although it was issued on DVD in the U.S. more than four years ago, Dolly's 1980 hit 9 To 5 will get its first European DVD issue in March, it has been announced. 20th Century Fox is scheduled to release the title on DVD in the U.K. on March 6. Thanks, Tracey!

Stampede Disc Also Out
And that's not the only Dolly DVD news. I don't know how long it has been available, but it was brought to my attention over the weekend that a new DVD titled Behind The Scenes at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede is now being sold at Dolly's equestrian-themed dinner theaters, the Dixie Stampede. The half-hour disc features a brief introduction by Dolly and concludes with the footage of her performing "Color Me America" which is shown on video screens in the closing of the nightly performances at the venue (the DVD version alternates between a full screen showing of Dolly's performance and shots of the video being played in the theater with horses in front of the screen). Thanks, Solomon!

Dec. 26:
Slipping Down Under
Dolly's Those Were The Days, in its 11th week Down Under, dips five spots to No. 17 this week on the Australian country albums chart, it was announced Sunday.

Another 'Best Of Year' List
Nashville's The Tennessean has released its lists of the best recordings of the year, and again while Dolly's CD isn't among them, several other projects in which she participated are included. In the paper's list of the best overall releases, Bettye LaVette's I've Got My Own Hell To Raise, with its R&B cover of "Little Sparrow," makes the cut. On its "Music Row" list of Nashville CDs, Martina McBride's Timeless, featuring Dolly on "I Still Miss Someone," is on there, and its selection of the best "non-Music Row" Nashville CDs includes The Grascals, which has Dolly on "Viva Las Vegas." Read the full list here.

A Quiet Helping Hand
East Tennessee's The Daily Times in Maryville here brought the community up-to-date over the weekend on two Hurricane Katrina evacuees living in the community and notes that Dollywood offered free admission after the storm to any displaced residents from the affected area.

Another 'DP Central' Contest
My pal Christian at Dolly Parton Central asked me to let everyone know he's readying another Those Were The Days contest for later this week on his site. Visit it for details.

Dec. 24:
HAVE A HOLLY, DOLLY CHRISTMAS!

'Trans' Tune Takes Two
In what might be a predictor for more awards down the road, Dolly's "Travelin' Thru" from the Transamerica soundtrack has already picked up two honors. The tune was named Best Song this week at the Sixth Annual Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards in Arizona, and it also won Best Song at this year's Las Vegas Film Critics Society Sierra Awards. The Dolly composition, which she performs over the film's closing credits, is nominated for the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globe Awards and is considered a front-runner for next year's Academy Awards. Get the soundtrack, to hit stores Feb. 7, here (or download the song from iTunes). Thanks, Tony!

Dolly And Brad In Europe
The European CMAs' updated charts came out Friday, and Dolly's pairing with Brad Paisley on "When I Get Where I'm Going" from his Time Well Wasted is getting noticed across the pond. The song enters the top 20 country airplay charts at No. 5 in Austria and No. 12 in Spain this week. Her collaboration on "The Blues Man" with George Jones from his Hits I Missed . . . And One I Didn't falls out of the top 20 in Spain and Denmark, down from Nos. 9 and 20, respectively.

Dolly Talks To 'The State'
Myrtle Beach's The State on Friday offered a very brief telephone interview with Dolly about her post-tour plans and a few other items, including what is her first public comment after the fact, to my knowledge, about her pairing with Sir Elton John on this year's CMAs, a performance which critics universally panned. "I think people were expecting us to do something a little more barn-burnish," she said. Read the interview here.

I'm Sure She Sent A Nice Gift
And speaking of Sir Elton . . . perhaps it was scheduling it the week of Christmas, but London's The Mirror reports that several big names were unable to attend the lavish post-wedding party he and David Furnish threw in Berkshire this week even though they had been invited. Among them were Dolly, Prince Charles, Prime Minister Tony Blair, President Bill and Sen. Hillary Clinton, Michael Douglas and Catehrine Zeta-Jones, Bette Midler and more. Read the story here.

CMT Announces Year's Best
CMT.com's critics on Friday issued their "best of" list for the year, and while Dolly's Those Were The Days didn't make anyone's top 10 choices, several Dolly-related projects did. Both Craig Shelburne and Edward Morris included Brad Paisley's Time Well Wasted, with Shelburne noting "When I Get Where I'm Going" with Dolly "still gets me every time." Shelburne also selected The Bellamy Brothers' Angels & Outlaws, Vol. 1, with Dolly on "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)," and George Jones's covers disc Hits I Missed . . . And One I Didn't, with Dolly on "The Blues Man." Morris also included Martina McBride's covers collection, Timeless, with Dolly on "I Still Miss Someone." Read the full lists here.

Soaring High
Environmental charity The Audubon Society has a feature in its magazine this month, available online here, focusing on the work of the American Eagle Foundation, which is housed at Dollywood. The story notes that one of the eaglets recently released in the wild by the Foundation was named after Dolly and that the park is its largest single financial contributor.

Dec. 23:
'Going' Biggest Single Since '91
Dolly has her biggest hit now in nearly a decade and a half as "When I Get Where I'm Going" with Brad Paisley gains three points to No. 13 on the New Year's Eve Billboard country singles chart, it was announced Thursday. She passes her most recent highest chart position of No. 15 with Vince Gill on "I Will Always Love You" back in 1995. The last time she was this high on the chart was when "Rockin' Years" with Ricky Van Shelton went all the way to No. 1 back in 1991. On the all-genre Hot 100 pop singles chart, it jumps 10 spaces to No. 62 for the week, also increasing eight to No. 59 for Hot 100 airplay only and re-entering the Pop 100 (for "pop"-only genre radio stations) at No. 100. Up in Canada, the tune races up 15 spots to No. 47 pop. The song remains steady at No. 12 on the Power Source Christian country singles tally, while it rises four to No. 17 on the Roughstock country chart.

'Days' Dropping On The Charts
Those Were The Days, Dolly's new CD, continues to lose ground in the Dec. 31 Billboard charts issued Thursday. The disc falls three to No. 44 country and five to No. 15 on the independent labels albums chart in its 10th week. In Canada, 1984's Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers slips two to No. 16 in its seventh week this year on the Canadian country albums. Martina McBride's Timeless, with Dolly on "I Still Miss Someone," rises three to No. 5 country and five to No. 23 pop and comprehensive in its ninth chart week. The disc gains two to No. 3 country in Canada, also picking up 15 places to No. 29 pop up north. Brad Paisley's Time Well Wasted, featuring "When I Get Where I'm Going" with Dolly, inches down one to No. 16 country, four to No. 66 pop and one to No. 71 comprehensive in its 18th week. The CD gains six to No. 30 Canadian country. George Jones's Hits I Missed . . . And One I Didn't, with its Dolly duet, "The Blues Man," dips four to No. 53 country in its 14th week and one to No. 18 independent. Bettye LaVette's I've Got My Own Hell To Raise, featuring her version of "Little Sparrow," remains steady at No. 7 in its 12th week on the blues albums chart. Rhonda Vincent's Ragin' Live, with a "Jolene" cover, rises two to No. 12 in its 41st week on the bluegrass albums chart, which also sees Ralph Stanley's Shine On, the title track for which is a Dolly cover, re-enter at No. 15 for a 14th chart week. Selah's Rose Of Bethlehem, with Dolly guest vocals on "Once Upon A Christmas," remains steady at No. 14 in its seventh week on this year's holiday music albums chart. Thomas Kinkade's Country Christmas, featuring "Hard Candy Christmas," falls eight to No. 38 in its fourth week on the independent labels albums chart and six to No. 68 country in its fifth week there. American Idol winner Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts remains at one to No. 1 country and gains three to No. 2 pop with fifth-week sales of 271,000, while Kenny Chesney's The Road and the Radio remains steady at No. 2 country and inches up one to No. 5 pop with sixth-week sales of 217,000. The American Idol finalists' cover of the former Dolly and Julio Iglesias duet "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" gains nine to No. 19 on the pop singles sales chart in its 36th week.

Dec. 22:
'Going' Regains Ground
Things are looking up once more for Dolly's "When I Get Where I'm Going" with Brad Paisley. The tune rises three to a new peak at No. 13 on the Dec. 23 Radio & Records magazine country singles chart, it was announced Wednesday. On the Canadian country singles side, the song remains steady at No. 15. On the adult contemporary charts, Dolly's "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Rod Stewart from his Stardust . . . The Great American Songbook: Volume III from last year inches up one on the U.S. tally to No. 26 and gains seven to No. 10 Canadian.

More Pics From The Road
Special thanks to Chad Green for sending in a few shots from Dolly's Charlotte, N.C., concert last week. They've been added to galleries in that section of the site here.

Dolly In Print
The Jan. 2 edition of Country Weekly magazine is on newsstands this week, and there are two Dolly items. She's shown with her siblings at brother Randy Parton's Roanoke Rapids, N.C., groundbreaking for his new theatre in November, and there's a shot of her at the CMAs with a brief about how Yoko Ono allowed her to use rare home movies of John Lennon for the video of her cover of his classic "Imagine."

Bullock Film Gets TV Premiere
For those who didn't run out and buy Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous for its Dolly cameo, you can catch the film on HBO next month. The cable network this week announced the television premiere of the movie for 8 p.m. Eastern Jan. 21.

Dec. 21:
'Travelin' Thru' Available For Download
Although the CD won't hit stores for another two months, Nettwerk Records on Tuesday made available for download via Apple's iTunes service the soundtrack to the film Transamerica, including Dolly's Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards-nominated tune, "Travelin' Thru." With its rollicking bongo drum beat and almost tribal chants, the song is something uniquely Dolly to behold. The individual song is available for a 99-cent download, or the entire album is for sale for $9.99. Visit the site here to access it (you have to register and download the iTunes software first, though), and reserve your copy of the actual CD, to be released Feb. 7, here! Thanks, Stephen!

Dolly Re-Does 'Train, Train'
There's yet another Dolly collaboration available from Double Diamond Entertainment, it has been announced. Dolly recently recorded harmony vocals on a new version of "Train, Train," this time a kick-ass Southern rock recording of the song by Eric Lee Beddingfield which is available for 75-cent download from Double Diamond here. The tune also features Lynyrd Skynyrd's Rickey Medlocke and comes from "ELB's" self-titled CD on the label. You may also recall it first reported here that Double Diamond also released a new version of "I Will Always Love You" by saxophonist Jerry D. featuring her on guest vocals which is still available here for downloading. Jerry tells Dollymania his recording with Dolly will ship to radio Jan. 1, so call your local stations at that time and request it! Thanks!

Myrtle Beach Coverage
Christian over at fan site Dolly Parton Central asked me to let everyone know he has posted some pics of Dolly's tour closer in Myrtle Beach, S.C., from last weekend, including a couple of shots of him with Dolly. Thanks, Christian!

Library Encouragement
Tennessee's The Jackson Sun on Tuesday plugged Dolly's Imagination Library literacy program, encouraging readers to consider a Christmas donation to the local chapter to help bring the love of reading to the community's children. Read it here.

Dec. 20:
'Days' Hitting Across The Pond In Feb.
Dolly's covers collection, Those Were The Days, will finally be released in Europe next year, Dollymania has learned. Officials at Sugar Hill Records confirm that EMI has picked up the title for release in the U.K. on Feb. 20. You may recall that the disc had originally been scheduled for an Oct. 10 release by Sanctuary Records, but, as was first reported here, the label backed out of those plans about a month before the CD was to come out. Thanks, Joe, for the heads-up!

'Reba' Taping Could Be Next Month
It isn't confirmed yet, but Dolly's next guest shot on the WB's Reba could be sooner than we thought. She mentioned on CMT's Insider in an interview over the weekend that producers were working on a script to have her return as Realtor Dolly Majors, the role she played earlier this year. I'm told that they are hoping to have everything in place for her to do the show while she's spending about a month in Los Angeles in January. No word yet on the date they're aiming to shoot, but the show is scheduled to tape on Jan. 10 and 17. (Get tickets here.) Thanks!

'Going To The Chapel'
What song do you play at your ceremony if you're the first lesbian couple to wed legally in the U.K.? Why, Dolly's "Touch Your Woman," of course! Shannon Sickels and Gráinne Close made history Monday by becoming the first same-sex couple to register their partnership under Great Britain's new civil partnership law, which extends to gays and lesbians the same rights and privileges as marriage. The brides exchanged vows and rings at a 20-minute ceremony at City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Monday as Dolly's classic song played in the background. Read more about the story from London's The Guardian here.

Dec. 19:
Down A Tad Down Under
Dolly's covers disc, Those Were The Days, slips three on the Australian country albums chart this week, coming in at No. 12 in its 10th chart week, it was announced Sunday.

Paper Names Dolly Greatest East Tennessean
The editors of The Knoxville News-Sentinel over the weekend named Dolly the greatest citizen ever in the history of East Tennessee. The newspaper for about a month collected suggestions of the region's greatest historical figures, and then editors made their selections and produced the list of the "Top 10 East Tennesseans." Citing her world-renowned celebrity, accomplishments in film and music, business successes in Pigeon Forge with Dollywood and the Dixie Stampede and her philanthropic efforts both in the area and nationwide, the paper named her No. 1 on the list. She was followed at No. 2 by World War I hero Sgt. Alvin C. York, immortalized by Gary Cooper in the film Sergeant York, and No. 3 by frontier legend Davy Crockett. Others on the list included President Andrew Johnson, University of Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, first Republic of Texas President Sam Houston and Roots author Alex Haley. Read about all 10 figures here.

'Love' Dolly Documentary Reviewed
Thanks to the filmmakers sending a screening copy, Dollymania is pleased to offer the first published review of the Dolly fan documentary film, For The Love Of Dolly, which it was first noted here previously will premiere in March at the Miami International Film Festival. Read the review on a new page dedicated to the project here! Thanks!

'When We're Gone'
Well, "The Vintage Tour" is no more, with Dolly having wrapped up her four-month trek on the road Friday night in Myrtle Beach, S.C. I'm told the set list was the same as the Charlotte show, with just one encore, "Imagine." The concert started late, which appeared to be due to a curtain malfunction, but otherwise the crowd loved the performance. She also repeated that this would be her last concert for a while, as she plans to take time off the road to complete her Broadway shows, finish her children's book and probably record a children's album. And thanks to Solomon for sending in a few more shots from Thursday's concert in Charlotte. See them here!

CMT Laughs, 'Reba' News
Dolly was her usual effervescent self with Katie Cook on CMT's Insider over the weekend, discussing the new CD, celebrities who speak out about politics, filming the video for "Imagine" and more backstage from her concert in Birmingham, Ala., earlier this month. She was shown performing a few lines in concert from "Imagine," and she revealed that the producers of Reba have invited her to return for another episode next year, so we'll probably see her on the WB sitcom as Dolly Majors once more next season. In a second segment which aired later in the program, she shared some of her stage secrets, including that she keeps her mic pack (which routes the signal from her wireless headset microphone to the sound system) stuffed underneath her wig, and she joked that when she has on short dresses she has to put on a pair of pantaloons underneath or the front row "will see the box office." Cook added that a blooper of her accidentally running into Dolly and nearly knocking her into a mirror backstage will air on the year-end recap episode of Insider on Dec. 31. This week's episode repeats Monday at 1:30 p.m. and is also scheduled to air Dec. 26 at 1:30 p.m. (since there won't be a new show next weekend).

Holiday Tunes On RFD
Although it doesn't offer much detail on the show such as when it originally aired or what its original title was, cable and satelite network RFD-TV has announced that next weekend will feature a Country Christmas Special with footage of Porter & Dolly, Loretta Lynn, the Wilburn Brothers, Del Reeves, Jim Ed Brown and Santa Claus performing holiday tunes in place of its usual archival weekly airings of The Porter Wagoner Show and Jimmy Sturr Show. It premieres on the channel at 7 p.m. Eastern Friday with a repeat at 3 a.m. Saturday. I suspect there will also be a Sunday airing and possibly Monday, too, so be sure to check the TV listings at the left-hand side of this page for more information when that is announced.

Dec. 17:
Last Night Of The Tour
Dolly's four-month "Vintage Tour" was to come to a close Friday night in Myrtle Beach, S.C. I'm told her show Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., was stunning, despite slow ticket sales and bad weather. The sections of the venue which had been opened for sale at the concert appeared to be about 60 percent full. Although she did "These Old Bones," she removed "PMS Blues," "Blowin' In the Wind" and "Turn, Turn, Turn" from the set list, offering only one encore number, "Imagine." The crowd was reported as energetic and cheered her on. Special thanks to Solomon for sending in some shots from the show that have been posted here, the 100th individual Dollymania gallery from the tour! And a review from The Charlotte Observer is available here. The reviewer noted she spoke from the stage of having trouble getting her tour bus to town in the ice and was scared she wouldn't make it for the show. She was described as "walking, talking, loveable doll." Image at left courtesy Solomon Willis.

Academy Voters Get More Reasons To Like Dolly
The race for the Oscars just got a little better for Dolly, with the elimination of three of her Golden Globe competitors from Academy Award consideration. For the first time, the Academy issued this week a list of all eligible songs for next year's awards. While Golden Globe nominees "Travelin' Thru" by Dolly from Transamerica and "There's Nothing Like A Show On Broadway" by Mel Brooks from The Producers made the cut, "A Love That Will Never Grow Old" from Brokeback Mountain, "Christmas in Love" from Christmas in Love and "Wunderkind" from The Chronicles of Narnia were missing. According to Variety, the Gustavo Santaolalla and Bernie Taupin-penned track from Brokeback Mountain, performed by Dolly pal Emmylou Harris, was deemed ineligible because the rules require a "clearly audible, intelligible and substantive rendition of both lyric and melody," but that track plays for only a few seconds on the radio and is partially obscured by dialogue. For "Wunderkind," written and performed by Alanis Morissette, the problem was that the song doesn't appear in the film itself or at the start of the film's closing credits, and it must be in one or the other for consideration. The publication didn't state why "Christmas in Love" was knocked out. Many award watchers had picked the Brokeback Mountain song as a primary front-runner for the category, and Morisette's number was also a strong contender. Now, it appears it could come down to Dolly versus Brooks for the title come Academy Award time, regardless of what happens at the Globes. Oscar nominees will be announced Jan. 31. Meanwhile, you may now reserve your copy of the soundtrack, coming out Feb. 7, here.

Creeping Up The Charts
There's a bit of minor chart action to note this week. Dolly's "Both Sides Now" from Those Were The Days gains six spots to No. 16 on the Indie World Country independent labels singles chart, and "When I Get Where I'm Going" with Brad Paisley inches up one to No. 20 on the Roughstock Country Chart. In addition, while Billboard has not updated its country singles sales charts in three weeks, its year-end charts have come out. And while Dolly doesn't have an entry on there by herself anywhere, her cover of "Viva Las Vegas" with The Grascals lands at No. 10 for the year for country singles sales.

Another Review
I'm told Dolly's covers collection, Those Were The Days, garners a review in the current issue of Paste magazine. The reviewer gives it three-and-a-half stars, and its track "The Cruel War" also appears on that edition's attached sampler CD. Thanks!

That's One Huge 'Git-ar'
Some shots came out this week of Dolly autographing "her" guitar in Nashville's GuitarTown project, which features 10-foot guitar statues throughout town. Dolly's, adorned with butterflies and designed by artist Katherine Falk, is located in front of the BMI offices. Two shots of her with the guitar, named "Flutter," were posted earlier this week on the project's official Web site here, and both of those are repeated with a third image added in an online story from Modern Guitars Magazine posted here Friday. The sculptures will be auctioned for charity in Nashville Feb. 23 at the BMI office.

TV Reminder
Don't forget to catch Dolly's interview on CMT's Insider this weekend, premiering at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Saturday and repeating throughout the weekend.

Dec. 16:
'Going' Holds Steady On Country Chart
Results were a little mixed on the Christmas Eve Billboard singles charts released Thursday for "When I Get Where I'm Going" by Dolly and Brad Paisley. The song remains steady at No. 16 in its 12th week on the country singles chart but slips one digit to No. 72 for its fourth week on the pop singles tally, which combines airplay and singles sales. In the airplay-only version of the chart, it gains two spots to No. 67 pop. Up in Canada, the tune rises nine places to No. 62 pop in its fifth week up north.

CD Still Selling According To Album Charts
Entering its ninth chart week, Dolly's covers collection Those Were The Days is almost steady in the Dec. 24 Billboard charts, it was announced Thursday. Although it inches down one to No. 41 country, the CD rises one to No. 10 on the independent labels albums chart. Up north, Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers slides one notch to No. 14 in its sixth week this year on the Canadian country albums. Martina McBride's newly-platinum Timeless, featuring Dolly harmony on "I Still Miss Someone," loses two to No. 8 country and eight to No. 28 pop and comprehensive in its eighth chart week. The disc remains steady at No. 5 country in Canada, where it loses six spots to No. 44 pop. Following the premiere of his video for "When I Get Where I'm Going" with Dolly, Brad Paisley's Time Well Wasted rises two to No. 15 country, 13 to No. 62 pop and 24 spaces to No. 70 comprehensive in its 17th week. The CD loses two to No. 36 Canadian country. George Jones's Hits I Missed . . . And One I Didn't, with Dolly on "The Blues Man," increases one to No. 49 country in its 13th week and four to No. 17 independent. Bettye LaVette's I've Got My Own Hell To Raise, with a cover of "Little Sparrow," remains steady at No. 7 in its 11th week on the blues albums chart. Rhonda Vincent's Ragin' Live, featuring her "Jolene" cover, falls three to No. 14 in its 40th week on the bluegrass albums chart. Selah's Rose Of Bethlehem, featuring Dolly on "Once Upon A Christmas," moves up four to No. 14 in its sixth week on this year's holiday music albums chart. Thomas Kinkade's Country Christmas, which includes "Hard Candy Christmas," dips four to No. 30 in its third week on the independent labels albums chart and six to No. 62 country in its fourth week there. American Idol winner Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts remains at one to No. 1 country but slips two to No. 5 pop with fourth-week sales of 174,000, while Kenny Chesney's The Road and the Radio remains steady at No. 2 country and is down two to No. 6 pop with fifth-week sales of 168,000. The American Idol finalists' cover of the former Dolly and Julio Iglesias duet "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" remains steady at No. 28 on the pop singles sales chart in its 35th week.

More Globes Talk This Week
The nominations of Dolly's song "Travelin' Thru" from Transamerica and "A Love That Will Never Grow Old" (performed by pal Emmylou Harris) from Brokeback Mountain for Golden Globes this week were the subject of The Tennessean celebrities columnist Brad Schmidt's entry in Thursday's paper. Read it here.

Dolly On Best Of Year List
Two Dolly tracks made a list of the 205 best songs of the year to download compiled by the critics at the "Pulse" section of The New York Post. The list, which states it is presented in no particular order, includes both Dolly's cover of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind" from Those Were The Days, saying "her vocals give goosebumps," as well as R&B diva Bettye Lavette's "dark, brooding" cover of Dolly's own "Little Sparrow" from I've Got My Own Hell To Raise. See the full list on Yahoo here.

Tour's Last Shout Friday
No word yet on whether the ice storm on the East Coast impacted Dolly's concert Thursday night in Charlotte, but tickets remained available on the floor through the afternoon on Thursday. Things should be thawed out by "The Vintage Tour's" closing performance Friday in Myrtle Beach, S.C., tickets for which are still available here.

Library Success Out West
Dolly's Imagination Library literacy program's Yakima, Wash., chapter is profiled on Kennewick television station KNDO here this week.

Dollywood Reminder
Don't forget this weekend is the last chance to catch the guest performers in Dollywood's International Sounds Of Christmas concert series. Canada's Vinok Worldance performed at the park Thursday and will offer shows through Sunday as the final act in the series. The park's overall Smoky Mountain Christmas festival, however, continues through this year's closing on Dec. 30.

Dec. 15:
Dolly Thrilled At Globes Nomination
Dolly was still chatting it up this week in reaction to her Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song for "Travelin' Thru" from the film Transamerica. She told The New York Daily News here that she hopes the song's Christian imagery brings to the film some who may not otherwise have an interest in seeing a movie about a male-to-female transsexual. She added that having a female-to-male transsexual friend who works for her helped inspire the tune. And she told The Hollywood Reporter (in a story available from Backstage.com here) that she was so moved by the film she knew she had to write a song for it, adding that she isn't too hard to get as a composer for indie films. "Oh, I'm not picky, I just have to like the story," she told the publication, adding it's such an honor to be nominated.

Paisley Tune Still Doing Well On R&R Charts
Things are a bit mixed this week for Brad Paisley's tune with Dolly, "When I Get Where I'm Going" from his CD Time Well Wasted. The song inches down one to No. 16 on the Radio & Records magazine U.S. country singles chart, down from its No. 15 peak, while it gains five spots on the Canadian country tally to reach No. 15 there. Also on the magazine's adult contemporary charts, "Baby It's Cold Outside" by Dolly and Rod Stewart from his Stardust . . . The Great American Songbook: Volume III, makes its second annual appearance, debuting for this year at No. 26 American and No. 17 Canadian.

Some Martina Bling-Bling
Martina McBride's covers collection, Timeless, featuring Dolly providing harmonies on her version of the Johnny Cash classic "I Still Miss Someone," has passed the million-mark to be certified as platinum, it was announced this week.

Last Chance For Charlotte
Floor seats still remained available here Wednesday night for Dolly's Thursday concert in Charlotte, N.C., and general admission seats are still for sale for Friday's tour closer in Myrtle Beach, S.C., here. The weather, however, may not cooperate in North Carolina. Charlotte was expecting "significant" ice accumulations Wednesday night and heavy rain mixed with freezing rain Thursday.

Library Notes
Wise County, Va., is celebrating a unique milestone in its participation in Dolly's Imagination Library literacy program, according to a story here in The Coalfield Progress. Most communities that sign up for the project find they have registered only about 20 percent of eligible children in its first year, but here the community has seen roughly half of all kids participate in just seven months.

Kudos To The Grascals
Frequent Dolly collaborators and opening act The Grascals are up for several Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America Awards, it was announced this week. The fan-voted awards garnered the group seven nominations (including three for individual band members), tying them with Rhonda Vincent & The Rage for the most nods this year. Among the collections honored, their debut CD The Grascals, which features Dolly singing on "Viva Las Vegas," is up for Bluegrass Album of the Year, facing off against five other discs, including Vincent's Ragin' Live, which includes a cover of Dolly's "Jolene." Winners will be announced in Nashville in February.

Dec. 14:
How 'Bout 'Dem Golden Globes!
Dolly snagged her fifth career Golden Globe nomination Tuesday, when nods for the 63rd annual awards ceremony were revealed from the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. Her original song "Travelin' Thru" from the film Transamerica was nominated for Best Original Song against "A Love That Will Never Grow Old" by Gustavo Santaolalla and Bernie Taupin (performed by Emmylou Harris) from Brokeback Mountain, "Christmas In Love" by Tony Renis and Marva Jan Marrow (performed by Renee Olstead) from Christmas In Love, "There's Nothing Like A Show On Broadway" by Mel Brooks (performed by Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick) from The Producers and "Wunderkind" by Alanis Morissette from The Chronicles of Narnia. In a statement released to the Associated Press, Dolly said: "What a great honor to be nominated for a Golden Globe Award for my song 'Travelin' Thru' from the wonderful, touching film 'Transamerica.' After all my years in show business, I'm still humbled and overjoyed when I am recognized for my work." Felicity Huffman, the lead actress in Transamerica, was also nominated for Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture - Drama. Dolly and Huffman were also nominated over the weekend for the same honors at the Critics Choice Awards. Although she has never won, Dolly previously was nominated for Golden Globe honors for Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy, Best Song and Best New Film Star for 9 To 5 and Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy for The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. ("The Day I Fall In Love," which she performed with James Ingram from the film Beethoven's 2nd, was nominated for Best Song in 1994, but since the honor is for the songwriter, not performer, it doesn't count toward Dolly's total.) Although only a small group of reporters, about 90 of them, vote on the Globes, they are considered a very good predictor of Oscar wins in most years. Presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the awards will be handed out live on NBC on Jan. 16. Dolly is expected to also get an Academy Award nomination for the song, which would be her second Oscar nod. Those nominations will come out Jan. 31, with winners announced March 5.

More Shots From Dallas
Reader Bradlie got to go backstage and meet Dolly before her Dallas show earlier this month and sent in some shots for you all to see. Take a look in the Dallas section here! Thanks! "The Vintage Tour" concludes this week with shows in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday and Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Friday. Floor seats still remain available here in Charlotte, with general admission tickets for sale here in Myrtle Beach.

Lawyer Pays For Dolly Party
What do you do to celebrate when you're the attorney who just got a $250 million judgment for your client against a drug manufacturer? Well, if you're Houston lawyer Mark Lanier, you shell out the big bucks to hire Dolly for your Christmas party. I had been told that Dolly was over in Texas this week for a private party, and the Associated Press on Tuesday confirmed that the party in question was a holiday affair for Lanier, who recently landed the huge judgment against the maker of Vioxx. No word on the price tag for Dolly's appearance.

European Update
The European CMAs' updated charts came out Tuesday, and Dolly's duet on "The Blues Man" with George Jones from his covers collection Hits I Missed . . . And One I Didn't enters the top 20 country singles airplay lists in Spain and Denmark at Nos. 9 and 20, respectively. Her take on "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" with Roy Rivers, a former No. 1 overseas, drops out of the top 20 in France, down form No. 19, and Holland, down from No. 9. "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)" with the Bellamy Brothers from their CD Angels & Outlaws, Vol. 1 falls out of the top 20 in Denmark, down from No. 4.

Dec. 13:
'Going' To GAC
Country music cable network Great American Country has revealed it will have its premiere of Brad Paisley's video for "When I Get Where I'm Going," his duet with Dolly from Time Well Wasted, on Tuesday. The video will air at around 6:22 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday on GAC, with additional showings during the day around 10:11 a.m., 1:46 p.m. and 4:14 p.m. The moving video, which premiered on CMT last week (see what CMT.com columnist Hazel Smith had to say about it Monday here), features celebrities and members of Paisley's family with photos of deceased loved ones, including Dolly with her grandfather. (And if you're watching GAC on Tuesday, also check out Dolly's "Imagine" video just before 11:30 a.m.!)

Dolly On CMT
I'm told that on CMT's Insider program over the weekend, host Katie Cook announced on the air that next week's episode will feature an interview with Dolly discussing her clothes, shoes and how she gets ready for a concert. The show premieres at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Saturday and repeats throughout the weekend. Thanks, Rod!

Charlotte Watch
Area television station WSOC plugged Dolly's concert in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday with a listing available here. Tickets at the back of the floor remain for sale here for the show, which will be followed Friday night with "The Vintage Tour's" closer in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (tickets for that one here).

'Christmas In Dixie'
The Christmas celebrations at Dollywood were profiled in Monday's Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Take a read here, and don't forget to catch Canada's Vinock Worldance Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the park to conclude its International Sounds of Christmas concert series. The Smoky Mountain Christmas festival, however, continues through the park's seasonal closing Dec. 30.

Golf Cart Diva
See a shot of Dolly backstage on her golf cart at this fall's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music festival in San Francisco from SFist here. The online magazine dedicated to the city this week named the festival the year's Best Musical Event.

Library News
Dolly's Imagination Library is one step closer to statewide availability in her home of Tennessee, with Hardeman County signing up this week as the 83rd of the state's 95 counties to participate in the national literacy program. Read more from The Jackson Sun here.

Dec. 12:
'Travelin' For An Award
Dolly is up for Best Song at the 11th annual Critics Choice Awards for her tune "Travelin' Thru" from the film Transamerica. Nominations for the honors, considered one of the predictors of the Oscars, were announced Sunday. Dolly's composition faces off against "Hustle & Flow" performed by Terrence Howard in Hustle & Flow, "A Love that Will Never Grow Old" by Emmylou Harris in Brokeback Mountain (the film with the most nominations this year, eight), "Same In Any Language" by I Nine in Elizabethtown and "Seasons of Love" by Tracie Thoms, Jessie L. Martin and cast in Rent. (Unlike the Academy Awards, where only new songs written specifically for movies are eligible, the CCA allows for older songs included in films to be nominated as well -- hence the track from the stage musical Rent, which is ineligible for Oscar consideration.) Felicity Huffman, the star of Transamerica, also garnered the film's other nomination, for Best Actress. Winners will be announced in a ceremony on Jan. 9 which will air live on the WB with host Dennis Miller.

Doing Better Down Under
Dolly's covers disc, Those Were The Days, moves up a little on the Australian country albums chart this week, gaining three places to No. 9 in its ninth chart week, it was announced Sunday.

Listen To 'Reader's' Interview
Reader's Digest has posted the audio from Dolly's interview with the magazine for its January issue. It runs 54 minutes long and contains extended answers to the questions already posted in the final version of the interview (originally linked here a little over a week ago) as well as several additional questions and answers which didn't make the published edition. Take a listen here.

Tour Nearing End
I'm told Dolly's two sold-out shows over the weekend in Charenton, La., went off without a hitch, although the crowds were described as "mostly elderly," as happens often with her casino concerts. She donned a bright lime green dress on Friday and deep purple dress on Saturday. "The Vintage Tour" is winding down, with its final shows in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday (tickets here) and Friday in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (tickets here). The Charlotte Observer over the weekend profiled opening act The Grascals in a story here.

Library Development
The Shelbyville Times-Gazette in Tennessee over the weekend reported on new plans to merge Dolly's Imagination Library literacy program with the state's efforts to combat adult illiteracy. Education officials will help teach adult basic reading skills through the application process by which parents sign up their children for the program's free books. Read more here.

Get Your Own Pants
You may recall seeing an artist on this site a while back with his one-of-a-kind Dolly pants he had emblazoned with her image. Well, they're not one-of-a-kind any longer, as artist Paul Richmond is opening up his own pants design store via eBay and offering two pairs of his Dolly pants as his first product. Visit here to take a gander.

Dec. 10:
Tallahassee Baby, More From Little Rock
I'm told Dolly stunned the crowd with her awesome concert in Tallahassee Thursday night, putting on one of the best shows of her well-received "Vintage Tour." Special thanks to James for sending in several shots from the event. You may see them here. Also, thanks to Sheila for forwarding a couple of images from backstage with Dolly at her Little Rock date which have been added to that section of the site here. The tour has two sold-out engagements in Charenton, La., Friday and Saturday night, but floor seats remain available here for Thursday's show in Charlotte, N.C., and general admission tickets are still for sale here for the tour wrap-up performance in Myrtle Beach, S.C., next Friday. One big Dolly fan in St. Martinville, La., was profiled in The Daily Iberian Friday as a plug for the shows this weekend. Read the cute story here. And Dolly's multi-faceted career is highlighted in a piece from The Charlotte Observer here in advance of that stop next week. Image at left courtesy James Thompson and used with permission.

A Few Other Charts
Dolly tracks continue to gain some ground on a few of the minor charts. "Both Sides Now" from Those Were The Days rises 13 spots to No. 22 on the Indie World Country independent labels singles chart, while "When I Get Where I'm Going" with Brad Paisley is up two to No. 12 on the Power Source Christian country chart and is lifted two to No. 21 on the Roughstock Country Chart as well.

Another Glowing Recommendation For 'Days'
Gamers site IGN praised Dolly's covers collection in its holiday shopping guide from its Film Force online publication. Take a read here.

Tribute On Tap
Chicagoland fans will want to mark their calendars for March 10, when the Old Town School of Folk Music presents a tribute to Dolly and Loretta Lynn in Lincoln Square. Thanks, Wiley!

Latest Library News
More great Imagination Library publicity from around the region made the papers on Friday. The Toccoa Record in Stephens County, Ga., profiled a group of middle school students who raised nearly $2,000 in less than a month for their local chapter of Dolly's literacy program. Read it here. The Lebanon Daily Record in Missouri profiled the program there, which was one of the first to join up after Dolly expanded it nationally, in a story published here. And the project's chapter in Cleveland County, N.C., recently received a $30,000 grant to support its efforts there, The Shelby Star reported here.

Dec. 9:
'Going' Still Rides High
Brad Paisley's song with Dolly, "When I Get Where I'm Going," is getting closer and closer to the top 10! The tune gains another two notches to No. 16 in the Dec. 17 Billboard country singles chart, its 11th chart week, it was announced Thursday. The song also rises 10 spots to No. 71 in its third week on the Hot 100 pop charts (which combine national airplay on all radio stations and single sales) and debuts at No. 69 on the Hot 100 airplay only tally. In Canada, it jumps a dozen points on the pop singles chart to reach No. 78 in its fourth week.

Paisley Video Premieres
The song is almost certain to see increased airplay after Brad Paisley's very emotional and moving video for "When I Get Where I'm Going" premiered on CMT.com Thursday morning and on television near the end of the network's Top Twenty Countdown Thursday afternoon. This one had to have left many, many faces wet with tears after seeing it. Filmed on George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch in California, Paisley sings in a field and under a tree as several other people are shown in their homes holding photographs of deceased loved ones, including Michael Reagan with his father, President Ronald Reagan, Teresa Earnhardt before a painting of the late Dale Sr., and John Carter Cash with an image of his parents, Johnny and June Carter Cash. Dolly is shown as the final guest in the video, holding an image of her late grandfather, the Rev. Jake Owens, about whom she wrote the song "Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man." In one of the video's most touching moments, she sullenly kisses her hand and then lovingly touches the face of the photo with her hand. Next, Paisley is shown holding a picture of his aunt, whose death due to cancer inspired him to record the song. The video closes with a home movie of his own late grandfather. You may watch it online here.

'On The Road Again'
Dolly's "Vintage Tour" headed over to Tallahassee, Fla., Thursday night, although officials at the arena said that day that the show had not sold out and they didn't know why Ticketmaster had stopped selling tickets the previous day (they were still available via telephone directly from the venue box office). The show continues with its sold-out engagements Friday and Saturday in Charenton, La., then on to Charlotte, N.C., next Thursday (tickets here) and the final night of the tour, Dec. 16 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (tickets here).

'Days' Improves On The Charts
Dolly's Those Were The Days sees a slight bump in sales on the Dec. 17 Billboard charts, it was announced Thursday. In its eighth chart week, the new disc gains six spaces to No. 40 country and four notches to No. 11 on the independent labels albums chart. In Canada, Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers increases three to a new peak for this year at No. 13 in its fifth week this year on the country albums list up north. Martina McBride's Timeless, with Dolly on "I Still Miss Someone," increases two to No. 6 country and three to No. 20 pop and comprehensive in its seventh chart week. Her set falls out of the 25-position Internet sales chart, down from No. 17 for the previous week. In Canada, it inches down one to No. 5 country and three to No. 38 pop. Paisley's Time Well Wasted, featuring the Dolly duet "When I Get Where I'm Going," loses one to No. 17 country, four to No. 75 pop and 10 spaces to No. 94 comprehensive in its 16th week. The CD dips two to No. 34 Canadian country. George Jones's Hits I Missed . . . And One I Didn't, with Dolly on "The Blues Man," creeps up three to No. 50 country in its 12th week and three to No. 21 independent. Bettye LaVette's I've Got My Own Hell To Raise, including her take on "Little Sparrow," remains steady at No. 7 in its 10th week on the blues albums chart. Rhonda Vincent's Ragin' Live, with a "Jolene" cover, remains steady at No. 11 in its 39th week on the bluegrass albums chart. Selah's Rose Of Bethlehem, with Dolly on "Once Upon A Christmas," drops 10 places to No. 18 in its fifth week on this year's holiday music albums chart. Thomas Kinkade's Country Christmas, featuring "Hard Candy Christmas," shoots up 15 to No. 26 in its second week on the independent labels albums chart and is up a dozen to No. 56 country in its third week there. American Idol winner Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts regains one to No. 1 country and four to No. 3 pop with third-week sales of 154,000, while Kenny Chesney's The Road and the Radio slides down one No. 2 country and two to No. 4 pop with fourth-week sales of 138,000. The American Idol finalists' cover of the former Dolly and Julio Iglesias duet "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" inches up one to No. 28 on the pop singles sales chart in its 34th week. For the third week in a row, the magazine did not update its country singles sales chart, so there's no word on the status of "Viva Las Vegas" by Dolly with The Grascals. It had been No. 4 in its 36th chart week three weeks ago.

No Grammys For Dolly
Nominations were announced Thursday morning for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, and, unfortunately, Dolly did not receive any. This marks the first time she did not receive a personal nomination in seven years, a time period during which she has won three of her seven career Grammy Awards. However, a few projects involving her got the nod. Brad Paisley's Time Well Wasted, which features their duet "When I Get Where I'm Going" and her appearance on the comedy piece "Cornography," is up for Best Country Album against Faith Hill's Fireflies, Alison Krauss and Union Station's Lonely Runs Both Ways, Gretchen Wilson's All Jacked Up and Trisha Yearwood's Jasper County. Also, her opening act from last year's tour and much of this year's tour, The Grascals, who also play on most of the tracks on her current CD, earned their first Grammy nomination. The band is up for Best Bluegrass Album for The Grascals, which features Dolly singing on "Viva Las Vegas." It faces off against Marbletown by Blue Highway, Cherryholmes by Cherryholmes, The Company We Keep by The Del McCoury Band and Ragin' Live by Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, who cover Dolly's "Jolene" on the disc.

'GMA' Charity Auction Passes $6K
The price for Dolly's autographed dulcimer to benefit the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts of the Salvation Army in Pass Christian, Miss., via Good Morning America shot up dramatically on its final day on auction at eBay, ending Thursday with a final price of $6,411 to be the sixth-biggest item from the auction. The 38 lots offered raised nearly $100,000 total for the project. And two autographed copies of her CD Those Were The Days to benefit a domestic violence charity in California sold in a different auction for $61.

Remembering Lennon
With Thursday being the 25th anniversary of the death of John Lennon, mentions were several places that Dolly's current solo single is a cover of his classic "Imagine." Read one such story, from the New York Daily News, here, which includes a quote from her press release on the video. And if you didn't read it when originally linked here a couple of weeks ago, the Associated Press story which features her comments on where she was the night Lennon was shot also re-appeared several places this week. Take a look at it here.

Library News
Dolly's Imagination Library literacy program was in a couple of papers Thursday. Tennessee's Shelbyville Times-Gazette featured an editorial endorsing the project in its community here and a story about a presentation on the program here. And The Daily Home in Talladega, Ala., reported here about the expansion of the program in its community.

Dec. 8:
Paisley Duet Still Moving Up The Charts
Things are still "going" very well for "When I Get Where I'm Going," Dolly's single with Brad Paisley from his current disc, Time Well Wasted. The spiritual-infused number rises three more spots to come in at No. 15 on the Radio & Records magazine U.S. country singles chart, and on the publication's Canadian country list, it gains four to No. 20. Christian country music magazine Power Source has the tune at No. 14 on its singles chart, and, as was previously reported here, the video (which features a brief Dolly appearance) premieres Thursday on CMT's Top Twenty Countdown.

Dolly Rocks Little Rock
Fans who wrote in Wednesday say Dolly lived up to the critical acclaim which her "Vintage Tour" has seen this fall. They used phrases such as she was "perfect in every way," "sassy, funny, gorgeous and full of laughter" and, quite simply, "great!" I'm expecting some photos in coming days which will be posted for you to enjoy. Thanks to the audience members who wrote in! The city's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Wednesday also lauded the show, calling it "a memorable performance loaded with heart, great songs and her unmistakable, and often self-targeted, wit." The publication noted the "tone of bittersweet poignancy" which her song selections and her voice "imbued with an experiential knowing and heartfelt compassion" gave the evening. Read the full review here (although you have to be a subscriber to access it).

Overseas Chart Movement
The European CMAs released their updated charts on Wednesday, and Dolly's duet with Roy Rivers on "Thank God I'm A Country Boy," re-enters the top 20 country airplay singles chart in France at No. 19 and Holland at No. 9. Her recording of "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)" with the Bellamy Brothers from their collection Angels & Outlaws, Vol. 1 falls out of the top 20 in Spain, down from No. 9 in the previous chart, but enters the chart in Denmark at No. 4. "The Blues Man" with George Jones from his covers album, Hits I Missed . . . And One I Didn't, falls out of the top 20 in France, down from No. 19. In the U.K., for some reason her first U.S. No. 1, 1970's "Joshua," is getting some airtime and comes in at No. 5 on that nation's country singles airplay tally.

Auction Reminders
Dolly's two current charity auctions on eBay conclude on Thursday. The two autographed copies of Those Were The Days to benefit a California organization assisting the victims of domestic violence ends here at 9 a.m. Eastern Thursday. As of Wednesday evening, bids stood at $51. And the auction of an autographed dulcimer and photo to benefit the Hurricane Katrina efforts in Pass Christian, Miss., through a partnership of Good Morning America and the Salvation Army ends at 5:35 p.m. Eastern Thursday here. As of Wednesday evening, bids for that one had reached $1,550. Out of the nearly 40 items being auctioned for the project, Dolly's is currently the eighth most expensive.

It's Grammy Time!
Nominations for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards will be announced in New York Thursday. Unfortunately, Dolly's Those Were The Days was released after the Sept. 30 cut-off for eligibility, so it cannot be considered for any awards until the 49th annual awards to be handed out in 2007. However, it's possible that some of her collaborations released during the period of eligibility -- such as "The Blues Man" with George Jones, "When I Get Where I'm Going" with Brad Paisley and "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Rod Stewart -- could get nods. Winners will be revealed Feb. 8.

Library Update
The Tennessean and its Dickson Herald on Wednesday profiled last weekend's kick-off in Dickson County for Dolly's Imagination Library literacy program. It is the 82nd of the state's 95 counties to sign up for the national project. Read more here.

Get Those Contest Entries In!
Don't forget that Sugar Hill Records' contest to win a new Dolly-autographed DG5 Acoustic guitar along with a signed copy of her new CD (along with several other prizes) ends Thursday. Click here to enter.

Dec. 7:
Dolly Doc Premieres In March
The long-awaited Dolly fan documentary For The Love Of Dolly has been completed and accepted in next year's Miami International Film Festival, Dollymania is pleased to announce. Currently, the Miami showing is expected to be the film's public premiere, and it has been submitted for possible showing at additional film festivals around the world later in the year. The Miami festival runs from March 3 through 12, but the date of each presented film's actual showing has yet to be revealed. Last year's festival brought more than 60,000 attendees over the 10-day event. The film's director, Tai Uhlmann, has asked that the site pass along the following letter to Dolly's fans about the project:

Dear Dolly Fans,
          I am writing to let you know that we have finished our movie "For The Love of Dolly" and want to take this opportunity to personally thank each and every one of you who took the time to speak with us and share your wonderful Dolly stories.
          Through our travels and visits to Dollywood we experienced a world filled with amazing people such as yourselves all carrying with you a deep and resounding love for Dolly Parton. We have all been affected by this love and wanted to share it with the world. In order to achieve that feeling, the film focuses on only a few fans but it is through the generosity of all of the fans we met that this movie was made. Each of you contributed to the documentary and we are eternally grateful.
          "For the Love Of Dolly" will have its big premiere in Miami, Florida at the Miami International Film Festival which takes place March 3-12. Please check the website for exact dates and times (http://www.miamifilmfestival.com).
          We are thrilled with the film and are looking forward to sharing it with all of you so please come and see it with us and tell everyone you know. We will also keep you updated on all future screenings.
          Thank you all so much, it couldn't have happened without you.
Tai Uhlmann
Director

Latest Shots From The Road
Special thanks to Mark for sending in some additional shots from Dolly's Birmingham concert over the weekend (see them in that section here) and Eljyn for sending in a few from her recent Clearwater, Fla., show (see those here). "The Vintage Tour" played Little Rock Tuesday night and moves to Tallahassee on Thursday (tickets here).

Dollywood Happenings
Lots of holiday cheer invades Dollywood in coming days, with the next installment of the park's International Sounds of Christmas concert series as part of its annual Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. Ireland's "A Celtic Yuletide" starring former Riverdance star Michael Londra performs several times daily in the Showstreet Palace Theatre Thursday through Sunday. Rounding out the series is Canada's Vinok Worldance Dec. 15-18. And for doll collectors, this weekend brings a double treat, as Previous Moments President Richard Hay and dollmaker Linda Rick will visit the park's Vintage Rose Shop on Saturday for a signing, and Christian Ulbricht artist Hartmuth Walther stops by Friday through Sunday to demonstrate nutcracker and smoker creation. A Smoky Mountain Christmas continues through the park's 2005 season closing on Dec. 30.

Dec. 6:
Dolly: Sorry 'Coat' Got Skipped
Dolly asked that the following be passed on to her fans:
To My Fans at the Birmingham Concert,
I just wanted to apologize to all of you for not singing "Coat of Many Colors" in my show on Saturday night. I got so caught up in singing "These Old Bones" that I accidentally skipped over it. Never in a million years would I intentionally leave "Coat Of Many Colors" out of a show. It is my favorite song and the first time I have not sung it on stage since I wrote it. Hope you weren't too disappointed.
Love, Dolly

Shots From Birmingham
A big thank you (and congratulations) to my friends Justin and Amber, both of whom got to meet Dolly at her Birmingham concert this weekend and sent in pics from backstage to share with everyone else! View them in galleries here! (And thanks to Robby for sending in a couple of shots of Dolly's opening act, The Grascals, from Dallas. View them in those galleries here!) Image at left courtesy Justin Davis. Ain't that just too cute!

New Dolly Cover Coming
CMT.com reported Monday that Pinmonkey's new CD, Big Shiny Cars, to drop March 7 on EMI imprint Back Porch Records, will include the band's second Dolly cover. While the title of the song has not been revealed, I suspect it to be "Down," which I understand they have been performing in concert for about a year. On the band's major label debut, 2002's Pinmonkey, they covered Dolly's "Falling Out Of Love With Me" and even got Dolly herself to provide harmony vocals.

Dolly Bio A Year Away
Fan site Ultimate Dolly U.K. picked up this week on the coming release of a new Dolly biography, Dolly by Stephen Miller. To be released in Britain on Nov. 1 by Omnibus Press, it is by the author of Johnny Cash: The Life of an American Icon, which received mixed reviews when published a couple of years back.

Auction Reminders
Don't forget that you still have a couple of days to get your bids in on a couple of Dolly items for charity. Auctions for a pair of autographed CDs and an autographed dulcimer via eBay end on Thursday. The CD auction, here, features two autographed copies of Those Were The Days and as of Monday evening was at $45. Proceeds from that one will benefit A Woman's Place, a Merced, Calif., charity helping the victims of domestic violence. The dulcimer auction, here, includes the Dollywood-constructed instrument she signed on Good Morning America and an autographed photo. Its proceeds will go to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts of the Salvation Army in GMA co-anchor Robin Roberts's hometown of Pass Christian, Miss., and had moved up to $1,025 as of Monday night.

Defending Dolly's Library
The Tennessean and its Robertson County Times responded this week to recent criticism that state matching funds shouldn't be used to bring Dolly's Imagination Library literacy program to the state's wealthiest county, defending the program's method of providing books to all children regardless of income. Read the editorial here.

Dottie's Show Honored
The television special We Shall Behold Him: An All Star Tribute to Dottie Rambo, which includes a Dolly appearance, has been nominated for the National Religious Broadcasters Association's Best Television Special Programming award, it was announced this week. The special, hosted by Barbara Mandrell, is currently airing in syndication on several country and Christian networks, including this week on satellite and digital cable channel RFD-TV. Gospel legend Rambo and Dolly had a No. 1 Christian country single three years ago with "Stand By The River."

And Now For Something Completely Different
It's not really Dolly-related, but I thought a few of you might be interested in seeing these. Last Thursday, Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson, along with the whole Musik Mafia crew, were in your webmaster's hometown of Jackson, Miss., as a fund-raiser for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts through CMT's One Country campaign. The show was estimated to have raised $100,000. See some shots by your webmaster here, and read the couple of "Dolly moments" from the evening.

Dec. 5:
Benefit Concert Shots Posted, Dolly Hits Ala.
Dolly wowed the crowd at her second concert in Dallas, a fund-raiser for a local arts organization held Friday night. I'm told her set list was almost the same as the previous night's engagement, with the most notable difference being the return of "PMS Blues," which she had taken out of Thursday's show, and Friday's opening act featured children associated with the charity instead of The Grascals. Special thanks to Jason, who got a double-dose of Dolly on both nights, for sending in some shots from Friday. They've been added to the Dallas galleries here. Image at upper left copyright © 2005 Jason Taylor. Used with permission.

Down A Bit Down Under
Dolly's covers project, Those Were The Days, slides slightly on the Australian country albums chart this week, inching down four spots No. 12 in its eighth chart week, it was announced Sunday.

Library News
The Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, Tenn., over the weekend profiled Dolly's Imagination Library's entry into Rutherford County. Read about it here.

'Fan Antics' Change
If you visit the site's "Fan Antics" page this week, which features reader-submitted shots of themselves with Dolly, as Dolly or with their collections, you'll notice a change. The section was getting a bit large, so I've divided it up into smaller galleries.

Dec. 3:
Dolly Socks It To 'Em In Dallas
Judging from the reactions of readers who attended and wrote in to the site as well as critics in the local papers, Dolly pleased all in the crowd at Thursday night's show in Dallas. Donning a purple outfit, Dolly enchanted the audience with her songs, stories and personality. Although one newspaper cited attendance at 4,200, I'm told that the venue actually holds 6,000 and the entire theatre was full except for the far ends of the back section, which should translate to an audience of likely a little more than 5,000 instead. The Grascals opened the night and were enthusiastically welcomed by the crowd, which stood and danced even more after Dolly took to the stage. She received a standing ovation for her entrance, and when she performed "9 To 5," fans stomped to the beat so hard that the seats vibrated throughout the complex. Dolly appeared to feed off of the audience reactions, hamming it up with poses and silly faces throughout the concert. Some fans held up a large banner reading "Happy 60th You Sexy Senior," which she read from the stage as "Happy Sexy 60th." And when someone in the audience shot off a confetti blaster toward the stage near the end of the show, Dolly squealed out and started chasing some of the large colorful squares which resulted. The show was THE topic of conversation for most of the morning radio DJs in town Friday morning, with callers -- and the DJs -- in awe of Dolly's performance. The Dallas Morning News raved about the show here Friday, calling her performance "timeless," and The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram gave it an "A+" here, saying she was "a constant blur of vivaciousness and vitality." And I didn't catch it before the concert, but The Dallas Observer on Thursday previewed both that concert and her Friday charity fund-raiser in town here. Thanks to everyone who wrote in with their recaps, and special thanks to Jason and Robin for sending in their pictures from the concert. See their shots from the show, including a larger version of the image above, here. Image at upper left copyright © 2005 Jason Taylor. Used with permission.

'Going' Video To Premiere Next Week
I understand there's only one very brief shot of Dolly on camera in it, but it was announced this week that Brad Paisley has completed a video for their duet "When I Get Where I'm Going," which was being shown exclusively to members of his fan club on his Web site Thursday and Friday, although it appeared to have been removed by Friday evening. The video will get its television premiere next Thursday on CMT's Top Twenty Countdown. Even though she's not featured visually other than a few seconds, I understand her harmonies remain throughout the song, and, of course, the launching of a video to accompany the song could translate into greater airplay, propelling the single toward the top of the charts, where it's already enjoying its second week in the top 20. Thanks, Tony!

'Transamerica' Soundtrack Drops In Feb.
Dolly's new song from the film Transamerica won't be available on CD until Feb. 7, the date Nettwerk Records will release the original motion picture soundtrack, it was announced this week. The film, which opened in major cities Friday, features Dolly performing her original tune "Travelin' Thru" over the closing credits. In a press release issued Friday, Dolly commented on her participation, saying: "I was proud to be asked to write a song for Transamerica. It's a remarkable movie that touches you in every single place of human emotion. Working with (film director) Duncan Tucker was a great joy and wonderful experience. I'm glad that we were all 'Travelin' Thru' at the same time." Tucker said when he decided to have a new song created for the film, he knew exactly who he wanted to compose it: "A woman who is truly a legend, an amazing musician, an icon of life force and invention, and one of our most brilliant singer/songwriters: Dolly Parton." The result is described as "a heartfelt and uplifting song that truly captures the essence of journey and redemption in the film . . . [and] is unlike anything Dolly Parton has ever created." Tucker offered, "It's a song you keep humming to yourself, one that stays in your head and heart." The Weinstein Company, which is distributing the film, is hoping for Best Original Song nominations for Dolly at both the Golden Globes and Academy Awards and has already begun to purchase "for your consideration" ads in the motion picture trade publications to drum up support for it with Academy voters. The film follows the travels of a conservative pre-operative transsexual woman played by Emmy winner Felicity Huffman of Desperate Housewives and her teen-age runaway son whom she has never before met, played by Kevin Zegers. Other songs on the soundtrack will be music the pair hears during their road trip, including "Take 'em Away" and "We're All In This Together" by Old Crow Medicine Show, "Like A Rose" by Lucinda Williams, "Lay My Burden Down" by Larry Sparks, "I Am A Pilgrim" by Duncan Sheik, "Fish Song" and "I Found Jesus" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, "There's A New Moon Over My Shoulder" by Larry Sparks, "Lost In The Lonesome Pines" by Jim Lauderdale and Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, "Jol'Inkomo" by Miriam Makeba, "You're Gonna Love Me One Day" by Heather Myles and "Odessa Yodel" by Wylie and the Wild West.

Another Positive 'Days' Review, GAC Video Date
Although the album came out a month and a half ago, New York's Village Voice this week offered its first review of Dolly's new covers project, Those Were The Days. Latching onto the often-repeated but Dolly-denied interpretation that it is an anti-war protest album, the reviewer finds the disc stellar except for the inclusion of several young stars for guest vocalists as "the only thing that feels wrong." Read the full review here.

Dolly Song Contest To Return
The Sevierville, Tenn., Chamber of Commerce has announced it will host the second annual Mountain Soul Vocal Competition next year, which is believed to be the only talent contest anywhere which relies exclusively on Dolly songs. The contest will be held once again during the Bloomin' Barbeque & Bluegrass festival May 20 on the lawn of the Sevier County Courthouse next to its statue of Dolly. Entrants must submit a CD or video (VHS or DVD) of themselves performing a song written by Dolly -- other than "I Will Always Love You" -- along with a completed entry form and $10 entry fee by March 31. It does not appear that the entry forms have been posted yet on the Chamber's Web site, but I would expect them to be available soon. The top 20 contestants will be invited to perform at the final competition, where the winner will receive $500, a recording session in Nashville and hotel accommodations there. Second and third place winners will receive $300 and $200, respectively. Songs may be performed in any style, and contestants will be asked to consult a list of Dolly-penned songs posted at Dollymania here. Thanks!

'You Are' Coming On CD Next Month
Sony BMG Music has announced yet another re-mastered Dolly compilation. This one, titled Love Songs, will hit the streets from RCA on Jan. 10 and feature 14 tracks, one of which in its first U.S. release on CD, "You Are." The song was released several years ago in a compilation CD in Europe, but that is now out of print, and the tune hasn't been readily available in America since its original appearance on New Harvest, First Gathering, which disappeared from music stores in the early 1980s. The other songs in the collection are "But You Know I Love You," "Islands In The Stream," "I Will Always Love You," "Here You Come Again," "Love Is Like A Butterfly," "I Really Got The Feeling," "You're The Only One," "Real Love," "Heartbreaker," "We Used To," "Think About Love," "Old Flames Can't Hold A Candle To You" and "Please Don't Stop Loving Me." Reserve your copy here! Thanks, Ashley!

Lee Ann And Dolly
What does Lee Ann Womack think is the best thing about working with Dolly? Well, she told The Miami Herald: "'I like to be around Dolly because she reminds me not to take myself too seriously." Read her interview from Friday's edition here.

Two Videos In Holiday Countdown
Dolly and Kenny Rogers have two songs in CMT's 20 Merriest Christmas Videos, which premiered this week. "A Christmas To Remember" came in at No. 20, with "Christmas Without You" at No. 4. The show features the comedians you normally see on CMT and VH1's programs such as this, but they're in character as holiday items, such as a candy cane or tree ornament. The show repeats throughout the month.

Dolly In Print
The Dec. 19 issue of Country Weekly is already at some newsstands, and it has a couple of Dolly mentions. First, there's a one-column article about her being named by President Bush as one of 2005's recipients of the National Medal of Arts. There's also a shot of her performing with Elton John at last month's CMA Awards in New York.

Minor Charts See Gains
Here's this week's update on Dolly's activity on some of the industry's unofficial and minor charts. The Indie World Country independent labels singles chart sees Dolly's "Both Sides Now" from Those Were The Days gain five to No. 30, while her duet with Brad Paisley on "When I Get Where I'm Going" from his disc Time Well Wasted rises three to No. 21 on the Music Row chart and is up two to No. 16 on the All About Country chart.

New Site Offers Contest
Teddy Wayne from new fan site Dolly Online.net alerted me that he's offering a wonderful Dolly contest. Prize winners will receive several autographed items, and entries will be accepted through Dec. 31 (limit one per person). Visit his site here for details! Thanks!

Dec. 2:
'Going' Still Rising On Charts
"When I Get Where I'm Going" by Brad Paisley and Dolly continues its slow ride toward the top of the charts by gaining two notches to No. 18 in the Dec. 10 Billboard country singles chart, it was announced Thursday. The song remains steady at No. 81 in its second week on the Hot 100 pop singles chart, but drops off the Pop 100 pop format radio stations singles chart, down from one week at No. 97. In Canada, the song gains seven on the pop singles chart up north to come in at No. 90 in its third week.

'Days' Still Falling On Charts
Dolly's Those Were The Days continues its slow descent on the Dec. 10 Billboard charts, it was revealed Thursday. For its seventh chart week, her covers disc falls 10 places to No. 46 country, three spots to No. 15 on the independent labels albums chart and off the 200-position pop albums chart, down from No. 188 the previous week. In Canada, the set falls out of the top 50 Canadian country albums list, down from No. 50 the previous week. Also up north, Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers remains steady at No. 16 in its fourth week this year. Martina McBride's Timeless, featuring Dolly harmony on one track, drops five to No. 8 country and is down 13 to No. 23 pop and comprehensive in its sixth chart week. Her set gains two to No. 17 for Internet sales. In Canada, it remains steady at No. 4 country but tumbles nine to No. 35 pop. Paisley's Time Well Wasted, which contains the Dolly duet "When I Get Where I'm Going," slips four to No. 16 country, 34 spots to No. 71 pop and 46 digits to No. 84 comprehensive in its 15th week. The CD slides six to No. 32 Canadian country. George Jones's Hits I Missed . . . And One I Didn't, with its own Dolly duet, inches down two to No. 53 country in its 11th week but inches up one to No. 24 independent. Bettye LaVette's I've Got My Own Hell To Raise, with her version of "Little Sparrow," remains steady at No. 7 in its ninth week on the blues albums chart. Rhonda Vincent's Ragin' Live, featuring her cover of "Jolene," dips four to No. 11 in its 38th week on the bluegrass albums chart. Selah's Rose Of Bethlehem, featuring Dolly on "Once Upon A Christmas," falls two to No. 8 in its fourth week on this year's holiday music albums chart. Thomas Kinkade's Country Christmas, featuring "Hard Candy Christmas," debuts at No. 41 indie and gains three to No. 68 country in its second week. Kenny Chesney's The Road and the Radio moves back up one to recapture the No. 1 country position and No. 2 pop spot with third-week sales of 300,000, while American Idol winner Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts slips one to No. 2 country and five to No. 7 pop with second-week sales of 187,000. The American Idol finalists' cover of the former Dolly and Julio Iglesias duet "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" jumps up 21 spots to No. 29 on the pop singles sales chart in its 33rd week. For the second week in a row, the magazine did not update its country singles sales chart, so we don't yet know how "Viva Las Vegas" with The Grascals fares; it had been No. 4 two weeks ago, its 36th.

Dolly: No Tour Next Year
A great, comprehensive Dolly interview appears in the January 2006 issue of Reader's Digest magazine, a copy of which was posted on the publication's Web site here Thursday. Of the new items she reveals for the first time in the interview, she announces she does not plan to perform on the road in 2006 so she may work further on scoring the Broadway adaptation of 9 To 5, and she will soon publish her second children's book, titled I Am A Rainbow. Among the other subjects discussed: her early family life, religion, fasting, Carl, the new CD and more.

Dolly In Dallas, La. Again Sold Out
Dolly's "Vintage Tour" made its way to Dallas for her public concert there Thursday night. I expect to hear from some fans Friday on how it went (e-mail your comments here). On Friday, she performs her fund-raising concert for the Dallas Summer Musicals program, and Saturday it's on to Birmingham, seats for which remain available at Ticketmaster. In related news, her Dec. 9 and 10 concerts in Charenton, La., once again sold out on Thursday.

'Imagine' Hits Screens
Dolly's gorgeous video for "Imagine" premiered on CMT's Top Twenty Countdown Thursday, with repeats scheduled through the weekend (see TV listings at left). In a press release out this week about the video, Dolly explains: "I chose 'Imagine' because it is full of hope and inspiration, something badly needed in the world at this time. But it was also badly needed when John Lennon wrote it many years ago. It speaks of taking away all of the things that we fight over, hate each other for, things that keep us from being able to get along. If we could stop pointing fingers as to who's not going to Heaven, who's definitely going to Hell, whose religion is better than whose, whose country is better than, etc. we could at least know a little heaven on earth. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could just love each other, share the world and live in peace? Oh, just IMAGINE." The video is also available online here. It should be on Great American Country and VH1 Country sometime next week.

Breaking A Dolly Record
American Idol alum Kimberley Locke bests a Dolly record this week with her version of "Up On The Housetop" entering the Billboard adult contemporary top five at No. 5. Jumping 26 spots, that's the largest-ever leap to reach the chart's top five positions, the magazine noted, a record previously set last year by Dolly and Rod Stewart with a 19-point increase from No. 23 to No. 4 on "Baby It's Cold Outside," which eventually peaked at No. 2.

Library Notes In N.C.
The Fayetteville Observer on Thursday profiled Dolly's Imagination Library literacy program's local chapter there, which is now being offered to up to 28,000 children in Cumberland County, N.C. Read more here.

Dec. 1:
Paisley Duet No. 18 On 'Radio & Records'
Brad Paisley's "When I Get Where I'm Going" with Dolly from his Time Well Wasted, already No. 20 on Billboard, enters the top 20 of this week's Radio & Records magazine charts, it was announced Wednesday. The song gains three places to No. 18 on U.S. country singles list but dips one digit to No. 24 on the Canadian country singles chart.

'I Will Always Love You' Part Five
Thanks to reader Todd for alerting me to a new version of "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly. Saxophonist Jerry D. recently released his new CD, Sax In The Country, which features his cover of Dolly's classic love song, but he got her to join in. The recording begins with his sax playing the first two verses and choruses before Dolly chimes to sing the third verse and a spectacular final chorus in what is perhaps her most commanding recorded rendition of the chorus. While I was unable to find the CD for sale in any traditional stores, it is available from his Web site here, which also offers 75-cent downloads of individual songs from the CD.

Dolly Hits The 'Big D'
Thursday's the night Dolly's "Vintage Tour" with The Grascals rolls out its show in Dallas, and as of Wednesday night all of the seats in the first three sections of the theater that had become available on Tuesday were gone, leaving once again only the left and right sides of the back section of seats for sale at Ticketmaster. That concert will be followed by her fund-raiser for Dallas Summer Musicals Friday night, and then on to Birmingham Saturday.

Dolly In Print
Dolly shows up in a few spots of the new issue of Country Weekly magazine now on newsstands. One of the "52 Things You Didn't Know About Keith Urban" is his adoration of Dolly which culminated in joining her for a duet on "Twelfth Of Never" from her CD, Those Were The Days. Queer Eye For The Straight Guy celeb Carson Kressley is this issue's "I Love My Country" spotlight, talking about getting to share the stage with Dolly for a skit at the CMT Flame Worthy Video Music Awards and being invited to her dressing room to see her costumes up close. He also lists his five favorite country music tracks or albums, which include two from Dolly: her single "Jolene" and her album Honky Tonk Angels with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. Finally, the magazine's flashback chart is from 1989, when Dolly's "Yellow Roses" was No. 1.

Charity Auction Reaching Big Bucks
Although it still has a week to go, the Good Morning America auction of Dolly's autographed dulcimer and photo here on eBay has reached the $1,000-mark, only one of seven items out of the nearly 40 offered in the show's Hurricane Katrina fund-raiser to have passed that level of bids. The auction closes Dec. 8.

'Trans' Coming To Screens Friday
Those lucky enough to live in a city where Transamerica is playing in its nationwide opening weekend will get their first chance Friday to hear Dolly's new song, "Travelin' Thru," which plays as the ending credits roll on the film and is being touted as a likely Oscar nominee.

TV Reminder
Don't forget to catch the television premiere of Dolly's new video for "Imagine" on CMT's Top Twenty Countdown at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Thursday. The show repeats throughout the week (see TV listings at left), and if you just can't wait, check out a streaming online version of the video from CMT.com here!

Nichols Duet Noted
CMT.com on Wednesday profiled Joe Nichols' new CD but mentioned a couple of times his work with Dolly on her Those Were The Days. Read the story here.

Dolly In Book
I don't know yet what she says in it, but I'm told Dolly is one of dozens of celebrities and world leaders featured in the new book Viva la Repartee : Clever Comebacks and Witty Retorts from History's Great Wits and Wordsmiths by Mardy Grothe, released Nov. 1. Get your copy here!

Special Repeats Last Weekend
Wish I had known it was coming on, but I'm told that several stations nationwide repeated the 2003 Christmas special Happy Holidays America last weekend, which included an interview with Dolly and clips from Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. The show focused on several celebrities and how they celebrate the holidays. Maybe they'll run it again before Christmas! Thanks, Chris!

Interview Available from iTunes
I'm told that Dolly's interview from a few weeks back on public radio's Studio 360 (available here in streaming audio) is also being offered for download as a Podcast on iTunes. Thanks, Anthony!