Dec. 29: 'Pure & Simple' Rises On Country Tally Dolly's Pure & Simple celebrates its 18th chart week, gaining two points to No. 27 on the Jan. 7 Billboard tally, holding steady at No. 5 Americana/folk albums and re-entering the top 100 current album sales chart for an 11th week at No. 99. Her collaboration of "Jolene" with Pentatonix rises six to No. 44 Hot Country Songs. Her "Hard Candy Christmas" inches up one on the holiday digital songs list to No. 29, while Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers dips one to No. 26 holiday albums, four to No. 41 Canadian pop albums, eight to No. 19 overall catalog albums, one to No. 3 country catalog albums, 25 to No. 93 on the top 100 overall album sales chart and 24 to No. 133 pop Hot 200. The "Forever Country" mash-up with Dolly moves up six to No. 40 hot country songs.
Dec. 26: First My People Checks Distributed The Dollywood Foundation's My People Fund to aid victims of the recent Smoky Mountain wildfires last week distributed its first $1,000-per-family aid checks to nearly 900 families for a total of almost $1 million in its first month. The number of participating families is expected to grow when next month's checks are distributed Jan. 26 and 27. To date, the fund has raised $9.3 million. In a press release, Dolly commented: "It's a blessing during this holiday season that we are able to help as many families as we have so far. We know there are more families out there who need our help and we encourage them to be in contact with us before our January distribution." Dollywood Foundation President David Dotson added: "As, Dolly said, the response has been overwhelming. We will distribute all $9.3 million to the families affected. That will insure all of the money raised will go to where Dolly promised it would go." The fund generated a profile of Dolly's philanthropy from The Washington Posthere and a notation of Dolly as an example of giving back to others and how it improves longevity in Psychology Todayhere. Finally, WATE noted here that if the fund raises more money than its $1,000-per-family allotment for six months for those who lost their primary residence, any excess would also be distributed directly to the impacted families. Tax-deductible donations continue to be accepted at dollywoodfoundation.org or by mail to My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. Donations are also being accepted by texting DOLLY to 501501 for a onetime $10 donation or DOLLY25 to 501501 for a onetime $25 donation. Messaging and data rates will apply.
'Christmas Of Many Colors' Repeat Ratings Released NBC's rebroadcast of Dolly Parton's Christmas Of Many Colors: Circle Of Love on Friday night brought an audience of 4.23 million and won its time slot in the Adults 18-49 demographic with an 0.8 rating and 3 share. That compared to 3.99 million viewers for a Christmas 2015 repeat of the original Dolly Parton's Coat Of Many Colors, which also brought a 0.8 rating last year. This year's original broadcast of the sequel on Nov. 30 saw 13.3 million viewers in live+3 ratings, compared to 15.6 million for last year's original. The rebroadcasts gave the sequel a total viewership of more than 17.5 million, compared to last year's 19.6 million.
British, Aussie Charts Released The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe this week holds steady at No. 1 British country compilation albums chart in its 15th week, giving the CD 14 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the tally, it was announced Friday. On the same tally, Emmylou Harris' Original Album Series: Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) loses four to No. 15 and Ronstadt's Original Album Series (featuring one Dolly cover and one track with Dolly harmony) dips two to No. 20. On the overall country albums chart, Dolly's Pure & Simple holds steady at No. 4 country in its 18th week. Down Under, My Dear Companion: Selections From The Trio Collection by Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt gains two to No. 2 on the Australian country albums chart in its 15th week, it was announced Sunday, shooting up 29 places on the top 50 pop albums chart to No. 14, while Dolly's Pure & Simple gains one to No. 12 country in its 18th chart week.
Dec. 21: 'Pure & Simple' Approaches 100K U.S. Copies Sold Dolly's Pure & Simple will likely this week pass 100,000 copies sold since its release, as it moved 4,100 units last week for a cumulative total of 97,300. The sales allowed the album to stay in the top 30 country albums in its 17th chart week, slipping five to No. 29 on the Dec. 31 Billboardtally, rising one to No. 5 Americana/folk albums and falling back off the top 100 current album sales chart, down from No. 84 in its 10th week on that list. Her collaboration of "Jolene" with Pentatonix, which they performed on The Voice, loses eight to No. 50 Hot Country Songs chart and falls off the digital country sales chart, down from No. 18. Her "Hard Candy Christmas" slides five on the holiday digital songs list to No. 30, while Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers inches up two to No. 25 holiday albums and four to No. 37 Canadian pop albums, holds steady at No. 11 overall catalog albums and No. 2 country catalog albums, and falls 10 to No. 68 on the top 100 overall album sales chart and 15 to No. 109 pop Hot 200. The "Forever Country" mash-up with Dolly falls off country digital songs, down from No. 20, and loses six to No. 46 hot country songs.
Recording Academy Recognizes Legends The Recording Academy will next month publish a new book providing two decades of artist-written tributes to its annual lifetime achievement Grammy winners, it has been announced. Dolly, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Flea, Whoopi Goldberg, Ice Cube, Miranda Lambert, Brian May, Carly Simon, Patti Smith and Yo-Yo Ma will be included in A Grammy Salute To Music Legends on Jan. 3.
Dec. 20: Michael Bolton Duet Coming Next February Dolly will soon release yet another version of her classic "I Will Always Love You," it has been announced. She and Michael Bolton have recorded a new duet of the classic, at least her 14th version of the song. It will appear on Bolton's upcoming release Songs Of Cinema, slated for a Feb. 10 release. Dolly originally recorded the song in 1974, taking it to No. 1, and again in 1982, again taking it to No. 1. Following Whitney Houston's pop smash cover in 1992, Dolly released a duet version with Vince Gill in 1995. Subsequently, she appeared on collaborations with Jerry D in 2005, Stephanie J. Block in 2009, Eirinn Abu in 2012 and Lulu Roman in 2013 as well as live recordings released in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016 and a promotional studio recording in 2007.
Dec. 19: Dolly ABC's Person Of The Week, Telethon Re-Airs
Dolly's Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund telethon to help the wildfire victims will repeat nationally on the GET TV network Monday night at 8 p.m. Eastern. The telethon's $9 million original total raised earned Dolly, the telethon's performers and all donors to the cause as ABC News' "People Of The Week" on Friday night's World News Tonight (watchable in the media player above or by clicking here). Dolly's generosity also garnered two political cartoons: Tennessee's tourism officials commissioned a piece from award-winning illustrator Marshall Ramsey, which showed Dolly as Santa in a sleigh, viewable here, and one from The Knoxville News-Sentinelhere where Santa assures a child, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Dolly" (a play on the famous "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" story). Meanwhile, the first checks were distributed to affected families last week, something covered by many area media outlets including WJHL here and The Knoxville News-Sentinelhere. Tax-deductible donations continue to be accepted at dollywoodfoundation.org or by mail to My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. Donations are also being accepted by texting DOLLY to 501501 for a onetime $10 donation or DOLLY25 to 501501 for a onetime $25 donation. Messaging and data rates will apply.
GET TV Airing 'Dolly' Marathon Again That's not the only Dolly showing up on GET TV this month. The network will also repeat over the Christmas holidays the six-hour marathon of 1976-77 Dolly variety show episodes that aired over the Independence Day holiday this year. The marathon starts at 8 p.m. Eastern Monday, Dec. 26, with the first-ever performance of Kenny Rogers and Dolly as a duo, then the episode with Tennessee Ernie Ford, then the first-ever appearance of the Trio with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris, then the episode with her family members, then the show with Anne Murray, and then finally the episode with Lynn Anderson and then all six episodes repeating in the same order starting at 11 p.m.
British, Aussie Chart Updates The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe this week holds steady at No. 1 British country compilation albums chart in its 14th week, giving the CD 13 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the tally, it was announced Friday. On the same tally, Emmylou Harris' Original Album Series: Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) slips one to No. 11, Ronstadt's Original Album Series (featuring one Dolly cover and one track with Dolly harmony) loses two to No. 18, and Harris' Original Album Series, Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) falls back off the top 20, down from No. 19. On the overall country albums chart, Dolly's Pure & Simple holds steady at No. 4 country in its 17th week. Down Under, My Dear Companion: Selections From The Trio Collection by Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt inches down one to No. 4 on the Australian country albums chart in its 14th week, it was announced Sunday, rising six on the top 50 pop albums chart to No. 43, while Dolly's Pure & Simple gains seven to No. 13 country in its 17th chart week.
Watch 'Unlikely Angel,' 'Christmas Of Many Colors' Online
Dolly Parton's Christmas Of Many Colors: Circle Of Love coming out on DVD Tuesday and repeating on NBC Friday night, the special is available for free online streaming from Hulu and Yahoo here. Also, Dolly's 1995 CBS holiday film Unlikely Angel is also available from Hulu and Yahoo for free streaming here or in the media player below.
Dolly's Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund telethon raised nearly $9 million to help families impacted by the Smoky Mountain wildfires, organizers announced nearly 24 hours after the telethon, which Dolly hosted and on which she performed three songs. The gifts fell short of Dolly's goal of $13 million, although tax-deductible donations continue to be accepted at dollywoodfoundation.org or by mail to My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. Donations are also being accepted by texting DOLLY to 501501 for a onetime $10 donation or DOLLY25 to 501501 for a onetime $25 donation. Messaging and data rates will apply. In a press release, Dolly stated: "I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the people who have donated from all over the country and to my friends who donated their time, their talent, and money for My People. The response has been so overwhelming that we haven't been able to count all of the donations yet; right now, in total, we have raised about $9 million dollars for the folks who lost everything in Sevier County." Ronnie Dunn had to cancel his appearance at the telethon due to a severe cold, Win Country reported here. The Tennessean offered the behind-the-scenes story of how the telethon came to be, including that CMT (which ended up contributing $100,000) declined to be the broadcast partner over concerns that their quality standards couldn't be met on such a short time frame. That story is repeated by USA Todayhere. The telethon remains available online via Livestream here and in the media player above.
'Pure,' 'Christmas' Sales And Chart Updates With another 4,400 copies sold in its 16th chart week, bringing its cumulative total to 93,200 units moved since release, Dolly's Pure & Simple gains five spots to No. 24 country and 10 to No. 84 current albums in its 11th week on that tally, dipping two to No. 6 Americana/folk albums, the Dec. 24 charts showed. Her sold-out Dec. 6 concert at Austin's Frank Erwin Center with an audience of 10,504 was the week's 20th biggest concert with a gross of $906,981. Her collaboration of "Jolene" with Pentatonix, which they performed on The Voice, slips two to No. 42 Hot Country Songs chart and two to No. 18 digital country sales chart. Her "Hard Candy Christmas" gains two on the holiday digital songs list to No. 25, while Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers sold 8,600 copies for the week (bringing its Soundscan era sales over the past 24 years to 976,800 on top of the more than 2 million U.S. copies sold prior to the Soundscan era). The numbers allow the album to rise three to No. 27 holiday albums, one to No. 11 overall catalog albums, 10 to No. 58 on the top 100 overall album sales chart, and 21 to No. 94 pop Hot 200. The CD holds steady on the country catalog albums chart at No. 2 and on the Canadian pop albums chart at No. 41. The "Forever Country" mash-up with Dolly loses eight to No. 20 country digital songs and nine to No. 40 hot country songs.
Dec. 13: My People Fund Telethon Comes Tuesday Night
Dolly's Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund telethon is almost here with an 8 p.m. Eastern start on GAC, AXS, RFD and The Heartland Network and several online outlets. Several local stations nationwide will air it on their additional digital channels (check local listings), and DISH Network has announced it will make GAC (channel 165) available for all customers regardless of subscription package that evening so that everyone can see it. During the telethon, donations will be accepted at 1-866-CAREMORE. Tax-deductible gifts may also be made online at dollywoodfoundation.org or by mail to My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. Fans are encouraged to help spread the word by using the hashtags #MyPeopleFund and #someplacespecial.
UT Students Study Dolly And History A University of Tennessee class has spent the past semester analyzing historical events and their connection to Dolly, according to WBIR here.
More Pure & Simple Tour Coverage AOL's The Boot on Monday reviewed Dolly's Friday night show in Oklahoma here, and CNN profiled her here as her Pure & Simple Tour was nearing its end.
Dec. 12: Telethon Adds More Talent For Tuesday Night Dolly's Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund telethon on Tuesday has attracted even more talent, it was announced on Sunday with the addition of Hank Williams Jr., Cyndi Lauper, Alabama, Don McLean, Ronnie Dunn, Jamey Johnson and Lauren Alaina. Also, Paula Deen and her sons Bobby and Jamie, RaeLynn, Dailey & Vincent, Moonshiners' Mark & Digger, T.G. Sheppard, Jason Crabb, Larry Gatlin, Henry Cho and Tim Rushlow have signed up to answer the phones. "Every day I'm touched even more by the number of people who are joining us to help raise money for the people of the Smoky Mountains," Dolly said in a press release. "It is a special place and I'm honored that these people care so much about what we're doing through the My People Fund to help those who have lost everything due to the wildfires." In recent days, the American Contract Bridge League announced fundraisers at its games throughout the east, which they hope to total up to $100,000 in donations to present on the telethon here, a fan's "letter of apology" to Dolly about how her reaction to the wildfires and the generosity of the Imagination Library changed her mind about her went viral, as covered here and gifts to Dolly's charity were announced in the amount of $100,000 each from the Academy of Country Music and Taylor Swift as well as a $500,000 gift from the Country Music Association and Kenny Chesney, a portion of which will be earmarked for Dolly's fund, here. During the telethon, donations will be accepted at 1-866-CAREMORE. Tax-deductible gifts may also be made online at dollywoodfoundation.org or by mail to My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. Fans are encouraged to help spread the word by using the hashtags #MyPeopleFund and #someplacespecial.
13.3 Million People Watched 'Christmas Of Many Colors' "Live+3" ratings, including DVR views for the first three days after broadcast, for the week that included Dolly Parton's Christmas Of Many Colors: Circle Of Love were released over the weekend, showing an increase of 1.7 million viewers for a total of 13.3 million, making it the week's fifth-most-watched broadcast program. For comparison, last year's Dolly Parton's Coat Of Many Colors had 15.6 million "live+3" viewers, an increase of 2.55 million viewers over the 13 million who watched it live, which was the largest-ever DVR audience for a broadcast movie. As was previously first reported here a week ago, NBC over the weekend confirmed that it has scheduled a re-broadcast of the special for the night of Dec. 23.
Pure & Simple Tour Wraps With Oklahoma Stop Dolly's Pure & Simple Tour wrapped up in Oklahoma Saturday night, wrapping up 64 shows across 62 cities in the U.S. and Canada. The dates constituted her seventh North American tour since returning to touring in 2002 but featured 17 more dates than 2008's Backwoods Barbie World Tour's North American segment and 22 more date than 2005's The Vintage Tour, so it was categorized by her publicist as her first major North American tour in a quarter-century. San Antonio Current offered a review over the weekend of Thursday night's engagement in that city here.
U.K., Australian, Year-End U.S. Chart Updates The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe this week holds steady at No. 1 British country compilation albums chart in its 13th week, giving the CD 12 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the tally, it was announced Friday. On the same tally, Emmylou Harris' Original Album Series: Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) gains two to No. 10, Ronstadt's Original Album Series (featuring one Dolly cover and one track with Dolly harmony) dips three to No. 16, and Harris' 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. 19. On the overall country albums chart, Dolly's Pure & Simple inches up one to No. 4 country in its 16th week. Down Under, My Dear Companion: Selections From The Trio Collection by Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt holds steady at No. 3 on the Australian country albums chart in its 13th week, it was announced Sunday, re-entering the top 50 pop albums chart at No. 49, while Dolly's Pure & Simple rises two to No. 20 country in its 16th chart week. The year-end U.S. charts were also released on Friday and Dolly's Pure & Simple was the year's No. 32 best-selling U.S. country album, while the "Forever Country" mash-up with Dolly was No. 75 for hot country singles and No. 39 for country digital sales.
Dec. 9: Dolly's Telethon Adds Networks, New Performers
Dolly on Thursday announced new performers and broadcasters for next week's Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund telethon organized by Dolly to benefit the Dollywood Foundation's efforts to help victims of last week's Smoky Mountains wildfires. In addition to previously-announced headliners Dolly, Reba, Kenny Rogers and Alison Krauss, they have added Chris Stapleton, Chris Young, Big & Rich, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, LOCASH, Chris Janson and Montgomery Gentry. Also, new broadcast partners AXS TV, RFD-TV, The Heartland Network, and USA Today's website (and its affiliate newspaper websites) were revealed, as well as Dolly's Facebook page. "I'm truly honored that these artists are giving their time and energy to help us raise money for everyone affected by the wildfires," Dolly said in a press release. "I've got so many great friends in the industry, and I'm so proud that they were so ready to step up and help me help my people in the Smoky Mountains through this telethon and the My People Fund." GAC had previously been announced as the primary broadcast network for the telethon. According to WBIR here, more than 700 families have already applied for assistance, which would total up to $4.3 million of need at $1,000 per month per family for six months. In related news, Verizon has announced a $50,000 donation to the effort, to which Dolly responded in a press release: "I'm honored by Verizon's support of our My People Fund. The outpouring of support to help families in my hometown is truly humbling for me." During the telethon, donations will be accepted at 1-866-CAREMORE. Tax-deductible gifts may also be made online at dollywoodfoundation.org or by mail to My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. Fans are encouraged to help spread the word by using the hashtags #MyPeopleFund and #someplacespecial.
Dec. 8: Smokies Telethon To Air On GAC Dec. 13 Dolly on Wednesday announced the first new details on her telethon to support the Dollywood Foundation's My People Fund, which will provide $1,000 per month for up to six months to each family left homeless after the Smoky Mountain fires last week. Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund will air live at 8 p.m. Eastern Tuesday, Dec. 13, on Great American Country (GAC) for three-hours. Headliners will be Dolly, Reba, Kenny Rogers and Alison Krauss. Additional performers are expected to be announced in coming days. The telethon will also be simulcast across multiple radio chains including iHeart Media's digital and select on-air platforms, Cumulus Media's NASH Nights LIVE, TuneIn's Country Roads channel, and several other networks to be announced. During the telethon, donations will be accepted at 1-866-CAREMORE. Tax-deductible gifts may also be made online at dollywoodfoundation.org or by mail to My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. Fans are encouraged to help spread the word by using the hashtags #MyPeopleFund and #someplacespecial. The special will be executive produced by Dolly, manager Danny Nozell, publicist Kirt Webster, Dollywood public relations director Pete Owens and Dollywood marketing director Scott Durand. It will be produced by Edie Hoback, Jeremy Westby, Shanna Strassberg, Nic Dugger and Shantel Klinger. In related news, Knoxville area native Kenny Chesney has also asked fans to support Dolly's charity and her fundraising efforts to assist the area, according to a report here.
'Pure & Simple' Sales Updates Dolly's Pure & Simple saw a two-thirds increase in sales for last week to 3,900 units thanks to her appearances and television movie, giving the CD 15-week cumulative sales to date of 88,800 copies since release, updated sales data released Wednesday showed.
Tour Earns More Rave Reviews From Press The end of Dolly's Pure & Simple Tour is only days away, and the praise continues from the press. Saturday's Dallas-area show is reviewed by Red Dirt Reporthere while Tuesday's Austin engagement lands a gallery from Austin 360here and review here as well as reviews from The Austin Chroniclehere and Austin Statesmanhere.
Indie Dolly Birthday Bash Returns Organizers have announced that the Indianapolis Dolly Birthday Bash is returning for a sixth year on Saturday, Jan. 14, at Forty Five. The 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. event features live performances and prize drawings as well as a Dolly look-a-like contest judged by drag performer Dolly Woods. There is a $10 suggested donation at the door with proceeds to benefit The Good House, a home that shelters patients visiting the area for bone marrow transplants. The event's Facebook page is here.
Dec. 7: 'Jolene' Collaboration Earns Grammy Nomination Dolly on Tuesday earned her 47th career Grammy nomination, scoring a nod with Pentatonix for their collaboration on "Jolene" for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. The recording faces off at the Feb. 12 ceremony with Dierks Bentley and Elle King's "Different for Girls," Brothers Osborne for "21 Summer," Kenny Chesney and Pink for "Setting the World on Fire" and Chris Young and Cassadee Pope for "Think of You." Pentatonix member Kevin Olusola commented via Twitter "AHH A GRAMMY NOM!! BEST. NEWS. EVER!!!" The band had previously been nominated twice for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or Acapella, winning both times. Beyonce led total nominations for the year with nine nods, bringing her career total to 62 and extending her lead over Dolly for the most nominations by a woman, a record she took from Dolly two years ago. This marks Dolly's fourth Grammy recognition for the song, having previously been nominated for Female Country Vocal Performance for the original 1974 studio version and a 1975 live recording prior to the original version being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.
Dolly Had Three Of Week's Top 10 Programs Dolly and football managed to give NBC its best non-Olympics/non-Super Bowl week in nearly two decades, the week's ratings released on Tuesday revealed, with Dolly on three of the week's top 10 programs. Dolly Parton's Christmas Of Many Colors: Circle Of Love was the week's No. 6 program with 11.6 million viewers, The Voice with two guest performances by Dolly ranked No. 7 with 10.6 million viewers and Christmas In Rockefeller Center with one performance by Dolly ranked No. 9 with 10.5 million viewers. In related news, Dolly gave an interview to Rolling Stone about her next NBC movie project, "Jolene," here.
Houston Tour Date's Reviews Released As Dolly's Pure & Simple Tour nears its end this week, the rave reviews continue. Her Monday Houston show was reviewed by Houstonian Maghere, About Onlinehere, Houston Culturemaphere and The Houston Chroniclehere.
U.S. Chart Updates Several Dolly projects saw improved sales last week thanks to her appearances to promote her TV movie. Her Pure & Simple was the Americana/folk albums chart's Greatest Gainer for the week, moving up seven to No. 4, the Dec. 17 Billboard charts showed. The CD gains five to No. 29 country in its 15th chart week, while it re-enters the overall top 100 current album sales tally at No. 94 for a 10th chart week. Her collaboration of "Jolene" with Pentatonix, which they performed on The Voice, re-entered the Hot Country Songs chart at No. 40 and digital country sales chart at No. 16. Her "Hard Candy Christmas" rises 13 on the holiday digital songs list to No. 27, while Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers slips one to No. 30 holiday albums, holds steady on the country catalog albums chart at No. 2 and on the overall catalog albums tally at No. 12, gaining 15 on the Canadian pop albums chart to No. 41, shooting up 31 places to No. 68 on the top 100 overall album sales chart, and re-entering the pop Hot 200 chart at No. 115. The "Forever Country" mash-up with Dolly gains seven to No. 12 country digital songs and holds steady at No. 31 hot country songs.
Dec. 6: Dolly Added To Pentatonix Special Next Week Although she was not previously announced as a guest like Reba and Kelly Clarkson, commercials are now airing showing Dolly among the guests for NBC's Pentatonix Christmas special at 8 p.m. Eastern Wednesday, Dec. 14. In addition, although a network-wide announcement has yet to be made, two NBC affiliates have revealed a 9 p.m. Eastern repeat of Dolly Parton's Christmas Of Many Colors: Circle Of Love on Dec. 23.
Dallas Loves Dolly, Fans Plan Okla. Surprise The Dallas Observer loved Dolly's show at the Verizon Theatre, publishing a review here. The tour moves on to Austin, San Antonio and then two nights in Thackerville, Okla. Fans Amy Partin and Carrie Easterly Reinig are trying to get fans to hold up small butterflies (the casino has asked for a six-inch maximum size per butterfly) during her encore of "I Will Always Love You." They plan to bring 500 with them to share with others. Learn more by messaging Amy on her Facebook page here or posting to the concert event page here.
Dec. 5: Dolly Plans Dec. 13 Telethon For Fire Victims Dolly has expanded the outreach for her My People Fund to help those who lost their homes in the recent Sevier County wildfires. She is organizing a three-hour telethon for Dec. 13 in Nashville to raise additional funds for the project. All donations raised will go to the fund with no deductions for fundraising costs. Details on who will perform, where, and what partners will air the telethon have yet to be announced. The fund, operated by the Dollywood Foundation, raised more than $1 million in its first 36 hours, including a gift from goddaughter Miley Cyrus' Happy Hippie Foundation. Coverage included The Tennesseanhere while Cyrus' involvement was covered by several outlets including Music Newshere. Those needing assistance may seek first distributions at the LeConte Events Center Dec. 15-16 and Dec. 19-20. Those needing help in the application process for assistance may call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD. Donations may be made here.
Pure & Simple Tour Nears End The final stretch of Dolly's Pure & Simple Tour starts out Monday night in Houston, moving to Austin on Tuesday, San Antonio on Thursday and then two nights in Thackerville, Okla., Friday and Saturday. Photos from Friday's show in Corpus Christi appeared over the weekend in The Callerhere.
U.K., Aussie Chart Updates The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe this week holds steady at No. 1 British country compilation albums chart in its 12th week, giving the CD 11 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the tally, it was announced Friday. On the same tally, Emmylou Harris' Original Album Series: Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) drops three to No. 12, Ronstadt's Original Album Series (featuring one Dolly cover and one track with Dolly harmony) dips six to No. 13, and Harris' Original Album Series, Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) falls back out of the top 20, down from No. 18. On the overall country albums chart, Dolly's Pure & Simple inches down one to No. 5 country in its 15th week. Down Under, My Dear Companion: Selections From The Trio Collection by Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt holds steady at No. 3 on the Australian country albums chart in its 12th week, it was announced Sunday, while Dolly's Pure & Simple dips four to No. 22 country in its 15th chart week.
Dec. 2: 'Colors' Attracts 11.5 Million Viewers Preliminary ratings show 11.5 million people tuned in for Wednesday night's broadcast of Dolly Parton's Christmas Of Many Colors: Circle Of Love on NBC, making it the night's most-watched show, the second-most-watched broadcast non-musical movie in America in four and a half years (behind only last year's 13 million live viewers for Dolly Parton's Coat Of Many Colors). Final live ratings take another day or two for calculation, and then final plus DVR ratings take several more days (last year's film picked up a record 3 million delayed DVR viewers). The movie was the first program this season to beat FOX's Empire and gave NBC its highest Wednesday night non-Olympics audience in nine years. Its rating/share with the coveted 18-49 demographic was 1.7/6. Reviews came from CNN here and The St. Louis Post-Dispatchhere as well as an interview with The Daily Beasthere. NBC 4 noted here that in addition to her other projects, there is a possibility that her 9 To 5: The Musical could make its way to NBC's series of live musicals. The network's president of entertainment, Robert Goldblatt, was Dolly's co-producer on the Broadway musical.
Dolly's Fire Fund Gets Coverage Dolly's announcement of the My People Fund at her Dollywood Foundation to help those displaced by this week's Sevier County fires was covered virally on Thursday. Examples of the media coverage include CNN here and USA Todayhere. And the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, Ky., is lending a hand in appreciation for Dolly's fundraisers for the local Catholic charities there, according to WKYT here. Donate to Dolly's fund here. More details about the fund are to be released Friday.
Tour Receives More Great Reviews Dolly's Pure & Simple Tour continues this weekend and earned rave reviews from The Baton Rouge Advocatehere and New Orleans Times Picayunehere as well as The Pensacola News Journalhere.
Dec. 1: Dolly Announces My People Fund For Fire Relief
Dolly on Wednesday night announced she will lend a personal hand to the efforts to rebuild the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area after Monday night's devastating wildfires by creating the My People Fund at her Dollywood Foundation to provide a $1,000-per-month stipend for six months to help families that lost everything in the fires. More details on the fund are to be announced on Friday, but donations may be made here. Dolly released a video announcing the effort here or in the media player above. As of press time, the death toll had risen to seven and hundreds of homes and businesses had been damaged or destroyed.
