Sept. 15, 2003 I was wondering if they might be putting out a vinyl version of her For God and Country new release or do they only do CD's? Also, I am surprised no one has made comments about her John Walsh special. I watched it when I got home that night and enjoyed it, especially her "Color Me America." My only frustrated point was the little station testing interruption that they tossed in while she was singing with the kids ... royally burns my butt when they just wack the program mid-stride with no regard to what the viewer is watching. Funny how they never do that during a presidential speech:).
Anyway you host a great site, thanks and keep up the good work. Deb Rich Denver, Colo. I haven't heard of any plans to release it on vinyl. Usually, her albums are each released on both cassette and CD. As for the Walsh show, while no one has sent in a letter before you to comment on it, several readers contacted me personally to express how wonderful they thought the show was. Thanks!
Sept. 12, 2003 I was just wondering, is Dolly Democrat or Republican? Robin St. Louis, Mo. Well, Dolly has never publicly professed her political affiliation and avoids speaking about political issues at just about any time. Even though she was selected by a GOP group this week as its Republican Babe Of The Week, if I were to guess, I'd think she's more of an independent than a Democrat of Republican. That said, many of the charities and programs she supports and many of the beliefs she has publicly espoused have tended to be what most would consider on the more liberal side of the political spectrum, which is traditionally a more Democratic field than Republican.
Sept. 8, 2003 WOW!!!! It's about time RCA has put out an old Dolly Parton album on CD! Do you think they will release more RCA Dolly on CD or is this just to go with the new tribute CD coming out of the same name? Robert Onondaga, Mich. I do hope the re-issue of her first RCA album, Just Because I'm A Woman, is a sign of more to come, but my gut feeling is that I'm afraid that the re-issue is just to take advantage of the extra free publicity that comes from it being released during the same month as the tribute album of the same name 35 years after this album first came out. Hopefully, it will sell well enough to convince the folks at BMG to begin re-issuing many more gems from her 20-year catalogue at RCA Records, the vast majority of which has been out of print for decades and never available on CD. Get your copy of 1968's Just Because I'm A Woman (coming out Oct. 7) here and the new star-studded tribute Just Because I'm A Woman: Songs Of Dolly Parton (coming out Oct. 14) here.
Sept. 8, 2003 Hi! I have seen a Tennessee address that is supposedly Dolly's on many websites now. If someone wrote to her do you think she would write back?? How long do you think it would take to get to her? Also, how much do you think her new CDs (tribute album, and For God and Country) will cost when they come out? thanks =) Meg Haverhill, MA Yes, the address (P.O. Box 150307, Nashville, TN 37215, which is listed on the FAQs page here) is correct. However, as any world-famous superstar, Dolly receives hundreds, if not thousands, of letters each week. Also, she is a very busy performer working on dozens of different projects at one time, so I would expect she does not have the time to read all of her fan mail, much less write letters back. Therefore, I would think your chances of receiving a response are fairly slim, but that shouldn't stop you from writing. Prices for the For God And Country CD have not been announced yet, but given that major player Universal announced last week it was slashing its list (suggested retail) prices, it wouldn't surprise me if other labels, including small indie ones like Sugar Hill/Welk Music, follow suit soon. The tribute album (available for advance order here) has a suggested retail price of $19, but most stores taking reservations for it are offering sale prices of between $14 and $15.
Sept. 5, 2003 Hi there. I don't know if a release is out yet of the Dolly Parton And Friends On the Country Train DVD in your country but it was released here in South Africa. It's a German release and all the songs from Dolly's side is from the taping of Austin City Limits.Performances by Hagard, Nelson, Breda Lee and Lynn Anderson. Regards, J.J. Hartbeespoortdam, N.W. Province, South Africa Thanks, J.J. No, the DVD is not available in the U.S., but it was reported on Dollymania back in April and a link provided to order the CD from The Netherlands (although the title is no longer available from that retailer, it is available in South Africa here).
Sept. 5, 2003 Hey, Just wanted to let you know that the new layout of the website looks great and I was reading the FAQs and never knew Dolly had tattoos if its possible please can you put that part of the Jay Leno show on real player as a video? Thanks, Laura North Yorkshire, England Thanks, Laura. That appearance is the only time I've ever seen or heard her discuss her tattoos in public other than jokingly saying she "might" have some but won't tell anyone where. Unfortunately, I cannot post it on the site, for that would be illegal since the broadcast is copyrighted material.
Sept. 2, 2003 Was very bummed that "Where Stallions Run" was not included on the DVD for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas either as a supplement or (more preferably) in context with the rest of the film. Is there a possibility that a "Special Edition" of the film will be released to DVD that includes this missing number? (It would also be nice to get a running audio commentary by Burt, Dolly, Dom and Charles Durning). Barring this bit of wishful thinking, could the powers that be release the sequence in hi-resolution MPEG format to be downloaded on the Web and viewed by fans of the film? Thanks for any insight you can provide on how to locate this missing sequence (aside from scrounging around for a copy of the ABC broadcast). Clator Washington, D.C. Thanks for your note. I, too, wish the song had been included in the special features. While it had more than most Dolly DVDs have had, it was lacking several key items I would have liked to have seen included. Unfortunately, I doubt the movie will sell well enough to warrant reissuing it as a special release, and huge mega-corporations such as Universal do not typically release clips like that to the public, but it wouldn't hurt to suggest it to them :) I know the song also appeared in some of the other television broadcasts -- some of the ones broadcast on USA included it as well, and every once in a while if you come across it airing on a local station, it may include the song as well. The song was one of several which Dolly wrote for the film. Only one, "Sneakin' Around," remained in the final product, and producers chose an older song she wrote nearly a decade earlier, "I Will Always Love You," for the show's finale. The closest thing commercially available to it is Dolly's 1983 album Burlap And Satin and the tune "A Cowboy's Ways." She re-wrote the song to be from the woman's point of view, changing a few lines, most notably changing the line about "the fields where stallions run" to "even love can't change a cowboy's ways." Unfortunately, as with most of her RCA catalogue, it is no longer in print, and the best bet of finding a copy is to get one on the original vinyl from a collectors' record store or off of ebay.
Sept. 1, 2003 I have purchased a video off ebay with clips of Dolly. In one clip it has Willie Nelson singing "9 to 5" at first and he mentioned something about how he would like to jump in Dolly's tub once in a while and then Dolly came out and talked to him briefly and then he sang "Coat of Many Colours" This is most likely a clip from the late '80's judging by Dolly's long curly hair. I also seen a tabloid where she was wearing the same dress and earrings and she was with Kenny Rogers so I am presuming it is the same show. Now here's my question Do you know what the name of this show was and what was it all about?? Thanks a lot. Michelle Ottawa, Ont., Canada That would be a scene from the 1989 NBC television concert special Kenny, Dolly & Willie: Something Inside So Strong, taped in Houston, Texas, with Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson. This portion of the show featured Willie, then Dolly joining him, then Kenny joining them, as they sang snippets from each others' songs.
Sept. 1, 2003 I figured since you know people at Sugar Hill and people who work closely w/ Dolly I wanted to see if you knew where Dolly gets her wigs? Or what brand they are. Especially the newer ones like the long one she wore for the taping of the John Walsh Show. I think she looks awesome! Robin St. Louis, Mo. Robin, Dolly has her wigs specially made for herself, but I'm not sure of the name(s) of the designer(s). Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
Aug. 28, 2003 Hi I got a question for you. I was watching a tape my friend made the show was CMTs Most Wanted with Dolly Parton. I heard her say she was working on a new album called Smokey Mountain D.N.A. with her family doing back up on it! do you know anything or heard of this? Please let me know. Thanks, Robert Onondaga, Mich. Well, she did state her plans to record the CD when she appeared on the special in June, but since then I have heard nothing about it. My guess is that she won't really work on it until after the tribute album and For God And Country promotions are done at the end of this year.
Aug. 27, 2003 Duane, on my way to Dollywood Saturday I decided to stop by Anna, IL. I finally got there at about 10:30 am and went to the fair office and asked them what the Dolly thing was. It was a mule race that was called "The Dolly Parton Mule Race." Apparently it was a big mis-understanding...on their website it just said Dolly Parton. They all got a big kick out of us driving a couple hours out of my way to find out..lol but they did say about 30 years ago her and Porter came to Anna, so it isn't impossible for her to me in a very tiny town like Anna. Kendra Waterloo, Ill. Kendra, thanks for clearing that up. I'm sorry you drove two hours to get there. I was fairly skeptical about the whole thing, which is why I was very careful to say there was "apparently" an appearance scheduled, also calling it a "supposed appearance," attributing it to the newspaper's story, and noting that since it was the first I had heard of it I didn't know if it was true or not. As was explained in the report I posted on the Aug. 23 news update, I found out about the item from one of their local newspapers, the Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale, Ill. I guess the paper's reporter assigned to cover the fair misunderstood that it was a mule race, because they reported: "Dolly Parton will be a featured guest" at the event. I can see how the official schedule confused him or her, as it just stated: "12:00noon - Barrel Race, Dizzy Bat Race, Mule Jumping Competition, Gear Up, Obstacle Course, and Dolly Parton." So my report was based on the newspaper article, which it turned out was in error. I apologize for any misunderstandings, but it's good to know the whole truth now! Thanks again! (Although I have to wonder what the hell a "Dolly Parton Mule Race" is -- must've been some funny looking mules!)
Aug. 27, 2003 Hi, I was just wondering if you knew of this. in the site voiceofanangel.net they said Dolly's new CDwill be put out on November,11, 03 but I herd that it wasn't coming out till next year. do you know the true release date? Thanks Robert Onondaga, Mich. The new date, which was announced when she was at Dollywood on Sunday, is correct, but I waited until I had official confirmation to report it. The 18-song collection, produced by Dolly herself, will come out on Veterans' Day. A confirmed final track listing is available in today's news update on the news page here.
Aug. 27, 2003 Note: A letter was also received today from a 9-year-old, but since you have to be at least 13 under U.S. law to provide such information over the Internet, it will not be posted.
Aug. 21, 2003 Duane, I love your site. I just found out (from your site) that Dolly will be on park Sunday the 24. I don't check the Dollywood site everyday, so I am glad you mentioned it! I have had a trip planned to Dollywood for this weekend for awhile and now I am SO excited! I have changed my plans a little so that I get there earlier Sunday! Hopefully they will release some more info about her! Keep up the good work and Thanks again! Kendra Waterloo, Ill. Kendra, thanks for your letter. I do my best to try and bring the most accurate and most frequently updated Dolly news to her other fans. As for the Dolly appearance on Sunday, Dollywood confirmed that she will be filming an episode of a syndicated talk show and will be in the park for most of the day, so your chances are good of spotting her! More information is on the news page here.
Aug. 11, 2003 Duane: I Have a few Dolly related questions. First, do you know if the 36 track compilation CD Ultimate Dolly Parton contains a gallery of all of Dolly's LP's? I know the version that's been released in stores has a gallery of her LP's but they only contain 25 album shots. Secondly, in recent months I have seen a couple of Dolly LP's on Cd on Ebay that to the best of my knowledge have never been commercially released on compact disc. Some of the sellers say they are DJ copies. Do you know anything about these type of CD's and if so is it legal to sell them? Currently copies of My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy and Fairest of Them All are for sale on Ebay and I don't want to break any laws by buying illegal CD's . Also, do you know if the sound quality on these CD's are any good ? Lastly, I have been an avid follower of your site for nearly 3 years and I'm amazed at how excellent your site is. I'm also quite impressed by your sites presentation both in the outlay and in they way you write. Since your background is in journalism and since you know everything about Miss Parton have you ever thought about writing a book on her? I think it would be fabulous to have a source that contains all the Dolly info that exists. I know I'd buy a copy. Thanks for your help. Terry Minto, N.B., Canada Terry, thanks for your letter and the nice comments about the site. I have thought off and on about writing something on Dolly, perhaps a new Dolly scrapbook, guidebook or encyclopedia, so if there are any publishers out there interested in that, please let me know :) For your first question, the artwork and liner notes are the same in both the 20-cut version and 36-cut version of Ultimate Dolly Parton, so there aren't any additional album covers shown in the two-disc collection. On the ebay CDs, a DJ copy means that a professional disc jockey, who generally has access to the equipment to play a vinyl album, digitize it and transfer it to CD, did just that. The sound quality won't be as high as that of a commercially-produced CD because the audio usually hasn't been remixed extensively and the source is a vinyl album instead of the original analog master tape. As for legality, the answer is a bit complicated. First, the law varies from country to country, but in the U.S. and many other locations, it is legal for someone who owns an original copy of any musical product to duplicate it for personal use to the same or other media, such as making a "mix tape" or "mix CD" for your own use or a "back-up" copy in case your original becomes damaged, regardless of whether the original source is a tape, vinyl album, CD or DVD. However, it is generally illegal to sell these copies. I have seen some smart folks trying to get around that law by selling both the original vinyl album and CD dubbed from it. This is probably legal, but it's really a gray area. So buying just the CD of the recording would most likely be illegal. That said, I'm not that offended by those who do this. Now this is a purely editorial comment, but it is my opinion that until the folks over at BMG (the parent company of RCA Records) get off their hands and re-issue Dolly's massive two-decade catalogue of recordings on the label, these illegal copies and illegal downloads are the only recourse for many fans to enjoy her wonderful work from those prodigious years in her career. Few people have phonographs to listen to the original vinyl records, and it is very rare for a cassette tape to have survived in good enough condition to play without problems some 30 or 35 years since it was produced. Yes, there is the trade-off and ethical question of a third party illegally profiting from these pirated recordings, and Dolly does lose royalties as singer and songwriter of the material, but these songs are in danger of being lost to time. Perhaps if enough fans complain to the label that could change. Anyway, that's my two-cents' worth!
Aug. 11, 2003 Hello Duane! Do you know if Dolly will have a Concert special on CMT soon, or am I dreaming?? It seems like I heard this somewhere. Thanks! Keep up the good work! Robert Augusta, Ark. Well, Dolly did record her Dollywood Foundation benefit concerts last December, saying at the time that she didn't know whether she would use them for a television special or release them as a live CD or DVD. In April at the park's season opening, she told the media that she had contracted with CMT to air the concert as a television special and gave a broadcast time of September, as was reported here and elsewhere at the time. Since then, CMT has not announced anything on the special, so I don't know if they're going to air it or not. I have written my contact at the network to ask if any information is available and will pass that along on the news page as soon as I hear anything.
Aug. 11, 2003 I am a big fan of Dolly. I am said hello to you. I am said hi to you. She is my favoritie singer. I miss you. I like to buy some of our cd.in the store. I like to list to our music on my radio in my room. I am nice and friendly. I am 24 year old. Please e-mail me back soon. Best Fan, Christy Lake Charles, La. Thanks, Christy, for your letter. Dolly is special to us all.
Aug. 11, 2003 I' trying to find a song sung by the Honky Tonk Angels. would like to have the lyrics to Dolly's "Rocking Chairs?" Rebecca Mullins Pound, Va. Dolly's trio project Honky Tonk Angels with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette is still available from Amazon.com here, so it's not that difficult to find if you're seeking a copy. Many local CD stores across the country still have the album in stock as well. As for lyrics, while I don't have any published here, the Dolly fan site Dolly On-Line has many, including "Rockin' Years" (which is the title of the song I believe you're looking for), in its archives here.
Aug. 9, 2003 Can anyone tell me if, and when, Dolly will be coming back to the UK again soon - and if she may come to Birmingham? I missed her when she came to London, and would love the chance to put this right. Steve Birmingham, England Unfortunately, Steve, Dolly hasn't indicated any plans to return to Europe in the immediate future. She has said she plans to tour the U.S. in either the fall or winter of this year or early next year to promote her upcoming patriotic and spiritual album For God And Country, but I have heard no suggestions that any overseas visits are planned any time soon.
Aug. 8, 2003 Hi Duane. Just a note to let you know that the report by the UK newspaper Times and Star is totally untrue. Dolly is not coming to England next month and consequently is not staying with myself or Joe Skelly either. Dolly Part'ners UK has been inundated with e-mail requests for info on Dolly's visit, as you can imagine!!! Please would you put a message on Dollymania that we had no input to this story. Joe is recovering from an accident that happened 7 months ago but Dolly did not send him flowers either. How they make this nonsense up I don't know. Anyway thanks for a great website, keep up the news. Best wishes Michael Creed and Joe Skelly Cambridgeshire, England Thanks, guys. I will pass the word along. It just goes to show that you never know if what you read in the paper is true or not. I apologize for passing along an erroneous story.
Aug. 8, 2003 I remember hearing a song that Dolly sang about 1989 or 1990 and I always liked it but have never been able to find it on an album or CD. Is there some way I could find out what this song is and if I can find the CD it is on? I only remember a few of the lyrics: "I love my daddy but it really don't matter what my daddy might say, I've really got the feeling, got the feeling, I've really got the feeling, got the feeling, I've really got the feeling that I'll love you till my dying day." Gina Hight McKinney, Texas The song is "I Really Got The Feeling," and it was a No. 1 hit for Dolly back in 1978 from the Heartbreaker album, which was issued for the first time on CD a few years ago. You can get it from Amazon.com here.
Aug. 8, 2003 Here in NC, we had a Little Dolly Store at a mall in my area. It has been closed for a while now and I was looking online for a store to buy so items I need for a dress I got at the store in our mall. Is there a store online I can go to and look around at? Please let me know. Thanks! Sheana Litaker Mt. Pleasant, N.C. The Lid'l Dolly's Dresses store does have a Web site, which is located at www.lidldollys.com.
Aug. 1, 2003 I remember hearing a song that Dolly sang about 1989 or 1990 and I always liked it but have never been able to find it on an album or CD. Is there some way I could find out what this song is and if I can find the CD it is on? I only remember a few of the lyrics. Gina Hight McKinney, Texas Gina, if you give me some of the lyrics you can remember, perhaps I can help out. Also, if you want to scan her releases from that time period, every one of her albums and the songs they contain are listed chronologically here.
Aug. 2 addition: Thanks for getting back with me. I talked with my friend and we determined that some of the lines from the Dolly Pardon song she wants is: "On the wings of the snow white long, He sends his pure sweet love" Please tell me the name of the song, and which CD I can buy that will have the song on it! Thanks again! Carrie Well, that's an easy one. Actually, the lyrics are "On the wings of a snow white dove, He sends His pure sweet love," and the song is titled "Wings Of A Dove." Written by Dolly's producer, then-RCA record exec Bob Ferguson, it was recorded by several artists in the early 1970s. Dolly's version appeared on her 1971 gospel album Golden Streets Of Glory, which has been re-issued by RCA/BMG under the title I Believe and is available from Amazon.com here. It was also included in the label's 1997 compilation CD The Essential Dolly Parton, Vol. 2, available here.
July 31, 2003 Hi, I again want to thank you for such a great site. Yours is my favourite of all because you seem to get your news the fastest and you are updating the site pretty much daily. I have a question about the ABC t.v show. I was reading in either Dolly's autobiography or the really big biography by Judith Pasternak that during the 80's Dolly show or about when it was going to go off air that her statue was painted black or something I may be completely wrong but thats why I am asking you. was the show a hit or was it as bad as Dolly said it was? Thanks for your time. Michelle Ottawa Canada Yes, unfortunately, the show tanked with audiences in the 1987-1988 season. It opened in with great ratings the first week, then they dropped off the next week, then further the next week, and so on, until it ended up at the end of the season near the bottom of the year's ratings. A lot of the problems were blamed on producers not letting Dolly be Dolly. About half-way through the season, she regained creative control and had a much better show, but the audiences were too turned off by the first few episodes to tune back in, so it was cancelled.
July 30, 2003 Can you give me the plastic surgeon's name that did her face? Benaim Boca Raton, Fla. I don't know if he's done her most recent work, but in her 1994 autobiography My Life And Other Unfinished Business, Dolly cited Dr. Frank Kramer as the plastic surgeon who is her face expert, and she also noted dermatologist Dr. Arnold William Klein as having helped, too, with the occasional chemical peel. She was, however, quick to suggest that anyone considering cosmetic surgery contact the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons Referral Service at 1-800-635-0635.
July 19, 2003 Just noticed Dolly's video "I'm Gone" moved up to #14, last week it was #16! And just think, in the beginning she was #19. I hope people in here remember to vote for her. ( On CMT's Top 20 Videos) I think it'd be great to see her in the top ten or even eight! Robyn St. Louis, Mo. Yes, I'd love to see her get to No. 1. Although votes are for CMT's MWL, not the top 20 countdown, every vote counts! Cast your ballot for Dolly on CMT here and Great American Country here!
July 17, 2003 Hello. For many years I have been trying to figure out the title of a movie I saw on television as a child and it had an accapella (sp?) version of "After the Gold Rush" sung by Dolly. Are you familiar with this song and/or the movie to which I am referring? I would say it would be late 70's or very early 80's. The movie was about a family that went camping and while they were exploring a cave, a disaster of some sort happened where all the people turned to piles of white dust. Any help would be appreciated. Bewildered in Wisconsin, Andrea Rochester, Wis. Unfortunately, Andrea, I believe you are thinking of the wrong singer. To the best of my knowledge, Dolly didn't record "After The Goldrush" in any format or perform it publicly until her second Trio project with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris in 1994. When that album was shelved, Dolly recorded a different version, which made her 1996 album Treasures, and Linda used her vocals from the Trio version to put a different recording of it on her 1995 album Feels Like Home (which also included three other songs she had done for Trio II). Their first version was finally released on Trio II in 1999 and won a Grammy. But, as far as I know, Dolly had not recorded it for any films before that.
July 16, 2003 I am a member of a small Rotary club in Dyersburg Tn and was wondering if Dolly would give some old shoes, boots, scarfs, belts or anything that we could auction and give the proceeds to the Salvation Army. An autographed picture would be appreciated. A big favor I know,but could we count on Dolly? Thanks from a big fan in west Tn. Nelson Butler Newbern, Tenn. As this is a Dolly fan site, I cannot forward a message to her personally or guarantee she will see your letter. However, she is a very charitable-minded person and often makes donations to charity auctions, mostly located in Tennessee or the immediate surrounding areas. My suggestion would be to submit your request either to the Dollywood Foundation at 1020 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, or Dolly's Nashville office at P.O. Box 150307, Nashville, TN 37215. And if Dolly or someone in her organization happens to read this, Nelson may be contacted at 820 Shelby Drive, Dyersburg, TN 38024
July 14, 2003 I Really like the site.. i wish i could meet her so BAD.
Travis Stidham Big Stone Gap, Va.
July 11, 2003 First of all, Duane, great job on your Web site keeping us all posted about Dolly. A year ago in an interview, Loretta Lynn said she never had a platinum album but she was sure that the Honky Tonk Angels album would be certified platinum in the next couple of years. How true was this statement? Thank you, Eric Rion Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Thanks, Eric. Well, Columbia hasn't been releasing sales figures on Dolly's old recordings, so I don't know for sure how many copies have been sold of the album. However, it was certified gold for more than half a million copies shipped just a couple of months after its initial release, and I'm sure that sales most likely increased dramatically following the death of Tammy Wynette in 1998. Given that both Dolly and Loretta have had resurgences in interest in their careers since that time as well, and the fact that the album has remained in print since its release nearly 10 years ago, it would not surprise me if it is nearing the 1 million mark for platinum certification. However, even if it passes that milestone, I wouldn't necessarily count on Columbia to certify it for the award. Both Dolly and Loretta record for different labels now, and record labels are usually very hesitant to pay the fees associated with gold and platinum certifications for artists no longer on their roster. The one circumstance which could lead the label to do so is the fact that Tammy is no longer with us, and nearly all of her catalogue is on Epic, a label also owned by Columbia parent company Sony, and labels frequently update the certifications for deceased artists associated with them. So, they just might do it. For the record, Tammy had four gold and one platinum albums, Loretta has seven gold albums, and Dolly has 14 gold, five platinum and one multi-platinum albums.
July 11, 2003 Hello Duane, First off LOVE your site!! second, this seems abit of an odd question but here goes, Dolly's teeth are amazingly white and straight, I was wondering if she ever had a brace or had anything done to her teeth to make them so white that you know of? My next question is what kind of make up does Dolly use? because her skin is amazing and her eye make up never seems to smug. Many Thanks, Laura North Yorkshire, England Thanks, Laura. Unfortunately, I can't answer the questions, because to my knowledge Dolly has never discussed those items in-depth before. However, given her love of cosmetic surgery, it would not surprise me if she has had some work done on her teeth and probably has them bleached, as most celebrities do. As for her make-up, my guess would be that she probably either has it created especially for her or uses some very expensive type, because she always looks radiant.
July 9, 2003 Dear Duane, Your Dolly site is the BEST on the net, hands down! I visit often and enjoy reading all the current information about Dolly. Now that Halos and Horns is a year old, any guesses as to how many units have been sold? Do you think the albulm is nearing gold status? Also, it seems as if Dolly is EVERYWHERE these days. Do you think she's as popular today as she was througout the 70's and 80's? Thanks, and keep up the outstanding work! Bix Columbia, S.C. Thanks, Bix, for your kind words. I don't think Dolly has the mass appeal today as she did in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when she was selling millions and millions of records. However, she is still revered not only by her loyal core of fans, but many in younger generations are starting to discover her music and become fans themselves. Unfortunately, I do not believe the album is nearing gold status yet, which is half a million copies shipped. Her label stopped providing sales figures, but I would guess it's probably around 300,000 now.
July 8, 2003 Duane, just a note to say thanks again for being so on top of all things Dolly. I watched her on PBS Friday night. What a great show! She is such a phenomenal, down-to-earth entertainer. I would never have known she was going to be on except for seeing notes about it on your site. Gary Omaha, Neb. Thanks so much for your message. I try to do my best with the site, and I'm glad that other Dolly fans appreciate it!
July 8, 2003 I love your site, I frequently miss her on TV cause I don't watch it a lot, and I always find out afterwards. On here I can come in, when it's convenient for me, and read on what's up. And I enjoy all the photos, especially from Dollywood, and her appearances on TV that I missed watching. I do vote for her on CMT for her video frequently though. You're a highly informative person and how you get your info so fast, I'll never know but great job! P.S. How come on the CMT's top 20 video vote, all the other artists get a RealPlayer video clip to sample the song, all but Dlly's "Im Gone?" Robyn St. Louis, Mo. Thanks, Robyn, for your nice message. I'm glad to be able to provide a service to other Dolly fans out there around the world. And I don't know why they haven't posted a link to Dolly's "I'm Gone" on CMT's voting page (here). I've noticed they often don't link to streaming content of her videos when she's on the countdown. I suppose they think not enough people want to see it to bother with putting it up there, but you should send them a note on their comments page here and tell them to post it! July 9 addition: Duane, CMT wrote back to me saying the reasoning they don't have her available for viewing (her video) is because they say they don't have a contract for the clip. Too bad, cause CMT doesn't play it a lot, and that would have been a chance for people to of seen it, in case they were curious. Bummer deal. Thanks for the update, Robyn. I'll contact her label and suggest they get the clip to CMT! July 17 Update: Sugar Hill Records responded to my question and informs me that CMT does have permission to post the clip. In fact, it is available to watch online on their Web site's streaming video page here. They don't know why it isn't also available on the MWL page.
July 7, 2003 Just wanted to say i enjoyed Dolly on Larry King Live. It was an awesome interview-can't wait to hear the duet with Kenny!!! Shelly Lexington, Ky. Yes, I agree it was one of her best interviews in years, and I was proud to have been Larry's source for nearly all of the Dolly facts and figures he used on the air, even if there were a couple of them he didn't read exactly right. (He said Dolly was ranked as the all-time No. 1 female artist ever by Billboard magazine, but it's actually No. 1 "female country artist" of all time; and he said she had 70 top 40 pop hits, when the number is actually seven.) Still, it was perhaps her most in-depth and comprehensive televised interview ever, in my opinion.
July 7, 2003 Duane, I think that Dollymania is a great site. I visit it about 2-3 times a day. You update it frequently and provide us, the fans, with every bit of info on Dolly! You also have tons of great pictures. Keep up the excellent work, we appreciate it! Kendra Waterloo, Ill. Thanks, Kendra. I do my best.
July 1, 2003 Hi everyone, thank you for being so nice to me, the ones that I have met this far, and for loving Dolly, she is such a wonderful person, not only in the public, but in person as well. The family is so blessed to have such a wonderful person as part of our lives. Dolly is a cousin to me and I love her very much. You can see my pic with her on the Fan Antics page. Jamie Knoxville, Tenn. Thanks, Jamie. I'm glad to have gotten to know you!
June 30, 2003 Hi. I was wondering if their are any pictures of Dolly not wearing a wig? Beverly Downers Grove, IL Well, she keeps her hair blonde and about the same length as most of her wigs, so she says that sometimes she's photographed in her real hair without a wig. I know some of the openings to her ABC television series in the 1980s showed her in her real hair when she was in the bubble bath scenes. And, of course, if you look at photos of her as a child or teen-ager, that's her real hair.
June 27, 2003 Dear Duane: In the July 8, 2003 issue of Country Weekly, there is an article and picture of Porter Wagoner on page 33. The picture of Porter was taken in his dressing room at the Grand Ole Opry. In the picture, on the wall behind him is an alternate album cover of Together Always. It is on the bottom row of framed pictures and album covers in his dressing room. This alternate cover was mentioned in Porter's biography A Satisfied Mind. I have never been able to find it. Do you know anything about this? Billy Black Charlotte, N.C. I'll have to get a copy and take a look at that, Billy, because other than the mention in Porter's book, I've have no other knowledge of the alternate cover myself and have never seen it before. In the book, it is described as the less common of the two covers under which the album was released in 1972. In the more common one, Porter and Dolly wear matching red suits with their blonde hairdos touching. In the alternate one, they're supposedly out in some woods against the trees, similar to the photo which appears on the back of both versions. Thanks for pointing that out!
June 26, 2003 Those are great pics posted of Dolly by Jonathan----keep them coming!! Sheila London, Kenn. Thanks, Sheila. I'll let him know. And anyone who hasn't seen his pics, take a look at Gallery 3 on the KidsFest page here!
June 24, 2003 I just wanted to let you know that I think this website is awesome!! I actually got to see Dolly twice at Kidsfest,,,when she rode thru the park on buggy and Live at Five show. I didn't know she appeared 3 more times until i read your latest news section. Keep up the good work!!!! Sheila London, Kenn. Thanks, Sheila. I try to give other Dolly fans as much news and info on our favorite star as I can. And as you'll see in the below letter, I just found out she was on the grounds at yet another location on Friday!
June 24, 2003 I was lucky enough to attend the kick off of the Dollywood Kidzfest. I have looked at several of the websites and no one knows that Dolly also attended her brother, Randy's, show ( at 7:00). She, along with several family members came into the show just as the lights were dimming. She watched the show, with people sitting all around her. When her brother did a tribute to her she was tapping her toes and getting in to the music. As the show was ending her family and her got up and left out the side door. After everyone realized it was her it was the talk of Dollywood. I got to sit in the same row as her, although a few seats down. Also, Dolly was said to still be at the park on Sunday, but in buisness meetings. Kendra Waterloo Ill. Kendra, thanks so much for that tid-bit! I'll pass it along on the news page as well.
June 17, 2003 Hey Duane...I can't remember where I saw this or if I'm lost on your page...but where can I find a listing of all recordings Dolly, Linda, & Emmylou have recorded (in any combination as trio or as duos) together. Thanks, Jay New Orleans, La. Yes, Jay, there are several places on the site with that type of information on the Trio. First, you could scan the site's list of every song Dolly has ever released (the only list of its kind ever compiled), which is available alphabetically here and chronologically here (chronological would be the best way, since it has several hundred songs listed, and all of the Trio recordings were made between 1975 and 1987 except for Trio II). Also, links to CDs at Amazon.com containing the Trio recordings are available on the "Appearances" section of the Store section of the site here. And, finally, there are two places on the "Past Features" section (linked from the right-hand side of the News page) with Trio information: one focusing on the Trio II album here and one on Dolly's musical collaborations here. But to go ahead and list the songs for you, here they are:
1975: "Light Of The Stable" (from Emmylou's Christmas album of the same name; the song was released as a single and featured a fourth "Trio" member: Neil Young)
Also, Emmylou and Linda recorded a few dozen songs together over the years, and Dolly appeared with Linda on the top-10 single "I Never Will Marry" from 1977's Simple Dreams and with Emmylou on "When I Stop Dreaming" from 1977's Luxury Liner and "Green Pastures" from 1980's Roses In The Snow. Emmylou and Patty Loveless provided harmony on Dolly's "Country Road" from Eagle When She Flies in 1991, and Emmy and Dolly teamed up again (this time with George Jones and Trisha Yearwood) for "Where Grass Won't Grow" on George's Bradley Barn Sessions in 1991. Finally, Linda had covered Dolly's "I Will Always Love You" on 1975's Prisoner In Disguise, Emmylou did "Coat Of Many Colors" on 1975's Pieces Of Sky and had a No. 3 hit on "To Daddy" from 1978's Quarter Moon In A 10 Cent Town, and Dolly recorded Emmylou's "Boulder To Birmingham" on 1976's All I Can Do.
June 16, 2003 Dear Dolly: I just wanted to say that my family are true fans of yours. My wife is originally from Tn., and she remembers well when you started out on the Cass Walker Show. We have seen your movies and we have read about your life. My wife is originally from the town of Kingston, Tn. We try to visit the realitives there at least once or twice a year. We have always wanted to visit Dollywood, but we never seem to have the time, money, or sometimes both. This year in July we have made arrangements to visit your park and we look forward to doing thus. We feel that you are truly a common type Mountain type lady. I am a school teacher that works in Special Education and I am happy to hear of your contribution to education. I realize that it will never be possible for us to meet you, but I just wanted to say Thanks for the comedy, good music, and unique accent that you give to the world. I wish that my whole family could one day meet you and perhaps all of you could swap yarns about how it once was in the great State of Tn. Have a nice rest of the week and I trust that we will enjoy our time at Dollywood. Most likely you will never even hear of the Farmer Family as we are just some old common American family with ties in the great State of Tn. Edward Farmer Kernersville, N.C. Thanks, Edward, for your wonderful comments about Dolly. While I can't personally pass them along to her, perhaps she will read them here.
June 13, 2003 I am trying to find the lyrics to a song that Dolly wrote and sang on her album I Believe -- the song is "Yes, I See God." I used to have this tape but it got ruined and I really love that song. Does anyone have a suggestion as to how I might get the lyrics to that song? Lucinda Monger Salina, Kan. The album in question (originally released in 1971 as Golden Streets Of Glory) was re-issued on CD a few years back under the title I Believe and is available from Amazon.com here. I also found the lyrics posted on the Internet on Sing 365here.
June 12, 2003 Hi Duane. The song "Don't Drop Out," where is that from originally? I heard a 30 second snippet of it on Amazon. Did she record it on any other album? Any info on this song? Thanks. Manuel Burlingame, Calif. That song, which features a very "Leader Of The Pack" type of a girl-group sound, happens to be my favorite recording out of all of her work on Monument Records (1965-1967). Released in 1966, it was her fourth single for the label, which tried to first market her as a pop singer before letting her record country in 1967. The song was released on a 45 backed with "Control Yourself," and both cuts were produced by Ray Stevens. It never appeared on either of Dolly's two Monument albums, and to my knowledge has been included in only one compilation CD, Where The Girls Are Vol. 1, which was released on Ace Records in the U.K. back in 1997 (click on the title to order it from Amazon.com).
June 12, 2003 Hi there. I am really sorry to bother you again but as you know CMT Canada doesn't have the same air dates as the US :(, but anyways, I wanted to know if CMT Canada will premier Dolly's new video or if I can vote for the video anytime soon. Thank you so much for always answering my questions. Your site is (in my opinion) THE BEST SITE!! I love the every day news.Keep up the GREAT work!! P.S DOLLY PARTON IS THE BEST!!! Michelle Ottawa, Ont., Canada Thanks, Michelle. Unfortunately, I have yet to locate an online TV listing service which shows CMT Canada's schedule more than a day or so in advance, and I have not heard anything yet about the network to the north airing Dolly's MWL Star interview, on which the video premiered. I know CMT Canada airs the regular MWL series, but I don't know about the special MWL Star episodes. I haven't heard anything about them airing just the video itself, either, but here in the U.S. it is only showing on CMT in the late-night/early-morning hours, so if they show it there, it might be the same area of time. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
June 12, 2003 Oh mighty webmaster: Hope you are fine and thanx for such a wonderful site. You are dynamic and oh so interesting!!! Once again, I am asking is there any change of Dolly and Porter doing a future duet album again? We die hard Dolly fans would so love to hear the King and Queen of Country together again! And neither of them are getting any younger. I do so hope that they have put all ill feelings aside and will consider doing this for the original Dolly and Porter fans. They were so great together, like Branchwater and Dom Perignon!!!! They meshed together so harmoniously!!! I am from the days of Dolly and Porter, George and Tammy, and Loretta and Ernest/Conway. They just don't make music like that anymore!!! Also, does Dolly plan a video for "These Old Bones?" It is my most favoritest song on the Halos & Horns CD. It is so reminiscent of the true and real Dolly. You know, when I look at the new Dolly, I just don't seem to know who she is. I'm from the Dolly she created back when Here You Come Again, Heartbreaker, Bargain Store, Love Is Like A Butterfly, Coat Of Many Colors, Blue Ridge, Bubblin' Over, Real Live Dolly, etc. It's almost like I remember a different Dolly from those days. Sometimes I just don't believe today that she is that same person. But I am sure there are fans who love the Dollys that she has created thru the years. My recollections are from special memories that she gave to me. To me, the real and true Dolly is the Dolly on the cover of Here You Come Again, Real Live Dolly, Love Is Like A Butterfly, In The Good Ol Days, etc. Ohhhh, how beautiful and perfect she looked back then. She was a country girl who was aging so gracefully and in my opinion never needed any cosmetic changes. Of course, this is my feeling alone, and please pardon the idiot who sent you the letter about being arrogant, etc. Doesn't this narrow minded ass understand that he/she has the right to come here or not, plain and simple. And if he/she doesn't like what you have to say, stay the hell away from this site. Nuff sed!!! Sorry, but I had to say it!!! Duane, we appreciate you and stand behind you 100%. Also, can you give us some more in depth info on the Mae West thing? Has production begun? Who else will star? When can we look for it? Is this really supposed to be a good idea for Dolly? I surely hope so. Hey, do you think Dolly and her sisters will ever do a duet/harmony album? You know, maybe country roots music or something? That would be so nice. Does Dolly ever visit your site and read input? I would hope so. For you do so much justice to her and her career, Duane. Wanted to share this with you: Back in the mid 70s, I traveled to Richmond, Virginia, to see Dolly in concert at the Mosque Theatre. My friends and I went behind the theatre early and greeted Dolly's bus when it arrived. Her driver came out and asked if we wanted to see her. Of course, I was speechless. He said give her five minutes to get her wig on and she'd be out. And bless my soul, five minutes later there she came, bubblin' and bouncing off the bus. She signed a cover of People Weekly for me and talked with me and my friends for about 15 minutes. She said, "You're staying for the show, right?" We said yes, and she said, "Well, I'll see you a little later during the show." We had pics made and I was fortunate enough to get a big ol kiss and hug from her. Later, during she show, she came out in her trademark pink butterfly sheer flowing in the wind jumpsuit and orverlay. In the middle of the show, she remarked that when you are traveling around like she did that you always look for a smile. She said that she got that smile earlier before the show. She said that my smile and joy of seeing her really made her day and made her work worthwhile. She then told the audience "that for this reason, I am dedicating this song to David Lee Jones." She sang "Applejack" to me. And because the audience was so loud and clapping and all, secondly, she said in case I didn't hear it, she also wanted to sing another song for me, "Coat of Many Colors." I was in awe, ecstatic, and I felt so so special. She had a way of doing that for people, making them feel so special. I shall never forget that day as long as I live. Back in the 80s. Star magazine sponsored a contest. Entrants had to tell in 50 words or less why Dolly was so special to them. I told them the story that I just told you, and I was the first in 50 people to win a copy of Dolly's Smoky Mountain Christmas VHS. My entry was at the top of the winning list, and I was in hog heaven!!! I still have the VHS and wouldn't trade it for love nor money. It will always be special to me and one day, I shall pass it on to my niece and nephew. Anyway, Duane, I know that I am just chewing your ear and maybe this is not important to you, but I did want to share it with the other die hard Dolly fans. The other fans who know too much how kind and considerate and caring she has always been. I would like to think that Dolly is the same person from back then. They don't make 'em like Dolly, Loretta, and Tammy anymore. The new gals just don't compare. They come a dime a dozen. Here today, gone tomorrow. But Dolly, Tammy, and Loretta are sure to have many, many jewels in their crown up there in that golden city of Hillbilly Heaven!!! God danced on the day they were born, and He's been a dancin' ever since!! Duane, hope you enjoyed this little tidbit and hope that our readers will also. I was blessed to have this encounter with the angel of country music. When I am old and gray, I will still revel in the meeting and it will make me feel so giddy, so happy, so special inside!!! A devoted fan of Dolly and my almighty webmaster, I Will Always Love You. David Jones Garysburg, N.C.
David, thank you so much for your kind words. It always makes me feel proud to hear from other Dolly fans who enjoy the site, as it makes the work that goes into it worthwhile. And your story of meeting Dolly is very touching and sweet. Everyone I've ever known who has met her, myself included, has a special place in their hearts for her kindness and openness with her fans. I believe that today she is at her core the same genuine, loving person she was on the day you met her 25 or so years ago. But to answer your questions: I, too, wish she and Porter would go into the studio. Their harmonies were pure magic. He turns 76 in a few months, so I'm sure there aren't that many years left in his career. You know, they both said after they reunited about 16 years ago that if the right material came along, they'd both be willing to record some new duets. I hope they find that material soon. As for the cosmetic surgery, she has often said she does it so that she looks her best for her fans. And I, for one, believe that if you have the money to do it, there's nothing wrong with plastic surgery. I have had a few friends go "under the knife," and if it makes them feel better about their appearance, I'm all for it. On the Mae West bio-pic for ABC, Dolly said recently that the network finally had a script they appeared to be ready to approve, which would allow filming to begin sometime later this summer with a target air date of November sweeps this fall. However, a source tells me that the network still hasn't approved the script, leaving the project still "in development," so there's no telling when they'll finally get moving on that. Regardless, Dolly does a dead-on impersonation of Mae West, so I think the project may remind the audience that she really can act when given the right material. On Dolly and her family recording together, she did mention at the MWL Live taping a few weeks ago that she hopes to work on a new album, tentatively called Smoky Mountain DNA, with some of her family members. As for the "These Old Bones" video, my pal Phil at Voice of An Angel asked her about it at this week's charity event in Atlanta, and she told him she still plans to film a video for the song in the near future. And finally, while I've never been told that Dolly personally has visited the site, she is very aware of it and knows who I am, and several people very close to her career tell me they check it out on a regular basis and occasionally pass items of interest from it on to her. I just publish the site as a service to other fans and out of my own admiration for the person whom I consider the most talented entertainer alive today.
June 11, 2003 Why did the Ultimate Dolly Parton CD --come out as a both "double" (through that website only) CD and a "single" in the music stores. I feel like I'm missing something because I don't have the double CD. Why don't music stores carry the "double" CD? I would have bought the double Ultimate set in the store--but only got the single there. It is like to get the two CD set--you HAVE to get it off musicspace.com and because you cant get the double set in the stores. It doesn't seem fair that they seem to almost "force" you to use the website to get this set...Why? Bonnie Green Bay, Wis. My understanding is that Music Space made a special arrangement with the record label to create a two-disc version of the CD exclusively for its release through that one store. Then the one-disc version was released to all stores. I don't know any details, but my guess is that Music Space paid a large fee or something like that in exchange for the exclusive rights to the disc. Unfortunately, music today is a business, and companies are out to make money, so it was probably done for the money.
May 22, 2003 Hi,
I was married to Dolly's brother, Bobby (name not Robert) from Dec. 1967 to Dec. 1982. I am the mother of Clint Warren Parton and Danielle Cleone Parton, Dolly's nephew and niece. I am the family genealogist. Dolly is not 1/8 Indian. I have worked on their family tree since Jan. 1977, and I have never found a drop of Indian blood so far. She has no proven Indian ancestry. Like almost every family from East TN, her family has an Indian legend, but like most families that's all it is, just a legend. If there is any Indian it would be very far back, farther than I have yet gone in 26 years of research. I have proven one Indian on my own tree, and I am 1/128th. If I ever find an Indian ancestor for Dolly, her ancestry will be that diluted or more so, and my children would be one-half her amount on their Daddy's side should one ever be found.
The information at the following site is based on information that I put in the Sevierville Tennessee Heritage book. There are some errors-some made by me, some by Beckwith who took the information from the book and put it on the web. My daughter Danielle Cleone Parton was born 1976, not 1974. My husband was Bobby (Bobby on his birth certificate) not Robert as Beckwith put on the web. Also the farthest back proven Parton ancestor of Dolly, John Parton, was born ca the mid 1770s, not 1755, as is given on the site. Also I do have the Owen(s) family farther back, and there's no Indian proven on that line yet either: http://smokykin.com/ged/f004/f84/a0048409.htm.
Dolly holds me still in affection and high regard. She recently visited with us at my daughter's wedding in Nashville, TN, on March 28, 2003. She will vouch for my expert knowledge of her family tree. Her sister Willadeene thanked me for furnishing the genealogical dates and information used in the books that she wrote on their Parton family. I have taught school for 27 years and hold all but dissertation on my doctoral degree. I have also researched over 100 families, and I am continuing to do so. It is a very satisfying hobby. I go to Ireland this summer to my own Nolan(d) ancestral home in County Carlow.
Thanks for "listening." You have a great site! I hope you will correct this error about Dolly's ethnic ancestry. Her Partons came from England, probably descending from Robert Parton who came in 1609 and survived the Starving Time at Jamestown. Her Owens family was Welch. She has some German ancestry via her Emert line. But sorry, there is no known Indian anywhere. Most of her families have been in America since the 1600s making it difficult to get them back to the old country which was mostly the British Isles.
Doris Maxine Noland Parton
Thanks, Doris, for the detailed information on this subject. The statement
(on the site's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page here) that she is one-eighth Cherokee came from her authorized biography, Dolly by Alanna Nash in 1978, where it was published that Dolly's mother is one-quarter Cherokee and her father Scotch-Irish. Several other accounts also stated that she is of Cherokee descent, including her Official Dolly Parton Scrapbook, by Connie Berman, published the same year, it is stated that she is of Dutch, Irish and Cherokee ancestry. Also, Porter Wagoner's authorized biography, A Satisfied Mind by Steve Eng, said she is Scotch-Irish on her father's side and Cherokee on her mother's. (However, in her own autobiography and in Willadeene's books on their family, ethnic background is not discussed.) But your research seems to indicate these published accounts are incorrect. I have updated the FAQs page to reflect this information but also included a note about the other sources which did claim Native American ancestry.
May 13, 2003 Your Dollymania website is one of the most beautiful sites I have ever visited. I remember when Dolly left Porter for Hollywood and how I hoped for her success with more than a little trepidation. She hit Hollywood like a tornado and has done nothing but made a steady climb up the ladder of success. She did not forget her roots -- even with her success as singer, song writer, actress and good will ambassador representing the "South." What she has done for Pigeon Forge and Tennessee and the south as whole is priceless. Thanks for sharing her with us. Roger Weems Leeds, Ala Thank you so much, Roger, for your kind words. Dolly's certainly one of a kind, and we all love her dearly!
May 8, 2003 On your list of Dolly songs, you have the track "Lonely Comin' Down" listed twice. Please can you tell me, were there definitely two versions of this song released? If so, was the version recorded for Sings My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner in 1972 released on any other albums or is it the Jolene 1974 version on all subsequent recordings? Thanks Again For Your Help! Tracey Davison Newcastle Upon Tyne, England Tracey, thanks for your letter. Unfortunately, I don't know. I've listened to the two versions of the song, and they sound exactly the same to me. I could discern no difference at all between the two, and the original albums show both versions playing the exact same length of time. Now, if they are the same recording, that would be an anomaly because at no other time in her career has she recorded a song once and put the same version on two albums. Dolly frequently recorded songs twice throughout the 1970s, often just a year or two apart -- and the result would be two very different sounding songs -- "The Beginning," "Early Morning Breeze," "The Fire That Keeps You Warm," "In The Good Old Days," "Travelin' Man," etc. So I don't know if it's two versions that just came out amazingly similar or the same recording of the song. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
April 26, 2003 Just wanted to say you have, hands down, the coolest Dolly site out there. I have been a huge Dolly fan and collector all my life (I'm 29 & holding now), and would have to keep up with Dolly via fan clubs or Dollywood. Your web site is by far the easiest, most accurate, and most informative way I now have of keeping up with her. I've been visiting your site for a long time now, and thought it was about time I let you know how much I enjoyed it. Dolly Rules! Dawn Taylor Mooresville, Ind. Dawn, thanks so much for your letter. It's the site's readers, those other Dolly fans who visit it daily, who make the effort that goes into it worthwhile! Thank you for taking the time to write to express your opinion.
April 18, 2003 Hi, a couple of weeks ago the show Stars Over Texas was on CMT with Dolly, Vince Gill and Ray Benson. In Canada we have CMT Canada and they don't air stuff the same time the American CMT does. I was looking so forward to seeing it. I have tried e-mailing CMT Canada, but they have never replied. I really wanted to watch it because I think Dolly is THE BEST! I was wondering if there was anyway you could find out when it is airing or even if it is airing anytime. Thank you VERY much, you are by far the best webmaster ever, I love how I can just go on Dollymania and know everything that Dolly is up to. So thank you again for the GREAT website. Michelle Ottawa, Ont., Canada Thanks for your note, Michelle. I've had a couple other Canadian readers ask about the special, and I tried to find out when and if it would air up there but haven't had any luck getting that information. Unfortunately, these mega-corporations aren't often very responsive to viewers, but perhaps if enough people up there contact CMT Canada and tell them they want to see it, they might get it on the schedule. Best of luck!
March 17, 2003 So, what is Dolly's secret to weight loss over the years? Jennifer Rockford, Ill. Well, except for when she was a literal starving artist when she first started out in the music business, she has said she has fought her weight. For most of the 1970s and 1980s, she felt she was severely overweight. She tried every diet imaginable, but nothing kept the weight off. Finally, around 1986, she discovered her own diet. Instead of eating the usual three regular-sized meals a day, she began eating numerous tiny, tiny meals each day. For example, she might have a handful of bites of food seven or eight times a day. She says she keeps herself from eating too much at one time by pretending there are angels sharing her meal and leaving a good portion of her serving as the angels' share. By using this method, she dropped a lot of weight just before starting on her ABC variety show in 1987, although many argued that she was too skinny at that time. She gained a few pounds back, which many said left her at a perfect size, and she's maintained that size for more than a decade now.
March 7, 2003 Hello Duane, I was perusing your website to see what was new. (I check the news section everyday but I check the other parts sporadically. I noticed in the Duets section, you said that the reason that Trio II was not released when it was first recorded was because Linda, Emmylou and Dolly were fighting. I had never heard this before and was wondering if you could elaborate. Thanks a million and again thanks for the marvelous site. Anthony Favale Brooklyn, N.Y.
Thanks, Anthony. I don't know all of the full details, but as I understand it, there was a bit of fighting among them during its recording. Dolly had been quoted at the time as complaining that Linda, who co-produced it, was working "as slow as molasses" on the project, and I believe Emmylou had made similar comments. And they were also unable to schedule time to get together to do promotional appearances to release it, which created friction with the record label, causing the label to not really want to release it at all. As a result, it sat on the shelf for several years. In the meantime, Linda had pretty much retired from music, but she was under contract with her record label to put out a certain number of projects. When they harangued her about not having done one, she replied that she had this one on the shelf that they could release. The label decided to do it, but post-production was not complete on it, so she discussed the final arrangements of each song via telephone with her co-producer, resulting in the final project. The ladies had by this time mended their relationships, and as none of them had any immediately pressing projects, they were able to commit to the promotional appearances to launch its release. Consequently, it went gold.
Feb. 13, 2003 I love the fact that you have (almost) daily news! I have one question regarding the news item: 'Halos' Passes 150K. Is this at all considered doing well in the music business? I was So disappointed when I read these figures, considering that gold is 500,000 and 1,000,000 is platinum and so on. I heard prior to this that she was "seeing her best album sales in years". I cannot, for the life of me, understand why the album sales are not MUCH higher. Nearly EVERYTHING Dolly puts out album-wise is SO good and right up there with her gold and platinum albums in the past. I wish more people would just give her a chance! James W. Edmonton, Alb. Canada Thanks for your note. I always love to hear from other Dolly fans who enjoy the site, especially our friends out of the U.S. And the reason the news is "almost" daily is that if there's something noteworthy about Dolly, it goes up on the news page that night. If there's not anything new out there to note, the news page doesn't get updated. I wouldn't be honest to claim it's daily, so I use the "almost" :) Well, how many albums she is selling right now is not that bad, considering. Yes, these are her best sales in a few years. (Her most recent gold album other than Trio II with Linda and Emmylou -- which took two years to hit the 500,000 mark in 2001 -- was almost 10 years ago.) Prior to her bluegrass outing with The Grass Is Blue, she was selling about 100,000 copies per album. On a major label, that's a reason to be dropped from your contract, because it takes sales of 500,000 to turn a profit due to the marketing and production costs. So, after being dropped by her label, she decided to produce her records independently on her own label, then lease the masters to Sugar Hill to distribute for her. On these smaller indie labels, an album often only has to sell 10,000 or 15,000 to break even. And in the roots music field of bluegrass and folk, which were what The Grass Is Blue and Little Sparrow were, 50,000 is considered a huge success. And now Grass is at 186,000 and Sparrow past 200,000, which are almost unheard of numbers for the genre. Halos is only at 153,000, but that's still fairly impressive for an album with almost no radio support whatsoever and very little support from the video networks. To put this in perspective, Sugar Hill has been a leading producer in the indie folk and bluegrass world for at least 20 or 30 years. It's six biggest selling albums of all time are Nickel Creek's two CDs (one of which went gold), Dolly's three releases, and a Ricky Skaggs record co-issued on Sugar Hill and Epic (and featuring Dolly harmony on two cuts) in 1983 which went gold. With the exception of Alison Krauss and O Brother Where Art Thou, there just hasn't been a large market for this style of music. I, too, wish Dolly would have massive sales again, and we may see them return someday (I mean, look at Cher!). Anyway, those are my thoughts.
Feb. 11, 2003 I was country when country wasn't cool. Grew up in San Antonio ("Rose of San Antone"), age 68, now, and I know all the C/W greats from 1945--college English professor for 45 years on Long Island. Dolly, to me, along with Reba, is the LAST of the genuine women in C/W. All the rest are cookie cutter imitations. Same with the men. She is beautiful, a tremendous vocalist and song writer with a wonderful sense of self reality. I will scroll your wonderful looking site later and look into some CD shopping. Learned about you in the Times Sunday letters. I have a wonderful Hofstra U station for you about which later. Dr. Bill Clayton Long Island, N.Y. P S I am a yodeling fan nut--esp. Elton Britt. Thanks, Bill, for your nice note. As I always say, it's a special treat to hear from other Dolly fans who enjoy the site. And I agree that Dolly (along with Reba) is the best!
Feb. 10, 2003 Let me just say that for a true Dolly fan, your website is like a little slice of heaven. How you update the site is much is really a feat in itself. As for my question, you recently reported that Dolly has disbanded the Blueniques. Does that mean that she does not plan to tour at all this year. I saw her in Irving Plaza last year and I simply cannot wait to see her again. Also is there any news on the "These Old Bones" video. Again, thanks for this wonderful site and your dedication to bringing Dolly
news to fellow Dolly fans. Anthony Brooklyn, N.Y. Thanks, Anthony, for your note -- how nice to say what you did. I'm trying my best to get the most accurate and updated information out there for all of us Dolly fans! Yes, she has reportedly let the Blueniques go, and her label confirms there are no tours planned currently, but that doesn't mean she won't tour sometime in the near future. I know this spring she plans to film the Mae West bio-pic, which would prevent touring at that time. She might also record another album. By the fall, perhaps she could get another band together and plan a tour, but this is pure speculation. She did say, however, that if her tours last summer and fall were successful, she would like to do a larger tour. Although nothing has been announced yet as even being in the planning stages, I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
Feb. 10, 2003 Hi, It's me (again). I was wondering, Dolly goes to perform in all parts of the world but has she ever been up to Canada? I really hopes she comes in the near future, I would love to see her perform!!Thanks!! Michelle Ottawa, Ont., Canada I'm sure she has performed in Canada before, as she toured all over the world in the 1970s through the early 1990s, when she stopped touring. Her tour of the U.S. last summer was her first here in 10 years, and her tour of the U.K. in the fall was her first one there in 20 years, so it would have been a while since she performed in Canada, too. She may tour again in the next couple of years, so you never know -- Canada may be on the bill at that time!
Feb. 3, 2003 I've found a recipe for Dolly Parton's fat burning soup. It says there is a Dolly Parton fat burning program in the recipe, but I am unable to locate it. If you could help me in finding it I would appreciate it. Thanks, Tammy Eaton Rapids, Mich. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about a Dolly fat burning program, so I can't help out, but maybe some others will read the letter and write in with some answers. I do know, however, that she has said the secret to her weight loss a decade or so ago and how she maintains it today is that she has several -- maybe seven or eight -- tiny meals (just a few bites) throughout the day whenever she gets hungry instead of eating three "normal" sized meals at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Feb. 3, 2003 Hi, I know Burlap and Satin is not on CD. Why I don't know. RCA needs to get off their butts! Anyway, I was wondering if the songs "Ooo-Eee," "Jealous Heart" and "A Gamble Either Way" are on a compilation CD of Dolly Parton's? If not what's going on with RCA? Do you know why some of Dolly's best music is being held back from her fans? Thanks, Bobbie Onondaga, Mich. I don't know why RCA's parent company, BMG, does not release more of Dolly's material, unless they think it's not going to be profitable. She has an amazing back catalogue of wonderful music that hasn't been available for decades, and there are many fans that would buy it up. We were all hoping more would come from BMG's Buddha imprint, which re-issued four of her older RCA albums a few years back, but their website hasn't been up for months, so I assume they've closed down that part of the label. I don't know what it will take to get them to release more, but you can e-mail the RCA division of the label at info@rcarecords.com. As for the three songs you mentioned from Burlap & Satin, while they are all awesome cuts ("A Gamble Either Way" is phenomenal!), to my knowledge none has been included on a Dolly compilation album.
Jan. 28, 2003 Hi it's me again. I have another question.Up here in Canada The Academy of Country Music Awards 2001 is on CMT. I was wondering if you know if Dolly appears on it or not.Also Thank you so much for giving us updates on our Ms.Dolly, it is hard to find a site that is as up-to-date as yours. Great job:) Michelle Ottawa, Ont., Canada Thanks, Michelle. No, Dolly did not appear on the 2001 ACM show. She hosted the year before (bringing record high ratings for the program), but a Dolly-less 2001 was hosted by LeeAnn Rimes (bringing record low ratings for the program).
Jan. 25, 2003 Hi, there's 2 songs I saw Dolly sing on Kenny and Dolly Live VHS I have and wanted to know what CDs they are on so I can have them in my music collection, The songs are "Stranger" and "I'll Oil Wells Love You" not "I Will Always Love You." It goes "I met a man in Texas, and oh he was so fine. So I said to my self, self I'm going to make him mine, He had a lot of oil wells, his bank roll sure was healthy, so I thought if I married him I'd be welthy, oh I'll oil wells love you, I'll oil wells care, I'll oil wells need you, I want your oil wells dear" and that's all I know. That's where she stopped. Please help me. Thanks, Robert Onondaga, Mich.
"The Stranger" is a song which Dolly wrote but never recorded it. Kenny recorded it on his "What About Me" album in 1984, and it is available on a compilation album of his from Amazon.com here. The other song, "I'll Oilwells Love You," came from Dolly's 1968 RCA album "Just Because I'm A Woman." While that album was re-issued on CD in Europe about seven or eight years ago coupled with "Just Between You And Me" with Porter, it is now out of print. You will occasionally see one on ebay for auction. Unfortunately, that number has never been included in one of Dolly's compilation CDs to my knowledge.
Jan. 24, 2003 Quite a few of us here in Wales saw the Dolly documentary on TV last week, and would love to see her on tour - is she due back to the UK in 2003 please? Jenny Manders Cardiff, Wales, UK Dolly said if her tour of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland which took place this fall was successful, then she would plan another trip in the near future to play more cities and larger venues. The tour this year was almost a "test-run," if you will. As all of the dates sold out and the fans seemed to love the shows, it is very likely that she will return for a larger tour of the U.K., and possibly other European cities, either late this year or next year. However, no definite plans have been announced as of yet. Once anything is announced, it will be on the Dollymanianews page.
Jan. 22, 2003 I love the Dollymania site! I just wanted to ask you if you have any plans to add Dolly's song lyrics to the site, or if you know of any other websites which already have them? Thanks, Tracey Davison Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England
Thanks so much for your kind thoughts, Tracey. As I always say, I love to hear from other Dolly fans who enjoy the site, especially those from overseas. While I currently do not have song lyrics available on Dollymania, another Dolly site does. Dolly On-Line has the lyrics to more than 400 songs. Go the site here and choose "Archives" on the right-hand side. The first selection on the page which opens is for song lyrics, which are linked alphabetically.
Jan. 9, 2003 Shortly after 8.00 o clock Dolly's nine piece band The Blueniques took to the stage of The Point Theatre in Dublin and played a few numbers.Then they started up the Orange Blossom Special and Dolly arrived on stage to a tumultuous welcome back to Ireland from her adoring fans.Whatever doubts Dolly may have had that her Irish fans had forgotten her were quickly dispelled and they made her feel right at home.She was dressed in a green (naturally ) dress and throughout the evening not only thrilled the huge crowd with beautiful voice but also amazed them with her musical dexterity by playing at least 7 instruments including the Tin Whistle.The only thing we were short of was the Bagpipes and I wouldn't put it beyond her to play these as well.Shortly in to the show she sang a beautiful version of Mountain Angel and you could literally hear a pin drop in the giant stadium.Her version of Stairway To Heaven also went over very well and she also introduced a new song she had written 'specially for the occasion called The Irish Like To Party, during which she played the Tin Whistle and did an Irish Jig.The show lasted about 1hour & 40mins and she closed with I Will Always Love You.Following a standing ovation she returned to the stage for a reprise of I Will Always Love You and said goodbye to a cheering crowd who were chanting come back soon.Let's hope she does.
Some reaction from the crowd afterwards.Her new songs are nice but most people still prefer her older ones such as Jolene and Coat Of Many Colours. Roger Ryan Cork, Ireland
Thanks for your recap of what I know was a wonderful show!
Jan. 8, 2003 I just got through reading the negative e-mail you received from a reader and your most professional response. Everyone is entitled to their opinions however I don't understand how anyone can attack a webmaster who offers the most up to date and exciting news about Dolly on the entire internet. I'm sure I speak for alot of other fans when I say that there is NOTHING arrogant about ANYTHING in your website. We are all so lucky to have such a great outlet of Dolly information and I have always been treated kindly whenever I have e-mailed a question or a link to some news or mention of Dolly. You do a FANTASTIC job as I have mentioned before and every morning I look forward to checking this site to see what's new with Dolly. This reader who complained is in the minority I assure you in thinking negative about what you do. Keep up the great work. We all appreciate it! Manuel California
Thanks, Manuel, for your reaction and thoughts. Hearing from other Dolly fans who enjoy the site makes the work that goes into it worthwhile, and I'm glad someone provided an alternative view to the letter of Dec. 29.
Jan. 6, 2003 Hi! I LOVE your website. It's the only website I can find that updates new on Dolly almost every day! GREAT WORK keep it up!! I have a question, hoping you know the answer to. Someone told me that on TNN news they said that the DollyWood Kids Fun Fest was running July through August, but your site says it's on June 20th. Please let me know because I plan on going to DollyWood to see it. Thank you so very much!!! Michelle Ottawa, Ont., Canada
Thanks for your letter, Michelle. I always love to hear from Dolly's non-U.S. fans who read the site. To answer your question, the listing on the right-hand side of the news page isn't meant to convey that the entire festival is just on June 20. Instead, it is listed under the Dolly Public Appearances section, meaning this is the date when Dolly is scheduled to be present at the park to kick-off the summer's activities. As was reported on Dollymania about two months ago, the Dollywood Kidz Fun Fest will run June 20 through August 10 at the theme park. Dolly herself will be on hand to start the fun at its opening day with Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber from Veggie Tales, but other activities (albeit without Dolly present) will continue for the entire eight-and-a-half-week festival.
Dec. 29, 2002 I've decided it's just about time to write this. I went through a TON of Dolly Websites, and I was just appalled by yours.
First and Foremost, I am tired of your arrogant attitude that you display on your website. Contrary to what you might believe, you are not the "world's greatest Dolly Webmaster". Yes, every webmaster thinks extremely highly of their websites (myself included), but...that is no means to try and make yourself sound better than the other Dolly Site. Why dont you try remembering that other Dolly Webmasters work JUST as hard (if not harder) on their websites- and that yours is NOT the only one out there!
I've just finished reading your 2002 Year in Review. Just a few of "my" personal highlights of your review:
February: "Dollymania points out that this in incorrect, and while the magazine confirms the error in an e-mail to the site, it refuses to run a clarification or correction". Well let's make yourself all high and mighty why don't we! What in the WORLD was the point of this sentence, other than to make YOURSELF sound better than everyone else?!
March- "Dollymania is the first media outlet to confirm gospel legend Dottie Rambo and Dolly have scheduled to record a duet for release later in the year". Wow. Funny, I read it at another site before it was posted on your website.
May- Another Country Weekly Misprint. Come on, lay off already. It's getting old.
June- 'Dollymania is the first media outlet to confirm and publish the list of venues and dates where she will perform in each city'. Hmm seems like your the first media outlet to publish absolutely everything!
I could continue on, but quite frankly, It's not worth much of my time to do so. I certainly do not believe your site was the first media outlet to publish all this information...but...a simple point: Does it really honestly MATTER?? It's a DOLLY PARTON 2002 YEAR IN REVIEW! Not a 'Let's see why Dollymania is the greatest site live' review....Honestly- no one cares who's going to email Country Weekly to Correct them and stuff like that- people just want the information and the photos, ect, ect. It shouldn't be as much of a competition as your trying to make it.
Good Luck with your site. I personally prefer less arrogent websites that are a little more fan friendly (i.e. www.dollypartoncentral.com and www.voiceofanangel.net).
Nicole www.patty-loveless.net
Nicole, thank you for your letter and your thoughts. I always appreciate feedback from readers, even those who criticize the site, but I feel I must respond to some of your attacks on me and the website.
First, allow me to inform you that I come from a journalism background. I earned a degree with honors in the field and worked for many years as an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Boasting, if you will, that you were the first to break a story is commonplace in news reporting and, in fact, encouraged in many professional journalism circles. You may notice this next time you're watching your local television news or reading your local newspaper -- it's a friendly competition. It is also common practice on the web to brag about awards won by your site, so talking about being the first to report news isn't a far cry from that. Neither of these points is to belittle any other Dolly webmasters, as I know they all work very hard on their sites. The vast majority of them do a very good job, and many have become friends of mine over the past few years. In fact, I visit several other Dolly sites many times a day to see what they're reporting and provide links on my links page for all of them.
Secondly, I would believe that any true Dolly fan would be offended by mainstream media, such as Country Weekly, publishing completely incorrect information about her and even more offended when they refuse to correct their shoddy reporting. Each time the magazine published erroneous data, I felt that as a fan I had a duty to alert them to the problem, and, as someone with an outlet to inform the public, to note for others that the information was incorrect. For Country Weekly to acknowledge privately to me that my information was right and their report wrong but to not publish a clarification or correction is inexcusable. It is not only common practice but also the accepted rule of journalism ethics (as codified by organizations such as the Society For Professional Journalists) that when a publication reports incorrect information, a clarification or correction is required to be printed. Not doing so is unacceptable for any legitimate journalist. As operator of Dollymania, I am in a somewhat more authoritative position than a fan without a website to alert the magazine to the error and to demand a correction. Therefore, mentioning that Dollymania brought it to their attention and providing the magazine's response serves the purpose of informing other fans that a source with proper knowledge of the facts made it known to them that an error had been published and that the magazine refused to follow ethical practices. (Perhaps its reporters don't feel ethics are an issue, as the magazine is published by the same company as the National Enquirer.)
Next, if one counts up the items in the Year In Review, there are 66 Dolly news entries which don't mention Dollymania having reported them and just 10 which do, equaling 13 percent of the total news entries on the page. That's a very low amount for a site so full of "arrogance." There are many, many times more "information and photos" which don't tout the website's accomplishments than those which do. There were a dozen or more other examples of such Dollymania-first reporting throughout the year which were not mentioned in the Year In Review because they were not in my opinion important enough to be included.
Next, yes, Dollymania WAS the first one online to report the Dottie Rambo duet and the first one anywhere to confirm it. Perhaps you skipped a few days of reading the news page, and that is why you saw it on another site first. The first posting came the evening of April 30 (dated March 1) from a reader who happened to hear Dottie mention on a television program that she "might" do a duet with Dolly; with Dollymania being the first site online to report this. The first confirmation anywhere that the duet was set to be recorded was posted on Dollymania the evening of March 12 (dated March 13). No other news outlet reported this story until three days later, when another Dolly site did because of several e-mails its webmaster had received from readers who had seen it on Dollymania earlier that week.
And, yes, Dollymania was the first to report the dates and venues for Dolly's concerts this summer. Another Dolly site had about a day earlier posted a list of cities in which she was expected to perform and the scheduling of several television appearances, but no one before Dollymania received or published the dates she was to appear and the venues in each city -- not even national media like PollStar or the local newspapers in any of the cities she was to visit.
Over the past five years I've operated the site, I have developed many relationships with sources involved in Dolly's career, many of whom either choose to provide information first to Dollymania before it is released to anyone else or will answer my questions about Dolly matters before they will answer anyone else's. So, yes, everywhere it is stated that Dollymania was the first to publish something, that fact is completely true and accurate.
In closing, I would like to point out that yours is the only negative comment I have received about the Year In Review, as opposed to several dozen positive e-mails in the past few days. Also, yours is only the second complaint received in the past five years saying the site focuses too much on asserting that it reports information first. Finally, I may not agree with your comments, but I am glad to give you a forum in which to vent them.
Dec. 26, 2002 Hi. I was at cdnow.com looking for new Dolly CDs, but looks like I have them all -- all but one; was wondering if you can help??? It's tilted Best Selection, but there's no track list, and I got so many of the same Dolly songs over and over. So you know the track list to Best Selection???? Robert Onondaga, Mich. Unfortunately, I haven't seen a track listing for that album, so I can't help. However, just about all of her overseas compilation albums consist either of 1) various ones of her most popular recordings from her RCA years -- usually a variation on the same 15 or 20 songs which appear over and over, 2) some of her recordings during her brief time at Monument Records in the mid-'60s, or 3) her Goldband and Sommerset recordings as a young teen-ager. So, almost certainly, you already have two or three copies of each of the songs which are likely to appear on this compilation.
Dec. 24, 2002 Wow! I just found Burlap & Satin on tape at a pawn shop. What a bunch of wonderful songs!! But I got one problem, I don't care for tapes. All of my music is on CD. Is this wonderful collection of songs on CD? P.S. "A Cowboy's Ways" is sooooo good! And "A Gamble Either Way" is such a good song! Please let me know if it is on any compilation CD! Thanks for any help, Jamie Lansing, Mich. Yes, "A Cowboy's Ways" has for a long time been one of my all-time favorite Dolly recordings (she originally wrote it as "The Fields Where Stallions Run" for Burt Reynolds to sing in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, but when it got cut from the film, she recorded it herself, changing the lyrics to a female perspective and adding the new chorus; she recycled the melody for her No. 10 hit "God Won't Get You" from Rhinestone). The album also contains some great pop tunes like "Potential New Boyfriend" and "Ooo-Eee" as well as heartbreaking ballads like "A Gamble Either Way" (another one of the album's best!) and her original version of "Appalachian Memories," plus a duet with Willie Nelson and even a cover of "Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On." Unfortunately, like most of Dolly's RCA catalogue from her nearly 20 years on the label, it is out of print and not available on CD. Also, "A Gamble Either Way" is not on any compilation CDs, to the best of my knowledge. Addition by author: That's a shame, so many good songs never to be heard by her younger fans! Who can we cotact to try to get the wonderful music of Dolly Parton reissued on CD? Like Dolly, Dolly, Dolly, Burlap & Satin, Rhinestone, Real Love, ect? What happened to all these musical treasures?? Mabey Dolly should do somthing! Well, BMG, parent company to RCA, owns those albums, so they would be the people to contact -- however, I've found that most mega-corporations like that really don't care what the public says and won't listen to demands that Dolly's music be re-issued. Basically, it's as if they think if it won't sell several hundred thousand copies and make them a small fortune for their bottom line, they don't want to bother with re-issuing it. Dolly, alas, really doesn't have any say in the matter since those albums are under the label's control and not hers.
Dec. 24, 2002 Hi, love this site!!!! I come here every day for dolly news. Question? Do you know what dolly is going to do for her next cd? Or when it will come out? I want to know! I think it will be hard to top Halos & Horns. It's wonderful, although I'm not a bluegrass fan just a huge Dolly Parton fan!! Oh.....please tell me it's true!!!!!!!! I heard a rumor that DOLLY has a new CD coming for 2003 called DOLLY Live from Dollywood. Is it true??? I hope so. God, she hasn't done a live CD since 1994, Heartsongs, which I love, and maybe "I Will Always Love You" will be on it! Wouldn't that be fabulous!!!! Let me know please. Robert Onondaga, Mich. Thanks for your note, Robert. Dolly hasn't said yet what her next CD will be or when it will be released. As for the live album, her shows at Dollywood earlier this month were taped (both video and audio), and Dolly mentioned to the crowd that she hopes to release a live CD from the recording. We'll just have to wait and see, as nothing official has been decided to my knowledge.
Dec. 23, 2002 I just watched Smoky Mountain Christmas. I'm trying to find the name of, and
the lyrics to the song she sang at the end, that starts off.....…"Take my hand, take my heart." Can you help? Katherine Medford, Ore. Katherine, the song is titled "All Wrapped Up In You" and was written for that television movie. As with all of the other songs she wrote and sang in that film, she hasn't recorded any of them for release on albums. Therefore, you will not find a version in any stores. But the lyrics, as performed in the film are, to the best of my memory: "Take my hand, take my heart. Take my whole life too. Take your time, take my love. It's good and pure and true. The gift of love is hard to find. I've searched my whole life through. God above has smiled on us. This Christmas, I got you. 'Tis the season to be jolly, how could I feel blue? I give to you my gift of love, all wrapped up in you. 'Tis the season to be jolly, how could I feel blue? I give to you my gift of love, all wrapped up in you. In ribbons bright, in joy and light. With bows of hope and truth. Bound and tied, this gift for life. And all wrapped up in you. I'm all wrapped up in you."
Dec. 23, 2002 I'm confused!?!? On your news page Dolly says that she cant wait to do "I Will Always Love You" as a bluegrass song, well I was so excited cuz that's my favorite song she sings. I got the others: the original from 1974, the movie version from 1982, and the duet from 1995. I couldn't wait for it! Now i see on your news page she's not doing bluegrass anymore, she wants to do a country cd, kids cd, and a dance mix cd? So will we get this new "I Will Always Love You?: I hope so, thanks! Robert Onondaga, Mich. Thanks for your letter, Robert. I don't know if we'll get a new "I Will Always Love You" or not. Dolly often says things that she'd "like" to do, but as time goes by she doesn't always have the time to do everything she wants to. Also, the mention that she'd like to record a bluegrass version of "I Will Always Love You," although published a week or two ago, came from an interview conducted about six months ago, while the statement that she doesn't intend to record another bluegrass album is from an interview only a week or so ago. However, just because she doesn't want to record another full bluegrass album doesn't mean she won't include a bluegrass tune or two on a future release.
Dec. 12, 2002 I have been trying to find a video of a Christmas television special that Dolly did with Kenny. It was either during the Christmas of 1997 or later. I was a really terrific musical. My mother-in-law really liked it and has wanted to get a VHS or DVD copy. The one thing I do remember about it is one song where there were children dressed up as unusual elves or sprites dancing around. Do you know what this special ws called and if it is available on video? Thanks, Cammy Hendersonville, Tenn. The special was called Kenny & Dolly: A Christmas To Remember and was based on their 1984 holiday album Once Upon A Christmas. It aired on CBS in December 1984 and was repeated throughout the 1990s on the cable network The Family Channel. However, the show was never released on commercial video for sale in stores. The only copies you might find are ones fans have tapped off of television over the years. If you're interested, you may list the item on the site's Collectors' Connection, where any fans who have it to offer for sale or trade may contact you directly via e-mail. Just let me know if you'd like to do that.
Dec. 3, 2002 Hi. I wonder if anyone can help me? I'm looking for a free mp3 of Hard Candy
Christmas, Dolly's fab seasonal track from the Best Little Whorehouse...
album. Please get in touch. Pete Malone London, U.K. If you're a member of any of the Napster-like music sharing services (such as Morpheus or I-Mesh), there are several copies of it on MP3 floating around those systems.
Dec. 3, 2002 IN SEARCH OF: 1984 CBS television special feat. Dolly and Kenny
Rogers. I NEED THIS VIDEO. Title: Once Upon A Christmas. The CD was
recorded by RCA. I have exhausted all my resources. Any help would be appreciated: Mickey Martin Chatsworth, Calif. The title of the CD is correct, Once Upon A Christmas, but the TV special was titled Kenny & Dolly: A Christmas To Remember. Unfortunately, it has never been released commercially on video, so your best bet is to find another fan who has recorded it off of television. Also, you might try an auction site like ebay. Even though their rules prohibit sale of such non-commercial items, many of these "sneak" past their system and end up in the hands of happy fans.
Oct. 18, 2002 Thanks for your informative website. We (Roslyn, Toni, Andi, and Gina Amato) check it regularly for the latest Dolly news. We first became fans of Dolly while traveling through Tennessee in 1985. It was love at first listen, but our appreciation of Dolly's music has grown exponentionally since then .Roslyn and Andi have even researched Dolly for an academic study about the psychology of longevity in creativy for a professor. After our
semester ended last spring (2002), our own personal Dolly tour commenced. First, we visited Dollywood and the Smokies in May (our sixth trip). Then, when we read on your site that Dolly was going to be on the Today Show in NY, we made plans to go there. We were on the Today Show lot at 6:30 am with a great bunch of Dolly fans. We were duly impressed with Dolly's performance. She sounded great. After hearing her in that abbreviated concert, we felt compelled to hear her in full concert. We searched the Internet, but the closest shows to us were sold out. Therefore, we made plans to hear her in Lowell, Massachusetts. It was worth the trip, because she sounded spectacular. The concert was absolutely fantastic. One really excited fan was overcome with Dolly (weren't we all), and the police came to remove him. Though he was a little distracting, Dolly was right when she stopped singing briefly to tell the police "He's harmless. Let him stay." We tried to get her autograph after the show, but she was gone, so gone. We guess her quick exit was her way of saying "take me back to the country," because "those Northern nights are chilly." And we don't blame her for wanting to get out of Boston after what that Walter Henry Hagan did to her. : ) Thanks again for all your efforts from a family of Dolly fans, Roslyn, Toni, Andi, and Gina Amato Upper Darba, Penn. Thanks so much for your nice letter. And thanks for sharing your Dolly experience!
Oct. 4, 2002 I am a certified graphologist wanting to do an analysis on Dolly for my website www.free-handwriting-analysis.com. Any suggestions where I might get a sample of her handwriting (more than just her signature)? I have had several requests for her analysis and I think she would be an excellent role model. Thanks, Cheryl Patrick Mountainburg, Ark. Cheryl, thanks for your letter. While I don't recall having seen many examples of her handwriting in print before or otherwise publicly available, there are a couple of ways to see one. First, the back cover of her classic 1971 album Coat of Many Colors contains a reprinting of a handwritten letter explaining the story behind the autobiographical title song. Also, there are some samples of handwritten song lyrics and other items on display at her museum at Dollywood which I'm sure you could photograph if you visit.
Oct. 4, 2002 I was so happy to see that there was a contest to win a autographed cd!
Until I saw that it was only for americans............*sad* Too bad I would've liked to try my luck! Why is this???? anna Stockholm, Sweden Thanks for your letter, Anna. The label made the decision to restrict the contest to U.S. residents only. I know shipping parcels outside the U.S. can be quite expensive, so I suspect that postage costs had something to do with it. I also believe there are some special rules dealing with contests which operate outside the country, so that may have played a role as well. Sorry. But any Americans who wish to enter have just a little less than two weeks to do so. Click here for information.
Sept. 24, 2002 Hi Duane! thanks for a GREAT site, I love it! I just had to say how HAPPY I was to see that Dolly was coming over to Sweden, can't wait! =) (by the way, all this info, so much... amazing =) ) Sigrid =) Östersund, Sweden Thanks for your kind note. As I always say, it is so good to hear from other Dolly fans who enjoy the site, especially our friends from outside the U.S. I know Dolly will be great on BingoLotto over there!
Sept. 23, 2002 All of you Dolly fans be sure and catch the pictures and story in the October Southern Living magazine concerning the 2000 Stars Over Mississippi concert that Dolly performed at with such stars as Debbie Allen, John Dye, Brooke Shields and others. This year's concert will not have Dolly but it will feature Whoopi Goldberg, Ray Ramano, & Brooks and Dunn will be the head line act. All of you fans that came to see Dolly we say come on back and visit us on October 5. Visit www.starsovermississippi.org
for details. by the way vist Amory any time & you can place your hands in Dolly's on the Walk of Fame in downtown Amory, Mississippi. Ken Amory, Miss.
Thanks, Ken. Dolly's performance was amazing at the fundraiser for education in the Amory area. Anyone interested in attending this year's show visit their website!
Sept. 9, 2002 Hi, a new Dolly CD is at CDNow.com in the import section titled Best Of and the year is 2002, but there's no track list or no picture and I have a few best ofs by Dolly. Can you find a track list or pic so I don't get the same thing twice? Thanks, love, Bobbie Well, unfortunately I was unable to get any more information for you, as the CDNow listing doesn't have a label or country of origin or any additional information. The release date may be deceiving, as U.S. stores generally post a release date for imports as the date they received copies, which is often a few weeks or months after it was actually released overseas. My best guess, and it's just a guess, is that it is one of the 21-track Best Of collections which have been issued in numerous European countries. Several (including England, Germany, Belgum, and Denmark) have released a CD under that title over the past couple of years. Although each had different cover art, they all had the same 21 songs.
Sept. 5, 2002 WHAT A GREAT SITE THIS IS!!!!! So much info, and thoughts, very interesting. Does anyone know how to make sure that Dolly gets a letter. Or is the chances zero.......I guess all of us visiting this site would want to "get in touch" with Dolly. But maybe someone has an idea of what to try!!!! Thanks again for a great site! Anna Stockholm, Sweden Thanks, Anna, for your kind words. I always love to hear from other Dolly fans who enjoy the site, especially our friends overseas. To answer your question, while no one can guarantee that Dolly will receive or read your letter, you may send fan mail to her at P.O. Box 150307, Nashville, TN 37215.
Sept. 4, 2002 Why did Dolly leave RCA Records? I've read various reasons in print and on the internet, but I've never gotten a solid answer. Some say she left of her own free will and others say she was dropped from the label. I find the latter answer to be unreasonable since Dolly is probably the biggest selling female artist RCA ever has. I also want to say that when I heard CMT named Dolly their 4th all time greatest female country singer I was shocked. I thought it was a joke. Nothing against the great artists who came ahead of Dolly in this poll , but what was CMT thinking? Putting Dolly at 4th is not only an insult to the people who love her, but to Dolly Parton as an artist. She is without a doubt the greatest country artist period. Look at her accomplishments. Four boos to you CMT. Thanks again Duane for having a forum for us fans to express our opinions. You're the best! Terry Minto, New Brunswick, Canada My understanding is that her contract at the label was up, and it was a mutual decision not to renew it. While from 1977 through 1981 she was the label's biggest-selling female artist regardless of musical genre (and her duet work with Kenny Rogers produced the biggest-selling single of 1983 and one of the biggest-selling albums of 1984), her solo studio albums for those later years were doing respectably but not experiencing the mega-star sales of a few years before and, with the exception of "Islands In The Stream," was not having any pop hits. Also, this was the time during which she was experiencing some physical medical problems and depression as well as battling her weight. And she wasn't very happy with the direction the label was pointing her career in, especially the mixing of country numbers and pop numbers on the same albums. At the time, she said: "It was like an old marriage. We'd begun to take each other for granted a little bit. What I needed was a fresh start and some real success in my recording career." After the Trio album was released on Warner Brothers in 1987, she signed to CBS/Columbia, where she stayed from 1987 until 1995, the following year moving to Universal Music Group's Rising Tide label. When Rising Tide folded in 1997, Universal moved her to another one of their labels, Decca. When it folded in 1998, about half of the label's roster was switched to sister label MCA, with the other half (including Dolly) being dropped completely. It was the following year that she moved to indie label Sugar Hill, becoming its second-biggest selling artist of all time (behind Nickel Creek). However, she really isn't a true Sugar Hill roster member. Instead, she produces her own albums on her Blue Eye label and leases the masters to Sugar Hill for distribution, giving her complete control over the content of her albums.
Aug. 31, 2002 Just wanted to comment on how disappointed I was to see Dolly at #4 on the
greatest women of country list. True, Patsy Cline had a great voice, but
Patsy never wrote her songs or achieved too much fame until she passed away.
Not to mention the facts: Dolly has had more #1's, more top 10's, more chart
records, & more top 10 albums than in other women in country history. It
seems to me that Dolly's popularity actually hurt her on this list. Its a
shame to say, but if she had passed away she probably would have been #1. How
can the fans write to CMT to express their disappointment? Anyway, thanks for
letting me vent about this. Tom Nashville, Tenn. Thanks for your letter. I agree and felt Dolly should be No. 1 and Patsy No. 2. (Even my mother said she felt the top four should have been inverted with Patsy No. 4, Tammy No. 3, Loretta No. 2 and Dolly No. 1.) You may reach CMT by clicking on the "questions/comments" button on the bottom of their website's main page (here)to send them an e-mail, or you can post a comment on their message boards here.
Aug. 31, 2002 I saw Dolly last night (8-28) we stood right at the stage front row. When she walked out it was so weird because she is so much more beautiful in person. Her photos don't do her justice at all. I even overheard a lady say, "she's so little." The concert went the same way it did in New Orleans. Except she didn't play "I'll always love you" last this time. The guys next to us had the pig masks too. She said, "how'd you all know I was gonna say that." People by us yelled things like, "I love you", "Dolly you rock" and "you're beautiful Dolly!" I read this all on here before I went, so it was like deja vu. When it got quite while she was talking at one point, a bartender shattered a bunch of bottles, and dolly said, " sounds like somebody's breaking something, I thought I dropped my ring." Then while singing, she looked down at all of us, just at her feet, smiled sweetly and waved. This was really weird, we were so close to her you could smell her perfume. She played her harmonica, and when she waved her hips around in a circle everyone went crazy. There were mostly gay men and older folks, I think I was one of the few females in their twentys there. Seeing her stunning smile and hearing her southern/angelic voice, that makes you melt, was everything I hoped it would be. If she ever sees this, I'd like to thank her for giving us the pleasure of her presence here in St. Louis, she's a total sweetheart. Robyn St. Louis, Mo. Thanks, Robin!
Aug. 19, 2002 Again I would like to tell you how awesome your site is! I'm a huge Dolly fan! Like I always say "it's a Dolly Parton world and the rest of us are just living in it"! Without your site to keep me up on all the latest going-ons in the "land of Dolly" I don't know what I would do. So keep up the good work! There is a gay "youth group" I'm a member of that will soon be having a "Dolly Day". I preach the "word of dolly" (hehe) wherever I go, so the people of the group have given me a day to devote to her. Believe it or not (although they respect her) not too many of the other members of the group love her like I do. They do all agree that she is beautiful. So I'm lookin' forward to showing off Dolly and her many talents. (I'll have my 27 Dolly albums and 3 of her movies on hand).However, to make the day complete we would like to serve some type of "Dolly snack". Guess what I don't know what she eats! So I've come to you in hopes that you can help me out. Do you know any type of snack/drink that Dolly likes? Dolly Day is on Aug. 24th so if you could get back to me ASAP I would very much appreciate it! Thanks again!ps.."Halos and Horns" AMAZING! my 2nd fave dolly album ever! "Shatterd Image" is even better than the original...and "These Old Bones" is one of my new Dolly favorites! Jamie Spanaway Wash.
Thanks for your kind words, Jamie, and isn't the new album amazing! As for Dolly's favorite dishes, she's always said she loves good ole Southern cooking -- you know, fried chicken, cornbread, field greens, snap beans, mashed potatoes, yams, ham, biscuits, all the fixin's! And to keep her weight down, she eats six or seven tiny meals a day instead of three regular meals a day. Best of luck on your event! Keep spreading the word!
Aug. 7, 2002 I was at the concert Saturday night and I thought Dolly was fantastic. Granted the venue could have been better but it was Dolly and I didn't care. I had never seen her live before and it will be an evening I will never forget ... truly magical. Someone should alert Dolly about the roof falling in and she could incorporate a joke about raising the roof or bringing the house down. Your website is great. And wouldn't it be nice to hear "Dagger Through The Heart" on the radio. Visit the Dolly radio petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/dpradio/. Scott Lackey Irving, Texas
Thanks, Scott, for your letter. Maybe someone who works with Dolly will see this and suggest the joke to her. It's right up her alley! And everyone who hasn't signed the petition, you should do so! Tell radio we want Dolly!
Aug. 6, 2002 Oh mighty Webmaster.....Do you know if Dolly has any thoughts of doing a new duet album with Porter Wagoner by chance? You know, the Doll has always kept herself in the limelight with duets with just about everyone famous possible. It would be a shame to lose the old Wagonmaster (since he certainly ain't getting' any younger) and not get another round of the music that actually launched Dolly's career. They were really great together. Like branchwater and Don Perignon...somehow they just complimented each other magnificently. Also, I remember reading somewhere that the Doll was going to record a duet with Freddy Fender....were they talking about a single or an entire album? Thought you might know. Anyway....thanks again for all the info....we really appreciate you. Your friend in Dollymania, David Jones Garysburg, N.C.
Thanks for your letter. I never thought of myself as "mighty" :) Dolly and Porter have mentioned several times since their reunion in 1988 about the possibility of doing another duet album, but nothing has materialized yet. (Each one has said that if they were presented with the "right" material, they'd consider it.) Also, he was reportedly a little angry that the Country Music Hall of Fame inducted her and hasn't presented him with that honor, so I don't know how well their friendship has held up since then. But I, like many other fans, would love to hear them together again. Their music was so pure and real, and it is true that he's getting on up there in age, so they might not have many opportunities to record together left.
Aug. 3, 2002 I will be attending Dolly's show in Vegas on the 10th and have made a drawing of Dolly along with a poem I wrote. If I am close enough to the stage will I have the opportunity to just hand it to her? I don't know how the security works at these recent shows and maybe they don't allow this. Do you happen to know if this is possible? Anu info would be great! Also, just for the fun of it I was bale to get some exact numbers of the capacity of all the House Of Blues clubs that Dolly will be playing at since a reader had brought up that question earlier:
New Orleans: 1,000
Chicago: 1,350
Hollywood: 1,400
Las Vegas: 1,850
Manuel Burlingame, Calif.
Thanks for your letter and for the figures. (A photographer who met Dolly just before the New Orleans show said that she told him the venues on this tour have been the smallest she's played in her life, but they make just about every seat -- or standing spot -- in the house a good one!) Generally, she does not accept things on stage. In New Orleans, security came on stage before the show and asked if anyone had gifts for Dolly they'd collect them and put them in her dressing room. At the end of the show she thanked everyone for their flowers and gifts and told them that when she returned to Nashville the next day she would take them to the children's home for them to enjoy. She did accept the gift of the Mardi Gras beads from the stage, and maybe one other gift as she was exiting the stage, but that was it. Alternately, you could hand it to her road manager, Don Warden, who can usually be found around her bus.
July 31, 2002 I noticed in a couple articles on Dolly's Concerts that they are small venues. 900 in the New York concert and about 1,000 in DC. Is this average for all of her shows or are some larger theatres than these. I'll be seeing her in Vegas and was curious if it might be larger. And again, thank you for all the great info and quick too. Don't know how you do it. But great job. Thanks again. Kenny Sacramento, Calif. Kenny, thanks for your letter. These are the smallest venues she's ever played. On her last tour, it was 20,000-30,000 seat concert halls (and even a few larger ones), but each venue she's playing this summer holds about 1,000 people -- although I understand the Las Vegas one, since it's at a casino, is significantly larger, which is why its tickets went on sale weeks before the other dates and still have plenty available.
July 31, 2002 I have a quick question for you. I ran across a video that had an appearence of Dolly at the Donahue show back in 1986 where she mentioned that she was set to begin filming a movie that summer with Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda about spies in Washington. I heard a lot about sequels and other storylines about another film with the three of them but I didn't realize this particular one had been so close to actually getting filmed. She mentioned that Colin Higgins had written the screenplay. Do you know why the movie never materialized? And was it really all set to go? You are a true Dolly fountain of knowledge and might have this info. Hope you had a great time at the Dolly show! Best wishes! Manuel California Yes, there were many discussions on a 9 to 5 sequel, and a couple of them came very close to being filmed, but nothing ever got finished. My understanding is that the main problems were 1) conflicting schedules, as all three actresses were very busy throughout most of the '80s, and 2) that they never got a finished, final script that everyone found to their liking. Further hampering things was the fact that Colin Higgins, Dolly's favorite director who had supervised her work in both 9 to 5 and most of The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, had began by this time to show symptoms from AIDS. He retired in 1986 and passed away two years later.
July 31, 2002 I attendeed Dolly's concert at the House Of Blues, New Orleans, tonight. It sucked! She played a total of 1 hr 40 mins, and only played three old songs! The rest was from the "new albulm". There was NO ENCORE! The crowd booed her at trhe end. I'll never spend a penny on her music again! She sucked! Hodges Mercer Kenner, La. Although I disagree with your view of the concert, I will post your letter. I also attended the New Orleans concert, and I had a completely different opinion. I was standing on the front row taking notes, and I didn't hear any boos. Also, if you had read the reviews of her previous shows posted here, on other Dolly fan sites and in several major newspapers, you would have known 1) that this tour has been set up to where she does not leave the stage and return for an encore, instead choosing to remain on stage for "I Will Always Love You," which for 20 or so years has been her traditional encore number, 2) the length of the concert and 3) the set list. Also, your count of songs from the new album is way off. She performed only four songs from the new album. Of the remaining songs, two came from her 1999 CD and three from her 2000 CD (which, by the way, critics have called three of the best releases in her four-decade career), while all of the rest were "old" songs: Orange Blossom Special and Rocky Top (traditional numbers she's never recorded), My Tennessee Mountain Home (1973), Smoky Mountain Memories and Calm On The Water (1983), Applejack (1977), 9 to 5 (1980), Jolene (1974), After The Goldrush (1996), I Will Always Love You (1974 and 1982), and the a capella medley -- Islands In The Stream (1983), Here You Come Again and Two Doors Down (1977), Why'd You Come In Here Looking Like That (1989). All total, roughly half of the songs she performed had been recorded more than 10 years ago, many more than 20 years ago, so the concert did not focus on her new album very much at all. But thank you for your opinion.
July 23, 2002 Dear Duane: Keep on keepin' on!!!! I wrote you a few months ago to praise your site...and I see you ain't a'lettin' up none at all!!! Your site is still the greatest! I am so glad to see that Diva Dolly is giving some of us hardcore 60s and 70s fans some of what seems like the "original Dolly" material that we were so fond of and yearn for. Everyone calls this new album Bluegrass....I call it pure country Dolly...so reminiscent of the early days of the Diva. I was beginning to think that she had forgotten all about us Joshua/Jolene/Love is Like a Butterfly/Muleskinner Blues diehard Dolly fans. Just for the record,my favorite on the album is "These Old Bones." Dolly has always been a storyteller and this is her at her best!!!! I am from the days of "Applejack," "Me and Little Andy," and the infamous "Coat of Many Colors." Right on time, Miss Dolly. Duane, do you have any news on the Dolly/Mae West project yet? Now, this should be something to behold! If Dolly can pull this off, she can pull anything off. As I am sure she will!!! Duane, keep up the good work and we will tune in to the latest 411 on the Dolly!! Thanks so much, we really appreciate your effort. David Jones Garysburg, N.C. Thanks, David, for your nice comments. I try my best to find all of the Dolly news I can to pass along to keep all of us fans in-the-know, so it always makes me feel good to hear from other fans who enjoy the site. As for the Mae West project, my understanding is that the script has undergone extensive re-writes, but it is supposedly close to the point where filming can soon begin, possibly this winter for airing next year.
July 18, 2002 Hi!! I really enjoy your site!! I heard somewhere that Dolly will be relaunching her line of cosmetics. Do you know if this is true? And also, where can I purchase them? Thanks so much. I am a HUGE Dolly fan and I absolutely love your site!! You keep me up to date on Dolly!!! Good Job!!! Hilah Roanoke, Va. An article last week in the British newspaper The Guardian noted that she is planning to re-launch the cosmetics line. That article was mentioned a few days ago on the news page of the site. Unfortunately, I have seen no other mention of this development anywhere else, so I do not know if it is true or if the newspaper made a mistake.
July 11, 2002 What an awesome story about the Dottie Rambo and Dolly duet! I particularly enjoyed the picture of Dottie and Dolly together – Dottie is such a beautiful and wonderful woman –inside and out! I have traveled all over country to see Dottie; to hear her sing and minister – what a blessing she is to me and countless others. Her music, talent, and testimony have touched millions. I am so excited to hear "Stand by the River", I know it will be great; I can't wait to hear those two together. While reading the Dottie and Dolly news, I remembered how much I also like Dolly's singing. I went out and bought "Little Sparrow" (which I am enjoying!) and am looking forward to Dolly and Dottie's new CDs. Thanks for all of the good news about two amazing women. Jerry Dallas, Texas Thanks for your comments!
July 10, 2002 I grew up with Dottie Rambo, Buck and Reba on the radio, albums and concerts. I have only high praise for this Woman of God and the many Gospel standards she has penned. I AM surpirsed that Dolly Parton has teamed up with her. But very pleased she has made this choice (As I was amazed with Her and Vestal Goodman's Duet!!) I can't wait to own the CD myself! As for the guy (Chris) who attacked Dottie's physical appearance I am not sure what fueled his fury but I hope he is able to put it aside. She truly is an amazing songwriter and an inspiration to all those who have weathered life's storms. Mark C. Brown Portland, Ore.
Thanks for your letter. I can't wait to hear the duet myself!
July 9, 2002 Apparently, a Dottie Rambo fan caught the March 15 letter printed here in which a reader criticized Dollymania for promoting Dolly's upcoming duet with the gospel legend and insulted her appearance. Word must have gotten around, because several fans contacted me regarding the letter, and several of them provided their own responses for publication. They are as follows:
I just got the news!!!! Dolly and Dottie Rambo singing together. Thank you God. I've heard both Dolly and Dottie's testimony about where they've been and how far God has brought them. "Stand By the River" is going to be out of this world. I just read March 15th's comments - how sad. Brother you have no idea of how beautiful (inside & out) Dottie Rambo truly is. She not only effects the south - she has had an impact on the world with all 2,500 songs that she's written. And now to see her teaming up with her friend and country music's greatest. Let's just say - step back and watch the anointing fall. Comments such as those should be deleted the day they come out - to bad this person hasn't survived the hell Dottie Rambo has, written thousands of songs, and lived to tell about God's glory, and still have the strength and beauty that both Dolly and Dottie have. Scott Cincinnati, Ohio, and Tampa, Fla.
I am extremely upset at Christopher from Chicago's remarks about gospel legend Dottie Rambo. I am from Montpelier, Vermont and I was raised on the music of Dottie Rambo. Dottie is such a talented writer and musician and definitely does NOT look like a dragon! I have had the pleasure of meeting Dottie several times and she always has wonderful things to say about Dolly, and I have heard Dolly say that Dottie was a huge influence on her and her music. And furthermore, I am very much looking forward to the "Stand By The River" duet, and will buy it the day it is released! And Duane, while I do appreciate your non-refusal of Letters To The Webmaster, I do think that personal attacks, like Christopher's attack of Miss Rambo, should not be included. Thanks. Buck N. Jones Montpelier, Vt.
A fan recently called my attention to a letter to the webmaster about the Dolly Parton and Dottie Rambo duet. I am Dottie Rambo's manager and I have to say I was surprised at such a slam toward one of the sweetest people I have ever known. I am assuming this person who sent this email has no clue who Dottie is nor what she stands for. It sounds like they think she is a political Christian. Dottie is not involved in politics at all or hate groups! Dottie is a normal person, a Christian, a singer, a songwriter and known through out the world not just limited to the South. I find it odd that of all the stories on duets and such that have been ran on Duane's site that this person would attack this particular project...maybe he has a problem with Christian people...maybe he hates gospel music...maybe he hates southern people...at any rate...he has the right to his opinion or even his witch hunt. However why trash something or dictate to someone what to print on their website? Isn't that the spirit of control? If a story is there I don't like... I skip it! If a Dolly collaboration isn't one I would like...I wouldn't buy it. However...making personal jabs and rude remarks only shows that someone has a problem or to much time on their hands. I am really shocked that Duane allowed this to be posted. Not shocked about the opinion but am shocked he allowed the actual personal attack to be posted. At any rate the only wings right or left that Dottie claims are those on angels not politicians...Looking forward to getting the music video out as well as the CD this September. Thanks Duane and Dollymania for the promotion of the project and I do think you will enjoy the CD. Larry Ferguson Dottie Rambo's Manager
Hi, While reading through your site I was excited to see that Dolly will be doing a duet with Dottie Rambo. I am a Southern Gospel artist myself and I have always enjoyed the way that Southern Gospel and Country music work hand in hand. My main influences in Southern Gospel were my mentors Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters, and I still continue to work a lot with Little Jan Buckner. I know Little Jan, and Dolly are close friends and I would like to see the two of them do a duet one day. I admire Dolly for sticking to her Christian roots. She can reach a much more mass audience for God by putting a gospel song on her country albums, then alot of Christian performers can, this is awesome. Dottie Rambo is a true saint, who has penned many legendary gospel songs that are in many hymn books today. I look forward to this duet, and commend Dolly for staying strong in her faith, and all that she does for the Gospel music industry. We love you!!!!! Neil Pope Greensboro, N.C.
As a gay man, I love the rainbow striped border! I was listening to Satisfied, a duet with Dolly and Vestal Goodman, when a friend told me of this site. I love it when Dolly does gospel songs, especially with other wonderful gospel singers like Vestal or Dottie Rambo. I have met all three of these wonderful ladies and I can tell you, they are sincere in what they sing! I wish Dolly would do an entire gospel album with Dottie! I met Dottie at Dollywood last year. She's awesome! If Dottie can't light the Lord's fire in you, then your wood is wet! I thank God for her and her ministry and her style of singing! George Knoxville, Tenn. First, I want to thank each of you for taking the time to share your comments, concerns and reactions. I am glad to provide a platform for such discussion. Secondly, I wish to personally apologize to Dottie and any of her fans who were offended by the letter's posting. However, it is the policy of this site and has been for the two years in which the Letters To The Webmaster section has been posted, that all letters received will be published unedited unless they contain obscenities or profanities. As I stated in my originally-published response to the March letter, I debated for quite a while on whether or not to publish it because of my own disagreement with its personal attack on Dottie and the author's apparent assumption that she was one of the right-wing intolerant stereotypes which many, unfortunately, think of when one mentions Southern gospel music. I also noted that it has been my experience that the majority of people involved in gospel music are nowhere near that stereotype -- as most are, in fact, very open-minded and loving individuals of true Christian heart. However, after much reflection, I decided to publish it because everyone has a right to his or her own opinion, and, going back to my days as a newspaper editor, when someone wrote a letter to the editor which exposed his own ignorance, it was published and left to the readers to decide for themselves whether the person was a nut or not. As the old saying goes, "'Tis better to remain silent and appear ignorant than to speak and remove all doubt."
June 12, 2002 What happened to the concert that was originally scheduled and then canceled for New Years Eve? Believe it was a benefit concert. Would like to know if a new date has been set. Rosann Marissa, Ill. The Nashville New Year's concert was canceled, according to very recent published reports, because of a bomb threat. It was to benefit the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, a charity which will provide college scholarships to the children of Sept. 11th terrorist attack victims. Dolly did perform a show in May to benefit the fund. It was held in Minneapolis, Minn. She has said she would like to schedule additional shows in the near future to support the program, but nothing has been announced as of yet.
June 6, 2002 First, let me say that I LOVE this website! I'm a huge fan and "Dollymania" certainly represents her well. I do have one question about the album covers page (here). Which CD is the one pictured right after Hungry Again and before Trio 2? I haven't seen that one before and would really like to locate it. Thanks, Michael Oak Ridge, Tenn. Thanks for your letter. The cover to which you were referring is the dance re-mix of "Peace Train." When I put this page together, I decided to use the cover for the Australian release of the CD, since the U.S. cover just showed a train instead of Dolly.
May 30, 2002 Hi, I read that Halos & Horns is Dolly's final CD! Is she going to not make any more CDs? Oh god I will just die if its true!!!!!!!! Bobbie Onondaga, Mich.
That's a new one to me! As far as I know, Dolly has not indicated any plans to stop recording any time soon, so the report you read is almost assuredly false.
May 17, 2002 Hi, I'm absolutely stumped and wondered if you could help me find a song by Dolly Parton. I thought it was called "You Are," but I haven't found any listings for it. The lyrics I know from it are as follows: "You are my inspiration, you are my everything." Any help you could give me on finding this song would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Lara Brisbane, Australia P.S. Your web site is absolutely great. It's so thorough, the best I've come across, and I've been to quite a few looking for that song!!
Thanks for your letter. Yes, the song is called "You Are" and was recorded and released on her 1977 album New Harvest, First Gathering. It is one of my favorite Dolly recordings, and she wrote it as a thank you to her fans. Unfortunately, the album has never been released on CD, but the song was included in a recent German release from BMG Records titled The Love Album, which is available as an import on most online music dealers (get it at Amazon.com here!). (For future reference, there is a list of all songs Dolly has ever released on the site under "Songs" -- available both alphabetically and chronologically.)
May 17, 2002 Hey! I saw a while back where you reported that Dolly would be doing a tour this summer. Do you know of any dates or locations yet, or even what regions she plans to visit? I would really like to catch one of her shows! Hilah Roanoke, Va.
No, unfortunately, no locations or dates have been announced yet. She is going to tour later this year, and I'd hope we'll get a schedule in the next few weeks. Keep checking back on the News page (here), and the information will be posted there as soon as it's available.
May 17, 2002 My name is Lynn Angela Pisco from Union City , California . I am only just 30 years old and I just wanted to say that I think Mrs. Dolly Parton is one of the most gifted and talented " Legendary Female " in country music who has achieved so much strength and accomplished alot of other female artists also struggled with her own as well to get to where she is right now in history and there's no other female artist who can't do that all by herself not even " Hurricane Wynonna " by the way she is one of my favorite as well along with her mother Naomi and younger sister Ashley ! I mean look at this particular woman Dolly during in her earliest years at the age of 15 after graduated from high school have struggled to maintain becoming a bright country music superstar and change other people's lives completely and no wonder everyone wants to be like her and acted as well know what I'm sayin' ! So I think everybody should be recognized this person with respect, dignity and couragement to really getting to know her as a human being not to look at her as a figure know what I'm sayin' and also just leave this lovely dearest female country legend alone o.k . please ! Thank you very much for understanding ! Lynn Union City, Calif.
Thanks for your letter, Lynn. We all love Dolly and think she's the greatest!
May 13, 2002 Just saw your show on Austin City Limits and PBS. Love You! GREAT! Clifton Oklahoma City, OK
I'm not Dolly, but I'm glad to pass along the comment. (Dolly doesn't operate any official websites other than those for her business interests such as Dollywood and Dixie Stampede, so fan sites like Dollymania report on her career to her fans.)
May 3, 2002 I heard Ashley Judd mention recently on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart that she used to listen to a Dolly/Vince Gill duet all the time. I can't find any info on that. Do you know what song that is and where it appears? Sam New York, NY
Thanks for your letter, Sam. The song in question was Dolly's third recording of her classic "I Will Always Love You," which she wrote in 1973 and first recorded in 1974 for Jolene (country No. 1), then re-recorded for The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas soundtrack in 1982 (country No. 1, pop No. 53). After Whitney Houston's smash 1992 recording from The Bodyguard, Dolly teamed up with Vince for a duet of the song in 1995 greatly influenced by the R&B sound of Whitney's version. It peaked at No. 15 on the country charts. It appeared on her 1995 album Something Special, which is still available in most stores, and also appeared on Vince's greatest hits collection (I think it was titled "Souvenirs") and Dolly's Columbia greatest hits collection: I Will Always Love You And Other Greatest Hits, which is also still available at most stores.
April 29, 2002 Hi, it's me again! I heard that My Tennessee Mountain Home will be put out on CD with Jolene as a set. But, upsetting enough, it's an overseas release. Do you know if it will be put on an import cd? I hope so. I love Dolly so much, and love it when they bring back classic Dolly records on CD, which by the way they should do more often! (Buddha Records -- hint, hint). Also there is a CD at CDNow that is called Dolly Parton and Friends at Goldband. Do you know the track listing? They don't at CDNow. Because I have about 60 Dolly Parton CDs but a lot of them have a lot of the same songs over and over so I'm not sure if I want this CD not knowing what's on it. Thank you so much for your tribute to our goddess of music! I check your sight every day. Thank you, Bobbie Onondaga, Mich.
Thanks, Bobby, for your letter. Yes, My Tennessee Mountain Home was issued as a two-albums-on-one-CD collection in England by RCA parent company BMG last year with Jolene, followed a few months later by the release of Joshua paired with Coat of Many Colors. (Get My Tennessee Mountain Home/Jolenehere and Joshua/Coat of Many Colorshere!) As for Dolly Parton And Friends At Goldband, the CD does contain Dolly's first single, "Puppy Love," but that is the only Dolly song on the album. The remainder of the CD consists of other Goldband artists.
March 29, 2001 SALUTATIONS AND KUDOS TO YOU DUANE!!!! I have never visited a more organized, informative and enjoyable website as your DOLLYMANIA. I found you by accident and I am "hooked." Never have I seen any one person so informed and getting their point across so informal and down to earth at the same time. I am thoroughly enjoying you everyday. You surely give us a heaping helping of everything from A to Z on Dolly. Keep up the good work....and I'll keep tuning in!!!! What's the skinny minnie on the Dolly/Mae West project? Hit me on the hip and I'll catch you on the flip-flop!!!!! Thanks again for being the best. I'll be looking for you everyday.
Yours in DOLLYMANIA David L. Jones Garysburg, N.C.
David, thanks for your kind words. I'm just doing my best to keep everyone informed about the wonderful Dolly! On the Mae West project, there's not a lot of news on it. She has recorded some demos for possible use in the film, I've confirmed, and I've been told the script is done. Rumor has it filming has or soon will start, but that's not confirmed. Another rumor is a possible airing in late fall or early spring.
March 15, 2002 'Dottie Duet Confirmed' No offense, Duane, but this is something only people in the South would care about. In fact, I'd rather not here about dolly's plans to record with this 'woman of god'. (she looks like a dragon) I'd prefer it at the bottom in a smaller font. ;-) Christopher Chicago, Ill.
Chris, I debated whether to print this letter, but I believe that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, and I haven't turned down a Letter To The Webmaster yet. Now, I know some Dolly fans for their own reasons may not like Dolly recording a duet with a "musical minister," but there are just as many who would like to own the recording when it comes out (both in and outside of the South) because they want all of Dolly's music in their collection and/or because they enjoy gospel music. Regardless, I don't know that much about Dottie Rambo and what her religious and political beliefs are, but I have found that many of those involved in religious music aren't the rabid right wing morons who tend to get the most publicity in today's media. And regardless of what you think of this whole thing, I don't really believe it's a nice thing to compare her appearance to that of a dragon, even if it is in jest.
March 9, 2002 Hi. My name is Kaj Lindh and I'm from Finland. I wonder where can I find the song "If You Ain't Got Love" from the movie The Beverly Hillbillies? And is the song "Night Train To Memphis" on any other CD than Heartsongs? I hope you can understand my English. Kaj Lindh Kronoby, Finland
Thanks for your letter. Unfortunately, Dolly has only recorded "Night Train To Memphis" for Heartsongs and "If You Ain't Got Love" for The Beverly Hillbillies soundtrack, and both albums are out of print. You might get lucky and find a retailer who still has a copy of one of them for sale, but otherwise your best bet is to find a copy for auction on ebay or amazon.
Feb. 27, 2002 I am trying to locate "Hello Country Bumpkin." She sang it on a TV
program. Not sure if it was ever recorded. Robert San Jose, Calif.
Off the top of my head, I can't recall on what program she may have performed that song, but she hasn't recorded one for an album under that title. Anyone out there have any ideas?
Feb. 21, 2002 I need help. I love the movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Dolly wrote and sang some fantastic songs. However, the song I really want is "The Fields Where Stallions Run," which was sang by Burt Reynolds. It is not on the soundtrack. I heard that Dolly also published a version called "A Cowboy's Ways." Where can I get this song? Joey Chapel Hill, N.C.
Thanks, Joey, for your letter. It is a beautiful Dolly composition with a wonderful melody and poetic verse, ranking at No. 11 on my list of favorite Dolly songs (available here, although I haven't updated it in a couple of years). Yes, Dolly did write that song for the movie, and Burt did record it for the film. Unfortunately, the film company cut it from its final version (hence its absence from the soundtrack), although it does appear in some of the edited versions which air on television every now and then. And, yes, she did change the words so that it was told from the female perspective and recorded it as "A Cowboy's Ways" on her 1983 album Burlap And Satin. While Burlap has been out of print for quite some time now, I have seen a few copies on album and cassette up for auction on ebay recently. That's probably the only way you can get that version of the song. However, if you just like the melody, she used the same tune set to totally different words for her No. 10 single "God Won't Get You" for the 1984 Rhinestone soundtrack. "God Won't Get You" is still available on several compilation albums, including The Encore Collection and The Essential Dolly Parton, Vol. 1.
Feb. 14, 2002 Hi, my name is Robert i am a big Dolly Parton fan and have heard most of her songs. The reason I'm writing is I'm very sick and may not be here much longer, and I want to hear the whole song called "One Emotion After Another" from Rhinestone. I've seen them CDs on ebay but I can't afford it. My doctor bills are killing me! Can some one please help me? I have to here this song before I go. Thank you. With love, Robert Emery 5720 Rossman Rd., P.O. Box 35, Onondaga, MI 49264
Maybe someone out there can help you out with a copy of the CD? Best of luck.
Feb. 11, 2002 I love your page!!! I am a huge Dolly Parton fan. I love her so much...I was wondering if there is way that us fans can help get Dolly back on tour...just for a little while. I have not had the chance to ever see her in person...and I want to so bad. Thanks, Aaron J. Harlan Elkins, W.V.
Thanks, Aaron, for your kind words. I, too, wish Dolly would tour again, and maybe we'll be lucky enough to see a mini-tour to promote her next CD late this year or early next year (she had planned to do one for Little Sparrow, but her father passed away just when she and her accompanists were preparing to rehearse for the tour, so it was cancelled), but I doubt we'll see her on a full tour any time soon. As I've said before, artists generally tour because of the massive amount of revenue they receive from touring (as opposed to the comparatively small royalties from record sales) and because their labels make them do it since it promotes their records and results in greater sales to benefit the label. Dolly, the wealthiest entertainer in country music and one of the wealthiest in all entertainment genres, doesn't need the money, and she's not affiliated with a major label, so there is no label pressure to tour. Also, she has said that during the next few years she plans to focus on her film career, which prevents a lot of touring. In addition, she is getting a bit older, and touring is a rather grueling endeavor. Unfortunately, because of these facts, the prospects of her touring isn't very likely, in my opinion, and I don't know of any meaningful action which we fans can take which would get her back on the road. And, if you can afford it, you can travel to see her at one of the two or three dates she performs in an average year.
Feb. 8, 2002 This is my first-ever online fan letter, really a TESTIMONIAL to the healing power of Dolly's greatest songs. Four years ago, in the throes of a giant and unrealistic editorial project, I experienced such pain in my shoulders and neck that I was unable to read and in fact to do any editorial research that involved standing and thinking. The pain got worse and worse — mistakenly I sought chiropractic help, when it was really massive tension.
It all came to a climax on Mackinac Island. Leaving the island in search of the nearest chiropractor, I listened to Dolly's great Heartsongs album, smiled to myself, and relaxed — for awhile, anyway. It was the only thing that made me happy and hopeful. I think her music's power comes from Dolly's blend, as a songwriter and performer, of roots, blues, heart, and a Celtic-tinged acknowledgement of the difficulties of life, the Scotch-Irish heritage that plays a big part in that album. It's thrilling to see Dolly going back to music she grew up with and finding such a huge new audience. I have sung her praises for years to people who never really listened to the words of her greatest songs. THANKS, Dolly, for being such an authentic mensch in the world of show business! Mary Hunt Albion, Mich.
Thanks, Mary, for your letter. Yes, Dolly's music is powerful, as many can attest. I'm sure she appreciates your sharing your story.
Jan. 30, 2002 What can I say about Dollymania? Simple, it is the best!!!! No other website can compare. I am a huge Dolly Parton fan and everyday I link up to Dollymania just to make sure that I am not missing out on anything. Keep up the good work. Dolly fan, Bruce Cape Town, South Africa
Thanks, Bruce! As I've said before, it's truly wonderful to hear from Dolly fans around the globe! (And you know, she was the first female country performer to receive a gold record in South Africa back about 30 years ago!)
Jan. 21, 2002 I am a great fan of Dolly in our country, Czech Republic. I must to tell to all American fans, that on Christmas Day, in our TV, we all had a beautiful opportunity to see Dolly´s film Unlikely Angel. Great movie ! I collect Dolly´s albums (and now CD´s) over 30 years and she´s still my number one in country music. All her albums and cd´s are on my website - http://www.luma-electronic.cz/ including albums covers and lyrics to most of her songs. Also, there are all her albums duets with Porter Wagoner. Dolly is number one in our country (Czech Republic) as a country singer ! Vladimir Prague, Czech Republic
Thanks, Vlad! It's great to affirm Dolly's following around the world, where she is viewed by many as an ambassador to not only country music but the entire United States!
Dec. 31, 2001 Can you tell me where i can find a list of Dolly's performing dates for 2002? Linda Verona, Wis.
Unfortunately, Dolly does not perform much anymore. Generally, artists who tour do so because 1) they get almost 100% of the net proceeds, as opposed to $1 or so per CD sold; and 2) because their labels make them do it since it promotes their records and results in greater sales. Dolly, who is estimated to be the wealthiest entertainer in country music and one of the wealthiest in all of entertainment with a personal worth of between $200 million and $500 million, doesn't need the money that touring generates. Also, she is not affiliated with a major label, as she pays for her own recordings and then leases the masters to independent label Sugar Hill to distribute them, so there is no label pressure to tour. Also, she likes now to focus on her film career, which prevents a lot of touring. She currently doesn't have anything scheduled for 2002, but she has said she will host and headline the Red White and Bluegrass benefit concert for the terrorist attack victims (originally scheduled for New Year's Eve 2001 but now expected for the spring or summer 2002 in Nashville), but no date has been announced. She is also expected to continue her annual benefit Christmas concerts for the Dollywood Foundation around the second weekend in December at Dollywood, but the definite dates for those three shows likewise haven't been announced. There is a chance she could do a series of benefits for the terrorism victim fund, she has said, as well as a handful of shows to promote any album which she may release next year. We'll just have to wait and see. Any dates which are announced will be published on the Dolly In Person section on the right-hand side of the news page at Dollymania as soon as they are available.
Dec. 24, 2001 Just have heard a wonderful song by Dolly on the radio, it has Dolly speaking softly about a little boy who was sad because his Christmas wish about having God visit him didn't come true, then he heard a voice telling him that God had come three times to his door, once as a beggar with bruised feet, once as an old woman with nothing to eat and once as a child from homeless street ... What is the name of this song? I only heard part of the song and haven't been able to hear it again. Thanks for any assistance on this one, because I want to get it. Chon El Paso, Texas
Chon, thanks for your question. I have answered this one in about a dozen e-mails in the last week or so, so I decided to post it here in case anyone else has this question. The song in question is not performed by Dolly, but rather by the other main country diva, Reba. "The Christmas Guest," originally written and recorded by Grand Ole Opry and Hee Haw star Grandpa Jones, appeared on her 1987 album Merry Christmas To You, which is still in print and available at most record stores each holiday season.
Dec. 19, 2001 I am looking for Dolly's movie Smoky Mountain Christmas. I can't seem to find it
anywhere. Sandy Lake Station, Ind.
The video was originally released by FOX in 1991 but unfortunately has been out of print for several years now. I have, however, seen several copies each year around this time for auction on ebay or the auction portion of amazon.com. You are also welcome to try posting your request for a copy on the Collectors' Connection page of Dollymania, and, of course, people who may have a copy to sell can e-mail you from your letter here as well.
Dec. 6, 2001 I think Dolly is awesome! I just watched her movie Unlikely Angel, and she played a real good angel. I want to thank her because family is real special and sometimes we seem to forget just how special they are. Mike Boonville, N.Y.
Thanks, Mike, for your comments. It is a great holiday film! (Get your copy on DVD here!)
Nov. 26, 2001 Hi, I love your site! I was just wondering if you know if Dolly has any plans for another album in the future? Or what type of album it will be? Thanks. Hilah Roanoke, Va.
Thanks, Hilah, for your letter. Dolly has said in several interviews that this year's Little Sparrow was intended to serve as a bridge -- or transition album -- between the pure bluegrass of The Grass Is Blue and a full folk/Appalachian ballad album, which I would expect to likely be recorded and released next year. Now that she is no longer affiliated with a label, Dolly has the freedom to record whatever she wants whenever she wants. She produces the sessions, paying for them out of her own pocket for her Blue Eye Records imprint, then leases the masters to an independent label (which for both of these two albums has been bluegrass staple Sugar Hill Records) for distribution to the public.
Nov. 12, 2001 I was wondering if you could tell me the name of a song and the cd it was on. About 4 years ago, I think, I saw a video on CMT, (i think), I know the song had Dolly Parton and a few other women singing, It was kinda fast. Something about country girls, or something. I am very sorry That is ALL i can remember. But I know I loved the song. ~Thanks Tishia El Paso, Texas
Thanks for your letter, Tishia. I think the song you're probably thinking about is "Honky Tonk Songs," which appears on her Hungry Again album. It was from that time period, and the video was her and a group of other girls in a club asking "why don't more women sing honky tonk songs." Another possibility was "Romeo" from her Slow Dancing With The Moon album. This video was in black and white with her singing with Pam Tillis, Tanya Tucker, and Kathy Mattea in a bar about "Romeo," who was played by Billy Ray Cyrus, who also sang on the chorus. Finally, there was "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" with Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn from their trio CD Honky Tonk Angels. That video was set in their dressing room, with various country music personalities bringing gifts to them. Based on your description, I would venture to guess it was probably "Honky Tonk Songs."
Oct. 30, 2001 Hello. As a Dolly fan since many years but a start-up collector of Dolly vinyls, I would highly appreciate a discography listed on format; album, single and 12" and with the thumbnails of the covers in the same list. I have had problems finding a complete dicography of Dolly Parton on the Net. Thanks beforehand, Anders Stockholm, Sweden
Thank you for your letter, Anders. It's always good to hear from readers across the sea. While it would be nearly impossible to compile a list of all Dolly albums, given the literally hundreds of re-packages of her songs as well as compilation records which include her songs with those of others, listings of her original studio albums are readily available. However, the most complete listings are available on Dollymania, although not in the exact format which you've requested. The only published list of every song she has ever released is here (both alphabetically and chronologically), including the title of each song, its original album, year of release, label and whether she wrote it. The alphabetical list is arranged by song title, and the chronological list is arranged by albums in order of release. There is also a gallery here of all of her original release album cover art. Generally, all of her music from 1965 through 1987 was released on vinyl, from 1967 through 1985 on cassette and 8-track and from 1984 through today on cassette and CD. However, with the exception of a handful of re-issues, most of her catalog from before 1987 is out of print and no longer available except in collectors' record stores that sell used vinyl and auction sites like eBay or amazon.com. As for the format you requested, I have (off and on) been working on a new layout for listing her albums and singles including the cover art, but I just haven't had enough free time to prepare it for public view yet. Maybe soon I'll have the chance to finish it up, and you'll get to see it!
Oct. 29, 2001 Why does Dolly not control the radio station 105.5 WDLY any longer. It is no WDLY nor a Country Station. When in the area I always enjoyed listening to it. What Happened??? Carl Mountain City, Tenn.
Thanks for your question, Carl. As was reported on Dollymania at the time it happened, Dolly sold WDLY a couple of years back. She had performed on the station as a child, and when it was about to go under several years ago, she purchased it in the hope of returning it to a high-rated and profitable radio station so that it would remain on the air. After successfully achieving that goal, she decided to sell it. When it was no longer associated with her, it had to give up the call letters WDLY. I do not know what its current format is.
Sept. 17, 2001 Was going through some of my Dolly stuff and came across the article that appeared in the June 1991 Vanity Fair. The article mentioned a couple of projects Dolly was working on at the time, but I don't recall ever seeing either project anywhere and was wondering if you have any insight. The first one mentioned was a TV movie about a Texas swing band singer and the second was a movie called Sister Sunshine. By the way, I love the website and vote for it as often as I can. The other websites have nothing on you. Keep up the great work! Patrick Cleveland, Ohio
Thanks, Pat, for the compliments on the site. I do my best. Dolly did do the film mentioned in the article about the Texas swing singer. She was filming it at the time of the interview, which is why she was in Texas in the first place. The film was called Wild Texas Wind and premiered on NBC in 1991 and has aired on Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network several times in recent years. Dolly portrayed a singer abused by her manager and lover, played by Gary Busey. Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel co-starred as Dolly's band leader, and Willie Nelson had a cameo. Busey's character is killed, and both Dolly and Benson claim they murdered him. Dolly is found guilty and sent to prison, only to be released when Busey's father confesses to the killing on his deathbed. The film was released on video overseas, but it has yet to come out on tape or DVD in the U.S. The second project you mentioned is one Dolly has been trying to pull together off and on throughout the past 15 years. During that time it has been planned as a feature film, television movie and sitcom. It's been called Dixie's Diner, Sister Sunshine and Heaven's To Betsy. Originally, Dolly had intended to play a waitress in a diner who helped customers with problems; this was based on a recurring skit from her ABC variety series. Then the character was to be a female preacher who sang. The she was to be an angel returned to help people. Even a pilot and couple of episodes of Heaven To Betsy were filmed for the sitcom version for CBS around 1994, but they never aired. In its current reincarnation, which Dolly has said she hopes to film for a television movie sometime in the next couple of years, she is slated to play the lead singer in an R&B trio with two African-American women. Her character discovers she has psychic abilities and uses them to help others. No word yet on when it may be filmed or when it may air.
Sept. 12, 2001 To all Dolly Parton fans in the U.S.: I want to take this opportunity to express how sad I am for what your great country is going through. I'm sure that I speak for all the Dolly Parton fans in Canada who want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this most unfortunate time. Remember you will pull through this. Sincerely, A friend in Canada, Terry Richard Minto, N.B., Canada
Thank you, Terry, for your comments. It is good to know that in these times of crisis there are others in the world who share our concerns. Our prayers and thoughts are with the casualties of the horrific events in Washington and New York and with those who have lost loved ones.
Sept. 11, 2001 I have an album entitled You Are and I'm looking for another copy of it. The album was released in the UK in 1977 apparently but so far through all of my searches I haven't found anything. This album has sentimental value as it was bought for my mother the day I was born, and now, through age and use has become slightly scratched and worn. If anyone has a copy of this or knows where I can find one please contact the site. Gratefully, Carrie Liverpool, England
Carrie, best of luck in finding your record. I'd suggest looking in some collectors' record shops in your area which may stock old vinyl albums. You may also check out music listing sites like gemm or promusicfind, which list the holdings of several small record stores around the world. Also, you could try auction sites like ebay or the auction portion of Amazon for a copy. I could also post your request on the Collectors' Connection portion of the site (here), and anyone with a copy could e-mail you directly. (Please let me know.) Otherwise, if anyone out there has a copy or another suggestion, I'd be glad to pass it on (e-mail me here).
Sept. 10, 2001 I was wondering if Dolly has an e-mail address so I could thank her for helping by donating a coat/jacket to my great nephew's fundraiser a few years back. I just wanted to tell her thank you. The little guy has cancer and may soon loose his fight but, Dolly helped by donating something and making those long trips to the hospital easier on my niece and family. I've always thought she is such a loving person just by her beautiful songs. You can hear her genuine loving personality in her songs. Maybe someday I will get to see her sing in person and thank her for her niceness. Candy Rochester, Minn.
Dolly has always been known as one who has a big heart, especially when it comes to children. I'm sure she knows that the jacket was appreciated. Unfortunately, Dolly doesn't have an e-mail address. She jokes that she doesn't even own a computer! My suggestion would be to try the offices at Dollywood and ask if they could forward your note of thanks to her.
Sept. 6, 2001 I am trying to find a copy of the wonderful song from the film Blue Valley Songbird called "We Might be in Love." Anybody know where I can get it? Peter Kent Glos, England
Peter, I've gotten that question many times since the film first came out over here on the Lifetime network. Unfortunately, Dolly has never recorded the song for release on an album, which leaves a couple of options. First, if you have the sound equipment to do this, you could purchase the DVD of the film (get it here!) and connect your DVD player's audio output to a stereo system on which you could burn a CD of the song. Secondly, you could scout around for a bootleg copy of Dolly's submissions for the film soundtrack to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, many of which are floating around out there. Although the animated film did not include any Dolly songs, she submitted a handful for the producers' consideration, including a solo version of "We Might Be In Love."
Aug. 23, 2001 I would like to get some tickets to see Dolly Parton Dec. 14 or 15 in Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Can you please help me? Thank you. Sandra Keene Magnolia, Miss.
Sandra, those tickets are hard to come by. The concerts, which benefit the Dollywood Foundation, sold out several months back, and a handful of people, including yourself, have notices posted on the Collectors' Connection page of the site (here) seeking tickets. I have seen a few pair on ebay for auction, so you might try that route. Can anyone else help her out?
Aug. 21, 2001 Is it true that Dollywood will get new roller coasters for 2001? Jeremy Louisville, Miss.
Jeremy, there was a rumor a year or so ago that a new stand-up coaster was coming in 2001, but no new roller coaster has been announced. If one does come, it would have to be in the 2002 season, because the 2001 season is already in full swing. Whenever such a development does come, you can be sure it will be noted in the news here at Dollymania!
Aug. 21, 2001 About 6 or 7 weeks ago I purchased a CD by Dolly entitled 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs. But it only has eight songs on it and every time since then that I have seen it in a store or online it has had 10. It was released on RCA. It is missing "Detroit City" and "Dark as a Dungeon". Do you know anything about when that was released or why the songs aren't there. I have not seen it that way since. The cover picture is the same but the back is different. Thanks. Hilah Roanoke, Va.
Hilah, you apparently purchased an older re-issue of the CD. It originally came out with all 10 songs in 1980. In the late 1980s, RCA began re-issuing a few titles (including 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs, Jolene, Greatest Hits and Real Love by Dolly in 1987) but removing a couple of songs from each album, in the case of 9 to 5 "Dark As A Dungeon" and "Detroit City." They re-issued many of these same titles again around 1989 or 1990 after the label was purchased by British company BMG, including 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs, which is probably the CD version which you have (you can check on it where it has the copyright information, it should have the copyright symbol followed by the year it was produced, a comma and then the original release date of 1980). Thankfully, BMG in 1999 started re-issuing RCA CDs again, including 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs as well as Jolene and a couple other Dolly titles never before on CD, which feature ALL of the original songs from the albums. That newer version, which you can check on the CD cover as being on Buddha Records, has all 10 songs.
Aug. 16, 2001 I was wondering why Alison Krauss always backs Dolly (which she does beautifully) but Dolly never does back up vocals on Alison's CD's. Is it a record label dispute? Derek Thomas Wheeling,W.V.
First, Derek, Dolly has appeared on an Alison CD. She and Lyle Lovett sang harmony on the track "Dreaming My Dreams of You" on her 1999 album Forget
About It. There is no label dispute, as Dolly is not on a label. Technically, she is on Blue Eye Records (which is why on most of her appearances on others' recordings, it notes she appears courtesy of Blue Eye Records), but since she owns that label imprint and is its only artist, she IS Blue Eye Records and can give herself permission to appear on any recording she wants. (For her last two wonderful albums, The
Grass is Blue and Little Sparrow, she recorded them herself and then leased the masters to Sugar Hill Records to distribute, rather than them being recorded for and by Sugar Hill.) Now, Dolly and Alison sound wonderful together, and Alison can blend her voice so well to Dolly's that it sounds like two Dollies instead of Dolly and Alison. Alison has said many times that Dolly is her idol and the person who most influenced her singing style, so she loves to perform with her, and does so often on several tracks of any given Dolly CD for the past several years. Dolly, too, appears on lots of other artists' recordings, but usually on just one song out of an entire album. She does it so often, however, that it looks as if she never turns anyone down. The following is pure assumption, but this is what I think. I think Alison simply hasn't asked her to do it but that one time for that one song, so that's the only time she's appeared on one of Alison's CDs.
Aug. 9, 2001 I was just wondering if you know if Dolly is planning on doing any touring and what she is planning on doing after Little Sparrow. You have a wonderful and informative site. I check it daily for news. Thanks so much! Hilah Roanoke, Va.
Thanks, Hilah! Well, Dolly hasn't said yet exactly what she'll do after Sparrow, although she has hinted that a possible all-folk album could come next, as this was the transition between folk music and the bluegrass of The Grass is Blue. As for touring, Dolly has said she has no plans in the immediate future to mount a full tour, although she has said she would like to do some shows soon, perhaps a handful in a couple of major cities. Nothing, however, has been scheduled yet, and as soon as anything is, you can be sure it will be on the news page at Dollymania!
July 26, 2001 Hi, I was wondering if there were any plans to come out with more classic Dolly Parton on to CD? Buddha did the four, but I want Dolly, Dolly, Dolly, Rhinestone, Burlap and Satin, Great Pretender and Heartbreak Express. Do you know of any old Dolly coming back to cd? Thanks, Bobby Hi, just a couple of quick questions. Are there plans for a Trio 3? And do you know if Buddha or any other company will release more old Dolly on CD? And finally is Dolly working on a new CD after Little Sparrow? Thank you, Robey
I lumped these two together because they pretty much ask the same thing. Thanks, though, for your questions. Actually, I contacted Buddha Records a few weeks ago with that same question, and they told me, unfortunately, that they are not planning any new Dolly releases this year. So we all need to convince them to come out with more next year (e-mail them here)! As for the other questions, as far as I know, Dolly, Emmylou and Linda are not working on a third Trio album at this time, nor have they announced any plans to. (Remember, it took them 10 years to get the first one done, and the second one came out 12 years after that, so we may have to wait until around 2010 to get a third one.) Also, Dolly has not said what type of album exactly she'll cut next, but to my knowledge, she has yet to start recording her next CD.
July 24, 2001 Does Dolly have a fan club? If so do you have contact information? Deborah Corbett Sumter, S.C.
This is one of the most frequent questions which I receive in my e-mail inbox. No, unfortunately Dolly does not have a fan club. She had a rather popular one in the '70s and through the early '80s. When she started The Dollywood Foundation in the late '80s, she joined it with her fan club. Fan club members, or Dollywood Foundation Ambassadors as we were known, paid dues which supported the charitable works of the non-profit foundation. About four years ago, she disbanded the fan club, saying she didn't feel right about taking her fans' money and that she wanted people who gave to the Foundation to be doing so because they believe in its mission, not just because they like her.
July 23, 2001 Hi, wonderful tribute to Dolly the Queen of Country and much more! My question is: Is Dolly planing on putting "I Will Always Love You" on her next CD? I hope so! I heard her sing it different with a bluegrass twist and I love the new way! I know she's put it out 3 times different in '74, '82 and '95 but I
think she should do it one more time for her fans. I know it would be a hit for her again for the fourth time! Thanks. Bobbie Onondaga, Mich.
Thanks, Bobbie. Dolly really hasn't spoken much yet about what her next CD will be (she's talked about maybe a full folk album, or maybe a country one, or maybe even a dance record), so we don't know what will be on it. I heard the bluegrass version of "I Will Always Love You" on TV, too, and I loved it as well! Well, she's averaged the song out once every 10 years or so, which would mean we may expect it to come again around 2005!
June 28, 2001 Hi, I love your site! One of my favorite dolly songs is "A Cowboy's Way." Do you know if it's on cd? And what's the cd's name? Thanks. Bobbie Onondaga, Mich.
Bobbie, thanks for your letter. To answer your question, that is a beautiful song. She originally wrote it for Burt Reynolds to sing in Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. A few of the lyrics were changed, and it was at that time titled "The Fields Where Stallions Run." (For instance, the lyric "Even love can't change a cowboy's ways" was "it is lonely in the fields where stallions run.") The song, alas, was cut from the film, so it never appeared on the soundtrack. (Although when it is aired on broadcast and cable tv, they often include Burt's version of the song.) She re-wrote a few of the lyrics and recorded it on Burlap and Satin the following year. She re-wrote them again the following year, keeping only the melody the same, and it became the song "God Won't Get You," which was included on the Rhinestone soundtrack and made it to No. 10 on the country singles chart. Unfortunately, while one of her best compositions, in my opinion, I have never seen the song on CD. Your best bet to get it, if you have a record player, is to find Burlap and Satin on a vinyl lp (for this, auction sites like ebay or the auction portion of amazon.com are good, as are music listing sites like www.gemm.com or www.promusicfind.com).
June 25, 2001 I like your Dolly site! I hope Dolly would see it or maybe she has. I'm a big fan of Dolly Parton. Here in Finland it's not easy to find Dolly merchandise. Do you know where I can find posters and cards of Dolly? Do you know if she have been to Finland? Well I hope you understand my bad English I only speak Swedish. Kaj Kronoby, Finland
Thanks, Kaj, for your letter. I don't know if Dolly has ever been to Finland before (maybe another fan out there could enlighten me if she has). And if you're looking for Dolly merchandise, your best bet on finding whatever you need, in my opinion, is the auction site ebay, although you should be careful; I've spent a small fortune on that site buying Dolly things myself! (P.S. Don't worry about your English. It was fine.)
June 13, 2001 First, I want to say how much I love your site. It is by far the best on the web, the most informative, the most insightful, and almost always the first to bring me the latest Dolly news before anyone else gets it. I don't know how you do it! Anyway, I just wanted to get something off my chest that has been bothering me lately. I vote almost everyday for Dollymania at StarPages.net and AboutDollyParton.com, but I've always been amazed that Dolly.net is consistantly No. 1 instead of Dollymania. I was very delighted to see Dollymania finally get its due and return recently to No. 1 at AboutDollyParton.com! Then, just hours after you updated your site and announced you were again No. 1, Dolly.net took your place. I found it surprising that that site, WHICH HAD NOT RECEIVED A SINGLE VOTE IN MORE THAN A MONTH, generated a miraculous 500-plus votes in a few hours time to return to No. 1 and brag about it. It looked to me almost like the web master had gone to the site as soon as he learned from your page that he was no longer in the top spot and voted over and over again for himself. You know, I had always wondered how such an inferior site kept getting more votes than yours, and now I think I understand. A dedicated fan, Pete Cordova, Tenn.
Thanks, Pete, for your input. You said it, not me! :) I appreciate your take on things. And thanks
for your votes!
April 24, 2001 I have been a Dolly fan since 1975. I have learned a lot from your site!! The research and facts you have are incredible. I check your site almost daily to find out what the great Dolly is up to and as you know it is not easy to know these days. I do not know how you do it but please keep it up, I love it!!!!!! Vince Tarpon Springs, Fla.
Thanks, Vince! As I always say, it makes me feel good to hear from other Dolly fans who enjoy the site! I'm doing all I can to get the word out about our amazing diva!
April 9, 2001 Dollymania website is the BEST, most informative Dolly Parton website out there. I can always rely on it for the latest Dolly information. Even though Dolly.net got recent votes, your website is far better - well laid out and has better usefulness. Thanks again, Ren Guardiano Lynnwood, Wash.
Thanks so much, Ren, for your kind words. It always makes me feel good to hear from other Dolly fans who enjoy the site!
March 28, 2001 I really love your web site. It's great to be able to keep up to date on what Dolly has been up to. I am a HUGE fan of Dolly's. I have been to Dollywood twice. WOW what a absolutely beautiful place. I live and work in the country on a dairyfarm for my dad and we just love The Great Smokey Mountains.We are making a speical trip back to your wonderful country to Dollywood in December for Dolly's Christmas concerts. I would just love to be able to meet Dolly when I am there it would be a dream come true. Do you think that would be possible. Dollywood is an absolute credit to Dolly, she must be so proud, she is the most amazing person. Thank you for your time, Duane; keep up the great work, mate. Look forward to the concerts. Bye for know. Cheers! Debbie Morrison Sydney, Australia
Thanks, Debbie, for such nice words! It always makes me feel good to hear from other Dolly fans who enjoy the site. I hope you get the chance to meet Dolly. There's always a chance to run into her when she is in town, but sightings are a bit rare sometimes, so don't get your hopes up. But say a prayer, and maybe it'll happen! Enjoy your return visit to the States. We just love Australians down here in the South! (Especially the accents!)
March 12, 2001 I was just wondering if you have any pics of Dolly's husband Carl Dean?
I know he doesn't like to in public very much, but I have never seen what he looks like. I wanted to add that everyone I talked to thought Dolly looked better than ever at the Grammys! She was awesome! :) Also I like the way you have the news now, it gives you something to look forward to! Kristine Canton, Mich
Thanks Kristine! As for Dolly's hubby, I don't think I have any photos of him on the Web site, but Dolly published two or three in her autobiography, My Life And Other Unfinished Business. Also, he's on the cover of her 1969 album My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy.
Feb. 24, 2001 I'm wondering if you know the name of the song Dolly Parton sang on the recent Grammy show. Thank You Larry Los Angeles
Well, Larry. The song she performed was "Travelin' Prayer," from her Best Bluegrass Album Grammy-winning The Grass is Blue. The song, her recording of which was also nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, was originally written and performed by Billy Joel.
Feb. 19, 2001 Hi! Just wanted to congratulate you on an EXCELLENT DOLLY site. I have about 20 Dolly sites in my Favorites category, but yours is one of the few that is kept current with updates. I notice that Dolly is spending a whole lot of time in England recently promoting Little Sparrow. I hope that She also spends more time here in the USA promoting also. If Dolly wants the radio stations here to play her music, she needs to start touring here again, and getting out among her fans. I have been fortunate enough to see her in concert in Pa. back in 1992 and again at Dollywood in 1993, but I wish see started touring again so maybe I could see her again, a little closer to home. Keep up the GREAT site. Mike Lehighton, Penn.
Thanks, Mike! Dolly intends to perform a few dates this year to promote the CD stateside, but no locations have been announced yet. She's noted that it will be difficult to schedule them because she will only do bluegrass with the band from the CD because they're the best. However, because they are the best, they're very busy, which gives them few dates to tour with Dolly. Regardless, she has said she hopes to perform a handful of concerts in major cities around the country. We'll have to keep our fingers crossed!
Feb. 16, 2001 Hope all is well. I am curious if you could provide me with a listings of all of Dolly's album in order of release? I have misplace my Billboard country listings and I'm not sure of a few prior to
Here You Come Again. I am really gearing up for a killer Grammy performance from our beloved Dolly. Thank you for your website and keep up the great work. Jeff Payne Dallas, Texas
Thanks, Jeff. Actually, there are a couple of lists of her albums on the Web site. First, there's a list of every Dolly recording ever released in chronological order here (each song is also in alphabetical order here). Also, if you'd like to review Billboard's chart history on all of her albums, go here.
Feb. 15, 2001 I was just wondering who is supposed to be starting this Web site, Dolly.com? The link has been on your page for a while now. Why have the link when there is no site??? Whoever is starting Dolly.com has already missed out on a ton of press and appearances. What are they waiting for? Dave
Well, it turns out that I didn't have the full Web address for the site (the URL isn't really "www.dolly.com"), so it didn't link correctly. The site has, in fact, been up and running since Jan. 19, but the actual location is here. (Sorry!)
Feb. 13, 2001 Congratulations on your Gold Site Award! It is well deserved: your clarity, thoroughness and responsiveness to visitors stand as a model for any web site. Sincerely, Bob Seguin Toronto, Ont., Canada
Thanks, Bob! It's always good to hear from other Dolly fans who enjoy the site! I do my best for all of you and for Dolly!
Feb. 8, 2001 There was a wonderful guitarist that used to play with Dolly on the road a few years back. His name is Steve Coleman or Collom. He is a song writer and very talented. Could you tell me what he is doing now or if his music ever got published? Thank you. Eileen Los Angeles
Well, somebody else has me stumped. There's a famous jazz sax player named Steve Coleman, but that's a different person. Scanning through her albums (as she usually uses the same performers on her records and in concert), the closest name I came to was Steve A. Gibson, a guitarist who performed with her many times in the late 1980s and through the early-to-mid 1990s. While I couldn't find anything on whether he's had any songs recorded, he remains a very in-demand guitarist in Nashville, playing for many of the top acts in town.
Feb. 2, 2001 What song is about a father who has died and I think the song says something about "like the angels"? Debbie Shreveport, La.
Debbie, you've got me stumped. Anyone else out there have an idea? Please e-mail me. My friend Greg came up with the idea that the song may be "Two Little Orphans," a terribly sad song she recorded as a teen which shows up now and then on budget re-issues. The song, about two orphans alone in the snow outside a church, contains the line "Mommy's in heaven, angels took her away left Jim and I all alone. We've no one to love us since Daddy is dead and our darling mother is gone." Thanks, Greg! A few others suggested the song "Unlikely Angel" from the TV film of the same name. However, that is a love song, not mentioning death. The film, on the other hand, involved the death of a mother. While that song has never been released on an album, it has the same melody as "More Than I Can Say" from Rainbow.
Jan. 30, 2001 Hi! Just to let you know that Dolly is one of the best singers I like a lot and to tell you that Little Sparrow is a good CD. I like all of the songs on it. Good job Dolly! I was wondering is Buddha Records was planning to do any other RCA CDs from her and if they are, can you tell me the ones they plan to do. Dan Pine City, Minn.
Isn't the new CD amazing! Well, as for Buddha, they have, of course, released four Dolly classics. The label was resurrected by BMG (which owns RCA) in 1998 for the specific purpose of re-issuing albums from the massive RCA catalog, which includes Dolly's 42 studio albums on the label between 1968 and 1985. Earlier, label officials had given indications that they plan to, over the course of several years, re-issue most – if not all – of Dolly's solo albums. However, after the first four came out in 1999, nothing more was heard in 2000. (I don't think they sold as well as the label had anticipated.) They have yet to announce any new titles for 2001, but when I last had contact from them late last year, they said they expected to release some this year, so we can still hope! If you want to hear more new Dolly CDs from Buddha, e-mail them here!
Jan. 29, 2001 Yours is the best Dolly site on the net. I am a die-hard Dolly fan. My question is about plastic surgery. What exactly has she had done and when do you think she had it? By studying photos I was able to deduce she got a different nose right before the Eagle When She Flies period. What effect do you think this has on her popularity? She doesn't look at all like she did back in her heyday. Also, another question, why doesn't Dolly get an official site "Dolly" website? It seems like she should be paying you & make Dollymania official! Brandon Aguilar Chicago, Ill.
Thanks Brandon! Dolly has never given a full list of what plastic surgery she has had done, but she has confirmed she's had her breasts "lifted" and some other work throughout her body. As she wrote in her autobiography: "I have had nips and tucks and trims and sucks, boobs and waist and butt and such, eyes and chin and back again, pills and peels and other frills, and I'll never graduate from collagen." She said she is not embarrassed about her plastic surgery, as she believes that women, especially celebrities, have an obligation to look their best. In the book, she listed several doctors she has worked with including Fred Martens, Richard Stark and John Kral, but she said the ones with the most work on her are Lawrence Birnbaum, Frank Kramer and John Grossman, in addition to her dermatologist, Arnold William Klein. (She also suggested that anyone considering plastic surgery contact the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons Referral Service at 1-800-635-0635.) I don't know why she doesn't sponsor an official Web site, though, as most music stars do today (her sister Stella has one). The closest thing is the Dollywood site, plus a couple dozen fan sites like Dollymania!
Jan. 25, 2001 Great web-site, guy! I have loved Dolly since I first saw her on TV with Porter, all those many, many years ago. I was fortunate enough to go to Dollywood two summers ago and finally bought my first Dolly doll. I proudly display it in my music room at home and, of course, receive endless teasing from my friends about it. She is really quite an icon. Anyway, was wondering if you have heard from your sources if there are any plans to release more of the original RCA albums from the 70s and 80s on CD? I SO want Dolly, Dolly, Dolly, Real Love, Burlap and Satin, and all the others on CD. Dolly, Dolly, Dolly is my favorite of all time. What is yours? What is Dolly's favorite she has done? Thanks for any info. Keep up the good work. Jeff Payne Dallas, Texas
Thank you so much for your nice words. I have yet to hear any word from Buddah Records (which is re-issuing the RCA catalogs) on any Dolly re-releases for this year (they've done four so far). As for my favorite one, it's Jolene, mainly because of the title song, "Lonely Coming Down" and the original "I Will Always Love You." (My favorites are listed here, although I haven't updated it to include Little Sparrow.) As for Dolly's favorite, she's been saying The Grass is Blue and Little Sparrow are her favorites, but her favorite song she's ever written was "Coat of Many Colors" so that CD is probably her real favorite.
Jan. 19, 2001 I was recently reading some magazines, and they said that Dolly, and her husband Carl Dean don't spend much time together, because of her working on so much. I know that I shouldn't believe every thing that I read in the magazines, but I was wondering if you heard about this subject? I have also read in other magazines that they do spend a lot of time together. Please let me know if you know of any thing that has to deal with this. One more question...... Have you ever met Dolly in person? Or seen her? You have to be the best webmaster out of any of the Dolly sites! I love the site, and visit it every time I get on the net! :) "ZBOWLER" no city given Thanks for the kudos on the site, man! I always try my best to honor Dolly, and it's great that the readers enjoy it. As for your questions: Dolly has said many times over the years that she and Carl do not spend much time together because of her busy schedule. In fact, she often says (half-joking but half-seriously) that this frequent distance is what has allowed their marriage to last so long, because the time they spend together is then so precious. Now that she isn't touring full-blast anymore, she has said they do spend more time together than previously, though. They will have been married now for 35 years on May 30. And on the other question, no, unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity yet to meet Dolly, although I have seen her live in concert three times and sat only about six feet away from her in the press area last year when she left her handprints in Amory before the Stars Over Mississippi concert. (See photos here!)
Jan. 13, 2001 My roommate and I went to Dollywood last summer and really had a great
time. I love Dolly and have been a fan for a long time. The one thing that would have knocked me completely over is if Dolly would've rounded a corner at the park singing! I grew up with Dolly being that my dad watched The Porter Waggoner Show while I was small. I'm anxiously awaiting the new album to come to stores. Duane, you do a bang up job on the web site and it's appreciated by me and I know many, many others. Keep up the good work! Claude Columbus, Ohio
Thanks, Claude! It always makes me feel good to know other fans enjoy the site. Plus isn't Dollywood awesome!
Jan. 4, 2001 Thought I'd drop you a line to say a big THANK YOU for helping me purchase a copy of Dolly's LP of The Golden Streets of Glory. I never even heard of e-bay until you told me about it a few weeks ago. They have some great stuff there. As I had told you before I have been looking for this LP for over 16 years and my search is finally over thanks in large part due to you. I ended up paying $140 Canadian for it, but Dolly's worth it. Keep up the great work that you do on your web site: I enjoy it tremendously. Again, thanks a bunch, Terry Idol New Brunswick, Canada
Well, you're welcome! I'm just glad I could help. Be careful, though, on e-bay. I discovered it a few years ago, and I cannot tell you how much money I've spent on Dolly merchandise since then!
Dec. 20, 2000 Hi. I know that Dolly has Little Sparrow coming out. I was wondering if you knew how many copies she sold of her last CD, The Grass is Blue, to date??? Thanks, Bobby Onondaga, Mich.
Last I heard, The Grass is Blue was expected to pass the 100,000 mark by year's end to become pretty much the all-time biggest seller for Sugar Hill Records.
Dec. 18, 2000 I know this question seems silly, but when Dolly's father, Lee Parton, passed away recently, how was this situation handled as far as the press. With Dolly being a celebrity, I know this was probably difficult for her family. Also, is Dolly's mother in good health? Billy Black Charlotte, N.C.
As a teacher of mine was fond of saying, there are no silly questions. As for the unfortunate passing of Dolly's father, the press handled it very kindly from what I saw. The local newspapers in East Tennessee produced very sensitive and honorable stories about his passing, which were in turn picked up by the wire services and excerpts published in a handful of other newspapers across the country. Services were private and not publicized. Also, as far as I know, her mother is in fairly good health, or as good as one can be in their late 70s.
Dec. 15, 2000 I'm interested in finding the Christmas movie Dolly Parton was in,
Smoky Mountain Christmas with Lee Majors. Diane Thomas Connersville, Ind.
Regarding your question for Smoky Mountain Christmas. Since that video is out of print, you may have to look around to find it. I'd suggest www.gemm.com, which lists items from private collectors as well as collectors' stores, or there is usually a copy or two up for auction at www.ebay.com or the auction portion of www.amazon.com.
If that fails, I can post your request with your e-mail on the Collectors' Connection portion of my Web site.
Hope this helps,
Duane
Nov. 27, 2000 WOW! What a great site, Duane. I recently bought my computer and was trying to find an informative site on my idol, Dolly Parton, and I came across yours. I can't say enough good things about it. Keep up the great work. We love Dolly in Canada. My one question Duane is do you know where I can purchase a copy of Dolly's 1971 album The Golden Streets of Glory. I have it on CD but need the actual original album to complete my Dolly collection. I currently have every single original Dolly LP and have been looking for this one for 16 years. I will pay any price for this album. Thanks a bunch for your help.
Terry Idol Minto, N.B., Canada
Thanks, Terry. It's always good to hear from other Dolly fans who enjoy the site, especially those outside the U.S. As for the album, it's pretty much her most rare full album and the most sought-after. I spent six or seven years myself trying to find it, and ended up paying about $80. I've seen them go for as much as $100-$150 before! Your best bet, other than local collectors' record shops, would be either auction sites like ebay or Amazon.com or a music listing service online such as ProMusicFind or Gemm. Best of luck!
Nov. 27, 2000 Hi again Duane. Just wanted to let you know that I thought I was the biggest Dolly fan around but since reading your entire Website I eat my words. You are the ultimate source on anything Dolly. The question I have is that I really love the section on the cover photos of Dolly's albums. What is the title of the last album on the second row next to the Porter Wayne and Dolly Rebecca LP. I don't think its an RCA album as there's no RCA label on it. I thought I had all Dolly's original albums. Thanks for your help. Terry Idol Minto, N.B., Canada
Thanks again for your kind words. The album you saw is As Long As I Love, released in 1970 on Monument Records. I debated whether to include it as an "original" release or not but went ahead and did it. This album consisted of songs Dolly had recorded on Monument during her mid-60s tenure there which had not been included on 1967's Hello I'm Dolly. (The World of Dolly Parton double-album re-issue is just a repackaging of these two albums together. There are also about 10 additional Monument recordings which had been released on 45s but not included in either of these two albums as well as several demos she had recorded as songwriter for Monument's publishing house, Combine Music.)
Nov. 27, 2000 Hi! I really like your website! Do you happen to know if anyone out there has any extra concert tickets for Dolly's December concerts for sale?
My elderly in-laws are coming in to town as a last minute thing for their granddaughter's birthday. A Dolly concert would be a once in a lifetime event for them. Thanks everybody! Maryellen Boesendahl Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
I don't know of any off hand, but maybe someone out there does!
Oct. 21, 2000 I am glad I found the ultimate Dolly site. I have a question: I found this page when I was looking for news about Dolly concerts outside the US. Do you know if she is planning to tour in Europe any time soon? I am very, very impressed by the updating on this site!
MonicaSweden
Thanks, Monica. What a nice thing to say! Well, to answer your question Dolly has said she intends to tour next year, but she has not announced any dates other than one festival in the Carolinas and a celebration honoring her opening a restaurant in Australia. We'll have to wait and see whether she goes to Europe or not.
Sept. 27, 2000 Love the site! Where do you get all your information from? I was wondering if you know where I can find out when Dolly will be on TV. Also have you heard anything about Dolly touring? I use to get updates from another website, and the webmaster was going on vacation and said that if we had any questions to visit your site because it is pretty good. Well, I would say that your site is way better than that one. You answer the questions, and give the viewers something that they want. One last question, I went to Dollywood last year have they got anything new there besides the water park? What is the water park's name? Thank you for the great site you provide.! Kristine Canton, Mich.
Well thank you so much Kristine for the nice comments about the site! It's always good to hear that other Dolly fans enjoy it. As for where I get my information, I've learned of a couple of dozen real good Internet news sites to search each evening for anything they've published about Dolly. It only takes about an hour each day. Plus, there are maybe a dozen or so other fans out there who'll e-mail me if they come across anything on the Web or see something on television about her that they think I should put on the site. And since I can't see everything, they really help out sometimes. (Thanks!) As for Dollywood, the water park will open around Memorial Day in 2001, and its name has not been announced. Dolly held a contest earlier this summer where people submitted possible names, one of which will be chosen for the park. The park's new item for this year was the treehouse they opened, and for the 2001-02 season the only things announced have been the water park and the Festival of Nations, a celebration of music, dance and culture from around the world in April and May 2001 which will also allow the park to open two weeks early next year (April 7). Although nothing's been announced, there are still rumors floating around that they will also add a stand-up roller coaster for that season as well. Let's keep our fingers crossed. As for her tour, she has said she intends to tour in 2001, but the only date announced yet is MerleFest April 28 in Wilkesboro, N.C. Finally, on the television question, there are many great sites to look. I've found the best are the TV Guide site and Click TV, both of which allow you to specialize your listings for your local cable system. Thanks again for your interest. Hope I answered all of your questions!
Sept. 22, 2000 I write from Italy. Here is difficult to listen country music and Dolly music. I love Dolly she is the best singer in the country music world. Thank for your pretty page. Yes my English is terrible. Ciao ciao Dami Italy
Thanks, Dami. It's good to know Dolly is loved around the world. And don't worry about your English. I know a few Americans who are worse!
Sept. 22, 2000 I was wondering if you could help me with a question that I can't seem to get any information on? I have been e-mailing 20th Century Fox Home Video for awhile now asking them if they have any expected release dates on any of Dolly Parton's Fox movies onto DVD format. Yet, nobody has answered my e-mails. I have Dolly's 9 to 5, Rhinestone and A Smoky Mountain Christmas on video (Which are all out of print) and they are really starting to show their age. I would love to see new re-mastered DVD's of these wonderful movies or maybe even a DVD Dolly Parton 3 pack box set with all of the Fox videos. I love my Unlikely Angel and Steel Magnolias DVD's and can't wait to see more. So my question is this. Is there anyway you could
be kind enough to use your web sight to start a petition to send to Fox Home Video to get 9 to 5, Rhinestone and A Smoky Mountain Christmas placed onto DVD? I feel like these great movies need a second chance because my old VHS tapes will not be around forever. Please help me to get Fox Home Video give Dolly the credit she deserves and to help make us Dolly fans happy.
Brandon Atlanta, Ga.
Good idea. Let me see what I can do in the next few weeks. (And I wish MCA/Universal would release The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas on DVD, too!) P.S. 9 to 5 is not out of print. It is still available. It may be ordered here.
Sept. 11, 2000 I would like to know if you know of a person to contact for booking Dolly Parton for a concert. Thanks for your help. Angel Millboro, Va.
Angel, I would recommend trying Dolly's manager, Jim Morey, at Morey & Associates, 345 North Maple Drive, Suite 300, Beverly Hills, CA 90210; or her agent, Sam Haskell at William Morris Agency, 151 El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Although she doesn't perform very much anymore, she has said she plans to tour next year, but has yet to announce any dates for that tour. Best of luck!
Aug. 9, 2000: Your site is great. However, one significant (Well, significant to me)
error needs correcting. It was in the section of Dolly's versions of others' songs, "Dolly's Covers." The excerpt reads: "Ladysmith Black Mambazo's Heavenly (1997): After backing Dolly on her cover of Cat Stevens' 'Peace Train' on Treasures, this African troupe asked her to sing lead on their cover of Neil Young's 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door,' which had a few years back been a hit for Guns 'N' Roses." Actually, Bob Dylan wrote 'Knockin'...,' not Neil Young. It appeared on his record, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, which accompanied the movie. It was released July 13, 1973. Columbia KC 32460/CK 32460. You can find his discography, with song lists, here: John Jackson, Miss.
Many apologies to John (a former co-worker at the newspaper) and any other Dylan fans which this may have offended. Stupid me! If I had just looked on the liner notes to the CD, I would have seen that Dylan wrote this and not Young! Well, you've certainly set me straight, and if anyone else sees any mistakes, please let me know and I will gladly correct them. And thanks for visiting the site! Have fun in Germany!
July 31, 2000 I love your site!! How many records have dolly's recent albums sold
each? Like Rainbow, Straight Talk, Treasures, Heartsongs,
Hungry Again, Something Special and Trio 2? I know The Grass is Blue is near 100,000 and Trio 2 is close to gold. Thanks, Chad Georgetown, Ohio
Thanks for your letter. Unfortunately, I don't know how many copies most of those have sold, and record labels are not very forthcoming with such information when the performer is no longer on their label. However, I do know that The Grass is Blue has sold in excess of 100,000, and Trio II is at about 450,000, close to the half-million gold mark.
July 31, 2000 Duane, any word on Buddha Records releasing any more classics on CD from Dolly? P.S. If you have any pull with them, please ask them to bring Real Love to CD. Thanks, Bobby Onondaga, Mich.
Bobby, the last I heard, Buddha had no plans to issue any more in 2000, but hopefully they will issue some in 2001. Check out their web site (and bug them to release some new CDs!) here P.S. Unfortunately I don't have any pull with them, as they are part of one of those mega-corporations, BMG.
July 31, 2000 Do you know if there was ever a promotional poster printed for Dolly's Love is Like a Butterfly album? Billy Black Charlotte, N.C
No, to the best of my knowledge, there never was a poster from that album cover made. However, if you have a copy shop or photo shop somewhere you that doesn't pay much attention to whether you're using copywrited materials, you can make one for yourself. And an interesting note, according to Porter's biography: While on a trip to England, Dolly ran into a fan who had an exact copy of the butterfly from the album cover in a huge tatoo across his back. Dolly signed his back and posed for photos with him and his tatoo.
July 21, 2000 Your Dolly page is terrific! The News section is unmatched by anyone else and the whole site is a treasure trove for every Dolly fan! My question is in regards to Austin City Limits. It was mentioned sometime back that Dolly would be on the show to perform. Is that still happening? I hope so. Keep up the great work on your web-site! Manuel California
Thanks, Manuel! As far as Austin City Limits, to my knowledge, nothing has been announced yet. The producers were saying late last year that they expected she would "probably" do the show sometime in 2000, but nothing formal has been set yet.
July 14, 2000 Dear Duane, do you know where I can get a copy of DOLLY hosting the 2000 ACM awards? My copy did not turn out. Thanks, Bobby Onondaga, Mich.
Sorry, Bobby. My second VCR won't record, or I'd make ya a copy. Maybe some kind soul out there who sees this will e-mail you and do one!
July 13, 2000 I noticed on the This Week in Dolly History you note that The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas grossed $87 million domestic. Do you happen to know what 9 to 5, Rhinestone, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk grossed? Kenny Sacramento, Calif.
UPDATED: Since that letter, I found that my figure was apparently in error. According to the American Film Institute, Whorehouse was Dolly's highest-grossing film at $105 million ($202 million adjusting for inflation as of 2002). 9 to 5 was her only other "blockbuster" (breaking the $100 million mark) at $103 million ($214 million adjusted for inflation). Steel Magnolias at $84 million ($115 million adjusted for inflation) was her only other major success. The Beverly Hillbillies, which featured a prominent Dolly cameo, took in $42 million, while both Rhinestone and Straight Talk were considered "flops" at $21 million each.
July 5, 2000 Duane, love the site! My question is: Has "Puppy Love" been released on a compilation cd of Dolly's? Robey Eaton Rapids, Mich.
First, thanks for the comment. Secondly, yes, "Puppy Love" has been issued on CD a few times. It is kind of hard to find (you have to search around a bit). The song has turned up on several CDs, mostly imports, including Honky Tonk Angel, which includes Dolly's first recording, the single "Puppy Love"/"Girl Left Alone" on Goldband Records in 1957. Order it here.
July 3, 2000 Duane, do you know if or when Dolly might tour again? I saw her back in '93 at the Michigan Fest but that was the last time she came back around. Bobby Onondaga, Mich.
Unfortunately, Dolly doesn't tour much anymore. She has given no indications she plans to anytime soon. So, you're left with traveling somewhere for one of her rare performances. For instance, this year, there has been only one concert (New Year's at Opryland) and two others scheduled (Oct. 7 in Amory, Miss., – tickets still available at 1-877-677-8279 – and Dec. 15-16 at Dollywood).
July 1, 2000 Sorry to reiterate what's already been said several times over, but your Dolly site really is one of the best sites of any kind I've come across on the 'net! Your daily updates are impressive and your comprehensive info on Dolly's recordings is most welcome indeed. Thanks to you, I picked up a copy of Where the Girls Are the other day for the Dolly track "Don't Drop Out." I wouldn't have known about it otherwise. While searching for the Monument and Goldband discs, though, I came across a three CD collection (on a label called Goldies) entitled Country Ladies. There are three Dolly tracks included: 'Little Blossom," "Letter to Heaven" and "Release Me." Unfortunately, there are NO liner notes. Do you have any idea where these songs hail from? Oh, and just FYI, there's a fun cover of "Two Doors Down" on this collection by Lynn Anderson. Thanks again for your terrific site! Sam New York, N.Y.
Thanks, Sam! Reiterate all you want. I don't mind :) Glad I could point you in the direction of the CD. Isn't "Don't Drop Out" just awesome! It is certainly one of my favorite Dolly cuts! (If you don't have it, by all means get it here!)Now for your question: the songs "Little Blossom," "Letter to Heaven" and "Release Me" (in addition to "Makin' Believe," "Two Little Orphans" and "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels") were recorded around 1962 or 1963. Apparently, these songs came as a result of Dolly's Uncle Bill Owens pestering CMA vice president Dorothy Gable into introducing them around town, which ended up in a brief contract with Tree Publishing's Buddy Killen, during which time she recorded these songs. (One of them – either "Making Believe," "Release Me" or "Honky Tonk Angels" – was supposedly recorded in 1961 with Killen and the rest around 1962 or 1963.) They have shown up on many budget labels since, including some issued by Goldband Records which include her 1957 Goldband cuts "Puppy Love" and "Girl Left Alone." (And by the way, Lynn Anderson's version of "Two Doors Down" is listed on the Dolly Covers page of Dollymania. There was also a disco cover of the song by Joe Thomas, and Zella Lehr scored a country Top 10 hit of it at the same time Dolly's original was on the pop charts.)
July 1, 2000 Every Dolly fan seems to want songs from the Blue Valley Songbird. Are there any plans for a soundtrack? Why didn't anyone have the foresight to come out with a cd at the same time? The duet with Billy Dean is beautiful. Will it ever be on one of his cd's? I want that song! What is the name of it? Barbara Bright Prince George, Va.
Well, Dolly has tried before to get soundtracks released for her television films, but no label would do it. Every once in a while, one of the songs shows up on a CD (such as "Speakin' Of The Devil" from Something Special, which she originally performed in Wild Texas Wind), but usually the film is the last time we hear of it. As stated here earlier, she did record a solo demo version of the Billy Dean duet, "We Might Be In Love," and submitted it for the Adventures of Tom Sawyer soundtrack, but they didn't choose to use the song. Bootleg copies of the demo are circulating, so you might be able to find one. Otherwise, we just have to wait and see.
July 1, 2000 You have the most thorough website I have ever seen. I check it daily. I have been a Dolly fan since 1974 and have a huge collection. I have a few questions. Are you aware of an alternate cover of Porter and Dolly's Together Alwaysalbum. Once, on a TNN show they briefly showed it. Porter and Dolly have on the same outfits as the back cover. Also, Do you know where I can get "real" pictures of Dolly's Tennessee Mountain Home? Thank You, Billy Black Charlotte, N.C.
Thanks, Billy! No, I've never seen the alternate cover for Together Always. I'll have to keep an eye out for that one. As for the photos, I don't know where you can get actual snapshots. The only places I've seen photos are in different books about Dolly and a couple of her albums, but I'm told there used to be a collection of postcard-type photos sold at Dollywood which included some shots of the old homeplace. I don't think they sell them anymore.
June 28, 2000 Dear Duane, I collect all of Dolly`s CDs. I have Best of Dolly Parton and Best of Dolly Parton Vol. 3 from RCA. But what ever happened to Vol 2. from RCA? I cant even find any evidence that a Vol. 2 ever was made by RCA. Can you help me? Thanks, Robey Eaton Rapids, Mich.
Well, Robey, you actually have Vol. 2 in your collection. The 1975 album Best of Dolly Parton on RCA was actually the second volume, with 1987's Vol. 3 obviously being the third in the series. The first one came out in 1971 and was titled The Best of Dolly Parton; to my knowledge it has never been issued on CD (cover art to the left). It's pretty confusing, because all they did for the second volume was drop the "The." The tracks on her first Best of, issued only four years into her career at RCA and after only four solo studio albums but prior to her even having a single No. 1 hit, had some interesting song selections. First off, it included one cut which had not appeared on any of her albums: "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)." The first time a woman had recorded the Jimmy Rodgers classic, it was released as a single four months before the album hit stores, and it became her first solo Top 10 song (six of her duets with Porter Wagoner had entered the Top 10 already). The album also included another new recording, "How Great Thou Art," which she frequently performed on Porter's television show, but her only previous recording of it was a live version from A Real Live Dolly earlier in the year. (The same version of this song which appears on The Best of would be recycled and released the following year on her gospel album Golden Streets of Glory.) The other songs on this album (and their respective chart positions and albums of origination) were "Just Because I'm A Woman" (her first RCA single, No. 17, and from the 1968 album of the same name); "In The Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)" (No. 25, from the 1969 album of the same name); "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy" (No. 45), "In The Ghetto" (No. 50) and "Gypsy, Joe and Me" (not released as a single) from 1969's My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy; and "Down From Dover" (never released as a single but one of her best songs), "Daddy Come and Get Me" (No. 40) and "Just The Way I Am" (never released as a single) from 1970's Fairest of Them All. Her only RCA single up to that time not included on the album was "Daddy" (No. 40 from My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy). Her first No. 1 would come a few months after this collection was released with "Joshua," which by the way didn't make it onto the 1975 Best of collection. (Also, The Best of Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton was issued in 1971 as well.) I know that was a long answer, but that's all of it!
June 28, 2000 Dear Duane, I'm trying to get all of Dolly`s CDs. I have about 48. Do you know how many gratest hits and best ofs are out there? It seems like tons! Bobby Onondaga, Mich.
Another "best of" question: well, there are tons! RCA's budget labels, (RCA Special Products, Camden, Pair and Pickwick) when she was on the RCA Victor label released about 20 compilation and four best of/greatest hits titles. After she left the label, they issued another 10 or so compilations and one additional best of. Columbia issued a Greatest Hits collection and then a Super Hits collection after she left that label. Even Monument has recycled her mid-60s cuts there and released a handful of compilations. Several independent labels have issued them as well, in addition to numerous international labels. So they are truly too numerous to count, but I have seen at least 50-60, and that's not including her 60 regular studio albums (only about 30 of which have been issued on CD at some point) and appearances on others' records about 40 additional times! If you got every one of all of them, that would be nearly 200 albums, although only about 50 have been issued on CD. And, by the way, she only has six "official" best ofs and greatest hits: The Best of (1970), The Best of Porter and Dolly (1971), Best of (1975), Greatest Hits (1982), Best of Vol. 3 (1987), I Will Always Love You and Other Greatest Hits (Sony, 1996).
June 28, 2000 Hi Duane, I really enjoy your site. It has become the only site that I depend on DAILY updates concerning the fabulous, luscious, diva Dolly. I had the opportunity to see Dolly live in 1993 at Dollywood and let me tell you, it was one of the most memorable times of my life. Two questions, I've been searching for the Real Love CD for a while now, does it exist? And also, when and will we ever see a much deserved 4-6 CD box set of Dolly spanning all her music from the beginning "Puppy Love" till now, 2000? Derek Wheeling, W.V.
Thanks, Derek! Yes, Real Love was issued on CD, but it was around the beginning of the "CD era," so there weren't that many produced, and they are long out-of-print. I'm not sure, however, if the full album is on CD, or if it was one of their BMG re-issues of the late '80s which always cut two songs off. Both may exist. Occasionally, you'll run across a copy on ebay or the auction pages at Amazon. And a note to the record companies: You should release a multi-label boxed set of Dolly. I know that's hard to do since she recorded on Goldband, Monument, RCA, Columbia/Sony, Warner Brothers/Arista, Rising Tide (Universal/MCA), Decca (Universal/MCA), her own Blue Eye and Sugar Hill Records, not to mention duets with other stars on other labels, but get together and do it! A collection of all of her released songs would be nice, but that would total more than 725 songs, which would require around 30-40 CDs!
June 27, 2000 Dear Duane: Do you know how I can get the Dolly song "We Might Be In Love." I heard it on her movie Blue Valley Songbird and I fell in love with it! Thanks! Bobby Onondaga, Mich.
Bobby, unfortunately, Dolly has never recorded the song for an album. She wrote and performed it especially for the film. She did record a solo demo version which was submitted for the soundtrack of the animated Adventures of Tom Sawyer, but they didn't choose to use it in that movie or on its soundtrack. However, there are a few bootleg copies of the soundtrack submission circulating, so you might get lucky and snag one of these.
June 27, 2000 Hey Duane! Can't say enough about this site! It's really great, and very up-to-date! Well, I've got a question for you -- In '96, Dolly did a few TV appearances and performed "Son of A Preacher Man." What happened to this song?! I heard somewhere (?) that it was on a import of Treasures, but still can't find it! Can you help?? Justin Gate City, Va.
Thanks! As for the song, I've never actually seen it myself, but I've been told the song did appear only on a European picture disk release of Treasures. I have yet to find it, and believe me, I searched! If you caught her performing the song with Alison Krauss on Jay Leno at the time, it was amazing!
June 27, 2000 Hi. I am a big Dolly Parton fan. I like all of her music and I do like the web site a lot. It tells a lot what is going on. Can you tell me if she has a new cd coming out soon or is Buddha Records coming out with any of her old cds? Please let me know. And can you tell if she as a new movie coming out .Thank you Dan Pine, Minn.
Thanks Dan! Well, the folks at Buddha told me when I pestered them a few months ago that they don't have any immediate plans to release more Dolly CDs this year but will likely put a few out in 2001. Also, while she doesn't have any firm dates set for a new album, she has said she plans later this year or early next year to record either a second all-bluegrass CD or an all-folk CD. Finally, on films, she was in April and May reportedly filming a Christmas movie in Canada. The last report I saw said there had been no distributor selected yet for the film, but the director has done some pay-cable (ie. HBO, Showtime) original movies before, so there is a chance it could either be a theatrical release or pay-cable movie this winter. And she's also to film her gospel movie special for CBS to air likely in the fall.
June 26, 2000Hi, Duane. Great site - keep those updates coming! I think I have an answer for Wanda. I think the song she heard is "Every Time You Say Goodbye" by Alison Krauss and Union Station. There's a line in it that goes, "There's a restless feeling knocking on my door today/There's a shadow hanging 'round my garden gate." Alison sounds a lot like Dolly - same high, clear voices, and they've recorded and performed together many times over the past five or six years. "Every Time You Say Goodbye" can be found on Alison's 1992 album of the same name, and it's also on her 1995 collection Now That I've Found You: A Collection. Brian
Victoria, Canada
Thanks for that note, Brian. I consider myself somewhat of an Alison fan, but I have to admit I wasn't familiar with that particular song of hers. And, yes, she and Dolly do sound a lot alike.
June 26, 2000Dear Duane: All I can say is WOW !! I have been visiting your amazing site almost daily since I first discovered it 6 months ago. As a huge Dolly fan, I can honestly say your site is a dream come true. I especially like the news section and your flashbacks of today in Dolly history. Your site is so extensive it makes me wonder if all your free time is devoted to producing it. Thank you so much for sharing the gift of Dolly with all of us. It is very much appreciated.
Jeffrey
Indianapolis, Ind.
Thanks for the note, Jeffrey! It actually doesn't take that much time. Over the years I've developed what I consider a bit of Internet savvy, so all I do is take about one hour each evening to search a few dozen news sites on the Web and prepare the update.
June 26, 2000Hello.......and THANK YOU for the best Dolly site on the web ! If I need the latest news about Dolly, I know I can go here and find whatever I am looking for. I live in Sweden and I am 16 years old. I think I am Dolly's youngest fan over here. I have collected her albums for several years. I cannot explain why I love Dolly so much, it is the music, her looks and her way of just being herself. It is a long may from Sweden to the states, and I am not rich, but my big dream is to visit Dollywood, and I hope to do that someday. In Sweden we cannot see as much of Dolly as you do in the states (for example the ACM awards show was not shown on television) but I love Dolly anyway. It was a good idea to have a "Letters to the web master" page opened, because then we can tell you how great this site really is ! Again, thank you !
Filip Linkping, Sweden
What a nice letter! Thanks so much. It just goes to show you that Dolly's appeal is timeless and without borders, all over the world!
June 26, 2000 I have been a fan of Dolly since the early 70s. She is one great lady. Keep up
the good work on the site. I go there everyday to check on the latest news
about Dolly.
Jim, a true dolly fan.
Pixley, Calif.
Thanks!
June 26, 2000 Hi Duane, Thank you so much for all the great up to date info you give us. I just have one question. Do you know how many albums that Dolly has sold worldwide in her 30+ years in the business? We see which albums went Gold or Platinum but how many has she sold total, all albums worldwide? Just curious. Thanks again for the great site. Kenny Sacramento Calif.
Thanks for your letter, and I will try my best to answer the question. The problem is that Dolly has never had an audit of her record sales. Kenny Rogers did this a few years ago, and it turned out he had sold several million more than the record labels said he did, resulting in a lot of back revenue paid to him. The best estimates I've seen are that she has sold somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 million+ albums worldwide. Of these, as I am sure you know, are seven gold albums (+500,000), two gold singles (+1 million), one platinum single (+2 million), five platinum albums (+1 million) and one double-platinum album (+2 million). Reba is the only female country artist with more gold and platinum albums than Dolly.
June 26, 2000 Hello! I just wanted to say how much I love this site. I know I can always come here for the latest up to date information on Miss Dolly. I have been a Dolly fan ever since I can remember! I am only 16,and Dolly is my favorite singer in the world. I collect anything and everything that has to do with Dolly! All my friends are becoming more and more of Dolly fans because of me, and I always tell them to visit your site! Thank you so much!
Emily
Mesquite Texas
Thanks so much for your comments, and thanks for passing the word along! You can never get too much publicity!
June 24, 2000 Hi sweetie, what a thorough site you have here...I was curious about Miss Dolly and now I am fulfilled. I feel exceptionally well-educated. Except: Am I right guessing that she has no children? Is she still married to Carl Dean? There's a song I heard at random on the radio, Dolly singing something about there being a shadow hanging around on her garden gate or something; I'm desperate to know the name of the song and where I might find it. Can you help? Thank you!
Wanda June
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Thanks for your letter. I'm glad I could help educate you about our Divine Diva Dolly! And on to the questions: Dolly has no children. She has said in interviews that in her early years she was too involved with her career to have any children and then by the '80s had experienced "female problems" which left her unable to have children. But she is still married to the seldom-photographed Carl Dean, a contractor in Nashville. They celebrated their 34th anniversary on May 31. As for the song, I can't think of what that might be off the top of my head unless you're referring to her cover of the contemporary Christian song "He's Alive," which contains the line, "the gates began to rattle, and a voice began to call." Maybe someone else out there can refresh my memory on any other song that refers to a gate? If that is the correct song, it was released on White Limozeen and is included on a few of her Columbia/Sony compilation CDs, such as I Will Always Love You And Other Greatest Hits and Super Hits (but be sure to get the Sony/Columbia version, not the BMG CD of the same title).
June 24, 2000 I just wanted to say Thank You for all your efforts in making the latest Dolly news and information available to Dolly fans all over the world! I know where I can go on the world wide web to get all the up-to-date Dolly Parton information that any fan would want and more! I hope someone with Dolly's Empire has came across Dollymania and seen how devoted you are with her happenings and career information. Again, thanks and keep up the good work!
Robert Rowland Augusta, Ark
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad you like the site!
June 23, 2000: Hi, I just want to say that I really love your web site. It is the only one that I know of that can give me the most current and up-to-date information of my favorite singer. I have been Dolly's 1# fan since I was in 5th grade (I'm 24 now). She has given me the so much happiness with her music. My all time favorite person that I admire more than anyone is Dolly Parton. If I ever met her I would pass out. She is so cool. I have been obsessed with her ever since 5th grade when my mother bought me one of her cassette tapes. Since that time if have collected over the years more than 80 or so CD's of hers (at last count) all of her movies, songbooks, posters, books and press kits. If she's done it I may have it.
Brandon
Atlanta, Ga.
Thanks Brandon for the letter (the first in our new Letters To The Webmaster section!). It always makes me feel good to hear from other Dolly fans who enjoy the site, as it makes sharing all of the information I find worthwhile. Thanks again, and keep coming back!
Well, Robey, you actually have Vol. 2 in your collection. The 1975 album Best of Dolly Parton on RCA was actually the second volume, with 1987's Vol. 3 obviously being the third in the series. The first one came out in 1971 and was titled The Best of Dolly Parton; to my knowledge it has never been issued on CD (cover art to the left). It's pretty confusing, because all they did for the second volume was drop the "The." The tracks on her first Best of, issued only four years into her career at RCA and after only four solo studio albums but prior to her even having a single No. 1 hit, had some interesting song selections. First off, it included one cut which had not appeared on any of her albums: "Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)." The first time a woman had recorded the Jimmy Rodgers classic, it was released as a single four months before the album hit stores, and it became her first solo Top 10 song (six of her duets with Porter Wagoner had entered the Top 10 already). The album also included another new recording, "How Great Thou Art," which she frequently performed on Porter's television show, but her only previous recording of it was a live version from A Real Live Dolly earlier in the year. (The same version of this song which appears on The Best of would be recycled and released the following year on her gospel album Golden Streets of Glory.) The other songs on this album (and their respective chart positions and albums of origination) were "Just Because I'm A Woman" (her first RCA single, No. 17, and from the 1968 album of the same name); "In The Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)" (No. 25, from the 1969 album of the same name); "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy" (No. 45), "In The Ghetto" (No. 50) and "Gypsy, Joe and Me" (not released as a single) from 1969's My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy; and "Down From Dover" (never released as a single but one of her best songs), "Daddy Come and Get Me" (No. 40) and "Just The Way I Am" (never released as a single) from 1970's Fairest of Them All. Her only RCA single up to that time not included on the album was "Daddy" (No. 40 from My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy). Her first No. 1 would come a few months after this collection was released with "Joshua," which by the way didn't make it onto the 1975 Best of collection. (Also, The Best of Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton was issued in 1971 as well.) I know that was a long answer, but that's all of it!