Dolly Parton

[Mallrat]

Dolly Parton Gets 'Together' With Ellen DeGeneres

Posted May 27th 2011 5:30PM by Stephen L. Betts

Dolly Parton had several things to celebrate when she returned to the 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' as a guest on Friday (May 27).

Decked out in a sparkly alligator-print jacket and short pants, Dolly decided to forgo the usual dance-accompanied entrance most guests will do before sitting down to chat with the host, telling Ellen, "I can't dance. I had to learn to dance in the 'Joyful Noise' movie with Queen Latifah. I had to learn a few moves, but I'll wait and show you."

The topic of her upcoming wedding anniversary came up next, with the iconic entertainer saying that on May 30, she and husband Carl Dean will celebrate 45 years of marriage. Noting that her elusive other half routinely shuns the spotlight, Dolly nevertheless showed off their wedding photo, taken in Ringgold, Ga., in 1966, and shared a few other personal snapshots of the couple.

"Are there recent pictures of Carl?," Ellen asked, to which Dolly replied, "Well, there are but he doesn't like to be seen. In fact, he'll kill me for this. You wouldn't know him now. His hair is gray, he's very distinguished looking. But he's a good guy. We've been friends for all these years, in addition to everything else that a wonderful married couple is supposed to be."

"Does he ever travel with you? Does he tour?," Ellen asked.

"No, he doesn't like to do that," Dolly explained. "He gets nervous seeing me perform. It's almost like seeing your kid in a recital. He's afraid I'll mess up. Actually, he has seen me a time or two and it did relax him a little. He saw that I do mess up and it's OK because people are not gonna punish me for it."

Although Dolly revealed that she doesn't bother Carl with her songwriting, once she finishes an album, she will command his attention.

"I'll just say, 'sit your a-- down, you've got to listen to this,' and he will. And usually he will, if I say that."

In addition to the oft-discussed subject of Dolly impersonators, Dolly told Ellen about the lookalike contest she lost one Halloween, and also about the "science" of her makeup routine (which includes wearing makeup to bed and keeping a wig nearby in case she has to go outside in a hurry). Ellen offered a practical (and hilarious) gift to make things more simple for the singer -- a made-up plastic face mask, complete with blond wig for her to wear as needed!

Dolly returned later in the show for the world premiere of 'Together You and I.' The uptempo track is the first single from the superstar's upcoming album, 'Better Day,' scheduled for release on June 28. Dolly's world tour begins July 17.
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[Mallrat]

Dolly Parton Will Sign Autographs at CMA Music Festival

06/6/11, 4:30 pm EDT

Dolly Parton will sign autographs during the CMA Music Festival on Saturday (June 11), marking her first autograph session at the event since the mid-'70s. Starting at noon, Parton will sign autographs for a limited number of lucky winners in the Fan Fair Exhibit Hall inside the Nashville Convention Center. Dozens of country stars are scheduled to sign autographs there during the festival, including Trace Adkins, Easton Corbin, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Randy Travis. Entry into the Fan Fair Exhibit Hall is exclusive to four-day ticket holders.[/b][/font][/color]

[Kim]

Dolly Parton Plans Broadway Musical of Her Own Life


Dolly Parton has had a colorful life, indeed. The country legend came from humble beginnings, living in a one-room cabin with her parents and 11 siblings, but rose to super-stardom, selling more than 100 million albums worldwide, as well as becoming a renowned actress, philanthropist and successful business owner. Now, the 65-year-old hopes to document her inspiring life on stage, with someone else playing the starring role.

"I'm writing my life story as a musical for Broadway," Dolly tells WENN. "I probably won't be in it but I'll find a way to introduce it somehow, maybe the older me."

This will not be the Tennessee native's first Broadway gig. She previously wrote all of the music for the stage adaptation of her hit film, '9 to 5,' which opened in 2009 but closed a mere 17 weeks later, due to lackluster attendance. But the tireless icon says she will use that experience as a stepping stone for her new endeavor.

"'9 to 5' didn't make it on Broadway, but it didn't sour me," Dolly explains. "I learned all this stuff from it."

In fact, the singer-songwriter already has her eyes on another potential Broadway project -- an adaptation of the movie, 'Joyful Noise,' in which she currently stars with Queen Latifah.

"Joyful Noise would make a great Broadway show," Dolly hints, "so maybe I'll write music for that!"

The songstress just wrapped up a successful tour, promoting her new album, 'Better Day,' but says she will will never tire of performing. "I love getting out on stage," she admits to The Boot. "I stand backstage waiting to go on, and I get a little nervous and get butterflies and get pacing in my skull kinda like a race horse, but once the light hits, there's nothing else I can do but get out there and do my best. The fans have always been very accepting of me, and I love them for it."

[grg_straitfan]

Dolly Parton Imagination Library suspended

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which supplies free books each month to more than 2,000 local children, has been suspended and the public's help is needed if it is to be revived.

"The St. Landry-Evangeline United Way is appealing to individuals, businesses and civic organizations to support this program by pledging, donating, sponsoring a child or hosting a fundraiser," said United Way Executive Director Ginger LeCompte.

The Imagination Library, developed by country music star Dolly Parton, provides a free, age-appropriate book each month to children between the age of birth and five.

LeCompte said the local program, the first in the state, was begun in 2008 and has proved so successful that enrollment has almost doubled in just the past year.

But she said this past year has also seen a major decline in donations and sponsorships.

As a result, LeCompte said the United Way has not been able to keep up.

"The enthusiasm and popularity of the program has surpassed our available funding," said LeCompte, who added the program costs about $36 per year per child.

Invoices from the Dollywood Foundation, the non-profit that
provides the books, now total more than $4,000 a month and LeCompte said her agency is already three months behind in its payments.

"No one is stepping up to help," LeCompte said. "What we need are sustainable donations."

As a result, the United Way sent out postcards over the weekend informing local families the program has been suspended.

She stressed the word "suspended," saying the program has not been canceled.

She called the program vital to this area, pointing to recent research by UL's Cecil Picard Learning Center showing the program benefits both children and adults.

"By putting books in the hands of young children, this program has positively affected the attitudes and behaviors of parents and caregivers, showing a substantial increase in not only the number of books found in the home, but the time spent reading and interacting with the children," LeCompte said.

She said the program also helps build literacy skills in participating children, which translates into increased reading scores when they do enter school.

"The best place (to teach literacy) is at infancy, when the brain is still forming and when children are most receptive," LeCompte

said. "The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, by providing books, gives parents a way to help stimulate their child's development,"

She said United Way is eager revive the program and hopes to begin again as soon as additional funds can be raised, hopefully within the next six months.

To make that possible, LeCompte said a task force is being formed and called on all individuals, businesses and civic groups to get involved.

Anyone interested in volunteering or donating should call the United Way at [phone] or visit it online at www.uwsle.org

[Kim]

Dolly Parton, 'An Evening With Dolly Live' Unveiled, Plus Legend Shows Love for Miranda & Taylor


www.blogcdn.com/www.theboot.com/media/2012/04/dolly040512.jpg [/img]
Cracker Barrel


If you haven't gotten your Dolly Parton fix lately, don't worry! The singer-songwriter-actress-entrepreneur has released a two-disc CD/DVD entitled 'An Evening With ... Dolly,' available exclusively at all Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. The project, which captures here performance at London's O2 Arena, includes her biggest hits -- '9 to 5,' 'Jolene,' 'I Will Always Love You' and more -- as well behind-the-scenes footage.

"They show my wardrobe, the wigs, how we carry all that stuff, and we go out and look at all the sites [in London]," reports the country icon (quote via The Country Vibe). "So I think that they'll get a real experience of the travel ... and getting to see the behind the scenes, plus, hopefully, getting to enjoy all the songs that they're familiar with."

While the project focuses on Dolly's previously released tunes, the songstresses keeps up to date with the happenings in country music. She's even a fan of today's country women, including the reigning ACM Female Vocalist, Miranda Lambert. "I really admire and respect the fact that there are so many of our great girls that are really doing good," Dolly explains. "I really relate to Miranda. She reminds me a lot of myself when I first got to town somehow. She's raw and natural, and she's got a lot of gut and heart and soul. I really admire that."

The 1977 ACM Entertainer of the Year even approves of Taylor Swift's second win in the same category. "She's a great entertainer," Dolly says. "You judge who's entertaining by your audience and the response of your fans, and ... they're all great entertainers but I was just thrilled to death that she got it. She represents herself so well for the youth of today. I just wish so many more of the young people would follow her lead in that respect. There's not a thing that kid can't do: she's beautiful, smart and talented. I really admire that; I was proud for her."

'An Evening With... Dolly,' is available now for $11.99. Get it in Cracker Barrel stores or online here.

[Kim]

Dolly Parton Book ‘Dream More’ To Be Released in November


If there’s any country star who knows how to dream big, it’s Dolly Parton. With her roots stemming from rural East Tennessee, Parton grew up an impoverished youth in the Appalachian mountains. Now that she has spent decades at the top of the country music scene, she’s ready to impart some of the wisdom she gained on her journey to other dreamers.

“I know that I’ve learned some things in my life that are important to me,” Dolly said in a statement. “And I think maybe they might be good ideas to pass along to you. Not as advice, but as information that I have found has helped me over the years. Enough to share, and a little to spare. If you’re lucky, your dreams will never die, you may not always achieve them, but if you always have dreams and reach for them, you’ll never be a failure. I still have dreams of what I want to do next.”

The book will also touch on other aspects of creating a richer, fuller life. It is based on a commencement speech that Parton gave to graduating students at the University of Tennessee in 2009.

It’s a busy time for the infamous ‘Jolene’ singer. In addition to putting the final touches on her book, Parton is also featured in the documentary ‘Hollywood to Dollywood.’ The film tells the story of brothers Gary and Larry Lane, who travel across the country to get their screenplay– complete with a part for Dolly Parton — into the country legend’s hands. ‘Hollywood to Dollywood’ is playing on the big screen at film festivals all over, and it is also available on DVD and BluRay.

‘Dream More’ will be for sale in bookstores this November. Just in time for the holidays!