Dolly Parton continues to enjoy a successful music career on many levels. Her “Pure & Simple” album and tour were both resounding successes, as have been her two NBC-TV movies from the holiday seasons, 2015’s “Coat of Many Colors,” and 2016’s “Christmas Of Many Colors: Circle of Love.” Both films were resounding successes for the network, and have resulted in a series of awards.
“Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love” was cited as one of the TV and Cable winners of the 68th Annual Christopher Awards. The awards also recognized “This Is Us,” the runaway hit of the season. Academy Award Nominees “Hidden Figures” and “Hacksaw Ridge” were honored. Additionally, “Gold Star Parents,” an episode of the long-running CBS news magazine staple “60 Minutes” received honors. The award ceremony is set for May 16, 2017.
The Christopher Awards win is the latest for the film, which also includes the Movieguide® Epiphany Prize for Television. It marks the second straight win for a Dolly-related project, following “Coat of Many Colors.”
In April of 2016, “Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors” received the Academy of Country Music's Tex Ritter Award. This award honors a movie "released and/or receiving major exposure during the preceding calendar year, featuring or utilizing country music." The award shares its name with Tex Ritter. Ritter was a film and music star from the 1930s through the 1970s.
Currently, Dolly is producing a new dinner theatre in Pigeon Forge. The new show celebrates her family’s history and heritage rooted in the Great Smoky Mountains. Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures celebrates the real-life people who captivated television audiences.
Dolly’s experiences growing up in the mountains of East Tennessee, and her memories of celebrating the holidays with her family provided inspiration for both films. “Circle of Love” also detailed the beginning of Dolly’s desire to make it in the music business. Both projects starred Rick Schroder and Jennifer Nettles as her parents, Robert and Avie. Gerald McCraney was cast as her grandfather, Jake Owens. Winning rave reviews for her portrayal of Little Dolly in the movies was young actress Alyvia Alyn Lind.
Set for May 19 in New York City, the 67th Annual Christopher Awards will honor "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" and 20 additional feature films, TV/Cable programs and books for adults and young people. The Christopher Awards were created in 1949 to celebrate writers, producers, directors, authors and illustrators whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit.” The Christophers’ Director of Communications, Tony Rossi, said,
“The world around us can seem like a dark place in light of all the violence and hatred we hear about in the news. But the stories we honor with Christopher Awards remind us that we can shine a light that illuminates the darkness by choosing to practice faith, love, compassion, courage, teamwork and determination.”
Dolly will be honored for her record-breaking NBC film, "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors." Dolly said,
“I love the Christopher Award slogan, ‘Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.’ I personally believe that with all my heart. I think the movie, ‘Coat of Many Colors,’ a true story from my childhood, does throw a light on a lot of things like family, hope, love, kindness, understanding and acceptance. It really spoke to the issue of bullying. I am very proud at how God works through me to shine a light, and to help heal a lot of hurt in a lot of people, and I am very proud of this award.”
"Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" attracted 16 million viewers making it one of the most-watched television movies of all time. In addition to the Christopher Award honors, the film earned the Epiphany Prize for the Most Inspiring TV Program from the Movieguide® Awards.
"The Jim Gaffigan Show: My Friend the Priest" will be honored in the same TV/Cable category as Dolly's film. Her former co-star, Sylvester Stallone, will receive honors in the Feature Film category for "Creed."
Read more about the Christopher Awards.
