In an exclusive video featured on AOL, Dolly Parton shares a special story from her past about a big surprise she gave her parents and younger siblings once her music career had begun to take off. Dolly said,
"One of the greatest joys of my life was when I made enough money to do something special for my family, because my family was always number one with me and still is."
With the help of some friends, Dolly and a few of her older siblings managed to completely decorate and furnish her parent's house with new furniture and curtains for a special Christmas surprise.
Dolly's love for her family can be heard in many of her songs, especially her 1971 hit, "Coat of Many Colors." This song is the focus of her new movie of the same name airing on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 9/8c on NBC.
"Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" stars Alyvia Alyn Lind, Jennifer Nettles, Ricky Schroder and Gerald McRaney.
AOL Video Exclusive: Dolly Parton
Alyvia Alyn Lind portrays Little Dolly in NBC's new movie, "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors." The young star talks about wearing the famous coat, the message of the song and getting to sing with Dolly.
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Q. As you started to develop your character, what things about Dolly stood out or perhaps surprised you?
A. It surprised me how sassy Dolly was. I didn't realize at first [how] alike Dolly and I were. We are both really emotional and nothing stands in our way. I liked Dolly more and more as I got to know the character better.
Q. The Parton family is known for their tight-knit bonds. While filming, did the cast develop similar family-like relationships?
A. The cast got so close, so quickly! When I first met Hannah [Nordberg], the girl playing Dolly's best friend in the movie, we had an instant connection! We were BFF's on the very first day. And Jennifer and Ricky felt like my real parents. It was an amazing family - I loved everyone.
Q. Considering everything you have done in your career, where does this role rank in your list of achievements?
A. I would have to say that playing Dolly is the highlight of my career. I've worked with amazing actors - Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig - and I'm so lucky. But this role has been the one I connect to the most. I really did not want to say goodbye to Little Dolly.
Q. After the first movie poster was released, the world got to see you in the Coat. What was it like for you when you first put that coat on, knowing what it symbolizes?
A. I loved the coat when I saw it for the first time. I had no idea how beautiful it would be - and I felt so proud wearing it. It symbolizes accepting people for who they are, and it patches together little bits and pieces of Dolly's life - it also shows how much love Dolly's mom had for her and her family. I felt so much responsibility putting it on because I know how much it means to Dolly.
Q. The song, "Coat of Many Colors" first debuted in 1971, 44 years ago, yet it still has a powerful message for people today. Why do you think people relate so well to this story?
A. Even though the song was written so long ago, it still shows how important it is to be nice to everyone, not to bully or judge, and that all different types of people can get along and love each other. The song still means so much today.
Q. Other than "Coat of Many Colors" do you have a favorite Dolly song and if so what is it?
A. I love "9 to 5" - actually, that has always been one of my favorite movies. My mom loves showing me movies from the 70's and 80's - that one always stood out to me. That is one of the reasons I was so excited to play Dolly.
Q. What was your favorite moment of making the film or your favorite takeaway?
A. My favorite part of being in the movie was getting to sing a duet with Dolly. I still can't believe that this has happened to me and feel so honored that I get to sing with such a legend.
See more cast interviews and tune in Thursday, December 10 at 9/8c on NBC to watch Alyvia Alyn Lind as Dolly Parton in "Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors."
This December, Dolly Parton’s childhood memory that inspired a country music hit and later became a children's book, will premiere as the NBC movie, "Dolly Parton's Coat Of Many Colors." The stars of Dolly's new movie shared stories of how they bonded, much like the real Parton family, over movie nights, pool parties and field trips. To hear them talk about the experience, one might wonder how they managed to get the movie made. However, they did, and their excitement about the finished product is contagious.
Step behind the scenes as Ricky shares a touching note from Dolly, Farrah reveals her favorite Dolly song and see why playing "Little Dolly" is a career highlight for Alyvia Alyn.
Discover more about Dolly's new movie from the stars themselves. See full interviews and MORE!
Tune in December 10, at 9 p.m. EST to watch "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" airing on NBC.
CREDITS
Starring
Alyvia Alyn Lind, Jennifer Nettles, Ricky Schroder, Gerald McRaney
Executive Producers
Dolly Parton, Sam Haskell, Pamela K. Long
Written By
Pamela K. Long
Director
Stephen Herek
Line Producer
Hudson Hickman
Casting Director
Patrick Rush
Produced By
Warner Bros. Television, Magnolia Hill Entertainment, DP Productions
Tennessee’s favorite songbird will offer her special brand of “Dolly wisdom” to singing contests and perform her heartfelt autobiographical hit, "Coat of Many Colors" on NBC’s "The Voice," on Dec. 8. Fellow country star and longtime “Voice” coach, Blake Shelton shared the exciting news. Blake said, Â
"It's not often that I'm super jealous of the contestants on this show, but I'm really jealous about next week because they're going to be mentored by a young lady by the name of Dolly Parton."
Dolly will perform one of her most personal and beloved songs, “Coat of Many Colors,” on the Tuesday, Dec. 8 (8-9 p.m.) live telecast of NBC’s Emmy Award-winning musical-competition series “The Voice.” Her appearance comes just two days before her new movie, based on the same song, will air on NBC on Dec. 10.
Also taking the stage will be country star and “Voice” season three champion Cassadee Pope, who will perform her latest single, “I Am Invincible.”
"Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors" stars Jennifer Nettles as Dolly’s mother, Ricky Schroder as her father and Alyvia Alyn Lind as 9-year-old Dolly. Gerald McRaney, one of the most respected actors of his generation, will play Dolly’s Grandpa Jake Owens.
Image by Curtis Hilbun
The news was shared at the NBCUniversal Television Critics Association Summer Tour held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Dolly and members of the cast of "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" were on hand discussing the first film of the series, set to air during upcoming 2015 holiday season.
The song, "Jolene" was first released in 1973 as the first single to the 1974 album of the same name. It became her second No. 1 country single and went on to become one of her signature hits. In live shows, Dolly often tells fans she wrote the song after her husband started spending a lot of time at the bank talking to a red haired teller with green eyes. Dolly says with a laugh,
"I knew my husband was spending more time at the bank than we had money."
At the 2014 Glastonbury festival, Dolly performed before a record-breaking crowd of over 180,000 people. The event staff surprised Dolly with a choreographed dance to the song.
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No word yet on when "Jolene" the movie will be out.
Jennifer Nettles, Gerald McRaney, Ricky Schroder and Alyvia Lind were cast in "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors," the first movie in the NBC series set in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains in 1955.
