Country Music’s Party of the Year® just got bigger with music superstars Dolly Parton and Katy Perry added to the epic line-up of performers taking the stage at the 51ST ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS! This can’t-miss duet will mark their first-ever live performance together.
Additionally, the Academy will honor 10-time ACM Award winner Dolly Parton with the Tex Ritter Award for her television movie, "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors." Dolly talks about the upcoming performance with Katy and what receiving the award means to her.
The Tex Ritter Award is given to a movie released and/or receiving major exposure during the preceding calendar year, featuring or utilizing country music. It's named after America's Most Beloved Cowboy and Country Music Hall of Fame member, Tex Ritter. Dolly shares her thoughts on Tex and how special this award is to her, she said,
"This is a great honor, to be able to accept something that's so personal to me like 'The Coat of Many Colors,' a true story from my childhood."
The 51st Academy Of Country Music Awards, co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley, is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Sunday, April 3 at 8:00PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
"Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors" aired on NBC in 2015, inspiring millions of viewers with its story of faith and family. Set in 1955 in the Great Smoky Mountains, the film showcases a poignant time in Dolly’s childhood, as her family struggles with loss, grapples with religion and ultimately triumphs with the healing power of love. Alyvia Alyn Lind stars as the nine-year-old singer who was given a patchwork coat made by her mother, played by Jennifer Nettles. Ricky Schroder portrays Parton’s father, along with Gerald McRaney as her grandfather. The movie was watched by more than 16 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched TV movies of all time.
Past recipients of the Tex Ritter Award include "Beer For My Horses," "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," "Country Strong," "Crazy Heart," "O Brother, Where Art Thou," "Sweet Dreams" and "Walk the Line," among others.
Dolly and Katy join previously announced performers, including Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Cam, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Brett Eldredge, Sam Hunt, Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Chris Young with Cassadee Pope and Florida Georgia Line. Additional acts and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information on the ACM Awards and all ACM events, visit www.ACMcountry.com.
About the Academy of Country Music Awards:
The 51st Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will broadcast LIVE from MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, R.A. Clark, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco are executive producers. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.
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.
Each year, the Movieguide® Awards recognizes the best family-friendly productions in television and film. "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" made quite an impression on 15.9 million viewers after it aired on NBC in December 2015. Dolly was delighted to accept the Epiphany Prize for the Most Inspiring TV Program of 2015. Dolly said,
“I really wanted to celebrate the people, my whole family, who made me who and what I am today. I'm so blessed and thankful for a great cast, producers, director, and for everyone who watched and I’m extremely thankful to the Movieguide® Awards for this honor.”
In addition to the Epiphany Prize, Alyvia Alyn Lind received the Grace Award for her performance as young Dolly. Recipients of this award exemplify God's grace and mercy through their outstanding performance.
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Watch Dolly and Alyvia receive these awards in one of two telecasts set for Monday, Feb. 22 and Wednesday, Feb. 24 on the REELZChannel.
The premier of "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" drew a record-breaking audience. To date, total viewership equals 15.9 million making it the most-watched movie on broadcast television in six years.
It is the first of four films Dolly and NBC plan to release based on her music. The next film will focus on Dolly's 1973 hit, "Jolene."
Dolly was one of five artists nominated as Favorite Female Country Artist. Nominees and winners, unlike at other award shows, are chosen by fans instead of industry insiders. People's Choice Awards (PCA) have categories in movies, music and television. Fans vote for their favorites on the PCA website.
Dolly was thrilled about the nomination,
“I am so excited to be nominated for a People's Choice Award. It is always a good feeling to be recognized for whatever you do… This year has been an amazing year! I released a new album 'Blue Smoke,' traveled to Australia, Europe, and across America and even performed for 170,000 people at one show - woo that makes me tired just saying it."
This marks her eighth PCA nomination and her fourth in this category. Dolly has won four People's Choice Awards.
Dolly was inducted into the National Hall of Fame for Mountain Artisans on April 5, 2014, during downtown Cumberland Kentucky’s Celebration of Heritage and Culture event. The award recognizes notable artists from the Appalachian region. Rozelle Boggs-Qualls, the Hall of Fame's founder, accepted on Dolly’s behalf.
