Dolly was honored with the 2007 Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service, awarded throughout the year to individuals or businesses that show an outstanding commitment to integrating politics, scholarship, and policy for the public good. Along with performer Wayne Newton and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, Dolly is one of the few entertainers to receive the prestigious award for her charitable efforts.
The award is presented by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution during ceremonial dinners in different cities. Dolly received her award at War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, TN, on Nov. 8, 2007.
She raised her right hand and recited the Girl Scout promise with the Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council. In a ceremony held at Dollywood, she received her very own sash and 30 badges. The badges highlight her accomplishments in community service, theater, art, literacy, songwriting, and environmental advocacy among other areas. Becoming a Girl Scout was a dream come true. She said,
“This great honor lets me live out a dream and to be part of an organization that stands for many of the same values I do and Dollywood does.”
Glenda McCarter-Johnson attended Sevier County High School with Dolly. She is now president of Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council. The two friends were in the 4-H Club together.
Knowing Dolly’s dream of joining the organization and her exemplary life, Glenda knew Dolly would make a great Girl Scout. Glenda said,
“Dolly realizes the importance of a program that helps girls grow into young women of courage and confidence.”
In 2007, Dolly was recognized with the Johnny Mercer Award by the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Dolly has written over 3,000 songs throughout her career. The Johnny Mercer Award is given to songwriters previously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame but, as the organization said in a statement
“whose body of work is of such high quality and impact, that it upholds the gold standard set by the legendary Johnny Mercer.”
Prior to accepting the award, Dolly commented on her formula for success,
"You need to be yourself. Stay true to yourself, and be aware of the stuff you say and the stuff that you do… I always try to be true to me, and be true to my music."
Johnny Mercer was an incredibly popular performer, composer, and lyricist from the 30s through the 50s. Mercer wrote the lyrics to over 1,500 songs, received 19 academy award nominations, and won 4 Academy Awards during his career.
Dolly was honored with the Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 3, 2006, along with classical music conductor Zubin Mehta, musical artist Smokey Robinson, motion picture director Steven Spielberg, and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. The award recognizes a performing artist’s lifetime contribution to American culture.
Steve Buckingham, Dolly’s longtime record producer, was not surprised by the honor at all because he feels Dolly’s impact has been "huge... not just because of her body of work as a singer and songwriter and an actress but her philanthropic work... That impact isn't limited to this country [U.S.]... I've been around different parts of the world with her, the U.K., Switzerland, Amsterdam, Paris... There's no place you go... that people don't know her. I always say, the one thing you never hear when you're anywhere with her is, `I wonder if that's Dolly Parton?' because there's no doubt."
Artists who performed or delivered remarks on Dolly’s behalf at the ceremony were actress Reese Witherspoon and musical performers Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Carrie Underwood, Alison Krauss, Suzanne Cox, Cheryl White, Shania Twain, Vince Gill and Jessica Simpson.
President George W. Bush praised the honorees for “enriching the cultural life of our country."
Guests felt the thunder and they like it! For the second year in a row, Dollywood’s Thunderhead roller coaster was named the number one wooden coaster in the world by the voters of the 2006 Golden Tickets Awards. It edged out The Voyage at Holiday World, Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce, and Hades at Mount Olympus Theme Park for the prize.
Voters described the smooth ride, unpredictability and re-rideability of the coaster, as reasons for its success. In 2004, Thunderhead was the highest debuting wooden coaster in the history of the awards. While Thunderhead received rave reviews, that’s not the only thing people are talking about at Dollywood. The theme park placed in six additional categories at the Golden Tickets Awards.
