My Life

Glastonbury performance draws over 180,000

Published June 29, 2014 / Last Updated August 23, 2015
Team Dolly is a collaboration of writers, editors, and publishers assembled by Dolly Parton Productions. Each member is dedicated to accurately publishing the latest news and historical archives of the living legend that is Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Managing Editor - Jacob Timmons
Creative Director - Sarah Chapman
Team Dolly

Dolly performs before a crowd of more than 180,000 Glastonbury festival goers, a record for the event

In the summer of 2014, Dolly performed at the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts. When she took to the Pyramid stage, it was said that all the other stages were empty and even the performers were likely gathered to see her concert. In a sharp contrast to the famous Glastonbury mud, Dolly greeted her fans in a white rhinestone-covered pants suit.

She sang many of her hits including “Coat of Many Colors,” and “9 to 5” while the eager young audience sang along, many wearing blond wigs in admiration. The security staff even choreographed their own moves to “Jolene.”

The festival staff had been trying to book Dolly since their very first event back in 1970. However, the timing of her touring schedule did not work out until now. Dolly was excited to perform at Glastonbury and especially admired the large farm that hosts the annual event. She said,

“I’m just a country girl and now I feel like a rock star.”

The BBC aired the entire event and made it available on their networks around the world. During the performance, Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora joined in on Dolly’s version of “Lay Your Hands On Me.” The song appears on Dolly’s album, “Blue Smoke” as a spiritual tune.

Before the event, Dolly received a special presentation marking her total career album sales surpassing 100 million worldwide.

The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts is a five-day music and arts event. The festival hosts multiple stages and is set on Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, England.

Team DollyGlastonbury performance draws over 180,000

‘Blue Smoke’

Published May 13, 2014 / Last Updated August 23, 2015
Team Dolly is a collaboration of writers, editors, and publishers assembled by Dolly Parton Productions. Each member is dedicated to accurately publishing the latest news and historical archives of the living legend that is Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Managing Editor - Jacob Timmons
Creative Director - Sarah Chapman
Team Dolly

Dolly releases 42nd solo album, ‘Blue Smoke’

Dolly released her 42nd album “Blue Smoke” in North America on, May 13, 2014. “Blue Smoke” was the fifth album recorded on her label, Dolly Records (in collaboration with Sony Masterworks).

Dolly grew up in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and the famous fog that gives the mountains their name inspired the album title and the Smokies themselves inspired much of the album content. As she has said,

“It was a song that brought me out of the Smoky Mountains and it will be a song that lays me back down in the ground in the Smoky Mountains.”

Dolly has said that this record would be a celebration of “all the colors” in her life by featuring the bluegrass, country, gospel, and mountain music influences she says the fans have allowed her to “dabble in through the years.”

“Blue Smoke” includes a duet with long-time collaborator Kenny Rogers (“You Can’t Make Old Friends“), a gospel version of a Bon Jovi classic (“Lay Your Hands on Me”), and a version of a Bob Dylan song (“Don’t Think Twice”). The album also features Dolly’s duet with Willie Nelson, “From Here to the Moon and Back.” Dolly released two singles from the album, “Try” and “Home.” She delighted fans with a music video for “Home.”

Dolly began her “Blue Smoke” World Tour in early 2014 and made appearances on AXS TV (Dan Rather), and Access Hollywood to promote the album and tour. She also performed tracks from the album on QVC on, April 27, 2014.

“Blue Smoke” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Charts and No. 6 on the Billboard Pop Charts making it Dolly’s highest debuting solo album to date.

Blue Smoke – Song List (click for lyrics)

  1. Blue Smoke
  2. Unlikely Angel
  3. Don’t Think Twice
  4. You Can’t Make Old Friends
  5. Home
  6. Banks Of The Ohio
  7. Lay Your Hands On Me
  8. Miss You, Miss Me
  9. If I Had Wings
  10. Lover Du Jour
  11. From Here To The Moon And Back
  12. Try
Team Dolly‘Blue Smoke’

‘You Can’t Make Old Friends’

Published March 1, 2014 / Last Updated September 14, 2015
Team Dolly is a collaboration of writers, editors, and publishers assembled by Dolly Parton Productions. Each member is dedicated to accurately publishing the latest news and historical archives of the living legend that is Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Managing Editor - Jacob Timmons
Creative Director - Sarah Chapman
Team Dolly

‘You Can’t Make Old Friends,’ GRAMMY-nominated duet with Kenny Rogers

One of the highlights of Dolly’s 42nd album ‘Blue Smoke‘ is the duet ‘You Can’t Make Old Friends,’ recorded with one of her most beloved singing partners Kenny Rogers. The song is a poignant reflection of enduring friendship.

Rogers said of this, his first duet with Dolly since 1985’s ‘Real Love,’

“We really are those kind of friends, where you can’t make old friends. Dolly knows me like a book, and I know her like a book. So this is the perfect idea for a song for us.”

Dolly calls Rogers her “best friend” and talks about how she is glad she got to “walk that road” with the man she sang one of the most loved duets of all time, “Islands in the Stream.”

The song was nominated for a 2014 GRAMMY Award in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance category. This was the third GRAMMY-nominated collaboration for Dolly and Kenny! Other nominated collaborations include ‘Islands in the Stream‘ and ‘Real Love.’

Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers in the studio recording latest duet, "You Can't Make Old Friends"
Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
Lyrics for "You Can't Make Old Friends" by Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers
Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers in the studio recording latest duet, "You Can't Make Old Friends"
Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
Very Young Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers
Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
Very Young Dolly Parton
Team Dolly‘You Can’t Make Old Friends’

‘Blue Smoke’ World Tour

Published October 24, 2013 / Last Updated August 23, 2015
Team Dolly is a collaboration of writers, editors, and publishers assembled by Dolly Parton Productions. Each member is dedicated to accurately publishing the latest news and historical archives of the living legend that is Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Managing Editor - Jacob Timmons
Creative Director - Sarah Chapman
Team Dolly

Dolly announces “Blue Smoke” world tour across North America, Europe and Australia

Dolly launched her “Blue Smoke” World Tour in Rancho Mirage, California, playing to more than 40 audiences across North America, Europe, and Australia.

She mentioned how excited she was to start the tour,

“It’s always great to perform at home in the good ole USA. We’re kicking off our Blue Smoke World Tour right here at home. I love traveling all over the world, but it’s true, there’s nothing like home.”

Dolly toured in support of her 42nd studio album “Blue Smoke,” the title of which comes from the Cherokee word “Sha-Kon-O-Hey,” which means “Land of the Blue Smoke.”

The tour was officially announced on “The Queen Latifah Show” in October 2013.

Team Dolly‘Blue Smoke’ World Tour

‘Unlikely Angel’

Published December 17, 1996 / Last Updated August 23, 2015
Team Dolly is a collaboration of writers, editors, and publishers assembled by Dolly Parton Productions. Each member is dedicated to accurately publishing the latest news and historical archives of the living legend that is Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Managing Editor - Jacob Timmons
Creative Director - Sarah Chapman
Team Dolly

Dolly stars as Ruby Diamond in the CBS made-for-television film, “Unlikely Angel”

 

Dolly starred in “Unlikely Angel,” a made-for-television film, as Ruby Diamond, a selfish country singer who is granted a second chance at salvation by St. Peter (Roddy McDowall) after she dies in a car accident. If Ruby is able to help reunite and heal a suburban family suffering after the passage of their mother (by midnight on Christmas Eve) she will be given her wings. If she fails to reunite the family, Ruby would head for far smokier shores.

Dolly was also an executive producer for the project and provided some original songs (“Wat’cha Tryin’na Do” and “Unlikely Angel”). “Unlikely Angel” premiered on CBS on Dec. 17, 1996.

Team Dolly‘Unlikely Angel’