Movies & Television

‘Blue Valley Songbird’

Published November 1, 1999 / 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

‘Blue Valley Songbird,’ made-for-tv movie, inspired by Dolly’s song of the same name

Dolly starred as Leanna Taylor in her made-for-television movie, “Blue Valley Songbird” and worked behind the scenes as the film’s executive producer.

The movie aired on Lifetime in November of 1999. Leanna Taylor is a Nashville singer who uses her music to face her troubled upbringing. Dolly’s inspiration came from her song “Blue Valley Songbird” on her album “Hungry Again.” Dolly said,

“As soon as I wrote the song, I had full intentions of making a movie from it… In my mind, I thought, ‘This is like a screenplay.’”

Dolly took a hands-on approach to the project.

“I was very involved… And I promoted shooting the movie in Nashville from day one. I was thrilled that we could film it here… I felt it was very important to find Southern people to write this script… The writers we chose were both from the South, so they had an understanding of it.”

While there is no official soundtrack, a number of the songs in the movie are available on Dolly’s album “Hungry Again.

 

Team Dolly‘Blue Valley Songbird’

‘Hungry Again’

Published August 25, 1998 / 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 34th solo album, “Hungry Again” 

On August 25, 1998, Dolly released her 34th studio album, “Hungry Again” on the Blue Eye/Decca label. The album has been looked at as a precursor to her return to bluegrass and her roots.

Dolly wrote track 12, “Shine On” as a tribute to her friend and singing partner Tammy Wynette. Additionally, “Blue Valley Songbird” is featured in a made-for-television movie of the same name starring Dolly.

Dolly saw the album as a return to a hungrier style of music making,

“I spent all last summer writin’ these songs. I went back to my old home place, wrote all those songs and they just came straight from my heart.”

“Hungry Again” reached 167 on the Billboard 200 and 23 on the Top Country Albums chart.

Team Dolly‘Hungry Again’

‘Slow Dancing with the Moon’

Published February 23, 1993 / 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 31st solo album, ‘Slow Dancing With the Moon’

Released in 1993, “Slow Dancing With the Moon” is Dolly’s 31st solo album. She invited several guests to appear on the project including Mary Chapin Carpenter, Pam Tillis, Billy Ray Cyrus, Kathy Mattea, Billy Dean and Tanya Tucker.

Dolly’s longtime friend Mac Davis wrote the title track for the album. She said he felt the title described her well. Dolly said,

“He says it’s the way that he sees me, how I’m always chasing a dream… that I’m the same kid he met so many years ago and my spirit has remained the same.”

Davis also wrote “In the Ghetto” from Dolly’s 1969 album, “My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy.”

“Slow Dancing With the Moon” produced three singles, including “Romeo” with Billy Ray Cyrus. In the music video, Dolly and her friends are enjoying their girls’ night out at a lively dance hall when Romeo appears.

The Certified Platinum album went to No. 4 on the Top Country Albums chart and No. 16 on the Billboard 200 chart. “Romeo” was nominated for a GRAMMY in the Best Country Vocal Collaboration category.

Team Dolly‘Slow Dancing with the Moon’