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.
Update (Aug. 19, 2015): It’s official, “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” is set to air on NBC, Thursday, Dec. 10, from 9-11 PM!
Award-winning country artist Jennifer Nettles as well as multi-award nominees Gerald McRaney and Ricky Schroder, a former Golden Globe winner, have been added to the cast of the upcoming NBC film, "Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors."
Nettles, who will play Parton’s mother, Avie Lee Parton, has become one of the most popular singer-songwriters in music today. As the lead singer of the duo Sugarland, Nettles has sold more than 22 million albums, achieved eight #1 singles and has won numerous awards, including trophies from the Grammys, AMAs, ACM Awards, CMT Music Awards and CMA Awards. In addition, Nettles debuted her first solo album in 2014 which went to #1 on the country charts.
Adding theater actress to her already impressive resume, Nettles made her Broadway debut in February as Roxy Hart in the Tony Award-winning musical "Chicago."
McRaney, who will play Grandpa Jake Owens, is one of the most respected actors of his generation. His career includes roles in several critically acclaimed television dramas — "Deadwood," "Southland" and "House of Cards" — and he currently co-stars on the Western series "Longmire." He will also co-star on the upcoming TNT series "Agent X." McRaney was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award as part of the cast for both "Deadwood" and "House of Cards."
Schroder, who portrays Dolly’s father, Lee Parton, has had a lengthy career dating back to when the actor was nine years old and won a Golden Globe for his role in the heartfelt boxing film "The Champ." Schroder was SAG nominated both individually and as a member of the cast of the Emmy Award-winning police drama "NYPD Blue" and had a co-starring role in the Emmy-winning drama "24."
As previously announced, Alyvia Lind will portray nine-year-old Dolly Parton. Alyvia most recently had a role in the Lifetime movie spoof "A Deadly Adoption," with Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig.
"Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors" is based on the inspiring true story of living legend Dolly Parton’s remarkable upbringing. This once-in-a-lifetime movie special takes place inside the tight-knit Parton family as they struggle to overcome devastating tragedy and discover the healing power of love, faith, and a raggedy patchwork coat that helped make Dolly who she is today.
The film is set in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains in 1955. It is neither a biopic nor musical about Dolly’s whole life and performing career, but rather a family-oriented, faith-based story about the incidents in her and her family’s life around the time she was nine years old.
"Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors" is written by Pamela K. Long. She executive produces with Sam Haskell and Dolly Parton. The film is a production of Magnolia Hill Entertainment and DP Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and will air December 10, 2015 at 9PM Eastern on NBC
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Update (Aug. 19, 2015): It’s official, "Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors" is set to air on NBC, Thursday, Dec. 10, from 9-11 PM!
The young actress made her film debut in 2013's "Dark Skies." The following year she starred alongside Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in the movie "Blended." In addition to her film career, Alyvia Alyn Lind has played Faith Newman in over 80 episodes of television’s "The Young and the Restless." Alyvia was also cast as five-year-old Amanda Clarke in the television series "Revenge."
Dolly surprised Alyvia with the announcement in person and the young star was nearly speechless. Dolly said,
“When you were doing your little audition, I thought I wish I would have been that pretty when I was little, I wish I would have been that smart. I really felt you and I thought, well, I would be so honored to have you play Little Dolly.”
Dolly Parton Surprises Little Dolly
Dolly Parton surprises Alyvia Lind with the big news that she will portray little Dolly in the upcoming NBC movie #CoatOfManyColors.
Posted by NBC on Monday, July 13, 2015
Plans for a television movie series of Dolly’s songs began in May of 2015. "Coat of Many Colors" the movie is set to air in December of 2015.
Update (Aug. 19, 2015): It’s official, "Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors" is set to air on NBC, Thursday, Dec. 10, from 9-11 PM!
Update (May 11, 2015): NBC confirms first in series of made-for-TV movies will be "Coat of Many Colors."
Read more about the movie on NBC.
In early January 2015, Dolly and NBC announced their joint plans to make a collection of two-hour television movies based on Dolly's life and songs. Not only will Dolly produce the films, she will also reunite with Bob Greenblatt on the project. She remarked,
"I am so excited to be involved with my friend Bob Greenblatt, who produced the Broadway version of '9 to 5: The Musical' with me, and my longtime friend and former agent Sam Haskell. We want to create projects for NBC that are both fun and inspirational with a family audience in mind."
The network noted the films will incorporate Dolly's always-present positive outlook on life which has inspired her fans and those around her. In a release, NBC Entertainment chairman, Robert Greenblatt said,
"I don't know anyone in the world who doesn't love Dolly Parton, and the idea of developing television movies inspired by her incredible life and the stories she has sung about for decades is exciting to all of us at NBC."
Dolly wrote many of her hit songs based on personal experiences from her childhood and from other times in her life. Songs like "Coat of Many Colors," "My Tennessee Mountain Home" and "I Will Always Love You" were inspired by real events. Through these songs and many others, Dolly builds strong emotional connections with her fans. Now these beloved stories are set to play out on the small screen for loyal fans and new audiences alike.
At the annual media event, Dolly shared the big announcement of her new website along with more exciting things coming to Dollywood during the park’s 30th season. When the floor was opened up for questions, longtime fan and administrator of Dollymania.net, Duane Gordon asked Dolly about the online countdown that had been counting down for the past several weeks on DollyParton.com. Dolly explained the historical nature of the site and how it brings all her favorite things together. She said,
“It’s kind of like a museum, kind of like a history of my life and music. It’s all about our businesses and my personal stuff.”
In addition to the new DollyParton.com announcement, the event featured new things coming to Dollywood, including the return of a summer concert series to benefit the Imagination Library. The goal is to raise $1 million for the global book gifting organization. Dolly will open the series with four performances on August 8-9. Kenny Rogers will close the series and more artists will be announced at a later date.
Dolly updated fans on her new production company, Dixie Pixie Productions. She said her new NBC movie series will begin with a Christmas movie based on her song, "Coat of Many Colors." The television movie is set to air Christmas of 2015.
The legendary entertainer fielded questions about the opening of Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort set for later this year. The resort will offer more ways for families to enjoy Dollywood and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Several performers from Dollywood’s Festival of Nations were showcased at the event. The GRAMMY award-winning Mariachi Divas opened, followed by the Invaders Steel Orchestra who wowed the crowd with a version of Dolly’s "9 to 5."
LiveStream recording of Dolly Parton's appearance.
