On Thursday, May 5, Dolly Parton will be traveling the country to visit statewide celebrations of her Imagination Library in Delaware and Arkansas. Join Dolly for two livestream broadcasts as Delaware and Arkansas celebrate the success of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library!
As the world’s preeminent early childhood book-gifting program, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library mails high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five in partnership with local community affiliates. After tremendous support and growth in their Imagination Library programs, both Delaware and Arkansas have now achieved statewide coverage, making every child under age five eligible for enrollment.
Children whose parents enroll them in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library receive one new book in the mail each month, at no cost, from birth through age five. Over the course of enrollment, a personal library of as many as 60 books is created, helping form the foundation of a child’s early reading experience.
Tune in at 12:30 p.m. EST to watch as Dolly joins Governor John Carney and First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney for a special conversation and brief musical performance celebrating the success of the Imagination Library in Delaware. The special livestream broadcast will be available to watch simultaneously on dollyparton.com and YouTube. (*Note: this event has been rescheduled to 12:30PM from its previously scheduled time.)
Governor Carney first announced a pilot launch of the Imagination Library program in five Delaware school districts in his 2020 State of the State address, with the Division of Libraries partnering with 13 local public libraries to make the program available to families within the pilot districts. Now, thanks to the tireless efforts of the program’s statewide partners and supporters, the Imagination Library has reached full statewide coverage in Delaware.
At 6:35 p.m. CST, Governor Asa Hutchinson, statewide leaders and local supporters welcome Dolly to the celebration in Arkansas for a brief musical performance and a live chat with local media personality, Craig O’Neill. Tune in to watch the special broadcast, streaming live simultaneously on dollyparton.com, Youtube and the Imagination Library Facebook page.
Since 2005, Imagination Library affiliates in Arkansas have gifted more than three million books, with more than 57,000 Arkansas children currently enrolled in the program. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the program’s statewide partners and supporters, the Imagination Library has now reached full statewide coverage, making all children under age five eligible for enrollment!
Tune in and join Dolly for two livestream broadcasts on May 5, 2022, as we celebrate the statewide success of the Imagination Library in Delaware and Arkansas! For more information on Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, to check availability and register a child, visit imaginationlibrary.com.
After the cold winter months, there’s so much for everyone to look forward to with the arrival of spring. The birds start chirping, the flowers start blooming and sunshine warms our days and our hearts. Dolly sends some of that sunshine our way by sharing what she loves about springtime.
“I just want to take a minute to wish everybody a happy springtime! What I love about spring is that the days start getting longer, the sun seems to shine a little brighter, and we really get to see all of God’s beauty blossom right in front of our eyes. There may be a few April showers here and there, but you know what I always say, ‘If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain!’”
Dollywood welcomes guests to celebrate the beauty of springtime during their annual Flower & Food Festival presented by Covenant Health, happening April 22 – June 5. This popular event delights guests with hundreds of thousands of brilliant flowers, truly bringing spring in the Smokies alive throughout the park. And, in 2022, this event blooms with even more fun and discovery around every corner, thanks to several new larger-than-life Mosaicultures floral sculptures.
Dolly’s Stampede in Pigeon Forge and Branson welcomes families to kick off the spring season with an evening of action-packed fun. Enjoy a bountiful four-course feast while delighting in a thrilling show filled with singing and dancing, impressive horse-riding stunts, family-friendly comedy and more.
At Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show in Pigeon Forge and Myrtle Beach, buccaneers of all ages are invited to set sail into a fun spring season. This exciting adventure features everything from pirates battling for hidden treasure to high-diving mermaids, plus a delicious Pirate Feast. Come join in the fun!
Dolly’s Imagination Library welcomes the arrival of spring by celebrating the growth of the childhood literacy program, putting free books into the hands of more children than ever before! In Canada, the Imagination Library recently kicked off the province-wide expansion of Dolly’s book gifting program across Newfoundland and Labrador. In the United States, the Imagination Library celebrated National Read Across America Day (March 2) by announcing that the program would be expanding statewide in Washington!
Dolly took the stage on March 7 to host the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards, which streamed live without commercial interruption from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Dolly’s hosting appearance marked the first time the awards show was broadcast in the streaming format, airing exclusively on Prime Video.
Dolly’s eagerly-anticipated first novel, co-authored with New York Times Best Seller James Patterson, is now available. Glittering with danger and desire, “Run, Rose, Run” is a thriller about a young singer-songwriter on the rise and on the run, determined to do whatever it takes to survive. This riveting novel is now available for purchase in hardcover, ebook and audiobook.
Dolly’s latest album, “Run, Rose, Run,” serves as a companion to the original novel, enhancing the reader’s experience with 12 original songs by Dolly that tie into the book’s story line. The album is available now on all digital streaming platforms and as a digital download, as well as on CD, standard vinyl and some special vinyl color variants.
Dolly is set to star in Hello Sunshine’s feature film adaptation of “Run, Rose, Run,” her recently-released novel, co-authored by James Patterson. Dolly and James will produce the feature alongside Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine’s President of Film and Television, Lauren Neustadter.
Exclusive “Run, Rose, Run” merchandise, created for Dolly’s latest album and book release, is available now! Each item complements the story and music as told by Dolly Parton.
Spring is a time when all the world bursts forth with the beauty of new life. As sunlight breaks through the rain clouds, take time to look for the rainbows that start to appear. Let this beautiful time of year bring you joy and fill your heart with a song.
Together you and I can stop the rain and make the sun shine
Paint a pretty rainbow brushed with love across the sky
Together you and I belong like a songbird and a song
And we’ll always be together you and I
Love,
Dolly Parton is set to star in Hello Sunshine’s feature film adaptation of "Run, Rose, Run," her recently-released novel, co-authored by James Patterson.
Dolly and James will produce the feature alongside Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine’s President of Film and Television, Lauren Neustadter. Ashley Strumwasser will executive produce for Hello Sunshine.
“I'm proud, excited and honored to be working with my good friend Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine on the movie of 'Run, Rose, Run' from the novel I co-wrote with James Patterson," Dolly said. "James and I love Reese and look forward to working with her and her wonderful team.”
Published on March 7, 2022, by Little, Brown and Company, the novel "Run, Rose, Run" debuted at #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list. Dolly also released a companion album of the same title on March 4, 2022, through her Butterfly Records label. The album debuted at #1 on the Current Country albums, Americana/Folk and Bluegrass charts.
Set in Nashville, "Run, Rose, Run" is about a young woman who comes to country music’s capital city to pursue her music-making dreams. The source of her heart-wrenching songs is a brutal secret she has tried desperately to hide, but the past she has fled is reaching out to control her future—and it may destroy everything she has worked for.
“It has been a joy working with Dolly Parton on this book," James said. "It’s a great story that we are both proud of. And, in partnership with Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine, we will produce a great movie.”
Reese Witherspoon shared,
"Growing up in Nashville, I’ve loved Dolly since the moment I heard her magical voice and saw her luminous personality shine onstage. Beyond her magnetic presence as an artist and performer, she is one of the greatest songwriters and storytellers of our time. Her impact knows no bounds — as a musician, actor, writer, businesswoman, activist and all around incredible human being — Dolly Parton is not only an icon to me, but a true inspiration to women and girls everywhere.
"My admiration for [Dolly] grew to even greater heights when reading 'Run, Rose, Run,' a gripping and heartbreaking book I couldn't put down. I couldn’t feel more honored to be working alongside her and James to bring this remarkable story to the screen."
Get Dolly’s latest album, “Run, Rose, Run,” available now on all digital streaming platforms and as a digital download, as well as on CD, standard vinyl and some special vinyl color variants. The novel, co-authored by James Patterson, is now available in stores and online in hardcover, ebook and audiobook.
Photos provided by Curtis Hilbun
Dolly Parton welcomed Dollywood season passholders and members of the media during a special preview day event on March 11, setting the tone for what will be a thrilling 2022 at the Pigeon Forge park. With new festival elements throughout the year and a number of projects throughout the property designed to enhance the guest experience, Dollywood’s 37th season is on track to be one of its best.
Dolly updated the assembled media and guests about several of her latest projects, shared a special video look at the season ahead, and was even “put inside a bubble” by Melody Yang whose “Gazillion Bubble Show: Aurora” will return to the park during Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration (June 18 - August 7). Dolly finished the event by sharing “Big Dreams and Faded Jeans,” one of the songs from her new album “Run, Rose, Run,” which accompanies the book she co-authored with James Patterson by the same name.
“I can’t believe it’s been two years since the last time we’ve been together here at Dollywood,” Dolly shared. “I’ve missed seeing everyone, but I can promise you I’ve been staying busy and working a lot more than ‘9 to 5.’ And all of our guests have certainly been keeping everyone here at Dollywood busy the last two years, and I want to thank everybody who has visited for their support the last two years.
“Dollywood and the Smokies truly are a special place, and I’m just proud that so many people are wanting to come to these beautiful mountains to experience all of God’s beauty and find out why this area has become so popular. Once they come, they might just not want to leave my Smoky Mountain home!”
Park guests probably noticed several new sights as they toured the park, with many projects undertaken simultaneously during what was a very busy off season. Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company, is eager for guests to enjoy everything the park has to offer this year.
“Our teams have worked so hard over the off season on all these projects, but we believe they’re going to notice an improvement immediately. While they aren’t headline-grabbing projects like a new attraction or resort, the work we’ve done through the off season plays a pivotal role in the guest experience.
“During the last two years we’ve placed a lot of focus on those things that you might not immediately think about in terms of affecting someone’s visit, but once our guests see them, they tell us they are the things that really make a difference. For example, as soon as guests drive into the reconfigured parking complex, they are going to see how we’ve implemented a number of changes designed to provide a more efficient entry and exit process. Across our properties we’ve selected the things that are crucial for guest experience and park infrastructure in general.”
The main change guests will see is in the new parking complex—highlighted by the swapping of the guest traffic lanes with the tram lanes—which removes previous points of intersection between the two. The multi-property parking complex now employs a one-way circuit which eliminates the two-way traffic pattern of the old parking lot layout. Also, the addition of two extra parking toll booths (four attendants), as well as more staging lanes for the toll booths, will result in a reduction of time spent waiting to enter the property. The Dollywood Emporium also receives a complete renovation, providing a modern shopping experience as guests look to find unique Dollywood keepsakes.
As guests have continued to ask for more spacing in the park, two buildings have been removed to allow for wider walkways —the former Eagle Shop, part of the second phase of the Craftsman’s Valley widening project, and the former Christmas Cottage in Rivertown Junction. Additionally, the tunnel connecting lower Craftsman’s Valley to The Village has been removed, with the final result providing guests a location to spread out—perhaps while enjoying a loaf of cinnamon bread from the nearby Grist Mill—and have an up-close and unobstructed view of the Dollywood Express as it passes by.
Dollywood’s 37th season is one of excitement thanks to returning guest favorites, new experiences to enjoy and the fun of one of America’s best theme parks.
From now until April 15, park guests can enjoy some of the region’s most engaging performers and songwriters during a five-week schedule of acoustic performances in the Pines Theater. Artists like The Young Fables (March 14 & 16), Teea Goans (March 25 & 26), Monroeville (April 6 & 8), and more make up this new entertainment offering.
Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival presented by Covenant Health (April 22- June 5) delights guests with hundreds of thousands of brilliant flowers, truly bringing spring in the Smokies alive throughout the park. In 2022, this event blooms with even more fun and discovery around every corner, thanks to several new larger-than-life Mosaicultures floral sculptures. Returning guest-favorite Mosaicultures include the butterfly umbrella, various animal scenes and Dolly’s mother sewing together the Coat of Many Colors. Guests again are greeted by a stunning visual upon arrival, as hundreds of colorful umbrellas are suspended above Showstreet to create a dazzling “Umbrella Sky.” In addition to the beautiful flowers, a wide-selection of culinary creations abound to delight guests’ taste buds with a menu full of items inspired by spring in the Smokies. This event was named the inaugural winner of the IAPPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Brass Ring Award for Best New Food and Beverage Festival or Special Event in 2021.
Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration (June 18 - August 7) is a festive summertime event that features unique family experiences that can only be found in the heart of the Smokies. With extended operating hours each evening, families can ride Dollywood’s world-class roller coasters, including Lightning Rod and Wild Eagle, all day and well into the night.
After rave reviews following its debut in 2021, Dollywood’s Sweet Summer Nights—a first-of-its-kind within the industry—returns with a show that combines hundreds of high-tech drones with a world-class fireworks show to put an exclamation point on the evening. During the day, guests also can enjoy one of the most popular Dollywood shows of all time, Gazillion Bubble Show: Aurora. This awe-inspiring show promises to leave every child and child-at-heart with a smile on their face, thanks to “gazillions” of bubbles and guest interactions that make up every performance. New and unique elements throughout the park enhance the summer fun for guests with new decor elements like the all-new Kite Sky, unexpected splash and play elements, colorful kids play activities in The Village, a bubble foam party in Wilderness Pass, and an unparalleled and interactive art installation that invites guests to spin on life-size tops in Wildwood Grove.
Dollywood’s Rock the Smokies returns August 27 with performances throughout the park by several of contemporary Christian music’s biggest names. By combining all the adventure of a day at the park with great music, Dollywood has crafted a unique event packed with fun for all ages. A ticket purchase includes admission to Dollywood, with discounts available for groups, season passholders and guests who order tickets early. Artists and additional details will be announced at a later date.
A tradition for many families, Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (September 23 - October 29) celebrates the beauty of fall in the Smokies with thousands of carved pumpkins, spirited performances from talented artists and the fun of Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health. Great Pumpkin LumiNights, which previously has been named the best theme park harvest event in the world, features elaborate displays that create the picture-perfect photo op for families to enjoy. New in 2022, guests will have a hoot in Craftsman’s Valley as it transforms into Hoot Owl Hollow with owl-themed displays both in the park and suspended in the trees above.
It has earned one of the industry’s highest awards—the Golden Ticket—for 13 years, and once guests enter the gates, they understand why Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Novemver 5, 2022 - January 1, 2023) is the perfect place to get in the Christmas spirit. Wander through the park’s more than five million holiday lights, enjoy the festive holiday performances and warm Christmas atmosphere or taste the holiday-themed food, and it is easy to see why it has become a family tradition for so many.
With so much new to experience in 2022, it is the perfect season for a Dollywood season pass. To accommodate the ever-evolving needs of Dollywood guests, a new season pass structure featuring several new pass types has been created to allow more options for visitors to tailor their experience.
The Dollywood Silver Season Pass starts at $149 and includes two Bring-a-Friend Free tickets and a discount on Dollywood lodging. For just $55 more, guests can opt for the Dollywood Gold Season Pass. Prices go up after March 20. The Gold Pass—which is priced $30 less than a 2021 Gold Season Pass—represents a tremendous value for guests thanks to Saturday Early Ride Time for the passholder, four Bring-A-Friend Free tickets, and discounts on dining, merchandise, and lodging. In addition, the Gold Pass provides free parking, various other discounts and access to special “Golden Events,” exclusive events just for Gold and Diamond passholders. Only the named passholder can receive the perks associated with each pass type. Diamond Season Passes, which provide a premium experience for guests, have already sold out for the 2022 season.
Gold and Diamond Pass Holders can take advantage of another exciting new perk created for the 2022 season, Dollywood’s new daily “Golden Hours.” During the first hour of each operating day, Gold and Diamond Season Passes will operate just like TimeSaver passes, allowing the named passholder expedited boarding on Dollywood’s world-class rides and attractions.
For more information about Dollywood’s 2022 season, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
Musical icon Dolly Parton teamed up with world-renowned bestselling author, James Patterson, to write her first-ever novel. “Run, Rose, Run” is a fiction thriller about a young singer-songwriter on the rise and on the run, determined to do whatever it takes to survive. The highly-anticipated novel is now available for purchase, along with the companion album. Dolly and James are embarking on a virtual book tour in support of the new releases.
Dolly Parton and James Patterson have launched a virtual book tour to celebrate the release of their novel, “Run, Rose, Run.” The tour began streaming live Sunday, March 6, with the exclusive “Run, Rose, Run” Virtual Book Launch Event, sponsored by the American Booksellers Association in support of independent booksellers. Other virtual engagements will be organized through major booksellers, including Books-A-Million, Indigo, Waterstones, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AARP Book, now through Friday, March 25.
Wednesday, March 9
BOOKS-A-MILLION VIRTUAL EVENT
2:00 PM PT/5:00 PM ET
INDIGO VIRTUAL EVENT
4:00 PM PT/7:00 PM ET
Thursday, March 10
FANE ONLINE VIRTUAL EVENT (UK)
1:30 PM ET/6:30 PM GMT
Wednesday, March 16
AMAZON LIVE VIRTUAL EVENT
1:30 PM PT/4:30 PM ET
BARNES & NOBLE VIRTUAL EVENT
3:00 PM PT/6:00 PM ET
Friday, March 25
AARP BOOKS VIRTUAL EVENT
3:00 PM PT/6:00 PM ET
Your ticket includes admission to the exclusive event and a hardcover copy of “Run, Rose, Run” ($30 retail price), as well as sales tax, shipping, and handling (if applicable). Visit jamespatterson.com/events for attendance information and to purchase tickets.
Dolly’s latest album, “Run, Rose, Run,” is available now on all digital streaming platforms and as a digital download, as well as on CD, standard vinyl and some special vinyl color variants. The album serves as a companion to the original novel, “Run, Rose, Run,” which Dolly co-authored with James Patterson.
Exclusive “Run, Rose, Run” merchandise, created for Dolly’s latest album and book release, is available now. Each item complements the story and music as told by Dolly Parton. Get Dolly’s new album “Run, Rose, Run” and order the novel today.
