Global music icons José Feliciano and Dolly Parton released their first-ever song collaboration in a new recording of “Eagle When She Flies.” Dolly originally wrote and recorded "Eagle When She Flies" for the 1991 album of the same title, with the song reaching No. 33 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Now, Dolly has partnered with award-winning Puerto Rican musician José Feliciano to add some "new flair" to her song in a new recording, released on September 17 along with a new lyric video.
“Eagle When She Flies” releases on the heels of Feliciano’s recent 50-year anniversary celebration of his iconic holiday classic, “Feliz Navidad.” No stranger to the country music world, he has recorded many country songs in the span of his legendary career and performed with some of the genre’s most critically-acclaimed artists, including Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Glenn Campbell. Now, his collaboration with Dolly marks his latest contribution to the country music world. Feliciano shared,
"'Eagle When She Flies' became very personal when my producer, Rick Jarrard, brought it to me for our Nashville recording session for the 'Behind This Guitar' album. After hearing it the very first time, I knew exactly what Dolly was saying, knowing certain women who are precisely what the song is about and so I needed to echo that, myself. I am blown away and so honored, really, that she offered to sing it with me. You know, Dolly, herself, is a magnificent eagle."
“Eagle When She Flies,” featuring José Feliciano and Dolly Parton, is available now via all digital and streaming services.
TIME Magazine has named Dolly Parton among the 100 most influential people of 2021, with a foreword written by her goddaughter Miley Cyrus. Dolly is one of only two country artists, along with Kane Brown, who earned a coveted spot on the list, released on Wednesday, September 15. TIME CEO and editor in chief Edward Felsenthal said in a statement,
“[The TIME100 list] features extraordinary leaders from around the world working to build a better future, from entertainers striving to make Hollywood more inclusive to activists fighting for sustainability and human rights…They are disruptors, fixers, doers, iconoclasts, problem solvers—people who in a year of crisis have leaped into the fray.”
While Dolly has long been known for her humanitarian efforts, she made headlines during the pandemic when her $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University helped fund research for the highly effective Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. And, since 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has delivered more than 165 million books to children around the world, instilling a love of literacy.
The TIME100 list also features pairings where guest contributors talk about the impact of each of the people featured on the list. Dolly’s own goddaughter, singer-songwriter and actress Miley Cyrus, penned a touching tribute to the country music legend.
“People look to Dolly for guidance, and she knows that,” Miley shared. “She wears that responsibility with the same grace and pride she rocks a two-piece Nudie suit. She recognizes how impactful her choices will be as one of the most iconic and powerful voices in country music, and she leaves no one behind...There’s a theory that you shouldn’t meet your heroes, but I wish everyone had the chance to meet Dolly Parton, because she’s even better than your sparkliest dreams. She may be my fairy godmother, but I think she’s that to everyone else too.”
Joining Dolly on this year’s list are other notable figures including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Simone Biles, Kate Winslet, Billie Eilish, World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and the writer Cathy Park Hong.
For the full list of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2021 and to read Miley Cyrus’ tribute to Dolly, view the full article on TIME.com.
Congratulations are in order for Dolly Parton, who won her first Emmy Award during the 2021 Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony on Sunday, September 12.
Dolly won an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie as an executive producer of her Netflix holiday musical, "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square," while the film's choreographer Debbie Allen also took home an Emmy for Outstanding Choreography For Scripted Programming. In a conversation with Deadline, Dolly said:
“Who knew that when we were creating this movie, that it would be aired in the middle of the pandemic, and it would bring so much joy and so much hope to millions of people around the world? I think that was one of greatest gifts that we gave and didn’t even know quite when we were doing it that we were going to help uplift the world.”
Dolly's tremendous success places her in a rare group of fewer than 100 people who have received nominations for an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. With this Emmy win under her belt, now she is one step closer to joining the ranks of only 16 people who have won all four awards.
"Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square" is only the second holiday movie ever to win the Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie. Featuring 14 original Dolly songs, the musical's stellar cast includes Dolly Parton, Christine Baranski, Treat Williams and Jenifer Lewis.
When a cold-hearted, wealthy woman returns to her hometown following her father's passing, she is on a mission to force all of her father’s tenants out of their homes in order to close a real estate deal with a mall developer. Instead, she finds herself reconnecting with people from her past and having an unexpected encounter with an angel, played by none other than Dolly herself, leading to a story of redemption.
“Christmas on the Square” really came to life when Debbie Allen accepted the roles of director and choreographer. The multi-award-winning actress, dancer, choreographer, singer/songwriter, director and producer has enjoyed a show-stopping career, encompassing everything from Broadway to a hit television series to the silver screen. After 20 Emmy Nominations, the award for Outstanding Choreography For Scripted Programming on "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square" marks her fifth win.
Watch Dolly's Emmy Award-winning holiday musical “Christmas on the Square,” available to stream on Netflix!
Featured photo courtesy of Curtis Hilbun
Good Morning America filmed from Dollywood this week. Robin Roberts and Dolly Parton discussed everything from Dollywood’s Flower and Food Festival to the impact of the pandemic and vaccine plus Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The park, like all industries, was shaken with closures during the pandemic; however, Dolly credits her staff, or as she refers to them her family, for making it through the tough times:
“People here are like family, so anytime you have a crisis of any kind, you just kind of pull together and get it done.”
It’s Dollywood’s 36th season, and Robin greeted Johnnie Crawford, a Dollywood employee that has worked at the parks since the beginning. Dolly credits her partners, meaning all the employees, for making Dollywood such a success.
Beautiful flowers and delicious food is around every corner for the Flower & Food Festival at Dollywood. Last year, the closure pushed the Flower & Food Festival to the summer months, but this year it is in full bloom for the springtime.
Dollywood's Culinary Director Aaron Banks joined Dolly and Robin for one of the Good Morning America segments. Aaron taught them how to make the Lavender Honey Mini Funnel Cakes, a featured dish during the festival. He also detailed several of the delicious dishes you can find at the park, including the Barbecue Brisket Sliders with brisket that has been smoked for more than six hours. Dolly commented:
"We cheer him [on] all the time here at Dollywood because he makes sure all the food is great. Everybody loves it. He's a great boss and has a lot of talent -- we're lucky to have him."
This marked the first visit for Dolly since last year when the park had to close due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in March 2020. The festival features a depiction of Dolly’s mother quilting the Coat of Many Colors. Dolly was quite emotional upon seeing this in person and knowing how the coat has impacted her life and career, detailing in the interview:
“Just having that big thing there that represents who I am as a person, who my parents were and the kind of mother that I was lucky enough to have and that that little coat has carried me so far. It’s kind of like a little signature thing. My life has been a life of many colors, not just the coat.”
Dolly performed “Coat of Many Colors” during the Good Morning America broadcast.
The Imagination Library is on its way to gifting 200 million books to children. This program was created to help childhood literacy by gifting one book a month to children from birth to age five.
Originally started in Sevier County, TN, the program has since grown globally to include programs in all 50 states as well as the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Australia and Canada. Robin and Dolly discussed the impact this program has brought to little ones worldwide.
Dolly was inspired to create the program because of her father’s inability to read and write. Even though he was brilliant, she saw the struggles this created and wanted to help others avoid them. In the interview Dolly said:
“I’m the Book Lady. My dad took great pride in that. He got to live long enough to see the Imagination Library doing well. He got such a kick out of them calling me the Book Lady.”
As spring continues to blossom throughout the Smoky Mountains, guests to Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival presented by Covenant Health can enjoy more than half-a-million blooming flowers, a new dining pass that provides an unforgettable culinary journey, and a warm spring atmosphere filled with the sounds of inspirational music emanating from stages throughout the Pigeon Forge park.
Held April 23-June 7, the Dollywood Food & Flower Festival delights guests with lavish landscaping and massive floral sculptures that are brought to life by an array of more than half-a-million bright and vibrant flowers. Fun and discovery are around every corner, thanks to expansive displays which include a vivid butterfly umbrella, various scenes featuring mischievous and friendly animals, and even a depiction of Dolly’s mother quilting the Coat of Many Colors. These “Mosaicultures” are developed in partnership with Mosaicultures International, an internationally-known company from Montreal that specializes in these one-of-a-kind creations.
“When I was a little girl, I loved springtime because everything seemed so bright with color,” Dolly explained. “It started to get warm outside and you just felt like you could finally get out of the house after being cooped up in there for so long, which is something I know we’re all feeling right now. But the thing I remember most about those spring days were the flowers that would start blooming all over the hills. So, the Smokies really were the inspiration for this festival."
“And I just love we made that big, beautiful display of my mama with all those wonderful flowers. It’s special to me, and I know she would have been so proud of it. But something else I’m happy about this year is that not only do we have all the flowers, we’re also bringing in a lot of great music to the festival. I just know it is really going to make the whole park feel so joyful. It’s a special time of year, and I really think Dollywood is a great place to get outdoors and enjoy it all!”
In addition to the beautiful flowers, culinary creations abound with a menu full of items inspired by spring in the Smokies. Among the new offerings in 2021 is the Flower & Food Festival Dining Pass, which allows guests to partake in multiple items at a number of culinary locations during the springtime event.
The dining pass, which is available online or at the park, is just $29.99 plus tax or $27.99 plus tax for season passholders. With the pass, guests can sample five meals at any of the Flower & Food Festival culinary locations. Among the items featured on this year’s festival menu are a Cuban sandwich with plantain chips, fish and chips, mountain paella, summer succotash featuring pan-seared chicken, lobster roll, beef bulgogi nachos, blueberry and blackberry mini funnel cake, lemon curd and blueberry liege waffle, and much more.
Entertainment is a major component of this year’s festival, thanks to a number of performances and shows—as well as a new concert series—which take place during the event. The Melodies of Spring concert series features contemporary Christian artists, Southern gospel groups and other fresh and inspirational acts appearing inside DP’s Celebrity Theater every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the festival. Among the artists currently scheduled are Matthew West, Big Daddy Weave, I AM THEY, Rebecca St. James, Sidewalk Prophets, the Rhett Walker Band, Triumphant Quartet and more.
Guests also will enjoy a number of performances throughout the park from groups including The Voice contestants Worth The Wait, Willow City, The Hall Sisters and the 3 Heath Brothers. Music fills the air with the sounds of spring, thanks to Kelle Jolly at the Robert F. Thomas Chapel and roaming performer Stephani Ezatoff. All shows are included with park admission. A full schedule of performances can be found at Dollywood.com.
In addition to the visiting entertainers, several shows featuring Dollywood’s own performers debuted earlier this spring including Harmonies of the Heart—featuring Dolly’s family—and A Brighter Day, an inspiring show that delights guests with uplifting favorites at the Back Porch Theater. In The Village, Dollywood’s talented The Tones offer a fresh acapella take on today’s current hits.
Returning in 2021, the dazzling Umbrella Sky greets guests with a stunning visual upon arrival as hundreds of colorful umbrellas are suspended above Showstreet. The display proved to be an overwhelming hit with the bright umbrellas serving as the perfect “Instagrammable” backdrop for guest photos. A number of “Insta” opportunities are available throughout the park to help guests document the experience for their friends on social media. A new feature this year, chalk art dazzles guests with incredible displays in Adventures in Imagination. Every day, one of Dollywood’s talented artists creates uplifting works of art inspired by springtime in the Smokies.
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa celebrates the Flower & Food Festival with a number of special events that bring the fun of Dollywood to the resort with blooming festival décor and floral designs. Families will find live entertainment from featured festival performers, festival-themed activities at Camp DW, as well as a special spring menu and chef demonstrations at the resort’s restaurant. The resort also partners with Biltmore Winery for a Winemaker’s Dinner on Saturday, May 22.
Dollywood celebrates a year full of exceptional experiences, with each season unlike the next. It’s the perfect year for a season pass, as guests will want to return throughout the year to enjoy it all. After the Flower & Food Festival, guests can enjoy Summer Celebration (June 25-July 31), which includes a new evening drone show and dance party every night. Thousands of pumpkins glow to life as part of the Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 24- Oct. 30), and Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 6- Jan. 2, 2022) celebrates the spirit of the season.
For more information about Dollywood, please visit dollywood.com or download the Dollywood App.
