Jim Gray, creator of the Dolly Parton statue in Sevierville, TN, passed away at the age of 87 at Brown County Health & Living Community in Nashville.
In his 50+ year career, Gray sold well over 2,000 original paintings and 125,000 prints to collectors in the United States and abroad. Among his successful career, Gray also created the Dolly Parton statue seated in front of the Sevier County Courthouse. After more than 2,000 working hours, Dolly’s iconic statue debuted May 3, 1987, and remains a must-see landmark in the heart of Sevier County.
Dolly said,
"Jim Gray will always hold a special place in my heart and I'm so thankful that his legacy as a talented artist will live on in the statue he created."
Jim Gray was a husband, father and beloved artist whose work has and will continue to touch so many lives. To Fran, his wife, thank you for lending your light to the world. We send you our love and affection.
According to the Jim Gray Gallery, his final years were lived with challenges of dementia. As a result, the family asks that donations be made to the Dementia Action Alliance 501c3 organization.
Dolly Parton makes a special appearance at the opening night of the all-new musical, Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol.
Held at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre from December 3 – 29, 2019, the new musical features new music from Dolly Parton. The eight-time GRAMMY winner made a special appearance during opening night.
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Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol is proudly presented by Red Tail Productions and Paul T. Couch, directed by Curt Wollan and book by David H. Bell.
Set during the 1930s in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, this incredibly heartwarming and truly unforgettable production imagines Ebenezer Scrooge as the owner of a mining company town, where his callous greed blinds him to the joys and gifts of the season. As a Christmas Eve snowstorm approaches, Scrooge is visited by his deceased business partner and three ghosts who compel him to see life anew and discover that love is the greatest and most precious gift we have. Dickens’s classic characters and Parton’s one-of-a-kind songwriting expertise make this a holiday event you’ll want to share with those you love.
Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre is holding the limited engagement of the musical from December 3 – 29, 2019.
For tickets or more information visit smokymountainchristmascarol.com
On December 8, 2019, “Christmas at Dollywood” premieres on the Hallmark Channel starring Danica McKellar, Niall Matter, and Dolly! “Christmas at Dollywood,” filmed at Dollywood, is the story of a New York City event planner (Danica McKellar) who returns to Tennessee to plan her Christmas celebration at Dollywood. Danica is paired with the head of operations (Niall Matter as Luke) who thinks he can handle the party just fine on his own. Watch as these two find a way to put on the biggest event of the season!
Watch “Christmas at Dollywood” on Sunday, December 8, at 8 PM EST/7 PM CST.
Prior to this film, Dolly and Danica have built and maintained a wonderful relationship stemming from their previous work together. Danica’s book, “Goodnight, Numbers,” is currently included in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. She also read her “Goodnight, Numbers” at the Library of Congress (LOC) as part of a special event hosted by the LOC and Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
Danica also narrated “The Library that Dolly Built.” This documentary explores the journey of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library from a local program to an international partnership that has now gifted over 124 million books.
You can watch these two extremely talented ladies in “Christmas at Dollywood” this December only on Hallmark.
Learn more about “Christmas at Dollywood” and Hallmark Channel’s full holiday movie line up.
Leading up to Thanksgiving, Dolly fans will have plenty to chat about around the family table this Turkey Day with the debut of “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings” on Netflix (Nov. 22) and the two-hour NBC special "Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Grand Ole Opry" (Nov. 26).
Netflix subscribers have been eagerly awaiting the debut of “Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings” for several months. Eight stories focused on faith, love and forgiveness, all inspired by Dolly’s iconic songs, will be available on Nov. 22.
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Dolly is also gracing the small screen on network television with the two-hour special "Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Grand Ole Opry" airing on NBC on Nov. 26 at 9 PM EST. The special was filmed back in October during Dolly Week at the Opry. It features new interviews and Opry performances from Dolly and her "Trio" pal Emmylou Harris. A host of other artists are featured including Dierks Bentley, Chris Janson, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Margo Price, Hank Williams Jr. and more.
© Grand Ole Opry | Photo by Curtis Hilbun
As both events are set to premiere, Dolly makes her rounds promoting, most recently appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where she shared the origin of her two biggest assets.
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Heartstrings and Opry special come on the heals of Dolly's monumental night of co-hosting the CMA Awards with Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood. And, in case you missed it, the night before the CMA Awards, Good Morning America's Robin Roberts hosted Dolly during the ABC special “Dolly Parton: Here She Comes Again!”
With the holidays swiftly approaching, we’re happy to announce the launch of “Shop Dolly,” Dolly Parton’s official merch store. Dolly’s all-new holiday collection comes just in time for the holidays.
With Christmas being Dolly’s favorite time of the year, she’s celebrating with her new Holiday Collection. From stockings to sweatshirts, pom hats and mugs, Dolly’s new online merch shop has something for everyone.
