Dollywood’s thrilling 2019 season begins with one of the park’s greatest Festival of Nations lineups ever! The event, which runs March 16-April 14, features exhilarating new headline shows, the return of the Passport to Food and special cooking demonstrations, including opportunities to see world-renowned Chef Pepin whip up his favorite dishes. Season pass holders can visit a special preview day event on March 15.
Guests can experience the spirit of the Smokies at Dollywood while also taking a trip around the globe thanks to authentic glimpses into a number of fascinating cultures. It’s a vibrant and exciting way to celebrate spring break!
Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba is a fusion dance and music company that mixes Hispanic and Caribbean cultures into each performance. Considered to include some of the best performers from Cuba, the group has been together for more than 25 years and has entertained on five continents. Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba can be found in DP’s Celebrity Theater.
Billed as the first interactive drum-theater experience, Drumstruck leaves families laughing and creating memories to remember for years to come. As guests enter Showstreet Palace Theater, they will find drums placed in each seat throughout the venue. Members of the audience use these drums to become part of the show, playing along with the performance on stage. This high-energy production weaves South African music and culture with West African rhythms.
This expanded international menu lets guests enjoy savory and sweet delights from a number of countries, including grilled beef skewers from Trinidad, poutine and fried cheese curds from Canada, and beef bulgogi nachos over wonton chips from South Korea. A number of refreshing drinks also are available and serve as the perfect complement to the delectable dishes available as part of the passport. A wide range of international pastries and desserts tempt those with a sweet tooth.
Chef Pepin, a well-known celebrity chef from Cuba, hosts several cooking demonstrations during the opening weekend of the festival, while additional chefs share their secrets each subsequent weekend during Festival of Nations. Cooking demonstrations currently are scheduled to take place each Saturday and Sunday at noon and 2 p.m. in Dollywood’s Market Square area.
Invaders Steel Orchestra- One of the world’s oldest and most respected steel drum bands, Invaders Steel Orchestra celebrates more than 75 years of creating festive music for audiences around the world. This guest-favorite group returns to Dollywood to bring the tropical sounds of the Caribbean to the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. While the songs they play are familiar, the unique sounds of Invaders Steel Orchestra’s drums will transport guests to a sandy beach far away.
Location: The Valley Theater
Atahualpa – Hailing from Ecuador, Atahualpa combines native Incan instruments with contemporary backups to celebrate the history and culture of the Andes Mountains. Atahualpa’s mix of songs includes contemporary music, South American dance rhythms, and the traditional music of the Andes. Through their sharing of music, culture, and heritage, Atahualpa hopes to promote brotherhood, friendship and peace to all the people of the world.
Location: Showstreet Gazebo
De Temps Antan – Traveling from Quebec, Canada, De Temps Antan explores and performs the time-honored melodies from Quebec’s musical past. This talented trio combines contemporary music, uncontrolled laughter, deep-routed couplets and sudden, impromptu shifts for memorable songs that speak to the familiar rhythms of yesteryear.
Location: Back Porch Theater (Performing March 16- 24)
Les Grands Hurleurs – Les Grands Hurleurs of Quebec, Canada has pushed boundaries and incorporate a variety of musical influences for their own special sound. Paying respect to their traditional roots while creating original music, this trio flirts with classical, Manouche, electronica and folk music for shows that bring audiences alive. Prepare to experience a musical journey with groovy, energetic and swing styles.
Location: Back Porch Theater (Performing March 27- April 14)
The largest expansion in the park’s history, Wildwood Grove, opens this spring to provide families with thrilling new experiences and attractions for guests to explore together. Summer kicks off with Dollywood’s Barbeque & Bluegrass (May 24- June 2), while the park’s Summer Celebration (June 22- Aug. 4) features later hours and the first chance to experience the wonder of Wildwood Grove at night. Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 27-Nov. 2) features Southern gospel’s greatest performers alongside the guest-favorite Great Pumpkin LumiNights. Dollywood’s 2019 season concludes with the eleven-time winner for Best Theme Park Christmas Event, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, Nov. 9-Jan. 4, 2020.
If there has ever been a year to take advantage of the value of a Dollywood season pass, this is it. With the opening of Wildwood Grove and a vast amount of entertainment and festivals (all included with park admission) available throughout the season, guests certainly will want to make several return visits in 2019.
Guests can learn more about Dollywood’s biggest season ever by visiting Dollywood.com or calling 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed a deal to represent the catalog of legendary singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. The agreement takes in songs from across Parton’s entire career, including the record-breaking “I Will Always Love You,” the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “9 to 5,” country No. 1 hits such as “Jolene,” “Love Is Like A Butterfly” and “Two Doors Down” and newly-written compositions. It covers North America and territories not covered by existing sub-publishing arrangements.
Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO Martin Bandier said: “Dolly Parton is a true musical icon and we are unbelievably excited to get the chance to work with her again. Her importance, influence and legacy as a recording artist is recognized the world over, but more than anything she stands out as an exceptional songwriter with a peerless catalog of songs, which we are honored to represent.”
“I am very excited to be working with Sony/ATV. They know my catalog and they know me. Get ready, you're going to be hearing a lot more from me!” - Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton manager Danny Nozell, CEO, CTK Management, said: “With so many years of Dolly's career being under Sony, we feel this is a great home for Dolly's publishing administration and we're looking forward to the partnership.”
The most-decorated female country music performer of all time, Dolly Parton still thinks of herself first and foremost as a songwriter. As she said when receiving the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, songwriting “is my favorite thing to do. It’s my private time with God. That’s when I feel closest to God.”
Growing up in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, she started writing songs as a child and made her performing debut at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville as a teen. Her first success, however, was as a songwriter; two songs she wrote with her uncle Bill Owens became Top 10 hits for country singer Bill Phillips.
Parton’s own first hit as a recording artist soon followed, beginning a run of success that has included 25 Billboard country No. 1 hits, more than 50 Top 10 country songs and a record 44 Top 10 country albums. Many of her hits were self-composed, including the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “9 to 5,” “Joshua,” “Jolene,” “Love Is Like A Butterfly,” “The Bargain Store,” “Two Doors Down,” “Coat Of Many Colors” and “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind.” Her classic song “I Will Always Love You” reached No. 1 on two separate occasions for Parton before Whitney Houston recorded it for the film "The Bodyguard." Houston’s version became the biggest-selling single by a female artist of all time as it topped charts around the world, including 14 weeks at No. 1 in the United States.
During her illustrious career, Parton has won numerous awards, many for songwriting. Her honors include 10 Country Music Association awards, seven Academy of Country Music Awards, three American Music Awards and eight GRAMMY Awards, including Best Country Song for “9 to 5,” the title song of the motion picture in which she co-starred. “9 to 5” was also nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe, while a musical based on the film and featuring her songs opened in Los Angeles in 2008 and has gone on to be performed around the world.
She has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, which also honored her with the Johnny Mercer Award, given to an individual songwriter or songwriting team for having established a history of outstanding creative works.
In February during GRAMMY Week, she became the first country star to be recognized as MusiCares Person of the Year, receiving the honor at a star-studded tribute event in Los Angeles where artists performing her songs included Miley Cyrus, Don Henley, Shawn Mendes, Willie Nelson and Pink. The salute extended to the GRAMMY Awards ceremony where Parton performed music from her new hit album and Netflix series Dumplin’ and Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves and Katy Perry covered some of her classic songs. Dumplin’ includes the song “Girl In The Movies,” which was nominated for Best Original Song at the 2019 Golden Globe Awards.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing, established in 1995, is the world’s leading music publisher.
Pictured Above: Troy Tomlinson (Sony/ATV Nashville President/CEO), Bruce Scavuzzo (Sony/ATV SVP, Business & Legal Affairs), Danny Nozell (CTK Management CEO), Dolly Parton, Martin Bandier (Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO) and Brian Monaco (Sony/ATV President, Global Chief Marketing Officer).
Photo Credit: Michael Kovac
Photo Credit: Rob Hoffman
Eight-time GRAMMY® winner Dolly Parton received honors at the 2019 MusiCares® Person of the Year tribute on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019. Neil Portnow, President/CEO of MusiCares and the Recording Academy™ first made the announcement on September 4, 2018.
Little Big Town hosted the event and those appearing included GRAMMY® winners Vince Gill, Don Henley, Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson, and Mavis Staples; and GRAMMY® nominee Linda Perry. Dolly also graced the stage along with Leon Bridges, Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood, Miley Cyrus, Lauren Daigle, Norah Jones, Shawn Mendes, Katy Perry, P!NK, Mark Ronson and Chris Stapleton. The star-studded list of performers also included Jennifer Nettles, Brandi Carlile, Margo Price, Yolanda Adams, Cam and Jon Batiste.
Proceeds from the 29th annual benefit gala will provide essential support for MusiCares, a charity founded by the Recording Academy that ensures music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need. The tribute was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center two nights prior to the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards®.
Parton is the first artist from the Nashville music community to be honored by MusiCares. She is being recognized as the 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year for her considerable creative accomplishments and her longtime support of a number of causes through her Dollywood Foundation, including the Imagination Library, which, since 1996, has provided more than 100 million books to children from birth to five years of age in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the U.K.
"Dolly Parton has always been and continues to be a courageous trailblazer and indomitable inspiration for creators and artists—so for us to have the opportunity to honor her at our annual MusiCares Person of the Year gala is to pay tribute to a true pillar of strength and someone who we all look up to and cherish,” said Portnow. With her legendary talent, she has forged a career that spans decades and her gifts as a performer resound on both stage and screen. Dolly also knows the power of philanthropy and she has used her stardom to contribute to a wide range of causes from natural disasters to education and literacy programs."
"I am so excited and humbled to be honored as MusiCares Person of the Year,” said Dolly. “It’s even more special knowing the gala benefits music people in need. I can’t wait to hear all of the great artists singing my music.”
Remarks Dolly’s manager Danny Nozell, CEO, CTK Management, “I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving to be the first MusiCares Person of the Year representing the Nashville music community. It’s been a privilege to witness her generous heart, first-hand, for the last 14 years.”
"With each passing year, the goal of MusiCares remains clear: to do more and serve more music people in need," said Michael McDonald, MusiCares’ Board Chair. "Over the course of our last fiscal year, we provided more than $6.4 million dollars to more than 8,500 members of the music industry—the largest number of clients served and dollars distributed in a single year in our charity's history. We are confident that our 2019 Person of the Year tribute to Dolly Parton will help us raise the funds that sustain and expand our mission."
The MusiCares Person of the Year tribute ceremony is one of the most prestigious events held during GRAMMY Week. The Person of the Year gala will begin with a reception and silent auction offering an exclusive and unparalleled selection of luxury items, VIP experiences and one-of-a-kind celebrity memorabilia for bidding guests. The reception and silent auction will be followed by a gala dinner sponsored by AEG; a live auction; a tribute concert featuring renowned musicians and other artists; and the award presentation. The celebration culminates with the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. The telecast will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Established in 1989 by the Recording Academy, MusiCares offers health and human services and programs to members of the music community, including emergency financial assistance for basic living expenses such as rent, utilities, and car payments; medical expenses, including doctor, dentist and hospital bills; and treatment for HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, hepatitis C and other critical illnesses. MusiCares offers nationwide educational workshops covering a variety of subjects, including financial, legal, medical, and substance abuse issues, and programs in collaboration with health care professionals that provide services such as flu shots, hearing tests and medical/dental screenings. MusiCares provides access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources for members of the music community. Staffed by qualified chemical dependency and intervention specialists, MusiCares offers Safe Harbor Room® support, sponsored in part by the Bohemian Foundation, to provide a network to those in recovery while they are participating in the production of televised music shows and other major music events. MusiCares holds weekly addiction support groups for people to discuss how to best cope with the issues surrounding the recovery process.
Keep an eye to the spyglass, mateys; Dolly’s pirates will be searching for treasure in the Great Smoky Mountains, next summer!
After nearly a decade of rave reviews and financial success on the Carolina coast, Parton’s newest Pirates Voyage dinner attraction is slated to open in the spring.
“The show has been so successful in Myrtle Beach that we kept looking at Pigeon Forge and wondering why we didn’t already have a Pirates show there,” Dolly said. “We have the perfect location, in one of the hottest areas of Pigeon Forge, and the time is now for my pirates to stake claim to the Great Smoky Mountains!”
When complete, the 21,000 square foot arena, adjacent to The Island in Pigeon Forge, will be the stage for Crimson and Sapphire pirates to battle on deck, in the water and in the sky above their full-sized pirate ships in a 15-foot-deep indoor lagoon. Spectacular acrobatic competitions, live animals and an original music score by Dolly Parton and Mark Brymer creates an immersive adventure experience all while guests enjoy a spectacular five-course pirate feast.
“We’re glad we can finally share Dolly’s exciting news,” Jim Rule, World Choice Investments CEO said. “For some time, we have been working on set and costume designs, unique show elements for this theater and animal and staff training. We’re all looking forward to opening in 2019.”
Additional details about the project will be released soon. Site construction is slated to begin in early January with an opening projected for spring.
On January 4, 1969, Dolly Parton was fresh off the release of her first solo album released on RCA Records Nashville, the now-seminal “Just Because I’m A Woman,” and on that date, the singer-songwriter received the biggest accomplishment of her then-young career: being inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member. Fifty years later, Parton has achieved nearly every honor and accolade an entertainer can receive, and she is cemented as the female Country artist with the most Billboard Top 20 hits according to Guinness World Records. In conjunction with the release of her new album Dumplin’ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Dolly Records/RCA Nashville), Parton is set to return to the hallowed stage that was such an important part of her early days in Nashville: the Grand Ole Opry. The global superstar will celebrate the 50th anniversary of her Opry membership, performing on Saturday, October 12, 2019, and capping a week-long celebration of Parton’s impact on music and the Opry, dubbed Dolly Week 2019.
“It was always my dream to be on the Opry,” recalls Parton. “I actually got to sing on the Grand Ole Opry when I was about 10 years old. I officially became a member back in 1969 and I cannot believe next year I will celebrate 50 proud years of being a member of the Grand Ole Opry! They call it the ‘Mother Church’ because the old Ryman was a church, but it’s sacred to me, wherever it goes – the church of my heart. For me, the Opry is like the song ‘New York, New York’ – if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. I am excited to be coming back home to celebrate 50 years of membership!”
And Parton has made it everywhere. As a worldwide icon, she is arguably country music’s greatest global ambassador – and she has taken the Opry and the memories from those early days in her career with her wherever she goes. Because of her impact across all forms of music, it is only fitting that the Grand Ole Opry create programming for Dolly Week 2019 that acknowledges her broad influence.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019 AT 7 PM
Dustin Lynch, Suzy Bogguss, Stephanie Quayle, The Isaacs, Ashley Campbell, and more to be added.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019 AT 7 PM
Sara Evans, Sam Williams, Del McCoury Band, Don Schlitz, Stephanie Urbina Jones, Smithfield, and more to be added.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 AT 7 PM
Opry Country Classics-- Featuring performances of #1 Dolly hits
Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, Margo Price, Chris Janson, Bill Anderson, and more to be added.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019 AT 9:30 PM
Friday Night Opry-- Dolly’s Mountain Soul: Bluegrass, Americana & Roots Music honor Dolly
Emmylou Harris, Margo Price, Chris Janson, Bill Anderson, and more to be added.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019 (Two Shows) SOLD OUT:
Dolly Parton’s 50th Grand Ole Opry Anniversary Celebration featuring Dolly Parton and many more.
Dolly Parton, Lady Antebellum, Jeannie Seely, Toby Keith, Margo Price, Hank Williams, Jr., Candi Carpenter, and more to be added.
Tickets are on sale now for Dolly Week 2019. Both performances on Oct. 12, 2019, are Sold Out.
Read About Dolly Parton's First Grand Ole Opry Performance In 1959
The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®. Opry performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, with Tuesday night shows through December 11. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. Celebrating nine decades of entertainment, the Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP). For more information, visit opry.com.
