Photo credit: Curtis Sabir
The Los Angeles Press honored global superstar Dolly Parton at the 60th SoCal Journalism Awards Gala at the Crystal Ballroom of the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA on Sunday, June 24, 2018.
Dolly was honored with the Bill Rosendahl Public Service Award for contributions to the public good. The event focused on the philanthropic efforts of Imagination Library, her book gifting organization that has mailed over 100 million books to children in Australia, Canada, the U.K. and U.S., as well as her "Smoky Mountains Rise" telethon, which raised more than $12.5 million dollars for her My People Fund which provided financial assistance to victims of the massive wildfires that impacted the Gatlinburg, TN area in late November 2016.
The awards gala also honored NBC News’ Lester Holt, LA Times Business Editor Kimi Yoshino and Saudi Arabian Blogger Raif Badawi. Holt received the Joseph M. Quinn Award for Lifetime Achievement, Yoshino the President’s Award for impact on media and Badawi the Daniel Pearl Award for courage and integrity in journalism.
The gala was attended by over 500 journalists and media executives. Several excellence in journalism awards were announced during the event.
Among Dolly Parton’s most current projects is her collaboration with Linda Perry on the upcoming soundtrack for the film "Dumplin’". Perry produced the album and produced and wrote the film’s score, and Dolly is executive producer. Together, they co-wrote six new songs for the project. The "Dumplin’" film, starring Jennifer Aniston & Danielle MacDonald, is based on the best-selling book of the same name by Julie Murphy, about a girl (Willowdeen) who struggles to find herself.
Recently announced, Dolly’s Dixie Pixie Productions is partnering with Warner Bros.Television to produce a series of television films to premiere on Netflix in 2019. Each installment will be based on a different Dolly Parton classic song, with the singer-songwriter appearing in select episodes.
Emmy award-winning global superstar Dolly Parton announced this morning that her Dixie Pixie Productions is partnering with Warner Bros. Television to produce a series of television films to premiere on Netflix in 2019. Each installment will be based on a different Parton classic song, with the singer-songwriter appearing in select episodes. Dolly said,
"As a songwriter, I have always enjoyed telling stories through my music. I am thrilled to be bringing some of my favorite songs to life with Netflix. We hope our show will inspire and entertain families and folks of all generations, and I want to thank the good folks at Netflix and Warner Bros. TV for their incredible support.”
Currently, Dolly is wrapping production on the music for the upcoming film “Dumplin’”, to be released as a soundtrack album via Dolly Records/Sony Music Nashville.
Dolly, who teamed with Warner Bros. Television to produce her 2016 NBC-TV film “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love” (drawing more than 11 million first-run viewers) as well as its precursor, 2015’s “Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors” (drawing more than 13 million first-run viewers), is executive producing this Netflix series for her own Dixie Pixie Productions.
Photo credit: Fran Strine
The festival features a stellar lineup of bluegrass music’s best artists as well as expertly-prepared barbeque from Dollywood’s Golden Ticket Award-winning foods team.
The opening weekend of the festival kicks off with The Gibson Brothers (May 25) and the “Queen of Bluegrass” Rhonda Vincent & The Rage (May 26-27). Dailey & Vincent (May 29-30), Molly Tuttle (May 31) and The Seldom Scene (June 5) are among the headliners during the festival. Seven-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Vocal Group of the Year Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver (June 7) also makes an appearance during the event.
“When I decided this would be the Season of Showstoppers,” Dolly Parton began, “I couldn’t wait to see what kind of talent our folks would be able to round up to perform during my Barbeque & Bluegrass festival. Well, I’ll tell you they definitely did me proud, because it’s quite the lineup. It’s always a real treat to have these performers with us, folks like Doyle Lawson and my good friend Rhonda Vincent. All these performers are the best in the business.
“Plus our foods team—which won a pretty big award last year—is cooking up some great barbeque to go along with all that good music. You know how much I love their ribs! I suggest everyone sit down with a big plate of them and take in those beautiful bluegrass sounds.”
Doyle Lawson is a regular during this festival. He counts Dollywood among the best places to perform. He said,
“Just as Dolly is an exciting entertainer, Dollywood is an exciting place to entertain! Great venue, great audience.”
An impressive calendar of bluegrass talent performs throughout the festival with more than 350 individual concerts—all included with park admission—scheduled during the festival.
Groups Performing In Celebrity Theater:
The Grascals (May 28)
Blue Highway (June 2)
Flatt Lonesome (June 3)
Darin and Brooke Aldridge (June 10)
Groups Performing In Showstreet Palace Theater:
Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (May 25)
Phil Leadbetter’s Bluegrass All-Stars (June 9)
America’s Got Talent semi-finalists Mountain Faith (May 30)
For a complete lineup of concert performances and show times, please visit Dollywood.com or view the Dollywood App.
Darin and Brooke Aldridge make their first trip to perform at Dollywood and eagerly anticipate performing at the place they’ve grown up visiting for years.
“We are so excited to make our very first appearance at Dollywood this June,” Brooke Aldridge said. “It’s been a theme park we’ve always loved and attended since we were kids. The shows there are always stellar, and we can’t wait to showcase our musical talents in Dollywood’s family-friendly environment.”
Fresh off Amusement Today’s 2017 Golden Ticket Award for Best Theme Park Food, Dollywood’s foods team offers dining options that create a sweet harmony with the music from the finest in bluegrass. Traditional items, including hickory-smoked ribs, slow-smoked pulled pork and beef brisket, highlight the menu, while a number of new favorites make their debut.
Dollywood chefs took advantage of the park’s new partnership with BUSH’S® Beans to create several tantalizing new recipes, including Cowboy Kettle Beans. BBQ pork nachos, pork belly mac & cheese, and the BBQ bowl—featuring pulled pork atop Dollywood’s famous BIG SKILLET potatoes—are new this year. Chicken and waffles funnel cake, Dollywood’s twist on chicken & waffles, appears for the first time as well. Grilled watermelon salad and a bacon-wrapped hot dog on a pretzel roll also are new in 2018.
For more information, show times and food information for Dollywood’s Barbeque & Bluegrass presented by BUSH’S®, please call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD, visit Dollywood.com or download the new Dollywood App.
Hannah Dennison, Dolly's niece, was diagnosed with leukemia as a child and received treatment at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. Today she is a beautiful example of hope and inspiration and recently celebrated her 30th birthday. Dolly calls Hannah her "chemo hero" and wrote and recorded a song of the same name on her "I Believe In You" children's album.
On Thursday, May 17, Dolly donated $1 million to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and helped unveil the Hannah Dennison Butterfly Garden honoring her niece. Dolly said,
"Twenty-six years ago was when Hannah was diagnosed with leukemia and for five years, we didn't know if we would be keeping her or not but Hannah now stands here as our chemo hero and she actually shows us all that miracles do happen."
Listen to a preview of, "Chemo Hero" from Dolly's "I Believe In You" children's album which benefits Dolly Parton
Photo Credit: John Russell
A group of senior adults received a surprise visit from Dolly Parton on Monday, May 7, 2018. Dolly dropped in the newly renamed My People Senior Activity Center for a special dedication ceremony in honor of her parents, Lee and Avie Lee Parton.
Before the dedication and renaming ceremony, Dolly toured the facility. She sat in on an exercise class and a woodworking demonstration. There she was given a wooden bowl made from trees burned in the Gatlinburg wildfires. Another crafting club gave her a beautiful mosaic butterfly. She also popped in on a quilting class where talented quilters practice their handiwork. The beautiful quilts reminded her of her mother's handmade quilts and clothes that were such a big part of her childhood.
At the center, seniors in Sevier County enjoy a number of activities, including fitness classes, crafting clubs, games and much more. As one of the center's newest members, Dolly received her membership card allowing her access to all the amenities offered at the center. Of course, Dolly joked about her own senior status. She said,
"I am so excited to be part of this today. Of course, you know I'm a senior too. When I was over in Sevier County High School, I couldn't wait to be a senior, and now that I'm in my second childhood, I'm a senior again."
The name change is part of a rebranding initiative. The goal is to set the center apart from area medical facilities and remind people of their focus on programs, activities and services for adults over 60. The center provides a place for seniors to keep active and involved in a number of areas. Dolly spoke about how she maintains her young-at-heart mentality.
"I just keep myself busy, and I think that's the key to staying young, and I'm proud to be a senior citizen. Of course, we all wish we could stay 30 forever, but we can't, so I think it's important that we stay active," Dolly said. "We stay with a good attitude and get out and stay involved, make friends and be whatever, and I think being a part of this whole thing is really great, and it is my pleasure to dedicate this to my people."
A number of Dolly's family attended the dedication ceremony. Sevier County Mayor, Larry Waters and Sevierville Mayor, Bryan Atchley were also present. And Mayor Waters announced plans to expand the facility.
The My People Senior Activity Center is located at 1220 West Main Street Sevierville, TN 37862. Call 865-453-8080 for more information on programs and membership.
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