Dolly Parton, in collaboration with Owepar Entertainment, is thrilled to announce an unprecedented exploration of her rich family heritage with the upcoming release of Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables. A companion four-part docuseries is also in production.
Set for release on November 15, 2024, a pre-order will launch June 21 in tandem with the set’s first two instant grat tracks and the reveal of the full track list. The project will be available on vinyl and CD and via digital download and streaming.
“I cannot believe that it has been 60 years this month since I graduated from Sevier County High School and moved to Nashville to pursue my dreams,” recalls Dolly. “My Uncle Bill Owens was by my side for many years helping me develop my music. I owe so much to him and all the family members past and present who have inspired me along this journey. I am honored to spotlight our families’ musical legacy that is my Smoky Mountain DNA.”
Smoky Mountain DNA will shine a spotlight on the enduring legacy of two families - Dolly’s paternal Parton family and her mother’s family, the Owens. The project traces their origins from the United Kingdom in the 1600s to their home today in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Through this release, audiences will discover the treasured heritage that has been preserved and echoed in the music and vibrant culture of Appalachia.
Produced by Richie Owens, Dolly’s cousin, the album features songs performed by various members of Dolly’s immediate & extended family, spanning generations. Some tracks include the voices of beloved family members who have passed, alongside contemporary contributions from today’s generation. These recordings not only celebrate the musical legacy but also the deep familial bonds and cultural traditions that have shaped their lives.
The accompanying docuseries will offer an intimate look at the family's historical journey from the UK to present-day East Tennessee, enriched by interviews with numerous family members. A particular focus is given to the Reverend Jake Owens, Dolly’s grandfather, who instilled in her and her relatives a profound respect for faith, a deep love of music and storytelling, and strong enduring family values.
Central to the docuseries are concert performances filmed at Knoxville's historic Bijou Theater, featuring Dolly and family from the record. These songs interweave with poignant narratives about these two families and their individual members, offering viewers a unique and personal glimpse into the roots of the Parton and Owens families.
Smoky Mountain DNA is not just a musical and visual experience but a passage through the lineage and ethos of a family that has deeply influenced one of the world’s most beloved artists.
When it comes to pairing “sweets” for the first time, it doesn’t get any sweeter than this! Krispy Kreme® and Dolly Parton have unveiled the “Dolly Southern Sweets Doughnut Collection” – four all-new doughnuts that have a lil’ somethin’ sweet for everyone.
Now available for a limited time at participating Krispy Kreme shops, fans can enjoy and share the “Dolly Southern Sweets Doughnut Collection” in a limited-edition custom Dolly Parton dozens box:
● Dolly Dazzler Doughnut – an Original Glazed® Doughnut dipped in strawberry icing, with gold, pink and white glitter sprinkles and a signature chocolate Dolly butterfly piece.
● Peachy Keen Cobbler Doughnut – an unglazed doughnut filled with real peach filling, dipped in brown sugar icing and crunchy cobbler topping.
● Banana Puddin’ Pie – an unglazed doughnut filled with banana pudding made with wafers and banana pudding KREME, dipped in yellow icing, with white icing swirls and a wafer cookie.
● Chocolate Crème Pie – an Original Glazed®doughnut topped with a swirl of chocolate brownie cream and vanilla whipped topping, sprinkled with chocolate cookie crumble.
“Having some of my very favorite southern flavors in one, unique doughnut collection from Krispy Kreme is so special to me,” Dolly said. “These doughnuts remind me of home. So, I’m excited for folks to share them with their own family and friends. They’re pretty sweet, if I do say so myself!”
To help celebrate the introduction of the Dolly Southern Sweets Doughnut Collection, Krispy Kreme is inviting everyone to get “Dolly’d Up” and visit shops on Saturday, May 18. Anyone “Dolly’d Up,” – from being totally Dolly decked out to wearing a Dolly Parton wig or their favorite Dolly merch – will receive a free Original Glazed®Doughnut. Fans not Dolly’d Up can receive a free Original Glazed® Doughnut by singing a favorite Dolly song.
“Krispy Kreme and Dolly Parton have a special thing in common – we both love to share joy!” said Dave Skena, Global Chief Brand Officer for Krispy Kreme. “It was a joy – and an honor – to collaborate with Dolly to create her signature doughnut collection. These doughnuts are going to dazzle and delight fans just like Dolly herself.”
Krispy Kreme and Dolly fans can also find a limited time Krispy Kreme 6-pack featuring the Dolly Dazzler Doughnut, Banana Puddin’ Pie and Chocolate Crème Pie Doughnut delivered fresh daily to select grocery stores. Click here to find a shop or grocery store location near you.
Show how you're loving Krispy Kreme’s Dolly Southern Sweets Doughnut Collection by using #KrispyKreme and tagging @krispykreme on social. Learn more about the limited time offer by visiting www.krispykreme.com/promos/dolly.
Building upon the success of two GRAMMY® nominations and coming off the first leg of a national tour with Lauren Daigle, two-time DOVE Award winner Blessing Offor has released a brand-new song collaboration with Dolly Parton, titled “Somebody’s Child.” Blessing’s poignant vocal and masterful piano playing introduces “Somebody’s Child,” before Dolly joins in along with a vocal choir to bring it all home. The track, which is accompanied by a music video, is available now on all digital service providers.
"I know it’s too easy to say it was a blessing singing with Blessing but, it was," Dolly shared. "I love the song 'Somebody’s Child' and I am very proud to be a part of it."
Written by Blessing, Josh Ronen, and Joy Williams, “Somebody’s Child” is a contemplation on compassion and humanity.
"We’re all 'somebody’s child,'" Blessing explains. "It’s such a simple concept, but I hope it’s the beginning of us all realizing that there’s always a point of empathy, there’s always common ground if we want to find it. And there’s no better embodiment of finding common ground, finding relatability, than Dolly Parton. I’m so honored and humbled to have her on this project."
The music video begins with Blessing at the piano in a backlit room, showcasing not only his talent, but the evocation of emotion through his fingers as they hit the keys. At the end of the first verse, Dolly places her hand on Blessing’s shoulder before giving her impassioned vocal. With interpolated images of children and parents in real-world situations, this song gives an important reminder about humanity in our society, and that every day spent with the ones you love is a treasured gift.
Listen to Dolly's collaboration with Blessing Offor, "Somebody's Child," now available on all streaming platforms.
With CMA Fest just around the corner, this year’s Fan Fair X inside Music City Center is packed with more Country star power than ever before! On Thursday morning, June 6, Dolly Parton will kick off Fan Fair X, welcoming Country Music fans from around the world to take part in a very special conversation on the CMA Close Up Stage.
Fans also won’t want to miss Dolly’s ALL ACCESS! Pop Up Experience at Fan Fair X, open every day. The Experience will feature many of Dolly’s global branding and merchandise items as well as sampling and demonstrations from Good Lookin’ Cookin’, the forthcoming cookbook written by Dolly and her sister, Rachel Parton George. More details will be announced soon.
From one-of-a-kind panels, special performances, meet-and-greets, partner activations and a vendor marketplace, Fan Fair X is a must-see for every Country Music fan. Fan Fair X takes place Thursday, June 6 through Saturday, June 8 (9:30 AM-5:00 PM) and Sunday, June 9 (9:30 AM-4:00 PM). Venue doors open daily at 9:30 AM. A limited number of single day ($10) and four-day ($25) Fan Fair X tickets can be purchased now at CMAfest.com/FanFairX.
On October 1, 2024, Penguin Young Readers will publish Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas, a new, standalone sequel to Dolly’s New York Times bestselling picture book, Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Makes It Big. This heartwarming tale, written by Dolly Parton with Erica S. Perl and illustrated by MacKenzie Haley, features Dolly’s beloved god-dog and is inspired by her song 'Comin' Home for Christmas'. The story follows Billy the Kid, a French bulldog who seemingly has everything: a place in Nashville, a great band, and even a cross-country tour. But when Billy’s band is scheduled to perform at Barkafeller Center on Christmas Day, he must decide what matters to him most: fame or family?
"I always love celebrating Christmas with my family and of course my god-dog Billy," says Dolly. "Since he’s a big star now, he deserves his own holiday special! Using my 'Comin’ Home for Christmas' lyrics, I wanted to tell a story about the importance of family and friends, especially during the holidays. I hope this is a book families will be excited to read every year for Christmas."
Dolly’s previous children’s books include Coat Of Many Colors (1994) and I Am A Rainbow (2009). In 2023, Dolly introduced the beloved new character Billy the Kid, inspired by her favorite god-dog, in Billy the Kid Makes It Big. The book was an instant New York Times bestseller and dubbed a “wholesome howl” by Kirkus Reviews.
"Dolly is making sure that her beloved God-Dog Billy will never have a ‘Hard Candy Christmas,’" says Francesco Sedita, President, Penguin Workshop. "This book is pure holiday joy, and we hope that families will enjoy it for generations to come."
Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas is set for release October 1st and is available for pre-order now wherever books are sold.
