Dolly Parton launches Story Starters in the UK. It's a new program that provides one-to-one language and communication support to young children. The program is designed to ensure that children have the skills to start primary school ready to read.
Held at Coram Campus in Bloomsbury, Dolly had a special message for the attendees. Also, children’s author and illustrator Sophy Henn is attending and engaging in a storytelling and drawing session for local children.
Story Starters is a new collaborative project between local children’s literacy charity Beanstalk, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and LuCid (The ESCR International Centre for Language and Communicative Development). The program aims to give children in Hackney, Wandsworth, Barnet and Islington support in developing their language and reading skills.
Research shows that children who benefit from high-quality support in their early years start school on average three months ahead in their literacy and language skills, compared with children who don’t. The program has been made possible by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, whose Dream Fund chose Story Starters to receive £1 million in funding in January 2017.
Beanstalk is now looking for volunteers to become Story Starters in pre-schools and nurseries in Hackney, Wandsworth, Barnet and Islington. Story Starter volunteers will visit children twice a week and support three children for 20 minutes each. The sessions are fun, interactive and hugely beneficial to the children receiving extra support. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will provide every Story Starter child with high-quality, professionally-selected, age-appropriate books. Books are sent directly to both the early years setting and the home of each Story Starter child. As a result, kids can enjoy the magic of stories at home and with their Story Starter. Ginny Lunn, CEO of Beanstalk, says,
"We know how important it is for children in the early years of their education to receive support with their language development, as this enables them to start primary school ready to read and able to thrive throughout their lives."
Visit StoryStarters.org or call Beanstalk on 0845 450 0301 to become a Story Starter.
Despite the days getting shorter, Dollywood is gifting guests with even more fall fun—at night! Thanks to the new Great Pumpkin LumiNights, Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 29 - Oct. 28) stays open until 9 p.m. every day.
This season marks the first time the Smoky Mountain theme park has opened every day—and stayed open after dark—during its family-favorite harvest event. The expanded operating schedule allows Dollywood to provide guests with additional autumn experiences. These experiences are designed to help them create cherished family memories.
The biggest names in Southern gospel take to stages every day throughout the park with more than 500 individual performances as part of the Southern Gospel Jubilee presented by Humana. Additionally, Great Pumpkin LumiNights offers whimsical, family-friendly activities that are sure to make this event a new harvest tradition.
“Fall truly is the most beautiful time of year here in the Smokies,” Dolly Parton explained. “I love coming home to see the amazing masterpiece God has painted across the mountains. Our folks at Dollywood always do a great job of making sure the park looks stunning with those fall colors as a backdrop. You also know that Southern gospel music holds a very special place close to my heart. I guess you could say my singing career really got started in that kind of music because our family would visit churches and sing about God’s love for us.”
Dolly continued,
“This year we’re adding even more fun to the festival with Great Pumpkin LumiNights, and I know families are going to love all those glowing pumpkin displays up through Timber Canyon. I used to love sitting around with my brothers and sisters during the fall carving pumpkins and tellin’ stories, but I don’t think our pumpkins turned out quite the same as these though!”
Families will bask in the glow of thousands of intricately-carved pumpkins as they wander through immersive harvest-themed displays. Look for these display throughout Dollywood’s Timber Canyon and Wilderness Pass areas. Beyond the impressive displays, guests can find a number of exciting activities to create thrilling memories together. With so many carved pumpkins needed to create Great Pumpkin LumiNights, Dollywood has “pumpkin artists” who will host demonstrations to help guests learn how to produce the perfect pumpkin masterpiece.
Unique harvest games and attractions—including a glow maze—for kids, a nightly Pumpkin Boogie Dance Party, and friendly costume characters help add to the festive atmosphere. New themed food options and exclusive harvest-themed Coca-Cola products make Great Pumpkin LumiNights the place to be when the sun goes down in the Smokies.
Alongside Great Pumpkin LumiNights, Dollywood once again hosts the largest Southern gospel music event in America. Guests can see the biggest names in the genre during the Southern Gospel Jubilee. Karen Peck & New River (Oct. 21-22), Guy Penrod (Oct. 23-24), The Isaacs (Oct. 12-13), The McKameys (Oct. 6-7), Gold City (Oct. 2-3) and many more provide inspirational music to fill the autumn air.
Dollywood’s own Kingdom Heirs perform throughout the festival, while Singing News and Praise 96.3 FM operate multiple stage locations featuring several up-and-coming and breakout artists.
Dollywood celebrates Smoky Mountain crafts all year with the park’s well-known master craftsman. During the Harvest Festival, however, more than 30 visiting artisans from across the country bring their wares and share their talents with Dollywood guests. Craft demonstrations include textile art, inspirational jewelry, loom weaving, paper marbling, bentwood boxes, rug hooking, fiddle making, dulcimer making, and much more.
Menus across the park change to reflect the offerings of a bountiful harvest. Guests can look for dishes including fried green tomatoes and a fried green tomato BLT. In addition, there is succotash featuring grilled chicken and potatoes with chili and cheese cooked on the park’s famous BIG SKILLET. Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy the fried apple pies, apple turnovers, apple stack cakes and more.
Learn more about Dollywood’s Harvest Festival featuring Southern Gospel Jubilee and Great Pumpkin LumiNights or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.
Miley Cyrus invited fairy godmother Dolly Parton to sing on her new recording project. "Younger Now" is Miley’s sixth studio album and is set for release on Sep. 29. Dolly is featured on a track called "Rainbowland." When asked about recording with Dolly, Miley said,
"This is the most exciting thing I’ve ever done in my life. Singing with Dolly is a dream come true."
Miley recorded one of Dolly’s signature hits, “Jolene” on “The Backyard Sessions” back in 2012. And on season 11 of NBC's "The Voice" the pair performed the song with Pentatonix. The performance aired just days after destructive wildfires affected parts of the Smoky Mountains near Dolly's childhood home in East Tennessee. When Dolly set up The My People Fund to assist those who lost their homes, Miley joined a host of others to support the cause.
Of course, Dolly's history with the Cyrus family goes way back to the early 1990s. Miley's dad, Billy Ray Cyrus joined several artists on Dolly's 1993 recording of "Romeo" from her 31st solo album, "Slow Dancing With the Moon." The song earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Vocal Collaboration. A few years later Dolly made several guest appearances as "Aunt Dolly" on Miley's television show, "Hannah Montana." The episodes of the Disney hit which featured Dolly were, "Good Golly Miss Dolly," "Kiss it all Goodbye" and "I Will Always Loathe You."
Dolly's fans and Miley's fans alike are certain to enjoy their 2017 collaboration.
"Younger Now" is available on RCA records on Sept. 29.
Pre-order today at MileyCyrus.com
Track Listing
1. Younger Now
2. Malibu
3. Rainbowland feat. Dolly Parton
4. Week Without You
5. Miss You So Much
6. I Would Die For You
7. Thinkin’
8. Bad Mood
9. Love Someone
10. She’s Not Him
11. Inspired
All Photos Courtesy Getty Images for ACM
Airs Friday, Sept. 15 (9:00 – 11:00 PM ET/PT) on CBS
At the 11TH ANNUAL ACM HONORS™, Dolly Parton received the Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award. The event recognized the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards™. As a special tribute to Dolly, Brad Paisley performed “My Tennessee Mountain Home.”
The Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award honors a country music artist, duo/group or industry professional devoted to improving lives through the power of music, has a generosity of spirit and is committed to serving others. It is voted on by The ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors.
Dolly has held many titles over her storied 50-year career. She is an iconic singer, songwriter, actress, legend---but philanthropist is one that is close to her heart. Since her earliest days of stardom, Dolly has used her celebrity to support the causes she loves most. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has, to date, provided over 94 million free books to preschool children in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Today, the program mails one million free books to registered children each month.
In 2016, Dolly stepped up to raise money for victims of the massive wildfires in her native East Tennessee. Hosting “Smoky Mountains Rise,” a three-hour telethon, Dolly helped raise $12 million for The Dollywood Foundation’s My People Fund. The Fund provided money for temporary housing for families who lost their homes in the fires.
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The Academy renamed/incorporated the Humanitarian Award into the existing Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award. Past recipients include Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Lonestar, Martina McBride, Neal McCoy, Reba McEntire, Montgomery Gentry, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood.
The Academy of Country Music® presented the 11th Annual ACM Honors™ on Aug. 23 at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. Portions of the event were taped for the two-hour special which airs on Friday, Sept. 15 (9:00 – 11:00 PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. In addition to Dolly and a host of other honorees, Reba McEntire received the Mae Boren Axton Service Award. This award recognizes outstanding individuals for years of dedication and service to the Academy of Country Music. Also, George Strait received the Cliffie Stone Icon Award. It honors those who advance the popularity of the genre through contributions in multiple facets of the industry. Areas such as songwriting, recording, production, touring, film, television, literary works, philanthropic contributions and other goodwill efforts.
The winningest park in Amusement Today’s Golden Tickets history, Dollywood again this year earned more category wins and finalist positions than any other park in the world. During the magazine’s 2017 awards ceremony, Dollywood picked up four "best of" awards. The park also placed in the top-ten in six additional categories.
The Golden Ticket Awards are the most sought after awards in the business of amusements and attractions. Dolly Parton said,
“You all know how very proud I am of my Dollywood and the special folks who work there. It makes me feel so good to know that our guests feel the same way about the park when they come visit us. It’s the perfect place to help them make those memories they’re always going to hold close. Our people do a great job of doin’ just what my mama always used to say—they treat our guests just like they’d want to be treated. And isn’t that what really makes the difference?”
Dolly continued,
“Families can feel the love our folks have for them by the effort and attention they put in to every single detail of the park. They want to make sure every guest leaves with a smile on their face. Dollywood will continue to grow, but I’m thankful my team will never forget what got us to where we are: going above and beyond to give our guests experiences they’ll always remember.”
Tim Baldwin, Golden Ticket Awards Communications Coordinator for Amusement Today said,
“It has been incredibly exciting to watch Dollywood — which was a relatively unknown contender when the Golden Ticket Awards started in 1998 — become this theme park industry powerhouse. Dollywood not only places as a finalist in more categories than any other park, it has taken top prize in four categories — again, more than any other park. Dollywood is setting the bar, and other parks would be wise to look at their example. It’s certainly a park to watch.”
Tim went on to say,
“Dollywood is the whole package — great food, entertaining shows, friendly hospitality and great rides. It’s little surprise to see them capture the attention of our voters. Each year, our selected panel has an incredible amount of worldwide experience, so to be honored on a worldwide scale in so many categories is an amazing accomplishment.”
Calculated from an international poll conducted by Amusement Today, the industry’s leading trade publication, the Golden Ticket Awards are the results of a detailed survey sent to a database of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans around the world in balanced geographical regions. The survey asks voters to rate the "best" in a number of categories. Categories include best parks, roller coasters, water rides, shows, kids’ area, landscaping and Christmas events. The Golden Ticket Awards were held on Saturday, Sept. 9 at Lake Compounce amusement park in Bristol, Connecticut.
USA Today’s 10Best recognized Dollywood as the third best theme park in the country. And the organization also named Dollywood’s Splash Country the eighth best water park. The National Amusement Park Historical Association also named Dollywood as their “Favorite Theme Park” this year. Dollywood edged Walt Disney World for first, a position the Florida attraction had held for thirteen consecutive years. The NAPHA also honored Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas as their "Favorite Post-Summer Season Amusement Park Event." Fox News recognized the park as the top Small Town Theme Park thanks to its location in the foothills of the Smokies.
