As the leaves change in the Great Smoky Mountains, one of the area’s most beautiful places to be is Dollywood’s National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration presented by Humana, Sept. 30- Oct. 29.
Dollywood proudly hosts the best in Southern gospel music with an impressive lineup of talent sure to inspire park guests. The soul-stirring sounds of beautiful harmonies ring through the crisp autumn air with free daily concerts on the park’s various stages. Dolly Parton said,
“It’s no secret I love singing about the beauty of God’s coloring book and viewing the bright fall colors of the Great Smoky Mountains on His pages is so very inspiring. When you mix in all of that great Southern gospel talent, including Sandi Patty, this truly is a great time of year to visit my Dollywood.”
Five-time Grammy Award winner Sandi Patty, who is in her final year of touring, headlines this year’s festival with concerts Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Guests can see a number of returning Dollywood favorites including Guy Penrod (Oct. 14-15), The McKameys (Oct.7-8), Karen Peck & New River (Oct.19-20), The Isaacs (Oct. 5-6), Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (Oct. 16-17) and Gold City (Oct. 21-22). Sandi Patty said,
“It is such an honor for me to be performing at Dollywood for this year’s National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration. The vision that the legendary Dolly Parton has created in her theme park and Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort is evident in the meaningful entertainment that is constantly offered."
Sandi went on to say,
"It is such a special opportunity to spend a few days at Dollywood during my Farewell Tour. I look forward to sharing some of the most well-known songs that I’ve had the privilege of singing in my career. We’re going to have a great time together in worship.”
Guy Penrod, a guest-favorite for a number of years, greatly anticipates his annual visit to the park each fall. Guy exclaimed,
“I love Dollywood. It’s probably the most beautiful setting for a theme park that you can imagine. I admire their love for gospel music and am thankful for the freedom to perform there.”
Many other artists take to the stage throughout the festival including special concerts on the Praise 96.3 FM and Singing News stages. Dollywood’s own Kingdom Heirs also play prominently throughout the festival. Incredibly, guests can experience more than 350 concerts, all free with park admission, during the festival.
View the complete Southern gospel concert schedule
Additionally, Dollywood’s own master craftsmen are joined by more than 40 visiting artisans from around the country. Daily craft demonstrations illustrate how many of America’s vital products were made for centuries.
Dollywood’s master craftsmen make a multitude of beautiful handmade products from glass ornaments and glazed pottery to decorative candles and rustic knives. Among the visiting crafters, Dollywood guests can observe during the National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration are banjo and fiddle making, loom weaving, rug hooking, basket weaving, paper marbling, felt hat making and much more. Products for purchase also include dulcimers, various forms of jewelry, chainsaw carving, bentwood boxes, stained glass artwork and more.
Finally, Dollywood perfectly captures the essence of fall with perfectly-themed menus which take advantage of the crops from a bountiful autumn harvest. Special food locations feature various recipes including fresh apples, fried green tomatoes and much more. New this year is a special harvest treat cooked on Dollywood’s famous Big Skillets. The harvest version features smoked sausage, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green and red peppers, and onions.
Guests also can attend worship services each Sunday during the festival at Dollywood’s Robert F. Thomas Chapel. Named in honor of the doctor who delivered little Dolly Rebecca Parton, the one-room country church reminds guests of a simpler time. Park visitors also can attend chapel services, which take place throughout the regular operating season at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday.
Each day is a picture-perfect opportunity to enjoy the traditional experiences of a Smoky Mountain harvest!
Learn more about Dollywood’s National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration
Leadership Sevier will auction off two tickets to Dolly's Pigeon Forge concert, an autographed, limited edition Dolly pink rocking chair and more at their live auction event on Oct. 6.
Live Auction Item - The Dolly Package Includes:
Dolly's sold-out Pure & Simple concert in Pigeon Forge, TN on Nov. 15. will benefit Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
The Leadership Sevier Team Tailgate Auction is set for Oct. 6. Call 865-908-3801 for more details. Proceeds from the auction will be used by Leadership Sevier to help run programs and scholarships.
Leadership Sevier strives to enhance leadership in Sevier County, develop a greater sense of community and a means of communication among its leaders, and improve the quality of life.
Dolly Parton's Pure & Simple Tour Schedule
On Monday, Oct. 3, Dolly Parton will be the lead guest and perform as part of the Outdoor Concert Series on ABC’s "Jimmy Kimmel Live," her first-ever appearance on the late night program.
In addition, earlier Monday morning, Dolly will appear as the featured guest on "The Talk," where she will chat with hosts Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Aisha Tyler and Julie Chen about her new movie, "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors - Circle of Love," the success of her most recent album "Pure & Simple" (which remains in the Billboard Country Albums Top 10 chart) and much more.
"Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors - Circle of Love" premieres on NBC Nov. 30 and on DVD Dec. 20.
The final leg of the Pure & Simple Tour kicks off Nov. 15 in Pigeon Forge, TN. The Sold-Out concert near Dolly's hometown will benefit her Imagination Library.
Dolly Parton's Pure & Simple Tour Schedule
Their collaboration wasn't the masterful plan of a studio executive. They didn't have a worldwide tour to support their albums. They were simply three artists who held mutual admiration for one another and formed a sister-like bond that led to what is arguably the most stunningly beautiful music of the 20th century.
Today, 42 years after their first meeting, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris are releasing their final Trio project. Still pulled in different directions both professionally and personally, Dolly, Emmylou and Linda are still fans of one another and consider it a privilege to have been a part of The Trio phenomenon.
"The Complete Trio Collection" is a three-disc set that ties together remastered versions of the 1987 and 1999 albums, but also includes another disc of rarities and unreleased takes on many of the songs that fans have come to know over the past 30 years.
In talking about the new release Dolly said,
"It’s nice to have it all together. I just think we all take such pride in this. I know that for me, this will always stand as one of the greatest musical things that I’ve done in my entire life. I’ve never been prouder of anything else. I love these girls like sisters, but what we did as 'The Trio' will stand up long after we’re all gone."
Hearing the music as a collective unit was a moment that Emmylou said she would treasure.
"When I heard it, I remembered we did that, but I had forgotten how great it was. It was like a Christmas present that you forgot to open, and you finally get to discover."
Disc one is a remastered version of the original Trio album. Released in the spring of 1987, the set went on to sell over four million copies. Produced by the award-winning George Massenburg, Linda says the ladies could not have made a better choice in the role of producer. She said,
"He was just great at listening and at carrying out a whim. The music ideas would come from us, and he would keep us from getting into a muddle and going off in twenty-nine different directions. He has the best way of recording acoustic instruments - where they still sounded natural, but they sounded at their best. He was really an invaluable partner, in that he really didn’t interfere with us. He let things develop, and just kept things organized."
The treasure of "The Complete Trio Collection" is the third disc of the collection. A twenty-cut collection of outtakes and unreleased tracks from the original 1986 and 1994 sessions, the set features never-before-heard versions of songs such as "Farther Along" and "Wildflowers," which is notable for its’ more up-tempo arrangement. The collection also is highlighted by the soaring harmonies of “Grey Funnel Love” and the groove of "You Don’t Knock." There is also a stunning a cappella version of "Calling My Children Home," as well as the historic cuts of "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues" and "Mister Sandman," which are generally regarded as the recordings that began the Trio process.
As The Trio, Dolly, Linda and Emmylou have sold over 5 million albums and won three Grammy Awards. "The Complete Trio Collection" is in stores now.
Continue reading about The Trio's journey in Harmony of Heart & the Sisterhood of Song
Georgia native and former "American Idol" contestant, Lauren Alaina dons her retro Dolly Parton t-shirt and takes her turn on the front porch with the most honored female country star of all time.
Inspired by her WWDD (What Would Dolly Do) t-shirt, Lauren asked Dolly if given the chance what would she go back and tell her 21-year-old self. Lauren then brought out her great-grandmother's coat of many colors, a cherished family heirloom which Dolly said was very similar to her own famous little coat. Dolly also gave Lauren her secret to communicating with all different types of people throughout her career.
When Lauren confessed she was nervous about an upcoming on-camera kiss, Dolly shared her silver screen experience and reassured Lauren that all would be fine.
Next, the two Southern songstresses get the paddles out for a quick game of "Sooo Country or Not So Country?"
Dolly's newest CD, "Pure & Simple" debuted at #1 on national country charts worldwide. A deluxe edition which includes a 48-page book of photos, memories and stories, as well as two bonus tracks, is available exclusively at Cracker Barrel.
Lauren Alaina is currently touring with Alan Jackson and supporting her self-titled five-song EP, the highly-anticipated follow-up to her No. 1 debuting first album "Wildflower."
