Featured photo courtesy of Mary Alice Lovelace
After nearly a decade of planning and building, Rogers Place in Edmonton's new ICE District hosted its first concert weekend, which included the one and only Dolly Parton. Located in the heart of Edmonton, AB, Rogers Place is hailed as "the most advanced sports and entertainment venue in North America." It can seat upwards of 20,000 concertgoers, and it did just that when Dolly Parton brought her Pure & Simple tour to town on Sept. 17.
The stop is part of Dolly's 2016 North American tour which marks her first extended Canadian tour in 25 years. While it's true she hasn't visited in awhile, Dolly's Canadian fans will always consider her family. Concertgoer, Tasha Parkins, had this to say about Dolly's appearance in Edmonton,
"My affection for Dolly is tied to my childhood. As kids, we used to watch a movie with her in it: “Smoky Mountain Christmas." I really loved her voice and her singing."
In talking about the Pure & Simple show, Tasha said,
"I liked the flow of the concert. It was seamless and down home. I enjoyed the simplicity...She is still a great singer...a legend!"
Only Dolly Parton could bring her pure and simple show to the most advanced entertainment venue in North America and still leave fans wanting more!
In addition to hosting the world's best entertainers, Rogers Place serves as the new home of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.
Dolly Parton's Pure & Simple Tour Schedule
Fans like Tasha who grew up watching Dolly in "Smoky Mountain Christmas" will be pleased to know Dolly will appear in her all new holiday feature this November. "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love" airs on NBC Nov. 30 and will be available on DVD Dec. 20.
Dazed magazine pairs two of entertainment's most recognizable celebrities together in a double interview with Dolly Parton and RuPaul.
“I always said if I hadn’t been a woman I would have been a drag queen."
It's one of Dolly's most quoted one-liners that's never went out of style, out of her style that is! When she sat down with drag megastar RuPaul, for The 25th Anniversary Issue of Dazed the pair shared their mutual admiration for one another. They talked about everything from fashion to theme parks and their devotion for and from their fans within LGBTQ communities.
As for the quintessential elements of their unique styles, RuPaul summed his up by saying,
“My image is two parts Diana Ross and Cher, one part David Bowie and three parts Dolly Parton, and that’s how I came up with my persona.”
For decades, Dolly has attributed her charismatic stylings to a woman with a somewhat questionable reputation from her hometown. A role soon to be portrayed by Dolly in her upcoming film "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love."
Both Dolly and RuPaul are talents that exceed the traditional definition of stardom. In fact, they supersede traditional definitions of just about everything. But, the one thing that does seem to accurately describe their approach to fame and celebrity is the fact that they don't take themselves too seriously.
They like what they like - in Dolly's words - "pure and simple."
Read "Dolly Parton X RuPaul" taken from The 25th Anniversary Issue of Dazed
See RuPaul in "RuPaul's Drag Race" on Logo.
About Dazed
Founded in 1991, Dazed strives to empower, entertain and educate tomorrow's cultural leaders through radical fashion, agenda setting photography and fearless storytelling.
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.
