Featured photo courtesy of Mary Alice Lovelace
From the iconic stage of the Hollywood Bowl, Dolly Parton delivered two back-to-back performances to sold-out crowds on Oct. 1 and 2. The Pure & Simple Tour promised a straightforward presentation of Dolly's music and the heartfelt stories behind her songs and it delivered all that and more in the Hollywood Hills. Dolly said,
"It is so good to be back here at the Hollywood Bowl. Thank you for such a warm welcome. It's good to be home. It's kinda like my second home around these parts."
Dolly and the band were on fire just as they have been since the 60-city North American tour kicked off back in June. The Hollywood Bowl shows mark a short break in the tour schedule. It continues on Nov. 15 in Pigeon Forge, TN but Dolly doesn't plan on sitting around during the next six weeks. She is promoting her all new holiday film, “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love,” and releasing a new picture book, "Coat of Many Colors" (Grosset & Dunlap; on sale October 18, 2016). The book, with all-new illustrations by Brooke Boynton Hughes, features a downloadable exclusive original song by Dolly called “Making Fun Ain’t Funny."
Ricky Schroder, Alyvia Alyn Lind and a few of their co-stars from the new film were among the fans present at the Hollywood Bowl. Sam Haskell, one of the movie's executive producers, was also there to enjoy the concert!
The Pure & Simple Tour continues on Nov. 15 in Pigeon Forge, TN.
"Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love," airs on NBC on Nov. 30 and will be available on DVD on Dec. 20.
The only thing as bright as Dolly's rhinestones at her Red Rocks Meet & Greet event was the smile on Brooke Boynton-Hughes face! The Colorado native contributed beautiful illustrations for the re-release of Dolly's children's book, "Coat of Many Colors." Within the pages of the book, Brooke's art brings the story of the song to life. The little yellow-haired girl in her handmade coat is a perfect likeness to a young Dolly. Her cheeks, rosy with excitement about wearing her one-of-a-kind coat!
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Brooke felt a similar delight when invited to Dolly's backstage event during the Pure & Simple stop at Red Rocks in Colorado. Brooke said,
"It was so wonderful to meet Dolly! And her concert was honestly one of the coolest experiences of my life. I cried when Dolly sang 'Coat of Many Colors' and 'Little Sparrow' (which is probably my favorite of her songs and the ones I listened to a lot while working on the book)."
Like Dolly and Carl, Brooke and her husband enjoy traveling the country in their RV (named Daisy) along with their dog, Olive. She holds a BFA in Printmaking from Colorado State University and an MFA in Figurative Art from the New York Academy of Art. She has been a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators since 2005.
"Coat of Many Colors" by Dolly Parton and illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes is due out on Oct. 18 by Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.
Following the book's release, NBC is set to air “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.” This original movie is the sequel to the 2015 hit television movie “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors.”
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
