Photos courtesy of Curtis Hilbun
For the 31st year in a row, Dolly Parton greeted adoring fans as the Grand Marshal of the Annual Dolly Homecoming Parade in Pigeon Forge, TN. She led the way on her new Lumberjack Adventure float in her spectacular Dolly-inspired lumberjack outfit.
People lined the streets waiting to catch a glimpse of the hometown girl now an entertainment icon. They also tuned in to the LIVE Facebook broadcast for a bird's eye view of everything going on, and going on it was! Following Dolly on the Lumberjack Adventure float was the ever-popular Dixie Stampede float, the Sevier County Marching Band performing some of Dolly's hits and much more. The parade down the Parkway included several lavish floats, entertainers, bands, Veterans and performers.
At the time of this article the Facebook video (below) had reached an audience of more than 4.2 million.
Dolly will return to Pigeon Forge, TN on Nov. 15 for a special performance at LeConte Center. The concert is part of her Pure & Simple tour covering 60 cities across the United States and Canada. Proceeds from the Pigeon Forge concert will benefit Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
More about Dolly Parton's Pigeon Forge Concert
See Dolly Parton's Pure & Simple Tour Schedule
Dolly Parton's largest North American tour in 25 Years Kicks Off on June 3. Coming off the heels of a headline-making performance at the ACM Awards in early April, Dolly is heading out on her largest North American tour in over two decades. Tickets are selling fast for the first leg of the Pure & Simple Tour, which includes a total of 16 dates.
Dolly Parton's Pure & Simple Tour Dates
The Pure & Simple Tour coincides with the summer release of her double-disc album "Pure & Simple with Dolly’s Biggest Hits." The collection will include some of her most popular singles as well as a few new tracks. The set list features several of Dolly's biggest hits along with a few new songs from the double-disc album. She will also perform songs which some fans have not heard live in decades!
Additional U.S. dates for the historic North American tour will be announced soon as well as Dolly's highly-anticipated return to Canada. The entertainment icon is on one of the biggest hot streaks of her career after her hugely successful TV movie, “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors,” attracted a network record of more than 16 million viewers. It was the most watched movie on network TV in more than three years. It becomes available on DVD May 3.
Featured photo courtesy of Curtis Hilbun
During the 51ST ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS®, pop superstar Katy Perry presented Dolly Parton with the Tex Ritter Award for her hit NBC movie, “Dolly Parton’s Coat Of Many Colors.”
Being presented with this award was such a special honor for Dolly because the movie was so near and dear to her. In her acceptance speech, Dolly said,
"I knew Tex Ritter. I loved him, so that makes this award twice as special to me."
An avid fan of Dolly’s, Katy recently took to social media expressing her excitement about the upcoming performance saying,
“I shall remember though that I am but one sequin on this living legend’s costume!”
The highly anticipated performance was incredible and will definitely be one that will go down in the history books!
All photos courtesy of Curtis Hilbun
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Did you know?
Katy Perry asked Dolly to perform with her during Super Bowl 2015, but it didn’t happen due to scheduling conflicts.
Dolly Parton will bring her boundless energy to stages in over 60 cities as she embarks on her first major U.S. and Canadian tour in more than 25 years. For the last 20 years, she has only played select dates in the U.S., but her 2016 tour will cover cities across North America.
In what is sure to be one of the summer's most sought-out concerts, Dolly will perform her hit songs all while weaving in a few new songs from her new double-disc album "Pure & Simple with Dolly's Biggest Hits." She will delight fans by playing songs they have not heard live for decades. Dolly said,
“We’re so excited to get out there and see the fans again. I’m really looking forward to singing songs the fans have not heard in a while, as well as the hits, while debuting a few new ones off Pure & Simple."
"Pure & Simple with Dolly's Biggest Hits" 2-CD set will include all new material as well as a compilation of Dolly’s biggest hits. A track listing will be announced soon.
The Country Music Hall of Famer is on one of the biggest hot streaks of her career after her hugely successful TV movie, "Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors," attracted a network record of 15.8+ million viewers making it the most-watched movie on network TV in more than six years. “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors,” is coming to DVD on May 3.
Tour dates and album details are coming soon.
WATCH: RAW Press Conference Video Footage
Since the world premiere of the film on NBC, fans have asked for a DVD version they can watch over and over again with their families. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will grant their wish on May 3, a few days before Mother's Day.
The premiere of the critically acclaimed television movie smashed records and with 15.9 million total viewers, it became the number one movie on broadcast television in six years. It earned the Epiphany Prize, Movieguide® Awards' highest honor, and Alyvia Alyn Lind received the Grace Award for her performance as young Dolly.
Set in Dolly's childhood home in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, the film tells the story of how the tight-knit Parton family overcame tragedy and heartbreak as a simple hand-made coat brought them closer than ever.
For the first time, audiences got a glimpse into the lives of the people who helped make Dolly Parton, well, Dolly Parton. Fans fell in love with Dolly's parents Avie and Robert Lee Parton played by singer/songwriter Jennifer Nettles and actor Ricky Schroder of "NYPD Blue" and "Silver Spoons" fame. Gerald McRaney delivered a moving performance as Dolly's grandfather, Rev. Jake Owens. Viewers also enjoyed meeting some of Dolly’s 11 siblings. Not only did they get to see Farrah Mackenzie play a young Stella Parton but they also got the added treat of watching the real-life Stella as Corla Bass. First-born Willadeene Parton, played by Carson Meyer, became another fan favorite, due in part to her place as a second mother to her younger siblings, a duty in which many viewers related.
DVD Bonus Features include "Coat of Many Colors: Bringing the Song to the Screen (Featurette)" and deleted scenes.
See full interviews with some of the cast of “Dolly Parton’s Coat Of Many Colors” and look for the DVD on May 3.
FILM CREDITS
Starring
Alyvia Alyn Lind, Jennifer Nettles, Ricky Schroder, Gerald McRaney
Executive Producers
Dolly Parton, Sam Haskell, Pamela K. Long
Written By
Pamela K. Long
Director
Stephen Herek
Line Producer
Hudson Hickman
Casting Director
Patrick Rush
Produced By
Warner Bros. Television, Magnolia Hill Entertainment, DP Productions
