Update (Aug. 19, 2015): It’s official, "Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors" is set to air on NBC, Thursday, Dec. 10, from 9-11 PM!
Update (May 11, 2015): NBC confirms first in series of made-for-TV movies will be "Coat of Many Colors."
Read more about the movie on NBC.
In early January 2015, Dolly and NBC announced their joint plans to make a collection of two-hour television movies based on Dolly's life and songs. Not only will Dolly produce the films, she will also reunite with Bob Greenblatt on the project. She remarked,
"I am so excited to be involved with my friend Bob Greenblatt, who produced the Broadway version of '9 to 5: The Musical' with me, and my longtime friend and former agent Sam Haskell. We want to create projects for NBC that are both fun and inspirational with a family audience in mind."
The network noted the films will incorporate Dolly's always-present positive outlook on life which has inspired her fans and those around her. In a release, NBC Entertainment chairman, Robert Greenblatt said,
"I don't know anyone in the world who doesn't love Dolly Parton, and the idea of developing television movies inspired by her incredible life and the stories she has sung about for decades is exciting to all of us at NBC."
Dolly wrote many of her hit songs based on personal experiences from her childhood and from other times in her life. Songs like "Coat of Many Colors," "My Tennessee Mountain Home" and "I Will Always Love You" were inspired by real events. Through these songs and many others, Dolly builds strong emotional connections with her fans. Now these beloved stories are set to play out on the small screen for loyal fans and new audiences alike.
LuLu Roman, known throughout the world as one of the most beloved stars of the long-running show "Hee Haw," teamed up with Dolly for a new version of Dolly’s classic, "I Will Always Love You."
The new version, which appears on LuLu’s 2013 album, "At Last" brings two friends of over 40 years back together.
LuLu said of the collaboration,
“Well, going into the studio this time was a great time. It really was. Dolly is just this, ‘What you see is what you get!’ Dolly is Dolly. She just lights up the room and lights up the attitudes. She’s just absolutely precious.”
Dolly was thrilled to hear the results,
"I have known and loved LuLu since the days of 'Hee Haw.' I have always known she was a great singer; but I did not know how great until she did this album. Hearing her sing my song "I Will Always Love You" gave me the chills. And being able to sing with her on it really got the goose bumps going. I am so proud of her. Hope you enjoy our version of the song."
The song "I will Always Love You" was written by Dolly in 1973 for her early singing partner Porter Wagoner and originally appeared on her 1974 album "Jolene." Possibly the most famous version of the song was recorded by the late Whitney Houston on the soundtrack for the movie "The Bodyguard" released in 1992. Another version of the song is on the soundtrack as well - a musical version by Jon Doe. Linda Ronstadt also did a cover of the song on her 1975 album "Prisoner in Disguise."
After the untimely death of Whitney Houston on February 12, 2012, Dolly said,
“Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston. I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song, and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, ‘Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed.’”
Dolly’s song "I Will Always Love You" has been performed by many artists since it was released by her in 1974, but none more memorable than the version recorded by Houston for the soundtrack of the 1992 hit movie "The Bodyguard."
Hearing Whitney’s version of the song played at her funeral was particularly affecting for Dolly,
“I thought my heart was going to stop. It just pierced me like a knife. It’s just - I can’t explain that feeling, to think that was so final for her and that was my words and my feeling - I would forever be so connected to her."
Dolly presented Houston the GRAMMY award she won for singing the song in 1994.
Dolly was the center of FOX’s "American Idol" Season VII’s Country Week on April 1 and 2, 2008, mentoring, performing, and watching the remaining contestants render covers of several of her classic songs.
Dolly mentored finalists as they prepared to perform her songs on the April 1, episode and returned on the April 2, show to perform her song "Jesus and Gravity" from her 2008 "Backwoods Barbie" CD. She chose not to judge the contestants’ performances of her songs saying,
"I couldn't go on and criticize somebody else's singin'.”
The remaining nine “American Idol” contestants performed:
Dolly was honored on Feb. 15, 2002, with the Galaxy Award, the highest honor offered by the American Association of School Administrators at its annual convention. At the event, Dolly sang "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You." The award recognizes Dolly’s work in support of raising awareness for early childhood literacy through her Imagination Library.
In her acceptance speech, Dolly mentioned the things that inspired her to get involved,
"My mother only got an eighth-grade education but she could read and write...My father couldn't do either, and I've often wondered how that affected his dreams. I've always been blessed with big dreams. The Imagination Library was one way that I could give back. I could help children chase their dreams."
