Image by Curtis Hilbun
Dolly’s longtime friend and duet partner, Kenny Rogers, returned to Dollywood to help raise money and awareness for her Imagination Library, a book gifting program for kids from birth to age five. Just days after announcing his retirement on the TODAY show, Kenny sang to a sold-out crowd, giving everyone a night to remember at Dollywood’s D.P. Celebrity Theatre. Fans from around the world made their way to Pigeon Forge, TN for a chance to see “The Gambler” performing songs from his treasure chest of mega hits in an intimate setting.
During a special meet and greet before the concert, we asked Kenny what about Dolly and her Imagination Library made him want to come be a part of the benefit concert series. He said,
"You know, she’s an amazing person. She can take something and really grow it into something fantastic. She said they’ve shipped 70 million books! I think it’s a great idea. I’m glad to be a part of this and I hope it helps!"
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The autumn air of the Smokies was filled with the sweet sounds of Kenny’s hit songs throughout the park. From “Coward Of The County,” “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town,” and “The Gambler,” to “Islands In The Stream,” “Lady” and “You Can’t Make Old Friends,” the moment the ever so recognizable sounds would begin, the crowd again and again erupted in thunderous applause.
When it was time to count the money, Kenny’s performance raised over $60,000 for Dolly’s Imagination Library bringing the total raised during the benefit concert series to more than $635,000.
When Dolly heard the news, she said,
"I’m so grateful to Kenny for wanting to help my Imagination Library. He’s always been such a great friend to me and I’m so happy that he made time to come to Dollywood and I know the fans just loved it. Kenny, if you’re reading this, I want to you to know just how much I appreciate you and you know I’ll always love you!"
Families are invited to Dixie Stampede in Branson, MO, to a free, fun-filled day of games, face painting, animal exhibitions, giveaways and more. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will come to life at the annual stick horse rodeo and family fun day, Saturday, October 3. This is a free event designed to celebrate the joy of reading among families while children enjoy riding stick horses "rodeo style" in the Dixie Stampede performance arena. Dolly said,
"My Imagination Library 'Whoadeo' is a fun event for all ages. There’s nothing better for a child’s mind than reading, so it is my hope that with each book, the child will dream more, learn more, care and be more."
"Whoadeo" will showcase kids' events including Barrel Racing, Obstacle Course, and Bucking Horse competition, astride some of the wildest steeds in the stable. They will compete on a stick horse as they race around barrels, jump over obstacles and try their best not to get "bucked" off their horse. It’s Dolly’s true belief that all children are winners, so medals will be awarded to every kid who participates. Dixie Stampede will provide stick horses or children may bring their own.
All proceeds from Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show performance that evening, Saturday, October 3, will be donated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book-gifting program that mails free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five. To date, the organization has sent over 71 million free books to children in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Here in Missouri, there are 37 Imagination Library affiliate communities with 14,012 children enrolled in the program.
Visit Dixie Stampede for more information on Whoadeo benefiting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Dollywood’s D.P. Celebrity Theatre packed in an enthusiastic crowd of fans eager to hear The Band Perry perform their hits on home turf. With an intimate, acoustic setting, the vocally gifted siblings did not disappoint. Performing hit after hit, from “If I Die Young” to “Better Dig Two,” their harmonic voices were the perfect blend of what Dolly calls “blood harmony.” Kimberly even surprised the audience with her rendition of Dolly’s mega-hit song, “I’ll Always Love You,” and as you can imagine, the crowd went wild.
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Although Kimberly, Reid and Neil were all happy to be back home in East Tennessee playing for fans at Dollywood, they were also there to show their love and support of Dolly’s book gifting program for children, the Imagination Library. When asked what it was about the program that made them want to get involved, Kimberly said,
"We are big believers in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. With Imagination Library specifically, the three of us grew up loving, loving to read. It was one of the greatest loves that we remember and some of the earliest memories that we remember."
Neil went on to say,
"You never know how it will influence you in life. For the three of us and our writing, it was a big, big factor in the way we write our songs. You never know what reading a book will do to change your life. It's a really great thing and we're glad to be a part of it."
Dolly was thrilled that The Band Perry came out to support the program. She shared,
"I'm so proud to know that my Imagination Library has had such a positive influence on Kimberly, Reid and Neil, and I appreciate them coming to Dollywood to show their love and support!"
The Band Perry gave fans an amazing night of great entertainment, and more than $75,000 was raised for the Imagination Library! If you’ve not had the pleasure of seeing this trio perform, do yourself a favor and go see them.
Check out The Band Perry’s website for show dates and times.
Dolly announced earlier this year that Dollywood was bringing back the Showcase of Stars to help raise money for her Imagination Library. She herself kicked off the series in early August with two days of concerts that raised more than $500,000.
As the final artist in Dollywood’s Showcase of Stars lineup, Dolly’s longtime friend and duet partner, Kenny Rogers, will appear in concert on Sunday, Sept. 27 at the D.P. Celebrity Theatre.
Tickets to see Kenny Rogers at the D.P. Celebrity Theatre available at Dollywood.com.
Dollywood hosts The Band Perry in concert as part of the Showcase of Stars concert series benefiting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. One of the most dynamic acts in music today, the sibling trio proved to be a powerful new force when they delivered their platinum self-titled debut: "The Band Perry," which offered up five hit singles, including the quintuple-platinum chart-topper "If I Die Young."
In recent years, the band has earned multiple awards from The Academy of Country Music, The Country Music Association, CMT Music Awards and The American Country Awards including a 2014 ACM award for Vocal Group of the Year. This is the first time the group from nearby Greeneville, Tennessee has performed at Dollywood.
The Band Perry will appear on Saturday, Sept. 19. Tickets available here.
Dolly Parton announced the return of Dollywood’s popular Showcase of Stars concert series in March as part of the award-winning park’s 30th anniversary season. Parton, whose last benefit concert at Dollywood was in 2005, kicked off the series with four sold-out concerts Aug. 8-9 at D.P.’s Celebrity Theater, and raised $500,000 in the process.
Showcase of Stars offers guests the experience of great performances in an intimate setting, while allowing them to simultaneously support a worthy cause. Dollywood season passholders have the first opportunity to purchase tickets to the show. Passholders will receive an email with an exclusive link to purchase. Any remaining tickets will be made available to the general public at a later date.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program administered through the Dollywood Foundation which provides an age-appropriate book each month to children from birth to age five in participating communities. To date, the Imagination Library has provided more than 71 million books in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.
The Imagination Library has many volunteers and community members who devote a tremendous amount of energy to helping the program grow. In 2015, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Legend Award was created as a way of recognizing these individuals. David Dotson, president of the Dollywood Foundation, said,
“We are blessed that so many individuals tirelessly work to launch and sustain the program in their community. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library’s Legends are those folks who have been at it for quite a while, who have overcome personal obstacles to lead and inspire, and who have built a local presence with the strength and capacity to provide the Imagination Library to their children for decades to come.”
This year, the award was given to Six Nations Imagination Library from Canada. After a year of seeking funds and support their team officially began registering children in June of this year. Holly Frank spearheaded efforts to launch the program and was on hand to accept the award during Homecomin' 2015. She said,
“It was a moment of shock and awe with a huge rush of excitement. It was hard to believe that the Six Nations Imagination Library was called up to the stage to accept the Legend Award, we were so lost in the moment with happiness and joy.”
Holly says they will use the funds to register more children and "give them the many gifts a book brings."
The Legend Award is funded by a grant from the Dollywood Foundation. Recipients of the Legend Award receive $1000 for use within their local Imagination Library. This award was created in memory of Gord Kretz. Gord was the founding member and Treasurer of the Dollywood Foundation Canada.
There was no person more responsible for the Imagination Library's presence in Canada than Gord. Sadly, in 2015 he succumbed to a brain tumor leaving behind his lovely wife and three children. He handled his illness just like he led his life--with compassion, wisdom, patience and humor.
