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.
Dolly’s Imagination Library is currently celebrating its 20th year. Each month the organization sends over 800,000 free, age-appropriate books to children around the world. By June 2015, the total number of books mailed by the program reached over 70 million - an exciting announcement for those in attendance at this year’s Homecomin' event.
Homecomin' is a special gathering of the program's affiliates and partners from all four countries in which the program is offered. The event celebrates past accomplishments and allows the organization's leaders to share future goals and opportunities.
This year's Homecomin' was filled with guest speakers, informative sessions, and plenty of fun as well. On Tuesday, June 23, First Lady Crissy Haslam (TN) and First Lady Betsy Dalrymple (ND) showed their continued support at the welcome dinner. Imagination Library President, David Dotson greeted everyone in attendance. He said,
“We dream of the day when all children have the opportunity to love reading, to love books and to love learning. Each day, we take another step toward that dream because of the wonderful people who are gathered tonight in this room. We have indeed accomplished quite a bit but we have so much more to do.”
Wednesday was filled with informative sessions followed by an exciting event at Dolly's Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction that evening. On Thursday, Dolly greeted everyone in a special message sent from Los Angeles, CA, where she is currently working on casting her new NBC television movie, "Coat of Many Colors" set for release in December.
Afterward, affiliates from United Way of Aroostook in Presque Isle, ME, entertained everyone with an encore performance of "All About Them Books." Their enthusiasm for the Imagination Library in their community inspired everyone.
Author and illustrator Lori Nichols made a special presentation and signed copies of her book, "Maple." Additionally, on Friday, the entire group visited Dollywood. To everyone's delight, "Betty Bunny" by Michael Kaplan and illustrated by Stephane Jorisch came to life on the Little Engine Playhouse stage.
Plans for the growth of the program were shared with affiliates in attendance as well as a new campaign to raise awareness about Imagination Library. The new campaign was launched with the first of many stories about how Dolly’s Imagination Library has changed lives. Read more on the Imagination Library Blog.
After a wonderful week in Pigeon Forge, TN, everyone is looking forward to the new awareness campaign and the next Homecomin' set for 2017.
Update: After selling out Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium in record-setting time, Dolly adds a second benefit concert on Saturday, August 1.
In addition to the sold-out performance on July 31, Dolly will showcase her new concert “Pure and Simple” again on August 1, in support of the Opry Trust Fund. The July 31 show along with the encore performance on August 1 mark the first time in 12 years Dolly has headlined in Nashville.
Dolly said,
"The show won't be flashy, but I will be. I don't have … video screens, pyrotechnics and the like," she said. "But I hope people will enjoy sittin' back and enjoying the stories and songs told and done in a simple way. Hopefully the shows will represent the spirit of our beloved, historic Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry...where I became a member back in 1969. I am so looking forward to performing there again."
In 1965, the Grand Ole Opry celebrated its 40th birthday and started the Opry Trust Fund as a way of helping those in the country music industry. To date, the fund has distributed over $2 million to those in need. On the Ryman Auditorium's website, Dolly was quoted saying,
"I love being a member of the Grand Ole Opry...have been since 1969. It's important to me to be able to do a concert for the Opry Trust Fund as so many of my old Opry friends have benefited from it through the years. The money raised will go to help fund the medical needs and hospitalization for those who are not able to afford it and need the help. I am proud to be of help in any way."
Dolly originally announced one scheduled performance for July 31, 2015, at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, as part of The Gift of Music presented by the Dustin J. Wells Foundation. The foundation supports the W.O. Smith School of Music in its efforts to share the gift of music with children. Dolly said,
“Through all of us working together we can make a difference in helping a child feel the magic in making music.”
In addition to Dolly's "Pure and Simple" performance at the Ryman, to kick off Dollywood's "Showcase of Stars" this summer, Dolly will bring her "Pure and Simple," concert to Dollywood on August 8 and 9. As part of their ongoing commitment to Dolly’s Imagination Library, Dollywood is donating all proceeds to the program in an effort to help garner $1 million. Dolly said,
"I am so excited that Dollywood is bringing back the celebrity concert series, and I'm honored that I get to be first. It's always great to play in my own backyard and I know all of my country music friends who are coming to do their concerts will love it as much as I do. So look for my show 'Pure and Simple' in August and help support my Imagination Library."
2015 marks the 20th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and that’s cause for celebration! Since launching in 1995, Dolly’s book gifting program, which once mailed just a few hundred books each month, now mails more than 800,000 free books to children in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, every month!
The new show featuring Dolly with a three-piece acoustic band. The simple style spotlights the purity and heartfelt emotion of Dolly's music in an up-close and personal setting.
Dollywood's popular concert series first began in 1988 in the newly opened 1,739-seat D.P.'s Celebrity Theater. It featured performances by the biggest names in country music. In addition to Dolly's 2015 performances, Kenny Rogers will close out the series. More entertainers will be announced throughout the summer.
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Dyane Smokorowski was named the 14th recipient of the Chasing Rainbows Award. She enjoyed a weekend trip to Dollywood where Dolly herself presented Dyane with the award. Each year, the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY) honors one outstanding educator with this prestigious award. The honoree is someone who "has overcome great obstacles in his or her life, has captured the rainbow and is helping children." This year’s winner serves as the Instructional Technology Coach for Andover Public Schools in Andover, KS. Smokorowski said,
“It is difficult to admit that my personal struggles actually prepared me to be a stronger person today. I wanted to be someone who could inspire others to reach beyond their environments, beyond their extremities, and to do as I have always done—to dream big!”
In 2002, Dolly became the first to receive this award from the NNSTOY. The award celebrated her commitment to fostering a love of reading among children through her Imagination Library. Since then, Dolly has presented the award each year.
Dyane Smokorowski's name will be added, along with past recipients, to the award displayed in the Chasing Rainbows Museum at Dollywood.
For more information on the award and how to nominate an outstanding teacher, visit the NNSTOY website.
