On May 28, 2008, Dolly kicked off her ninth headlining tour at the Roxy Theater in Hollywood, California, in support of her 40th studio album "Backwoods Barbie." After stops across the U.S., Northern Europe, and Canada, the tour concluded Nov. 19, 2008, at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines in Iowa. In Europe alone, 170,000 fans saw Dolly perform, marking the single most successful leg of any tour in Dolly’s history.
Dolly spoke about her motivations for touring and her mutual love affair with the fans,
“I am addicted to the love and the energy that I receive from the crowd [at my shows],” she said, “but it's a fair exchange. I love them and give them every ounce of energy that I have as well. So, I guess you could say that we feed off one another.”
Her concerts at London’s O2 Arena were the subject of a PBS Special, CD, and DVD release entitled “Dolly: Live in London O2 Arena” and "Dolly: Live From London," respectively.
Dolly was forced to delay the tour’s start because of a back injury. The quick-witted Dolly dealt with the elephants in the room with her usual humor,
“The truth is I just bent over one day to pick something up, and I hurt my lower back... I just kind of popped a disk in my lower back. So I said I know it's not my boobs. It's my lower back. And my butt ain't that big anymore. So it was just one of those freak things, and it's fine now.”
"Better Get to Livin'" was the first single released in advance of Dolly’s 2008 "Backwoods Barbie" album. It also marked the first single released by Dolly’s record label Dolly Records. The song reached No. 48 on the Hot Country Singles Chart in 2007.
The song is about her optimistic nature and philosophy of life. Billboard noted that the single, "reveals the timeless entertainer to be more sage philosopher than country kewpie."
Dolly was encouraged to use herself as a muse for the song,
“I co-wrote this song with my co-producer, bandleader, and guitarist Kent Wells. Kent is the one who said that I should write a song about my attitude as so many people are always asking what my secret to success and happiness is. So I thought “that is a good idea” and I flew right into it. Kent kept feeding me ideas and threw in a line here and there. This is what came out of that. We had a lot of fun writing it.”
In September 2007, Dolly performed the song on the hit ABC television show "Dancing With the Stars." Dolly also performed the song at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The song’s video included actress, author and comedian Amy Sedaris.
After nearly 11 months off the road, Dolly returned to touring Nov. 16, 2006 through May 20, 2007 with a show called "An Evening with Dolly Parton." Dolly performed seven shows in the U.S., six concerts in Canada, and 19 European dates. Covering her signature songs along with material from albums including "Those Were the Days," the tour included her Mighty Fine Band led by guitarist Kent Wells.
Dolly was honored with the Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 3, 2006, along with classical music conductor Zubin Mehta, musical artist Smokey Robinson, motion picture director Steven Spielberg, and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. The award recognizes a performing artist’s lifetime contribution to American culture.
Steve Buckingham, Dolly’s longtime record producer, was not surprised by the honor at all because he feels Dolly’s impact has been "huge... not just because of her body of work as a singer and songwriter and an actress but her philanthropic work... That impact isn't limited to this country [U.S.]... I've been around different parts of the world with her, the U.K., Switzerland, Amsterdam, Paris... There's no place you go... that people don't know her. I always say, the one thing you never hear when you're anywhere with her is, `I wonder if that's Dolly Parton?' because there's no doubt."
Artists who performed or delivered remarks on Dolly’s behalf at the ceremony were actress Reese Witherspoon and musical performers Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers, Carrie Underwood, Alison Krauss, Suzanne Cox, Cheryl White, Shania Twain, Vince Gill and Jessica Simpson.
President George W. Bush praised the honorees for “enriching the cultural life of our country."
""Travelin’ Thru," Dolly’s song from the movie "Transamerica," was one of four songs nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 2005. "A Love That Will Never Grow Old," from the movie "Brokeback Mountain," won during the Jan. 16, 2006 ceremony.
Dolly said of the nomination,
“What a great honor to be nominated for a Golden Globe Award for my song 'Travelin' Thru' from the wonderful, touching film 'Transamerica.' After all my years in show business, I’m still humbled and overjoyed when I am recognized for my work.”
The Golden Globes are presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association whose mission is partially to "To recognize outstanding achievements by conferring annual Awards of Merit, (Golden Globe® Awards), serving as a constant incentive within the entertainment industry, both domestic and foreign, and to focus wide public attention upon the best in motion pictures and television."
