Set for May 19 in New York City, the 67th Annual Christopher Awards will honor "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" and 20 additional feature films, TV/Cable programs and books for adults and young people. The Christopher Awards were created in 1949 to celebrate writers, producers, directors, authors and illustrators whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit.” The Christophers’ Director of Communications, Tony Rossi, said,
“The world around us can seem like a dark place in light of all the violence and hatred we hear about in the news. But the stories we honor with Christopher Awards remind us that we can shine a light that illuminates the darkness by choosing to practice faith, love, compassion, courage, teamwork and determination.”
Dolly will be honored for her record-breaking NBC film, "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors." Dolly said,
“I love the Christopher Award slogan, ‘Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.’ I personally believe that with all my heart. I think the movie, ‘Coat of Many Colors,’ a true story from my childhood, does throw a light on a lot of things like family, hope, love, kindness, understanding and acceptance. It really spoke to the issue of bullying. I am very proud at how God works through me to shine a light, and to help heal a lot of hurt in a lot of people, and I am very proud of this award.”
"Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" attracted 16 million viewers making it one of the most-watched television movies of all time. In addition to the Christopher Award honors, the film earned the Epiphany Prize for the Most Inspiring TV Program from the Movieguide® Awards.
"The Jim Gaffigan Show: My Friend the Priest" will be honored in the same TV/Cable category as Dolly's film. Her former co-star, Sylvester Stallone, will receive honors in the Feature Film category for "Creed."
Read more about the Christopher Awards.
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
Fans and critics alike warmly embraced "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" after its Thursday night premiere on NBC. Not taking into account sports and live musicals, Dolly's heartwarming story drew the largest audience the network has seen in this time slot in six years, according to The Wrap. Headline Planet gives a complete Nielsen ratings report.
In addition to the huge viewership, critics gave this heartfelt story high praises.
"Like Parton's music, [Coat of Many Colors] manages to be somehow clear- and misty-eyed at once, a mix of the natural and the sentimental." Los Angeles Times
"'Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors' is a TV movie like mama used to make." Variety
"[Coat of Many Colors] will warm winter audiences with its inspiring tale of overcoming devastating tragedy, discovering the healing power of faith and love, and Parton’s triumphant spirit as a 9-year-old girl in the Great Smokey [sic] Mountains." Biography
"[Coat of Many Colors] extols faith, love of family, love of the Lord and a child having the strength and wisdom to stand up for those values when others mock them.” Huffington Post
“Nettles captures the quiet, solitary sadness of Dolly’s mother with great subtlety, and it’s a pleasure to hear the Sugarland singer’s beautiful voice…” Entertainment Weekly
“In her dolled-up, down-home way, Parton seems determined to teach her fans to love one another at least as much as they love her.” The Washington Post
“This is the time of year when sentimentality can be a warming thing, and Parton’s Coat will keep an awful lot of people warm this winter.” Yahoo!
Watch "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" on NBC.com or the NBC app.
Fans can also enter to win a “Coat of Many Colors” merchandise prize pack, a tour of Dolly's Tennessee Mountain Home and much more in Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors" Sweepstakes.
Growing up in the Great Smoky Mountains, Dolly and her brothers and sisters learned how to be resourceful. Dolly recalls one Christmas Eve when the Parton kids had a plan to send Santa Claus a message.
They decided to set a huge Christmas Eve bonfire so he could find their house. Dolly said,
“Well, it got to be Christmas Eve, it got to be getting dark so we set out to set our big bonfire so Santa could find us.”
Watch the Taste of Country Video Exclusive: Dolly Parton's Christmas Eve Bonfire to see her parents’ surprised reactions.
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Also, watch "Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors" starring Alyvia Alyn Lind, Jennifer Nettles, Ricky Schroder and Gerald McRaney. The new film airs on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 9/8c on NBC.
Dolly sings about a coat her mother made for her in her song, "Coat of Many Colors." The song is the focus of a new NBC movie of the same name. In this exclusive video shared by Country Music Nation/Country Rebel, Dolly tells what happened when she tried to return the favor to her mother. Find out how this shopping trip did not go as she planned. Dolly says,
"I thought it would only be right for me to buy Momma a mink coat."
"Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors" stars Alyvia Alyn Lind, Jennifer Nettles, Ricky Schroder and Gerald McRaney. It airs on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 9/8c on NBC.
