Country Music icons and longtime friends, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, reunite on “Pretty Paper” for Dolly’s new holiday album, "A Holly Dolly Christmas." The album is Dolly’s first Christmas release in 30 years and features an array of special guests. Willie’s appearance on “Pretty Paper” is certainly a highlight, as it reunites two of music’s most honored performers.
Willie and Dolly’s friendship extends beyond music, but it was music that brought them together. In the early days of their careers, Willie and Dolly bonded over a shared love of songwriting. Later, they would go on to perform and record together on songs such as 1982 Top 10 hit, “Everything’s Beautiful (In Its Own Way),” from the collaborative compilation album The Winning Hand. They also shared the small screen with their dear friend Kenny Rogers for the 1989 television special, Kenny, Dolly and Willie: Something Inside So Strong. In 2013, Willie released To All the Girls…, which featured a touching duet with Dolly on her song “From Here to the Moon and Back.” Today, their long-lasting friendship has brought the legendary songwriters back together to recreate Willie’s timeless classic, “Pretty Paper.” When reflecting on his friendship with Dolly, Willie said,
“I love her! Anything she sings!... And I’m glad to sing with her anytime, anywhere.”
In an exclusive Front Porch interview, Willie talks about his relationship with Dolly. In addition to their friendship, Willie discusses his excitement to collaborate with her again.
Watch Willie Nelson’s Front Porch interview to hear more about their special collaboration on “Pretty Paper,” then see what Dolly had to say about Willie in her exclusive Front Porch interview.
Available now, A Holly Dolly Christmas is Dolly’s first holiday album in 30 years. This festive collection of music includes treasured Christmas songs we all know and love, as well as five original tunes written by Dolly, one she co-wrote with Kent Wells and one written by her niece, Jada Star, with co-writer Barry Jobe. The album features incredible duets with some of Dolly’s dearest friends, including Michael Bublé, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon and Willie Nelson and also spotlights a special song with her brother, Randy Parton, and niece, Heidi Parton.
With a list of memorable duets forged in music history, longtime friends Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson reunited to record “Pretty Paper,” a song penned by Nelson in the early 60s. Little did they know, in the early days of their careers as staff songwriters at Combine Music, that they would both become living legends and share nearly 60 years of friendship.
Dolly fell in love with “Pretty Paper” the first time she heard it and knew she wanted to someday record it on a Christmas project of her own. When she began gathering songs for A Holly Dolly Christmas, “Pretty Paper” was at the top of her list. She wasted no time in calling her dear friend, Willie Nelson, and asked him to join her on a new version of his timeless holiday classic. When discussing the opportunity to work with her lifelong friend again, Dolly said,
“I’ve always loved Willie’s songs. I really, really just love anything he writes.”
In an exclusive Front Porch interview, Dolly talks about her friendship with Willie. She also shares how this collaboration came about.
Be sure to watch Willie’s exclusive Front Porch interview about his collaboration with Dolly on “Pretty Paper.”
Available now, A Holly Dolly Christmas is Dolly’s first holiday album in 30 years. This festive collection of music includes treasured Christmas songs we all know and love, as well as five original tunes written by Dolly, one she co-wrote with Kent Wells and one written by her niece, Jada Star, with co-writer Barry Jobe. The album features incredible duets with some of Dolly’s dearest friends, including Michael Bublé, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon and Willie Nelson and also spotlights a special song with her brother, Randy Parton, and niece, Heidi Parton.
