Featured photo courtesy of Mary Alice Lovelace
From the iconic stage of the Hollywood Bowl, Dolly Parton delivered two back-to-back performances to sold-out crowds on Oct. 1 and 2. The Pure & Simple Tour promised a straightforward presentation of Dolly's music and the heartfelt stories behind her songs and it delivered all that and more in the Hollywood Hills. Dolly said,
"It is so good to be back here at the Hollywood Bowl. Thank you for such a warm welcome. It's good to be home. It's kinda like my second home around these parts."
Dolly and the band were on fire just as they have been since the 60-city North American tour kicked off back in June. The Hollywood Bowl shows mark a short break in the tour schedule. It continues on Nov. 15 in Pigeon Forge, TN but Dolly doesn't plan on sitting around during the next six weeks. She is promoting her all new holiday film, “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love,” and releasing a new picture book, "Coat of Many Colors" (Grosset & Dunlap; on sale October 18, 2016). The book, with all-new illustrations by Brooke Boynton Hughes, features a downloadable exclusive original song by Dolly called “Making Fun Ain’t Funny."
Ricky Schroder, Alyvia Alyn Lind and a few of their co-stars from the new film were among the fans present at the Hollywood Bowl. Sam Haskell, one of the movie's executive producers, was also there to enjoy the concert!
The Pure & Simple Tour continues on Nov. 15 in Pigeon Forge, TN.
"Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love," airs on NBC on Nov. 30 and will be available on DVD on Dec. 20.
The only thing as bright as Dolly's rhinestones at her Red Rocks Meet & Greet event was the smile on Brooke Boynton-Hughes face! The Colorado native contributed beautiful illustrations for the re-release of Dolly's children's book, "Coat of Many Colors." Within the pages of the book, Brooke's art brings the story of the song to life. The little yellow-haired girl in her handmade coat is a perfect likeness to a young Dolly. Her cheeks, rosy with excitement about wearing her one-of-a-kind coat!
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Brooke felt a similar delight when invited to Dolly's backstage event during the Pure & Simple stop at Red Rocks in Colorado. Brooke said,
"It was so wonderful to meet Dolly! And her concert was honestly one of the coolest experiences of my life. I cried when Dolly sang 'Coat of Many Colors' and 'Little Sparrow' (which is probably my favorite of her songs and the ones I listened to a lot while working on the book)."
Like Dolly and Carl, Brooke and her husband enjoy traveling the country in their RV (named Daisy) along with their dog, Olive. She holds a BFA in Printmaking from Colorado State University and an MFA in Figurative Art from the New York Academy of Art. She has been a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators since 2005.
"Coat of Many Colors" by Dolly Parton and illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes is due out on Oct. 18 by Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.
Following the book's release, NBC is set to air “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.” This original movie is the sequel to the 2015 hit television movie “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors.”
Featured photo courtesy of Mary Alice Lovelace
After nearly a decade of planning and building, Rogers Place in Edmonton's new ICE District hosted its first concert weekend, which included the one and only Dolly Parton. Located in the heart of Edmonton, AB, Rogers Place is hailed as "the most advanced sports and entertainment venue in North America." It can seat upwards of 20,000 concertgoers, and it did just that when Dolly Parton brought her Pure & Simple tour to town on Sept. 17.
The stop is part of Dolly's 2016 North American tour which marks her first extended Canadian tour in 25 years. While it's true she hasn't visited in awhile, Dolly's Canadian fans will always consider her family. Concertgoer, Tasha Parkins, had this to say about Dolly's appearance in Edmonton,
"My affection for Dolly is tied to my childhood. As kids, we used to watch a movie with her in it: “Smoky Mountain Christmas." I really loved her voice and her singing."
In talking about the Pure & Simple show, Tasha said,
"I liked the flow of the concert. It was seamless and down home. I enjoyed the simplicity...She is still a great singer...a legend!"
Only Dolly Parton could bring her pure and simple show to the most advanced entertainment venue in North America and still leave fans wanting more!
In addition to hosting the world's best entertainers, Rogers Place serves as the new home of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.
Dolly Parton's Pure & Simple Tour Schedule
Fans like Tasha who grew up watching Dolly in "Smoky Mountain Christmas" will be pleased to know Dolly will appear in her all new holiday feature this November. "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love" airs on NBC Nov. 30 and will be available on DVD Dec. 20.
On Monday, Oct. 3, Dolly Parton will be the lead guest and perform as part of the Outdoor Concert Series on ABC’s "Jimmy Kimmel Live," her first-ever appearance on the late night program.
In addition, earlier Monday morning, Dolly will appear as the featured guest on "The Talk," where she will chat with hosts Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Aisha Tyler and Julie Chen about her new movie, "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors - Circle of Love," the success of her most recent album "Pure & Simple" (which remains in the Billboard Country Albums Top 10 chart) and much more.
"Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors - Circle of Love" premieres on NBC Nov. 30 and on DVD Dec. 20.
The final leg of the Pure & Simple Tour kicks off Nov. 15 in Pigeon Forge, TN. The Sold-Out concert near Dolly's hometown will benefit her Imagination Library.
Dolly Parton's Pure & Simple Tour Schedule
Georgia native and former "American Idol" contestant, Lauren Alaina dons her retro Dolly Parton t-shirt and takes her turn on the front porch with the most honored female country star of all time.
Inspired by her WWDD (What Would Dolly Do) t-shirt, Lauren asked Dolly if given the chance what would she go back and tell her 21-year-old self. Lauren then brought out her great-grandmother's coat of many colors, a cherished family heirloom which Dolly said was very similar to her own famous little coat. Dolly also gave Lauren her secret to communicating with all different types of people throughout her career.
When Lauren confessed she was nervous about an upcoming on-camera kiss, Dolly shared her silver screen experience and reassured Lauren that all would be fine.
Next, the two Southern songstresses get the paddles out for a quick game of "Sooo Country or Not So Country?"
Dolly's newest CD, "Pure & Simple" debuted at #1 on national country charts worldwide. A deluxe edition which includes a 48-page book of photos, memories and stories, as well as two bonus tracks, is available exclusively at Cracker Barrel.
Lauren Alaina is currently touring with Alan Jackson and supporting her self-titled five-song EP, the highly-anticipated follow-up to her No. 1 debuting first album "Wildflower."
