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.
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In an exclusive video featured on AOL, Dolly Parton shares a special story from her past about a big surprise she gave her parents and younger siblings once her music career had begun to take off. Dolly said,
"One of the greatest joys of my life was when I made enough money to do something special for my family, because my family was always number one with me and still is."
With the help of some friends, Dolly and a few of her older siblings managed to completely decorate and furnish her parent's house with new furniture and curtains for a special Christmas surprise.
Dolly's love for her family can be heard in many of her songs, especially her 1971 hit, "Coat of Many Colors." This song is the focus of her new movie of the same name airing on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 9/8c on NBC.
"Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" stars Alyvia Alyn Lind, Jennifer Nettles, Ricky Schroder and Gerald McRaney.
AOL Video Exclusive: Dolly Parton
This December, Dolly Parton’s childhood memory that inspired a country music hit and later became a children's book, will premiere as the NBC movie, "Dolly Parton's Coat Of Many Colors." The stars of Dolly's new movie shared stories of how they bonded, much like the real Parton family, over movie nights, pool parties and field trips. To hear them talk about the experience, one might wonder how they managed to get the movie made. However, they did, and their excitement about the finished product is contagious.
Step behind the scenes as Ricky shares a touching note from Dolly, Farrah reveals her favorite Dolly song and see why playing "Little Dolly" is a career highlight for Alyvia Alyn.
Discover more about Dolly's new movie from the stars themselves. See full interviews and MORE!
Tune in December 10, at 9 p.m. EST to watch "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" airing on NBC.
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
Ricky Schroder plays Robert Lee in "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors." This father of four said he was naturally drawn to watching over the children on set.
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Q. As you started to develop your character, what things about Robert Lee stood out or perhaps surprised you?
A. I wanted to do a good job in my character for Dolly and her family. This movie is so dear and important to her that I really wanted to honor who her father was and their relationship, because she just adored him. Dolly gave me just a few tidbits of information here and there when we were producing the movie that were extremely helpful about him and his nature and his humor; how he didn't like to waste words. He was a man of few words. It was an honor to play him.
Q. The Parton family is known for their tight-knit bonds. While filming, did the cast develop similar family-like relationships?
A. It's very easy to want to be a father and protector and teacher for those kids. They're such sweet kids, the whole clan. You know, you work together with your coworkers so many hours, and you just get to like them. You get to know them a little bit, you get to know their personalities. I have an extra kind of soft place in my heart for those kids, because they have to work so hard, especially little [Alyvia]. She worked so hard. She carried so much weight, so well, on her broad shoulders that you can't help but feel protective over those kids. That was a wonderful time with those kids.
Q. Considering everything you have done in your career, where does this role rank in your list of achievements?
A. Well, I'll let you know when I see it [laughing]. I have every expectation that it's going to be a movie that I'll be so proud of. I had a lot of good feelings making this movie.
Q. By today's standards, with four children, you have a big family. Was there ever a moment while making this film, you stopped to think about the challenges Robert Lee faced raising a family of 12?
A. Sure, enormous challenges to feed 12, plus yourself and your wife, 14 people. I'm not going to discount the challenges that parents today face either. There's just massive challenges and pressures on today's parents, maybe not providing the basics as what Lee needed to provide... [but] enormous responsibility for sure.
Q. The song "Coat of Many Colors," first debuted in 1971, yet it still has a powerful message for people today. Why do you think people relate so well to this story?
A. Because of Dolly, I think. We all want to know where she came from. She is so special and unique. That's really what this movie shows people, where Dolly came from and who loved her and who was with her and helped nurture her.
Q. Other than "Coat of Many Colors" do you have a favorite Dolly song?
A. Probably one of my favorites is the duet with her and Kenny Rogers, "Islands in the Stream."
Q. What was your favorite moment of making the film or your favorite takeaway?
A. I'm so proud of so many people who worked so hard on the movie. My favorite takeaway... probably a note that Dolly wrote me one day when we were in production. She said she had been watching the dailies, you know the work from the previous days. She was so glad she chose me to play her father. That was a pretty special moment to get that letter from her.
See more cast interviews and tune in Thursday, December 10 at 9/8c on NBC to watch Ricky Schroder as Robert Lee Parton in "Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors."
