Today, Oprah Winfrey announced that beloved pop culture icon, country music star, and songwriting legend Dolly Parton will be her next guest on “The Oprah Conversation,” premiering Friday, November 13 at 12:00 am ET, exclusively on Apple TV+.
One of the most cherished figures in American music and considered by her fans an American treasure, Dolly Parton discusses her lifetime of songwriting, storytelling, and being a unifier in divided times.
Dolly Parton joins Oprah for a heartfelt conversation and looks back at the personal stories that helped shape her career, the music that’s beloved by generations, and her hopeful view on how life will look after the pandemic.
When Oprah asked Dolly about her upcoming milestone birthday, Dolly said,
"I don't think about my life in terms of numbers. First of all, I ain't never gonna be old because I ain't got time to be old. I can't stop long enough to grow old. I'm just going to be the best I can be at whatever age I am."
Dolly shares deep and meaningful anecdotes about the importance of her faith in shaping her notoriously positive outlook on life, the inspirations for some of her hit songs like “Jolene,” and her motivation and passion for supporting children’s literacy with her continued work with The Imagination Library, her book gifting program for children. In addition, Dolly provides a sneak-peek into the exciting guests and songs to expect in her forthcoming holiday album A Holly Dolly Christmas.
“The Oprah Conversation” is a timely Apple Original series that features Oprah leading intimate discussions with today’s foremost newsmakers, thought leaders, and masters of their craft, exclusively on Apple TV+. Filmed remotely and incorporating audience engagement, Oprah hosts conversations that aim to bring truth and perspective to a range of topics shaping our world, revealing gripping stories of human connection.
The series continues to explore impactful and relevant topics with fascinating thought leaders from all over the world, and also offers poignant conversations between Oprah and change-makers such as Emmanuel Acho, host of the provocative web series “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” in a two-part episode; Professor Ibram X. Kendi, bestselling author of “How to Be an Antiracist”; Bryan Stevenson, Equal Justice Initiative founder and bestselling author of the memoir that inspired the acclaimed film “Just Mercy”; global music icon Mariah Carey; Oscar-winning actor and humanitarian Matthew McConaughey; and legendary Grammy Award winner Stevie Wonder.
“The Oprah Conversation” is available now, alongside “Oprah Talks COVID-19” and “Oprah’s Book Club” on Apple TV+, which has set records as the only new streaming service to instantly launch globally in over 100 countries, and to have been honored with 118 awards nominations and 39 wins and accolades in its first year.
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung, LG, Sony, and VIZIO smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices, and at tv.apple.com.
GRAMMY Award-winning entertainment and international icon Dolly Parton announces the release of “Mary, Did You Know?” today from her upcoming Christmas album, "A Holly Dolly Christmas," available everywhere on October 2. The classic holiday tune follows a series of Christian faith-based releases from Dolly including the #1 Platinum single and Grammy winning song, with Four-time Grammy award-winning Christian Pop Duo, for KING & COUNTRY, “God Only Knows,” which she performed with the duo at the 2019 CMA Awards. That same evening Dolly took the stage with Grammy award-winning Christian artist, Zach Williams, to perform their hit song, “There Was Jesus.” The track is Dolly’s first Top 10 single on Hot Christian Songs and Christian Airplay charts, and is currently top 5 and climbing on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs & Christian Airplay charts this week. Dolly’s steadfast connection to her faith has been a theme throughout her legendary career, from her childhood in the East Tennessee mountains singing hymns at church with her family, to now when the world can collectively use a little something more to believe in.
"'Mary, Did You Know?' is one of the greatest, sweetest, well-written songs that I’ve ever had the chance to sing on,” says Dolly. “When I was recording it, I got very emotional. It is to me what Christmas is about and I’m proud to be able to sing it for my upcoming album.”
Releasing on Butterfly Records in partnership with 12Tone Music, "A Holly Dolly Christmas" is Dolly's first holiday album in 30 years and includes some of the timeless Christmas songs we all know and love, as well as a few original tracks. Five of the 12 tracks were written solely by Dolly with one additional co-write with Kent Wells. Duet partners and featured artists on the album are some of Dolly's dearest friends including Michael Bublé, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon and Willie Nelson, plus a special song with her brother, Randy Parton.
"A Holly Dolly Christmas" is available now worldwide for digital pre-add/pre-save/pre-order, exclusive pre-order bundles, and physical pre-order.
"A Holly Dolly Christmas" Track Listing
Photo Credit: Stacie Huckeba
Courtesy of Butterfly Records, LLC
Recently, Dolly also announced her partnership with Chronicle Books to release "Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics." The visual memoir and annotated songbook will give an intimate look at Dolly's enduring career as a songwriter, musician, and Country legend. Fans will have access to the stories behind the lyrics in Dolly's own words with never-before-seen photographs and memorabilia, bringing them closer to her work than ever before. The Recorded Books audiobook form and CD of "Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics" will be available on November 17, 2020, and is currently available for preorder on Amazon.
"Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics" will be available on November 17, 2020.
To pre-order, please visit: Dolly.ChronicleBooks.com.
The legendary singer-songwriter delivers this compelling audio experience in her own words, sharing her most beloved songs and the stories behind them.
RBmedia, a leading spoken audio and digital media platform company, today announced that it has concluded a deal for an original audiobook production of "Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics," a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop-culture legend.
Produced by Recorded Books®, RBmedia’s flagship publishing brand, "Songteller" features Dolly Parton in her own words, telling personal stories, sharing treasured memories, and revealing candid insights into the creative process behind her music and lyrics. A celebration of over 60 years of songwriting, the audiobook weaves Dolly’s most personal stories around samples of nearly 100 of her most cherished songs.
What was life like growing up in a one-bedroom log cabin with 11 siblings? How close did Dolly come to singing “I Will Always Love You” as a duet with Elvis? How did she become an actress? Who was Jolene? Listen as Dolly Parton answers these questions and many more about her life and music in this original audiobook recorded by the artist in Nashville, TN.
“Across my life, I’ve written thousands of songs. This fall, for the first time ever, we’re spotlighting a hundred of my favorites in my new audiobook, Dolly Parton, 'Songteller.' Not only will you be able to revisit my life in lyrics, but I’ll tell you never-before-heard stories behind the songs. I am so thrilled to announce my collaboration with Recorded Books to create this unique audio experience.”
In "Songteller," Dolly explores her most famous, influential, and beloved songs that have defined her storied career as a songwriter, singer, and entertainer.
“Above all else, Dolly Parton truly is a Songteller,” says Troy Juliar, Chief Content Officer for RBmedia. “In this unique audio experience, she carries fans with her on a journey behind the scenes of her legendary music career. We are honored to be the publisher that shares these remarkable stories and memories with everyone who loves music history, country music, and Dolly Parton.”
"Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics" will be available on November 17, 2020, in both CD and digital audiobook form, and is currently available for preorder on Amazon. As a companion to the "Songteller" audiobook, an illustrated book of the same name is being published by Chronicle Books.
