Awards & Milestones

Dolly Parton & Zach Williams Win GRAMMY With “There Was Jesus”

Published March 15, 2021 / Last Updated March 15, 2021

Dolly Parton and Zach Williams win the GRAMMY® for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for their collaboration on, “There Was Jesus.”

Last night at the 63rd GRAMMY® Awards, Zach Williams and Dolly Parton won the Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song award for their number 1 hit, “There Was Jesus.” This marks Dolly’s 11th Grammy win, including her Lifetime Achievement Award and MusiCares Person of the Year Award. This is Zach Williams’ second GRAMMY win. Dolly said,

“Thank you Jesus, thank you Zach Williams, and thank you to the GRAMMYS and all of our fans. I am very humbled but proud.”

In September, the duet hit number 1 on the following Christian charts: Billboard Airplay, Billboard AC Monitored, Billboard AC Indicator, Mediabase Audience, Mediabase AC Monitored and Mediabase AC Activator. In the earliest stages of this collaboration, Dolly was very touched by the lyrics and said,

“When I heard the song, I thought it was one of the best songs I’d ever heard. I was at that time, wanting to do something more uplifting, and I feel like it was a Godsend.”

See a full list of winners from 83 categories who were honored at the 63rd GRAMMY® Awards.

Michael MartinDolly Parton & Zach Williams Win GRAMMY With “There Was Jesus”

“There Was Jesus” By Zach Williams And Dolly Parton No. 1 On Billboard

Published September 9, 2020 / Last Updated September 14, 2020

Zach Williams and Dolly Parton are celebrating “There Was Jesus” topping the Christian Billboard charts.

“There Was Jesus” by Zach Williams and Dolly hit number 1 on the following Christian charts – Billboard Airplay, Billboard AC Monitored, Billboard AC Indicator, Mediabase Audience, Mediabase AC Monitored and Mediabase AC Activator. This leap marks Dolly’s first No. 1 in the genre. It also puts her in a category all her own as she is the first artist to have topped the Adult Contemporary, Christian AC Songs, Christian Airplay, Country Airplay and Dance/Mix Show Airplay radio charts. Dolly said,

“Well praise the Lord and thank you Jesus I guess is what I say first. I am just so happy that this has touched the lives of so many people. So proud to be a part of it, so proud of Zach Williams, and we hope that you continue to be blessed by this wonderful song. I know I am.”

Read Full Billboard Story

 

 

Michael Martin“There Was Jesus” By Zach Williams And Dolly Parton No. 1 On Billboard

“There Was Jesus” Music Video With Zach Williams Featuring Dolly Parton

Published April 24, 2020 / Last Updated April 24, 2020

Zach Williams debuts a new music video “There Was Jesus” featuring Dolly Parton.

The new music video for “There Was Jesus” from GRAMMY Award®-winning artists Zach Williams and Dolly Parton makes its debut today. The single is also now at Christian and Country radio.

Last November, Zach and Dolly shared their stunning duet with the world when they performed “There Was Jesus” at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards. Since their epic performance, the song has gained extraordinary momentum and has become Williams’ most consumed song to date along with the title track from his 2019 album, “Rescue Story.”

“When I first heard ‘There Was Jesus,’ it was one of the best songs I’d ever heard,” Parton shares about being featured on the song. She continues, “I loved Zach’s voice, and at that time I wanted to do something more uplifting. I felt like it was a Godsend, so I thought yes, this is my record and I’m going to sing with him on it! I’m really proud of how it turned out. I think people are going to get a blessing out of it. I know I have.”

Regarding Williams’ experience working with Dolly Parton, from recording the song to performing it live on the CMA Awards to ultimately filming the music video, he says,

“Dolly has been a champion since day one of this song. I never thought in a million years this would happen, and the entire experience working with her has truly been an honor and a privilege. I cannot wait to share the song and video with all of you.”

For more information, visit ZachWilliamsMusic.com.

Michael Martin“There Was Jesus” Music Video With Zach Williams Featuring Dolly Parton

CMA’s Outstanding Celebration Of Women Hosted By Dolly, Reba & Carrie

Published November 14, 2019 / Last Updated November 14, 2019

The Women of Country celebrated at last night’s CMA Awards hosted by Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood.

Photo Credit: Curtis Hilbun

“Celebrating legendary women in country music” – the resinating theme of “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards” did not disappoint. The opening number of the show could have very easily been mistaken for the finale as it featured one female country legend after another singing some of the genre’s most moving songs.

Opening Number

Dolly, Reba and Carrie brought the crowd to their feet with harmonies as smooth as a new hairdo, when they kicked the show off with “Those Memories.” Of course, Reba and Carrie were channeling their inner Emmylou and Linda as this song was recorded by Dolly, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris in 1987 on their first Trio album. Jennifer Nettles, Kimberly Schlapman and Karen Fairchild held the momentum with Loretta Lynn’s “You’re Lookin’ at Country” with Jennifer fittingly recognizing the first woman to win the Entertainer of the Year award sitting on the front row.

The veil lifted on a second section of the stage revealing Dolly and the Highwomen (Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile and Amanda Shires) with Tammy Wynette’s “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad.” From then the hits just kept coming with Tanya Tucker singing her own “Delta Dawn,” Gretchen Wilson with “Redneck Woman” and Crystal Gale and her classic “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” With her guitar, Terri Clark burst into “Better Things To Do” and Sara Evans rose up with “Born to Fly.” The closer, enter Martina McBride, with the consequential women’s empowerment anthem, “Independence Day.”

Dolly, Reba and Carrie Shine

Reba, enchanted the crowd with her wardrobe changes while performing her 1991 hit, “Fancy” which didn’t let anybody down. Carrie delivered her jazzy new single, “Drinking Alone.” And Dolly graced the stage with a spiritual number which included her recent collaborations with Zach Williams and for King & Country. She ended with a breath-taking “Have a Little Faith in Me,” her most recent collaboration (with Galantis & Mr. Probz) that landed Dolly her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales Chart.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Notable Highlight

At the end of his performance of “God’s Country,” Blake Shelton hugged fiddle player, Jenee Fleenor, congratulating her on her big win. Earlier in the day, she won Musician of the Year. Jenee was not only the first woman to win this award but also the first woman to receive a nomination in the category in the 53-year history of the CMA Awards.

If you missed the awards, visit cmaawards.com for On-Demand viewing options.

Michael MartinCMA’s Outstanding Celebration Of Women Hosted By Dolly, Reba & Carrie

Women In Country Music Unite at “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards”

Published November 7, 2019 / Last Updated November 7, 2019
Team Dolly is a collaboration of writers, editors, and publishers assembled by Dolly Parton Productions. Each member is dedicated to accurately publishing the latest news and historical archives of the living legend that is Dolly Rebecca Parton.

Managing Editor - Jacob Timmons
Creative Director - Sarah Chapman
Team Dolly

Women In Country Music Unite For Groundbreaking Performances at “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards” November 13 on ABC

Women in Country Music will unite for a historic, not-to-be-missed opening performance at “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards.” The groundbreaking number led by Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton will also feature Terri Clark, Sara Evans, Crystal Gayle, The Highwomen (comprised of Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris and Amanda Shires), Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles, Tanya Tucker and Gretchen Wilson, each performing iconic Country songs for a monumental decades-spanning medley never before seen.

In addition to the incredible opening, Country Music’s Biggest Night™ will be hosted by Carrie Underwood with special guest hosts Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton, celebrates legendary women in Country Music throughout the broadcast, airing live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, November 13 at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network.

Don’t miss “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards,” this historic opening or awesome performances from Dolly Parton with for KING & COUNTRY and Zach Williams, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley with Sheryl Crow, Chris Janson and John Osborne, Brooks & Dunn with Brothers Osborne, Garth Brooks with Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Lady Antebellum and Halsey, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves with Willie Nelson, Old Dominion, P!NK and Chris Stapleton, Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban.

For more information on “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards,” please visit CMAawards.com.

Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings - Photo Credit: Curtis Hilbun
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings - Photo Credit: Curtis Hilbun
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carly Pearce Photo Credit John Shearer
 
Carly Pearce Photo Credit John Shearer
 
 
 
Team DollyWomen In Country Music Unite at “The 53rd Annual CMA Awards”