Dolly Parton

Our favorite Smoky Mountain singer has lots of fresh music on the way! Dolly Parton will release a new album on November 30, 2018 made up of songs appearing in the upcoming movie Dumplin’. For the Dumplin’ soundtrack, Dolly teamed up with some of the biggest names in music, including Miranda Lambert, Sia, Macy Gray, Alison Krauss, Mavis Staples, Elle King, and Rhonda Vincent. Read on to learn everything we know about the new movie and Dolly’s new music.

Dolly Parton is making a TV series, and she needs your help! Set to premiere on Netflix in February of 2019, “Dolly Parton’s Theater” is a brand new anthology series where each episode will be inspired by a different Parton-penned song. The show will start taping a World War II-themed episode in September, and the producers are on the hunt for extras to appear in a number of scenes.

She’s captured all of our hearts and filled our ears with her amazing country music — but how much do you know about our Smoky Mountain hometown hero? Visit My Smokies has dug deep to find some fun facts about Dolly Parton that only the most dedicated fan would know! Check out these 8 interesting facts about the country music legend that you might not know:

Hollywood is doubling down on Dolly Parton! It was recently announced that our Smoky Mountain hometown hero will be getting a second star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the iconic public monument dedicated to achievement in the entertainment industry. Dolly received her first Walk of Fame star way back in 1984.

On May 7, 2018, a very special visitor stopped by the Sevierville Senior Center: Ms. Dolly Parton! The Smoky Mountain native and country music legend surprised seniors with an unannounced appearance at the popular gathering place for older adults in Sevier County, TN. Dolly met local seniors, sat in on a few classes, and announced a new partnership with the center. You can see highlights from Dolly’s sweet (and frequently funny) visit to the senior center in the video below:

Over the course of her career, Dolly Parton has written thousands of amazing songs. Now, Dolly herself is the subject of a wonderful tune! British singer-songwriter Mark E. Nevin recently released an impossibly catchy track called “Dolly Said No to Elvis.” The song tells the true story of the time Dolly turned down Elvis Presley’s offer to cover “I Will Always Love You.” You can watch the charming stop-motion music video for “Dolly Said No to Elvis” below:

Dolly Parton’s signature charity, the Imagination Library, has reached an incredible milestone. On February 27, 2018, the nonprofit donated its 100 millionth book! To mark the occasion, Dolly appeared at the Library of Congress to chat with Director Carla Hayden and hand deliver a special edition of her children’s book, Coat of Many Colors. Dolly also performed a live reading of the book for a group of preschoolers from the area, with a little bit of singing thrown in for good measure.

A decades-long tradition in Pigeon Forge, TN will undergo a big change this May. For 32 years, Dolly Parton has served as the grand marshal of an annual springtime parade down the Parkway. Known as Dolly’s Homecoming Parade, this popular event has historically drawn over 50,000 visitors.

The world’s most famous Smoky Mountain native is celebrating her birthday this month! Dolly Parton will turn 72 years old on January 19, 2018 - although she certainly doesn’t look like a typical septuagenarian. While most people tend to slow down as they age, Dolly seems to be doing the opposite. In 2017, Dolly had one of her busiest and most successful years ever. To mark the country star’s birthday, Visit My Smokies has put together a quick recap of some of the biggest moments for Dolly Parton in the past year.

Musical roots run deep in the Parton family tree! This October, Dolly’s niece Heidi Parton will release her very first album. Regular visitors to Dollywood may recognize Heidi from her appearances in the My People show at the theme park. Visit My Smokies has all the details on Heidi’s debut record.

At age 71, Dolly Parton is more in-demand than ever before! The legendary country star recently sang with Kesha on the pop singer’s new album, Rainbow. While Dolly and Kesha may not seem like an obvious match, their collaboration is simply phenomenal. The two artists share a duet on Dolly’s classic tune “Old Flames (Can’t Hold a Candle to You)”, which is the highlight of the record. Watch the video below to hear the song for yourself:

After 50 years in the music business, Dolly Parton is releasing her very first children’s album! The legendary country artist made the big announcement at a press event in Nashville on August 15, 2017. Titled I Believe in You, the eagerly anticipated album will feature 13 songs written and performed by Dolly herself. Read on to learn all about Dolly’s latest record.

Over the course of her career, Dolly Parton has won nine Grammy Awards and been nominated for two Oscars and a Tony. This September, Dolly might just add an Emmy to her collection! It was recently announced that Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love was nominated for an Emmy Award in the “Outstanding Television Movie” category.

Country music legends Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers have been friends and collaborators for over three decades. This fall, the two stars will perform together one last time. While Dolly has no plans to stop touring anytime soon, Kenny has decided to hang up his spurs so he can spend more time with his wife and teenage sons. To celebrate his retirement, Rogers will headline a farewell concert that will feature appearances by Parton and other special guests. Visit My Smokies has all the details on Dolly and Kenny’s final duet.

Everyone’s favorite Smoky Mountain songstress has received some well-deserved recognition! Rolling Stone magazine recently updated its list of the “100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time” and Dolly Parton was ranked among the top 10 musicians. To compile the list, Rolling Stone considered an artist’s musical output, their impact on the genre, and, above all, their status as a true original. Given the above criteria, it’s easy to see why Dolly was placed among the best of the best!