Dolly Parton News

Dolly graces the cover of this week’s Country Weekly magazine to celebrate Dollywood’s 25th anniversary. In the cover story, Dolly talks about being nervous when she first opened her themepark, saying, “It’s like when you’re young and have a birthday party or something and you worry yourself to death, afraid nobody’s going to show up.” Dolly goes on to say Dollywood is now “a dream come true, and it’s bigger and better than I ever dreamed it would be.” To read more, pick up the June 7th issue of Country Weekly which is available on newsstands now.

Two rare Dolly albums from the early 1970′s are being released on CD for the very first time! The Omni Recording Corporation will release Dolly’s 1970 album, The Fairest Of Them All, and her 1972 album, Dolly Parton Sings, My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner, onto a single-disc CD release on June 8th. Both albums were fully remastered for superior sound quality. This Deluxe Collector’s Edition will also feature a 20 page full color booklet with exclusive liner notes, unpublished rare photos, and two bonus tracks: “Everything Is Beautiful (In Its Own Way)”, a cut track from The Fairest Of Them All, and “Just As Good As Gone”, the B-Side from the “Washday Blues” single. The album is available for pre-order now from Amazon.

On yesterday’s Wendy Williams Show, Dolly joked with Wendy about each other’s over-the-top looks and voluptuous figures and discussed her long-time friendship with Kenny Rogers while backstage at Kenny’s 50th Anniversary special. A tearful Wendy said shortly after meeting Dolly, “It’s so fun to have your own show. You get to meet so many good people.” Watch the full clip on YouTube or in the above player.

Dolly is helping raise funds for the victims of Nashville’s recent devastating floods by hosting a “Dolly Helps Nashville” weekend this coming Saturday and Sunday. On May 22nd and 23rd, Dolly is donating all the admission proceeds from her Dollywood, Dollywood’s Splash Country, and Dixie Stampede attractions towards a special fund to help assist the flood victims in Music City. Dolly has also promised to make “several special appearances at various theaters and locations throughout Dollywood and at Dixie Stampede to greet guests who visit for the weekend event”. Fans can also donate to the fund via this online secure donation form.

Dolly’s full statement is as follows:

I grew up in the Smokies in East Tennessee, which was my first home. I moved to Nashville 46 years ago and that is my home now. I have family and friends in both places, and when one place hurts, I think it is just right for the other to help.

On May 22 and 23, I’m having my Dollywood and Dixie Stampede companies help me host my Dolly Helps Nashville weekend. The proceeds from every guest to both of my parks and my Dixie Stampede will go to a special fund to assist Nashville flood victims. We’re especially going to concentrate on those folks who lost their homes and personal possessions in this terrible flood.

So many of the folks from Nashville have been coming to the Smokies. Over the last 25 years, they have helped Dollywood, Dixie Stampede and Dollywood’s Splash Country and this entire vacation area grow and that’s why it’s our turn to help!

I am challenging other businesses in Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Gatlinburg to make this a destination-wide effort.

I want all of my fans worldwide to come to Dollywood the weekend of May 22 and 23. If you can’t be there in person, then I hope you’ll donate to flood victims here on my secured website or mail donations by check to:

The Dollywood Foundation
2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863

Dolly will be making two major television appearances this week. First on Monday, May 17th, Wendy William’s behind-the-scenes interview with Dolly from Kenny Roger’s 50th Anniversary Special will air on The Wendy Williams Show. Then on Friday, May 21st, catch Dolly on The Oprah Show as they discuss Dolly’s 50 years in show business, the 25th anniversary of her Dollywood theme park, and take a tour inside her new tour bus. Check local listings for stations and air times for both shows.