Duncan Hines underestimated Dolly's fan base and only made enough box sets of her new cake line available Wednesday morning to sell out in 5 minutes. The site here now features an option to enter an email to learn when the products are available for order again. They're supposed to hit stores in March, but there's no word whether the boxes will be available again before then. Dolly did several interviews, most of which weren't publicized in advance, to promote the product launch Wednesday morning including with Peoplehere, NBC's Todayhere (where she repeated the denial she ever insured her breasts, something she hasn't addressed in about 20 years even though the rumor persists), E! here, CBS Morningshere, ABC's Good Morning Americahere. and Huff Posthere.
'9 To 5' Documentary Announcement Coming Wednesday The makers of the documentary Still Working 9 To 5 have revealed a "HUGE world premiere announcement" about the project will be coming Wednesday, Feb. 2, on their Facebook page here.
Jan. 26: Dolly Releasing Duncan Hines Cakes
Dolly on Tuesday announced a new partnership with Duncan Hines to launch a line of Southern-inspired desserts inspired by some of her favorite family recipes. A $40 boxed set of Coconut Cake mix, Banana Puddin' Cake mix, chocolate buttercream frosting, buttercream frosting, a tea towel, recipe cards, and a spatula will be available for online ordering here at 8 a.m. Eastern Wednesday, while the individual items won't arrive in retail grocery stores until March.
In a press release, Dolly said: "I have always loved to cook and, growing up in the South, I especially love that authentic Mom and Pop kind of cooking. I am excited to launch my own line of cake mixes and frostings with Duncan Hines, bringing that sweet, Southern-style baking experience I enjoy to others."
The company's brand director, Audrey Ingersoll, said: "Duncan Hines is beyond thrilled to partner with Dolly Parton, one of the most revered and beloved women in the world, on a new line of products that are steeped in Southern comfort and inspired by Dolly's family recipes. We are excited to see this partnership – facilitated by Dolly's licensing agency, IMG – evolve for years to come." Dolly also spoke with People magazine about the project here.
'Ultimate' Back On Country Albums Chart A week after it was announced as Dolly's first U.S. gold album in 22 years, the 2003 compilation Ultimate Dolly Parton re-entered the top 50 country albums chart at No. 47, Billboard's Jan. 29 tallies released Tuesday showed.
Another Dolly Lullaby Collection Released The lullaby CD makers Sweet Little Band on Monday added Dolly to their collection with digital release of Babies Go Dolly Parton featuring "Here You Come Again," "9 To 5," "Before The Next Teardrop Falls," "Behind Closed Doors," "Coat Of Many Colors," "Hard Candy Christmas," and "Jolene."
Jan. 24: Dollywood Honors Dolly With Day Of Service Dollywood last week celebrated Dolly's 76th birthday by announcing a new program in honor of her legacy of giving, the Care More Initiative. Dollywood Parks & Resorts employees are encouraged to take a paid day off to spend volunteering at the nonprofit of their choice to thank and recognize Dolly for the many ways she contributes to others each day. Plans are to make it an annual observance for park staff and encourage people around the world inspired by Dolly's many gestures of service to choose a nonprofit to benefit from their day of volunteering as well. "Dolly is a dreamer and because of that she is an amazing person to work with," said Eugene Naughton, Dollywood President. "It's virtually impossible to describe her in one word, but I think if you asked people around the world, one of the most frequent answers you would hear is 'giving.' You would hear hundreds of different answers—talented, inspiring, loving, creative, caring—but I think giving is the one of which I think she would be most proud. This initiative is our way to give back to her; it is our way to thank her for continuing to inspire people to think outside of themselves and to look for how they can be of service to others. We know our hosts are inspired by her every single day, but we hope others outside of our Dollywood family take the time to find how they can help in their own communities."
Dolly Dress Up For Grammy Auction Dolly has donated another gown to benefit the Grammys' charitable arm, the MusiCares Foundation. A beaded dress she wore for the red carpet at her MusiCares tribute is being auctioned off to benefit the charity this year, complete with the mannequin used for building the dress. Starting bid was $500, estimated value is between $2,000 and $4,000 but as of press time four bids had been submitted with a current winning bid of $7,000. Take a look here. Bidding ends Sunday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. Pacific Time.
Patterson Talks Working With Dolly ABC News last week interviewed author James Patterson, who discussed a bit about working with Dolly on their upcoming novel, Run, Rose, Run. Watch it here.
Dolly Poetry Anthology Seeks Submissions Madville Publishing has announced plans to publish an anthology of poems related to Dolly in honor of her 77th birthday next year. Submissions are open here through June 1. The editors are looking for poems about Dolly, paying tribute to her or her career or something else related to her, but also for "cameos, Dolly impersonators, or Dolly-adjacent portraits" where her appearance "strengthens the intention of the poem."
U.K. Chart Update Dolly's 1974 opus Jolene has re-entered the country albums charts overseas in the U.K., coming in at No. 15 on the top 20 this week. On the country compilations albums chart there, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe moves up one this week to No. 10, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series: Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) gains three to No. 17, and Harris' Original Album Series: Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) jumps nine to No. 9.
Jan. 19: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOLLY! Dolly Rebecca Parton tuns 76 on Wednesday, and this weekend the BBC is celebrating with a night of programming on its BBC2 channel. Things kick off Saturday at 8:30 p.m. British time with Dolly Parton at the BBC, an hour-long collection of her appearances on the network over the decades. It is followed at 9:30 by the BBC documentary Dolly Parton: Here I Am, 11 p.m. with the U.S. special Dolly Parton: 50 Years At The Opry, and 12:15 a.m. with her triumphant Glastonbury Festival concert.
Jan. 15: More 'Run, Rose, Run' Album Details Come Out
The first single from Dolly's companion album to her novel with James Patterson, Run, Rose, Run, was released Friday along with additional information about the album. The album will be available on CD here, MP3 here and vinyl here on March 4, three days prior to the book's release. The single, "Big Dreams and Faded Jeans," is available for download from Amazon here or streamable on YouTube here or in the media player above. Similar to the release of her Christmas album, plans are for multiple colored vinyl versions from various retailers (her official website's store is taking pre-orders for red marble vinyl, Amazon's doesn't state what color will be available, Target is taking orders for an exclusive green vinyl, and reports are Wal-Mart will offer exclusive peach vinyl and Barnes & Noble exclusive blue vinyl. In addition, a bonus track, "Rose of My Heart," will be available in an exclusive download version sold by Jeni's Ice Cream, which is also re-issuing her sold out Dolly Parton's Strawberry Pretzel Pie flavor for pre-orders at the same time (the download will be available March 4 and the ice cream in April). Target is also offering an exclusive CD version with "a signature bookmark." Although the bookmark photo shown on the store's website just bears the "Dolly" signature logo, a links page from Dolly's official website lists it as a "signed bookmark," so it's unclear whether it just has the signature logo, an autosigned autograph like her signed Wal-Mart release a few years back did, or a hand-signed autograph. It was also revealed that the album was produced by Dolly with her band members Richard Dennison, and Tom Rutledge and will be released by her own Butterfly Records in partnership with Ingrooves/UMG (Universal Music Group). Cover art is at left (click on it for a larger version). The track listing is:
"Run"
"Big Dreams and Faded Jeans"
"Demons" (with Ben Haggard)
"Driven"
"Snakes in the Grass"
"Blue Bonnet Breeze"
"Woman Up and Take It Like a Man"
"Firecracker"
"Secrets"
"Lost and Found" (with Joe Nichols)
"Dark Night, Bright Future"
"Love or Lust" (with Richard Dennison)
"Rose of My Heart" (bonus track; Jeni's exclusive)
Feinstein Reveals Dolly Duet Track On Gershwin CD Michael Feinstein this week revealed the track listing for his Gershwin collaboration album with country artists he has been teasing for years, and so Dolly's track is now known: "Love Is Here To Stay." The album, available for preorder here, was executive produced by Liza Minelli and comes out March 11.
'I Will Always Love You' Goes Diamond The RIAA on Wednesday certified Whitney Houston's cover of Dolly's "I Will Always Love You" as Diamond Status Single representing 10 million equivalent units in the U.S. since release. The 1992 single sold 4 million physical copies when first released and was certified 5, 6, 7, and 8 million units in 2019 representing digital sales and streams since 1993, especially following her 2012 death. The album which contains it, The Bodyguard soundtrack, has sold 18 million copies in the U.S. (earning its 18th platinum honor in 2017 following its 17th platinum certification back in 1999). Only 73 singles in the history of the RIAA have reached diamond status.
Dolly Tribute Act On 'Fallon' Next Week Karen Hester, who recently won E!'s tribute band competition by imitating Dolly, will perform as her in tribute to Dolly on her birthday next Wednesday on NBC's The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, the network has announced.
U.K. Chart Updates On the U.K. country compilations albums chart, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe moves up one this week to No. 11, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series: Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) holds steady at No. 20, and Harris' Original Album Series: Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) re-enters the top 20 at No. 18. Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 falls back out of the top 100 all-genre streaming albums chart, down from No. 95.
Jan. 12: New Opry Profile Released
The Grand Ole Opry has been releasing backstage interviews and profiles as "Circle Shorts" and last week posted one about Dolly and her 50th Opry anniversary a couple of years ago. Watch here or in the media player above.
Notaro Comedy CD With Dolly Routine Coming Comedian Tig Notaro has announced that her recent animated stand up special Drawn, which closes with a routine centered around Dolly and her song "Two Doors Down," will be available Feb. 4 here.
U.S., U.K. Chart Updates Now that the holidays are behind us, A Holly Dolly Christmas is off the charts, the Jan. 15 Billboard tallies released Tuesday showed. The set falls back out of the top country albums list, down from No. 46, ending this year's seven-week run on that chart, and out of the top 100 overall album sales chart, down from No., 89 in its fifth week this year. Holiday albums were not updated, so it ended the year there at No. 49 last week. Overseas, last year's "Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas" with Michael Buble falls back out of the top 100 singles, down from one week this year at No. 92. On the U.K. country compilations albums list, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe gains holds steady at No. 11, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series: Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) remains at No. 20, and Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 falls back out of the top 20, down from No. 16, but re-enters the top 100 all-genre streaming albums chart at No. 95.
Jan. 7: Dolly Receives Five New U.S. Gold, Platinum Awards Dolly this week was presented with 47 plaques recognizing five new U.S. gold and platinum awards issued this year, previously-reported older American and British certifications, and 31 honors from recent years in other countries. She was also recognized for passing 3 billion worldwide streams. (Click on photo for larger view.)
The five new U.S. honors dated by the RIAA on Thursday include Dolly's first gold album (for sales in excess of 500,000 copies) in 22 years for the 2003 compilation Ultimate Dolly Parton, a platinum digital award (for 1 million downloads or 150 million streaming audio/video plays) for "Here You Come Again" and double platinum digital awards (for 2 million downloads or 300 million streaming audio/video plays) for "Islands In The Stream" (most recently certified digital gold in 2017), "Jolene" (most recently certified digital gold in 2017), and "9 To 5" (most recently certified digital platinum in 2017).
The other U.S. awards listed were a 2020 digital platinum honor to For King & Country for "God Only Knows" (although the RIAA did not list Dolly on the official award listing in their database because the vast majority of sales and streams were for the version of the single originally released without Dolly's vocals) and previously-reported digital platinum single award for "I Will Always Love You" from last year and the digital platinum single award from 2015 for "When I Get Where I'm Going" with Brad Paisley (which originally had Dolly's name missing due to a clerical error which was corrected when Dollymania.net asked the RIAA about it at the time the award was originally announced).
In a press release, Dolly said: "I've often said that my songs are like my children, and I expect them to support me later in my life. Well, it looks like they are doing just that! I am so humbled to have been surprised with this incredible collection of certifications from around the world. I owe a big thank you to my fans, old and new, who continue to be there for me year after year. This is a wonderful way to kick off 2022!"
Eight British certifications previously reported here from 2017 through 2021 were also listed (although two of them were incorrect, as the single "Jolene" was listed just for its 2017 gold certification when it was upgraded to U.K. platinum in 2019, and The Real Dolly Parton was listed for a 2018 silver award when it was upgraded to U.K. gold in 2019). Not previously reported here were three new Canadian certifications, 13 from Australia, six from Denmark, two from Norway, two from Finland, and four from Sweden covering the past few years.
The list as published (with notes in italics from Dollymania.net) was:
3 Billion Worldwide Streams - 2021
Ultimate Dolly Parton - album - 2021 - GOLD (US) The award is actually dated 2022. God Only Knows (with for King & Country) single - 2020 - PLATINUM (US) The press release didn't note Dolly is not a named artist on the award. Jolene - single - 2021 - 2X PLATINUM (US) The award is actually dated 2022. Islands In The Stream (with Kenny Rogers) - single - 2021 - 2X PLATINUM (US) The award is actually dated 2022. Here You Come Again - single - 2021 - PLATINUM (US) The award is actually dated 2022. 9 to 5 - single - 2021 - 2X PLATINUM (US) The award is actually dated 2022. I Will Always Love You - single - 2021 - PLATINUM (US)
When I Get Where I'm Going (with Brad Paisley) - single - 2015 - PLATINUM (US)
Jolene - single - 2017 - GOLD (UK) Press release omitted certified platinum in 2019. 9 to 5 - single - 2021 - 2X PLATINUM (UK)
The Real Dolly Parton - album - 2018 - SILVER (UK) Press release omitted certified Gold in 2019. Pure & Simple - album - 2018 - SILVER (UK)
Greatest Hits - album - 2021 - SILVER (UK)
I Will Always Love You - single - 2020 - SILVER (UK)
The Very Best Of - album - 2020 - 2X PLATINUM (UK)
Islands In The Stream (with Kenny Rogers) - single - 2019 - PLATINUM (UK)
When I Get Where I'm Going (with Brad Paisley) - single - 2021 - PLATINUM (Canada)
9 to 5 - single - 2021 - 3X PLATINUM (Canada)
Islands In The Stream (with Kenny Rogers) - single - 2021 - 3X PLATINUM (Canada)
When I Get Where I'm Going (with Brad Paisley) - single - 2019 - GOLD (Australia)
Ultimate Dolly Parton - album - 2021 - PLATINUM (Australia)
Legendary Dolly Parton - album - 2021 - PLATINUM (Australia)
The Ultimate Collection - album - 2021 - GOLD (Australia)
The Best of Dolly Parton - album - 2021 - GOLD (Australia)
Greatest Hits - album - 2021 - GOLD (Australia)
The Very Best of Dolly Parton - album - 2021 - GOLD (Australia) This one is confusing since an album of the same title went platinum in Australia in 2014. 18 Greatest Hits - album - 2021 - GOLD (Australia) This one is confusing since an album of the same title went gold in Australia in 1980. Jolene - single - 2021 - 3X PLATINUM (Australia)
9 to 5 - single - 2021 - 3X PLATINUM (Australia)
Here You Come Again - single - 2021 - GOLD (Australia)
I Will Always Love You - single - 2021 - GOLD (Australia)
Coat Of Many Colors - single - 2021 - GOLD (Australia)
Queen Of Country - album - 2016 - GOLD (Denmark)
Greatest Hits - album - 2016 - PLATINUM (Denmark)
The Very Best Of - album - 2016 - PLATINUM (Denmark)
9 to 5 - single - 2019 - GOLD (Denmark)
Jolene - single - 2021 - PLATINUM (Denmark)
Islands In The Stream (with Kenny Rogers) - single - 2021 - GOLD (Denmark)
Jolene - single - 2021 - PLATINUM (Norway)
9 to 5 - single - 2021 - PLATINUM (Norway)
Jolene - single - 2021 - GOLD (Finland)
I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston; Dolly Parton, writer) - single - 2021 - GOLD (Finland)
Jolene - single - 2021 - 3X PLATINUM (Sweden)
9 to 5 - single - 2021 - 3X PLATINUM (Sweden)
I Will Always Love You - single - 2021 - GOLD (Sweden)
Islands In The Stream (with Kenny Rogers) - single - 2021 - PLATINUM (Sweden)
U.S., U.K. Chart Updates With Christmas in the past, A Holly Dolly Christmas falls off this week's Top 200 albums chart, down from No. 134 in its fourth week this season on the tally, the Jan. 8 Billboard tallies released Wednesday showed. The album also tumbles 51 places to No. 89 overall album sales in its fifth week on that list, 30 spots to No. 46 country in its seventh week on that chart, and a dozen digits to No. 49 top holiday albums. Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers falls back off the top 50 holiday albums, down from a one-week return at No. 43. Overseas, last year's "Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas" with Michael Buble re-enters the top 100 singles at No. 92, earning a first week for this year and fifth week overall, having hit No. 66 last holiday season. On the U.K. country compilations albums list, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe gains two to No. 11, Emmylou Harris's Original Album Series: Volume 1 (with two Dolly covers, one track with Dolly harmony and one track with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) dips one to No. 20, and Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 holds steady at No. 16.
Dolly Birthday Celebrations Coming Dolly tuns 76 on Jan. 19, and the pandemic won't stop celebrations for fans in several cities. The Graduate Hotel in Nashville has announced an entire week of observances to benefit her Imagination Library. Learn more from Main Street Nashvillehere. And in Indianapolis, Forty-Five Degrees hosts its 10th annual Dolly Birthday Bash to benefit a local AIDS patient foods pantry the afternoon of Jan. 15. Check out their event page on Facebook here.
Dolly Remembers Betty White Dolly was among the celebrities expressing sadness at the passing of the legendary Betty White last week when the entertainer passed a few days prior to her 100th birthday. On social media she explained: "While watching the news last night I learned of Betty White's passing. Betty will live forever not only in this world but the world here after. I will always love her as we all will!"
Dolly on Tuesday announced a new partnership with Duncan Hines to launch a line of Southern-inspired desserts inspired by some of her favorite family recipes. A $40 boxed set of Coconut Cake mix, Banana Puddin' Cake mix, chocolate buttercream frosting, buttercream frosting, a tea towel, recipe cards, and a spatula will be available for online ordering here at 8 a.m. Eastern Wednesday, while the individual items won't arrive in retail grocery stores until March.
The first single from Dolly's companion album to her novel with James Patterson, Run, Rose, Run, was released Friday along with additional information about the album. The album will be available on CD here, MP3 here and vinyl here on March 4, three days prior to the book's release. The single, "Big Dreams and Faded Jeans," is available for download from Amazon here or streamable on YouTube here or in the media player above. Similar to the release of her Christmas album, plans are for multiple colored vinyl versions from various retailers (her official website's store is taking pre-orders for red marble vinyl, Amazon's doesn't state what color will be available, Target is taking orders for an exclusive green vinyl, and reports are Wal-Mart will offer exclusive peach vinyl and Barnes & Noble exclusive blue vinyl. In addition, a bonus track, "Rose of My Heart," will be available in an exclusive download version sold by Jeni's Ice Cream, which is also re-issuing her sold out Dolly Parton's Strawberry Pretzel Pie flavor for pre-orders at the same time (the download will be available March 4 and the ice cream in April). Target is also offering an exclusive CD version with "a signature bookmark." Although the bookmark photo shown on the store's website just bears the "Dolly" signature logo, a links page from Dolly's official website lists it as a "signed bookmark," so it's unclear whether it just has the signature logo, an autosigned autograph like her signed Wal-Mart release a few years back did, or a hand-signed autograph. It was also revealed that the album was produced by Dolly with her band members Richard Dennison, and Tom Rutledge and will be released by her own Butterfly Records in partnership with Ingrooves/UMG (Universal Music Group). Cover art is at left (click on it for a larger version). The track listing is: