Jan. 30: Dolly Record Of The Month Club Coming Dolly is joining the boutique collector vinyl manufacturer Vinyl Me Please with her own Album of the Month Club, the service teased last week. On its website, VMP released a short video that opens with instrumentals from Dolly's 1974 original of "I Will Always Love You," then turns to static, then a Dolly video is joined already in progress where she says "I'm excited to be the first artist with a dedicated record of the month club," followed by static again, and then the words "Vinyl Me, Parton" on the screen as instrumentals from "9 to 5" play. The page includes the description: "Get ready to immerse yourself in Vinyl Me, Parton – the first of its kind, limited edition monthly record club curated with and dedicated to Dolly Parton herself. There will only be a limited amount of spots available. Join the interest list today and be one of the first notified when pre-orders open in February." Nothing else is known about the partnership, such as how many months or years it will run, whether each month will feature a Dolly re-issue selected by her or if it will include some Dolly re-issues along with re-issues of other artists' albums chosen by her, but the landing page is titled "First Gathering," which suggests they may be pressing her 1977 solo declaration New Harvest, First Gathering. Likewise, the inclusion of "I Will Always Love You" and "9 To 5" in the teaser video suggest upcoming pressings of 1974's Jolene (which had been rumored to be coming from VMP already later this year) and 1980's 9 To 5 And Odd Jobs. VMP previously issued a limited-edition 1,000 run of Jolene on blue vinyl in 2019 and had an exclusive 50th anniversary edition of 1971's Coat Of Many Colors in 2021 as one a regular monthly selection on its country track. Watch the video and register for the February pre-order announcement here.
'USA Today' Chats About Dolly's Rock Album Dolly gave a USA Today interview last week to update everyone on her rock album. She said here she has Elton John, Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks on Nicks' "What Has Rock 'N' Roll Ever Done For Me," Miley Cyrus, John Fogerty on "Long As I Can See The Light," Joan Jett, Pink and Brandi Carlisle on "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" (although she's still trying to get Mick Jagger), Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran on a new recording of her "My Blue Tears," "hopefully" Cher and Annie Lennox on "Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This," and that her producer was in Los Angeles recording Steven Tyler on an original (she didn't say if it's an original she wrote or he did) and Steve Perry on "Open Arms." Then over the weekend, Jimmy Buffet posted a photo of him with Sheryl Crowe, Dolly and Emmylou Harris, suggesting the three of them also appear on the project, and Pat Benatar posted about finishing her duet with Dolly on Benatar's all time favorite song, although she didn't identify what that was.
Hoosiers Eye Statewide Library For Dolly Indiana could be the next state to take Dolly's Imagination Library early childhood literacy program statewide, as legislators have introduced a bill to fund a statewide program there, 14 News reported here.
U.S., U.K. Chart Updates Dolly's Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection gains one to No. 22 country albums in its ninth chart week, the Jan. 28 Billboard charts released Wednesday showed. The set loses 10 places to No. 77 overall album sales and seven spots to No. 36 current album sales. Her
Run, Rose, Run rises two to No. 5 bluegrass albums in its 44th chart week. Overseas, Dolly's Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection tumbles 32 digits to No. 100 Scottish albums but holds steady at No. 1 country compilation albums. Run, Rose, Run also holds steady at No. 20 on the British country albums chart. The U.K. country compilations albums chart sees 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) dip five to No. 11, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe gain three to No. 6, Harris' Original Album Series: Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) fall back off the top 20, down from No. 17, and Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 to re-enter the top 20 at No. 18.
Jan. 23: Dolly Drops Two New Singles
Dolly delivered double last week, dropping two new singles on successive days during her birthday week. On the day of her big 77th, which she says she sees as special because it is double sevens and seven is the number of God, she delivered the tongue-in-spiritual-cheek warning from God in "Don't Make Me Have To Come Down There," which she had announced as a birthday gift to her fans just two days before its Thursday release. She said in interviews that week for a new baking line that the idea for the song came to her in a dream. Listen on YouTube here or in the media player below and download the track on Amazon here. Then one day later, the long-anticipated release of "Gonna Be You" came featuring Dolly with Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan, and Debbie Harry from the film 80 For Brady hit. In a press release, Dolly said: ""I'm so excited to be a part of '80 for Brady' and the Diane Warren title song for it. Working with Jane, Lily, and Sally Field again, my older pals that are in the movie, and then working with all the wonderful artists on the song and video, like Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan and Debbie Harry was a joy. This is very exciting to me. I love feeling like I'm still part of something great and being with those gals that we know are great was a thrill." Watch the music video that features each of the ladies (except Harry) on YouTube here or in the media player above and download it from Amazon here.
Dolly Promotes New Duncan Hines Mixes Dolly last week announced the expansion of her Duncan Hines baking line to include brownies, cornbread, and biscuit mix. Although the items had been known as existing for months, thanks to fans in test markets where they appeared on shelves early who had shared their findings on social media, this was the company's first acknowledgement of the product expansion, which is expected nationwide by the end of this month and into February. It expands upon cake mixes and frostings previously released under Dolly's name. A limited-edition boxed set of Dolly Parton's Baking Collection will be sold from Duncan Hines' online store starting Feb. 8 with a pre-sale starting Feb. 1 for the Duncan Hines Baking Community members. The $40 set features an exclusive tea towel, spatula, and recipe cards in addition to the two brownie mixes and buttermilk biscuit and sweet cornbread mixes. In a press release, Dolly said: "I knew Duncan Hines and I were bringing something special to the baking aisle when we launched our partnership last year, and I've been thrilled by the response. I'm really excited to launch more baking mixes steeped in my Southern roots, like Cornbread and Biscuits. I think folks are really going to like them and hope they'll bake up some special memories with family and friends." The launch started with a Facebook announcement here and led to a ton of interviews and appearances to talk about the mixes, her rock album, and her new single including UShere, Forbeshere, E! News here, The Viewhere and Eaterhere, among others. One remaining appearance will be broadcast Tuesday on the syndicated The Rachel Ray Show (check local listings for time and channel). Check out promo photos from the announcement with this article. Click on the thumbnails for larger versions. Images courtesy Conagra Brands.
Billboard Ranks Best Dolly Songs In honor of her birthday, the critics at Billboard magazine ranked Dolly's best songs in their opinion. Check them out here.
Alabama Takes Library Statewide Alabama is the latest state to expand Dolly's Imagination Library early childhood literacy program statewide, Gov. Kay Ivey announced in her second inauguration last week, The Montgomery Advertiser reported here.
U.S., U.K. Chart Updates The Jan. 21 Billboard charts released Tuesday see Dolly's Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection fall back out of the top 200 all-genre pop albums chart combining sales and streams, down from No. 198 in its sixth week. In its eighth chart week, the title slips two to No. 67 overall album sales, nine to No. 29 current album sales and three to No. 23 country albums. Run, Rose, Run dips five to No. 7 bluegrass albums in its 44th chart week. Overseas, Dolly's Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection falls off the overall sales and physical sales charts, down from No. 87 and No. 80, respectively, losing 15 to No. 68 Scottish albums, and holding steady at No. 1 country compilation albums. Run, Rose, Run holds steady at No. 20 on the British country albums chart. The U.K. country compilations albums chart sees 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) gain four to No. 6, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe rise two to No. 9 and Harris' Original Album Series: Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) tumble nine to No. 17.
Jan. 16: 'Opry Goes Dolly' For 77th Birthday To celebrate Dolly's 77th birthday on Thursday, The Grand Ole Opry is pulling out all the stops. While Dolly herself will not be present (Opry officials said she will be shooting a feature film – and although they didn't elaborate on which one, the only one she has announced is the Reese Witherspoon-produced film adaptation of her novel Run, Rose, Run in which she is supposed to star), they will have a Dolly impersonator, birthday card, Dolly cover songs, and Dolly cupcakes for her birthday weekend as "The Opry Goes Dolly." In a press release, Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers explained: "We love an Opry party and everyone around the world loves Dolly! Though Dolly herself can't be with us this year due to her feature film schedule, I think we can all agree Dolly deserves to be celebrated this year and ever year. We're going to have some fun Dolly additions to the great schedule of shows lined up for our January run downtown at the Ryman." The weekend includes:
77 hours of Dolly give-a-ways on Opry social media (they didn't announce when, but presumably Jan. 19-22)
Birthday cupcakes from Dolly's Duncan Hines cake mix for Opry House and Ryman tour guests on Jan. 19 while supplies last
A massive birthday card for fans to sign at the Ryman Jan. 19-21
A Dolly impersonator at Ryman Plaza for photos during the Opry shows Jan. 21
Opry at the Ryman shows Saturday, Jan. 21, featuring Chapel Hart, The Fairfield Four, Caitlyn Smith, Marty Stuart, and Chris Young performing covers of songs from Dolly's first platinum album, 1977's Here You Come Again, in observance of her 77th birthday. $5 from each ticket will be donated to the Opry Trust Fund in Dolly's honor. Tickets for 7 p.m. here and 9:30 p.m. here.
Dollywood Allows BAF For Preview, Finishes Track
Dollywood on Friday surprised season passholders with the announcement here that for the first time ever Bring-A-Friend Passes will be accepted for Season Passholder Preview Day, which as was reported here back in October when it was first announced will be March 10. The announcement was greeted on social media with extreme responses on each side, with some passholders very happy that they may bring friends that day and others very angry that the day will no longer be restricted to passholders only. The announcement followed several weeks of fans arguing on social media whether Bring-A-Friend passes would be honored that day, since the Bring-A-Friend calendar showed that they would be allowed on the day, although the park's official general operating calendar had been corrected a few days prior because it had been mistakenly published in November showing season passholder preview day as a day the park was open to the general public. That confusion had led for months to fans arguing over whether March 10 was passholder preview day as had been announced in October or opening day, also leading into the arguing about whether BAF passes would be honored since the other calendar showed it. The park says if a Gold and Diamond Hour event is added to the preview – such as Dolly welcoming the crowd for preview day – it will be restricted to Gold and Diamond passholders only, not BAF guests or Silver passholders, although Silver passholders may attend preview day (but their BAF passes will not be able to be used that weekend). In other news, the park last week completed the track laying for its 2023 addition, the Big Bear Mountain coaster, which will take families to 48 mph through the rolling hills adjacent to Wildwood Grove to nearly 4,000 feet in search of a legendary bear in the forest. It features three separate launches, multiple airtime hits, high-speed carousel turns and tunnels, including passing behind a waterfall, and it's the park's first ride featuring on-board audio. Check out video of the final piece being put in place here or in the media player above.
Dolly Gets New Billboard The values public service announcement campaign "Pass It On" finally added Dolly to their roster with a new billboard announced last week with her on "kindness" and the quote to "find the good in everybody," It has not been revealed in which cities the new billboard will be placed, but most in the campaign are added to cities across the U.S. Read more here and click on the tumbnail to a larger photo.
Update On Funko Pop Figures As was previously reported here, word leaked that Funko was releasing a new Pop! figurine of Dolly, and the official announcement came last week. While additional figures are expected in the future, the one of Dolly in an orange pantsuit and banjo was announced as well as a Funko.com exclusive second figurine featuring Dolly in a white pantsuit from Glastonbury 2014. Almost immediately, pre-orders sold out from Funko.com for both and Wal-Mart.com for the orange one. I'm told other retailers that carry Funko Pop! figures are taking pre-orders for the orange one, but Funko is also taking reservations to be notified when they have each figure in stock again (orange one here and their Funko web-exlusive silver one here.
Another Dolly Interview Posted A new interview with Dolly was released last week from Salvation Southhere.
'American Songwriter' Giving Away Autographed Magazines It was previously reported here that Dolly is the November/December cover artist for American Songwriter magazine with a new interview, and last week she announces she had personally signed three copies of the issue for them to give away to fans. Enter the contest through Wednesday, Jan. 25, here and see Dolly's video for it here.
'Gonna Be You' Single Drops Friday Don't forget Dolly's new female supergroup single "Gonna Be You" with Gloria Estefan, Debbie Harry, Belinda Carlisle, and Cyndi Lauper from songwriter Diane Warren drops on Friday. She posted a preview last week to her Facebook Reels here.
Dolly Remembers Lisa Marie Presley Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, died last week and Dolly was among those offering their condolences, releasing a statement here: "Priscilla, I know how sad you must be. May God comfort you at this time. Elvis, I know how happy you must be to finally have her home and to have her back with you. Lisa Marie, may you rest in peace. we all love all of you."
U.S., U.K. Chart Updates Billboard magazine reports in the week following broadcast of Dolly and Miley Cyrus's NBC New Year's Eve Party, their duet of "Jolene" bumped its streaming 30 percent to 1.71 million listens for the week and its digital sales by 57 percent, while another of the songs they duetted on, Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" increased 45 percent to 1.79 million streams and increased its digital sales 400 percent. Meanwhile, the magazine's Jan. 14 charts released Tuesday see Dolly's Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection re-enter the top 200 all-genre pop albums chart combining sales and streams, at No. 198 for a sixth week. In its seventh chart week, the title slips 10 to No. 65 overall album sales but and gains three each to No. 20 current album sales and No. 20 country albums, respectively. Run, Rose, Run gains two to No. 2 bluegrass albums in its 44th chart week. A Holly, Dolly Christmas Ultimate Deluxe Edition falls back off the charts, down from No. 88 overall sales and No. 31 country albums in its 26th week there. Overseas, Dolly's Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection falls off the top 100 all-genre British albums chart, down from No. 82, and off the streaming album chart, down from one week at No. 99, while losing 15 to No. 87 overall sales, dipping 12 to No. 80 physical sales, rising 24 to No. 53 Scottish albums, and holding steady at No. 1 country compilation albums. Run, Rose, Run loses six to No. 20 on the British country albums chart. The U.K. country compilations albums chart sees 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) gain three to No. 10, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe slip two to No. 11 and Harris' Original Album Series: Volume 2 (featuring one track with Dolly harmony and two tracks with Trio harmony by Dolly and Linda Ronstadt) rises four to No. 8.
Jan. 9: Cheat Codes Single 'Bet On Us' Released
LA-based EDM trio Cheat Codes on Friday released a new collaboration with Dolly, "Bets On Us," from their upcoming album One Night In Nashville featuring Lady A, Little Big Town, and others. In a press release, the band's Matthew Russell said: "Having Dolly on this album is so surreal and a full circle moment for me, personally. As someone who grew up in the midwest, my family and I would go to her event in the Great Smokey Mountains. Her larger than life photos were everywhere and now having a song with one of the biggest music legends of all time and especially in the country space is incredible." Dolly added: "I love how 'Bets on Us' turned out with Cheat Codes. When I heard this song, I felt like I could contribute something special." Download the track from Amazon here or stream from YouTube here or in the media player above.
Warren Collaboration Coming This Month
That's not the only Dolly pop collaboration coming up, as power ballad composer extraordinaire Diane Warren this week announced she had written "Gonna Be You" for the upcoming Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field movie 80 For Brady and that Dolly had recorded it in collaboration with Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan and Debbie Harry. Warren said the idea for the singers came from the title, which inspired her to ask some of the 1980s top pop performers to sing on the track. From a sample available here or in the media player above from an Estefan fan site, it sounds like Dolly sings lead on the track and the others are featured with her. The song is planned for digital release on Jan. 20. The movie comes out Feb. 3.
Warwick Duet Coming, Too And yet that's also not the only collaboration coming, as pop legend Dionne Warwick revealed exclusively on The Tamron Hall Show that she and Dolly recently recorded a duet of Dolly's gospel song "Peace Like A River," which appeared in the 1990s on one of Dolly's Hallmark greeting cards but which she has never before recorded. Hall said the duet is to be released this month.
'Run, Rose, Run' Sold 515,000 Copies Publishers Weekly last week revealed the year's top-selling books and Dolly and James Patterson's Run, Rose, Run just missed the top 25, thanks to the unusual dominance of author Colleen Hoover, who wrote the three best-selling books of the year and four additional top 25 titles. Selling 515,000 copies in 2022, the book ranked at No. 26, one higher than John Grisham, also shut out of the top 25 when his The Boys From Biloxi sold 495,000. The publication is to be filmed later this year for its movie adaptation, and it hits paperback in April.
'Seriously Red' Trailer Comes Out
Aussie film Seriously Red about a Dolly impersonator comes out Feb. 10 and a new trailer was released last week. Check it out here or in the media player above.
Dolly On 'The View' Jan. 17 TV audience service 1iota has announced Dolly will appear live on ABC's The View on Jan, 17. Tickets are sold out for the broadcast.
Dolly Funko Pop Coming Tchotchke maker Funko on Sunday released the first images of its upcoming authorized Pop figurine of Dolly. Check them out here. Several additional designs are expected soon.
'Here You Come Again' Play Coming To Pittsburgh Bruce Vilanch's Dolly juke box musical Here You Come Again will run at the Pittsburgh Playhouse Thursday through Jan. 29, The Herald Standard reported here.
Dolly No. 27 On 'Rolling Stone' Singers List Rolling Stone last week took a lot of heat for its list of the 200 greatest singers of all time, namely the exclusion of Celine Dion, but Dolly did well as the third-highest-ranked country performer at No. 27.
IFC Birthday Marathon Planned AMC's Independent Film Channel (IFC) will pay tribute to Dolly on her 77th birthday Jan. 19 beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern with Joyful Noise, followed by The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas and Steel Magnolias, with each one then repeating.
U.S., U.K. Chart Updates Dolly's Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection last week fell off the top 200 all-genre pop albums chart combining sales and streams, the Jan. 7 charts released Tuesday showed, falling from No. 141 in its fifth chart week. To show the importance of streams and influence of older titles, it loses 18 to No. 55 overall album sales but is still in the top 60 in its sixth week, and dips nine to No. 23 current album sales, but remains in the top 25 in its sixth week of the measurement that the Top 200 used to use for its charts in the pre-streaming era. The title falls four to No. 23 country albums, and Dolly falls off the Artist 100 chart, down from No. 75. Run, Rose, Run slips one to No. 4 bluegrass albums in its 43rd chart week. A Holly, Dolly Christmas Ultimate Deluxe Edition falls off the top 200, down from No. 180 in its 20th week, and off the top 50 holiday albums chart, down from No. 40 in its 38th week, but re-enters the top album sales chart at No. 88 and loses nine to No. 31 country albums in its 26th week there. Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers falls off the 50-position country albums list, down from No. 44, while its track "Hard Candy Christmas" re-enters the holiday digital sales chart for a 93rd week. Overseas, her Michael Buble duet from 2020, "Cuddle Up And Cozy Down With You," falls off the top 100 pop singles chart, down from its new peak at No. 55 in its seventh chart week since release. Dolly's Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection drops six to No. 82 all-genre British albums, 10 to No. 72 overall sales, 10 to No. 68 physical sales, 41 to No. 77 Scottish albums, and holds steady at No. 1 country compilation albums while debuting at No. 99 top streaming albums. Run, Rose, Run falls eight to No. 14 on the British country albums chart and falls back off the Americana chart, down from No. 36. The U.K. country compilations albums chart sees Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 fall back off the top 20, down from No. 19, while 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) falls two to No. 13, The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe gains seven to No. 9 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. 12.
Dolly Helps Leslie Jordan Tribute The FOX sitcom Call Me Kat on Thursday night said goodbye to cast member Leslie Jordan, who died recently in a car accident. The show wrote his character off as on vacation in Tahiti with his new boyfriend when they decide to get married and stay there happily ever after. The show closed with the cast watching a laptop slideshow of their trip to Tahiti for his wedding, at the end of which they brought out his set chair, placed his jacket on it, and said while they had given Phil a happy ending they were mourning their friend. After their emotional tribute, Dolly appeared in a video singing "Where The Soul Never Dies," which she had recorded as a duet with Jordan. She spoke to him, saying in most memorials they talk ABOUT someone but she is going to talk TO him because she knows he is on the other side and she'll see him again. After her appearance, she show played a montage of his time on the program underscored by the duet with Dolly. Watch the full tribute on Facebook here or in the media player below or on TV Linehere
Jan. 2: Dolly, Miley Ring In 2023 On NBC
Dolly and Miley Cyrus rang in the new year live from Miami on NBC Saturday night, kicking things off with an opening skit about Miley dressing Dolly (who did wear some surprisingly revealing outfits throughout the evening) here, followed by a duet of "I Love Rock & Roll" here or in the media player above. Between other acts, the duo also performed a stunning mashup of "Wrecking Ball" and "I Will Always Love You" here or in the first media player below before counting down to midnight here and performed in skits about New Year resolutions here, Dolly running away from "writers" here, and their "understudies" for the special here, closing out the show with "Walking After Midnight" and "Jolene" here or in the second media player below.
U.S., U.K. Chart Updates Dolly's Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection regains 27 spots on the Dec. 31 Billboard all-genre top 200 albums chart released Wednesday in its fifth chart week, gaining two to No. 19 country albums, and five to No. 14 current album sales, dipping seven to No. 37 overall album sales. She drops 16 to No. 75 on the Artist 100. Run, Rose, Run slides one to No. 3 bluegrass albums in its 42nd chart week. A Holly, Dolly Christmas Ultimate Deluxe Edition rises five on the top 200 to No. 180 for a 20th week but loses 14 to No. 50 on the all-genre album sales chart in its 32nd week there, sliding one to No. 40 in its 38th week on the top holiday albums chart and inching up one to No. 22 top country albums in its 25th chart week. Once Upon A Christmas with Kenny Rogers falls off the 50-position top Christmas albums, down from No. 50 in its 43rd week, but re-enters the country albums list at No. 44. Overseas, her Michael Buble duet from 2020, "Cuddle Up And Cozy Down With You," hits a new peak on the top 100 British pop singles chart, shooting up 35 places to No. 55, marking a seventh chart week since release. Dolly's Diamonds & Rhinestones, The Greatest Hits Collection falls 21 to No. 76 all-genre British albums, 30 to No. 62 overall sales, 27 to No. 58 physical sales, nine to No. 36 Scottish albums, and holds steady at No. 1 country compilation albums. Run, Rose, Run holds steady at No. 6 on the British country albums chart and dips 11 to No. 36 Americana chart. The U.K. country compilations albums chart sees Very Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 1 re-enter the top 20 at No. 19, while 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. 11 and The Complete Trio Collection Deluxe remains steady at No. 16.
