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Dolly Parton Announces Tour Featuring Her Songs Backed by Symphony Orchestras — but She Won't Be on Stage

'Threads: My Songs in Symphony' is co-produced by the country icon, who's "excited to share my songs and the stories behind them in this beautiful new way"

Jon Morgan/CBS via Getty

Dolly Parton 's music may be coming to a venue near you.

On May 23, the country icon, 78, announced Dolly Parton's Threads: My Songs in Symphony , a live performance featuring an orchestra performing her hits alongside videos of the "Jolene" artist singing and sharing stories behind the music.

Parton will not appear on stage in-person or perform live during the shows, though she did co-produce Threads: My Songs in Symphony alongside Schirmer Theatrical and Sony Music Publishing, while David Hamilton arranged her songs for orchestra.

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

"I’m just so excited to share my songs and the stories behind them in this beautiful new way," said the Grammy winner in a statement. " Threads: My Songs in Symphony is like a journey through the heartstrings of my life."

Classics including "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors," "I Will Always Love You" and more will be featured in the production, which launches March 20, 2025, with the Nashville Symphony at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in the Tennessee capital.

After the first performance, Threads will be expanded into a tour. "I hope we can take it far and wide to symphony orchestras everywhere," added Parton.

Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Robert Thompson, president of Schirmer Theatrical, said of the upcoming shows in a statement: "Bringing the genius, music, life and legacy of Dolly Parton to symphonic audiences is an honor for us. Audiences will hear for the first time Dolly’s songs performed by orchestras worldwide in this innovative symphonic storytelling experience."

Todd Ellis, director of licensing and strategic marketing at Sony Music Publishing, also said of Threads in a statement: "It's an incredible honor to represent the popular and influential song catalog of Dolly Parton. We Couldn't be more excited for fans to immerse themselves in her music and experience her songs in such a new and imaginative way."

Miller Mobley/NBC via Getty

Parton has previously explained why she doesn't plan to tour in the future , telling Pollstar in 2022, "I do not think I will ever tour again, but I do know I’ll do special shows here and there, now and then. Maybe do a long weekend of shows, or just a few shows at a festival. But I have no intention of going on a full-blown tour anymore."

"I’ve done that my whole life, and it takes so much time and energy. I like to stay a little closer to home with my husband. We’re getting older now, and I don’t want to be gone for four or five weeks at a time. Something could happen," she said at the time. "I would not feel right about that, if I were gone and somebody needed me. Or I would feel bad if I had to leave a tour if somebody got sick at home and needed me and then I had to walk out on the fans."

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Dolly Parton Announces First Dates for Pure and Simple Tour

Dolly Parton fans, mark your calendars. The first set of dates of the legend's upcoming Pure & Simple Tour have been announced, and the string of 14 shows begins June 3 in Greensboro, N.C.

The Pure & Simple Tour is Parton’s largest North American tour in more than two decades, with 16 cities in the first leg including Charleston, W. Va., Philadelphia and Cincinnati. Parton is also slated to host a benefit concert in November as part of the tour that will support her Imagination Library, which provides free books to children across Tennessee. The tour coincides with the release of a new double-disc record called Pure & Simple With Dolly’s Biggest Hits , which includes all of her classic songs in addition to a few new tracks.

Parton has been keeping extremely busy lately, not only gearing up for her tour, but also with the creation and success of her TV movie Coat of Many Colors , which tells the story of one summer growing up in rural East Tennessee with her family. Named for her song by the same title, it’s the first of three the artist signed on to make with NBC, the second of which will be based on her tune "Jolene." Coat of Many Colors comes to DVD on May 3.

The legend recently gave a unique performance at the ACM Awards with pop star Katy Perry, singing a colorful medley "Coat of Many Colors" with "Jolene" and "9 to 5."

Dolly Parton's 2016 Pure & Simple Tour Dates (First Leg):

6/3 - Greensboro, N.C. @ Greensboro Coliseum 6/4 - Duluth, Ga. @ Infinite Energy Center 6/7 - Charleston, W.Va. @ Charleston Civic Center 6/8 - Vienna, Va. @ Wolf Trap 6/10 - Northfield, Ohio @ Hard Rock 6/11 - Cincinnati, Ohio @ Horseshoe Casino 6/12 - Lewiston, N.Y. @ Artpark 6/15 - Philadelphia, Penn. @ Mann Center 6/17 - Lenox, Mass. | VIP @ Tanglewood 6/18 - Bangor, Maine @ Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion 6/22 - Wilkes Barre, Penn. @  Mohegan Sun Arena 6/25 - Forest Hills, N.Y. @ Forest Hills Stadium 6/26 - Holmdel, N.J. @ PNC Bank Arts Center 6/28 - Pittsburgh, Penn. @ Consol Energy Center

Dolly-isms: Dolly Parton's Best Quotes

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Dolly Parton, Retired From Touring, Announces a ‘Multimedia Symphonic Storytelling Experience’ That Will Hit the Road in 2025

By Chris Willman

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Dolly Parton isn’t showing any signs of backing down from her proclamation that she thinks her touring days are over. But fans will yet have an opportunity to go see her music performed in concert, with orchestral renditions and Parton participating via appearances on a big screen, as part of a “multimedia symphonic story-telling experience” that will hit the road in 2025.

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“I’m just so excited to share my songs and the stories behind them in this beautiful new way,” Parton said in a statement. “‘Threads: My Songs in Symphony’   is like a journey through the heartstrings of my life. I hope we can take it far and wide to symphony orchestras everywhere.” 

“Bringing the genius, music, life and legacy of Dolly Parton to symphonic audiences is an honor for us,” said Schirmer Theatrical president Robert Thompson. “Audiences will hear for the first time Dolly’s songs performed by orchestras worldwide in this innovative symphonic storytelling experience.”

Parton said in a 2022 Pollstar cover story that she was done with going out on the road, which would leave her 2016 Pure & Simple Tour as her final outing of any real length. “”I do not think I will ever tour again, but I do know I’ll do special shows here and there, now and then,” she said at the time. “Maybe do a long weekend of shows, or just a few shows at a festival. But I have no intention of going on a full-blown tour anymore. I’ve done that my whole life, and it takes so much time and energy.”

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Dolly Parton  

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Dolly Parton is a singer and songwriter hailing from Sevier County, Tennessee, United States who was born on January 19th, 1946. Since her debut, she has released 42 studio albums and become one of the most beloved and successful country singers the world has ever known.

Born to a “dirt poor” family as one of twelve siblings living in a one room cabin in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains, Dolly Parton had something of a gift for singing. So much so that she was featuring on local television and radio by the time she was ten, a mere two years after she'd gotten her first guitar. She continued performing at every chance she got and the moment that she graduated from high school, she moved out and relocated to her native state's capital Nashville to pursue a genuine career in music. Even when she was at such a young age, her first major success came as a songwriter, after she signed a deal Combine Publishing and wrote a number of hits for artists like Hank Williams Jr, and Skeeter Davis with her uncle Bill Owens. However, behind the scenes was never going to be enough for Parton.

In 1965 she signed a record deal proper with Monument records, the problem was the she was pitched to the label as a bubblegum pop singer when she really wanted to make country music. After releasing a few singles that sank without a trace, a composition of hers, “Put It Off Until Tomorrow”, became a huge hit on the charts thanks to Bill Phillips, who took it to number 6 on the country charts in 1966. As a result of this, Parton's label relented and allowed her to make country records from then on. Parton's story arguably begins there and right off the bat, her first two singles as a country artist went to number 24 (“Dumb Blonde”) and number 17 (“Somethin' Fishy”) respectively.

Her debut album “Hello, I'm Dolly” was released in February 1967, and Parton began building a reputation for herself as one of the most talented young songwriters around. Most notably attracting the attention of country veteran Porter Wagoner, who gave her an enormous leg up by featuring her regularly on his TV show and securing her a record deal with his label RCA. For the rest of the decade, the majority of her hit singles were duets with Wagoner, although from time to time solo singles of hers like “Just Because I'm A Woman” and “In The Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)” would break out and become legitimate hits of her own. However, her first bona-fide smash hit wouldn't come until 1973, and in a flurry of auburn hair and emerald green eyes, “Jolene” topped the country charts and broke into the Billboard Hot 100 for the very first time in Parton's career.

After professionally splitting from Porter Wagoner she wrote her second country number one single “I Will Always Love You”, and after she proved to the world that she was an artist with genuine staying power, Parton's star continued to rise and rise from then on. She began crossing over into mainstream stardom over the course of the 70's, with her 1977 album “Here You Come Again” breaking her all over again by selling over a million copies and cracking the top 20 of the Billboard 200. By the end of the decade, Parton's singles were regularly charting in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 while also colonising the country charts, and the height of her commercial clout came in 1980, when her single “9 To 5” became a triple number one hit, topping the country and adult-contemporary charts, and becoming her only single to top the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time.

Ever since then, Parton has become arguably the most iconic country musician since Johnny Cash, with a back catalogue to rival any iconic artist from any era and the name recognition to draw a crowd of over a hundred thousand people to her concert at the 2014 Glastonbury festival, half a century after beginning her journey in music. She remains at the top of her game, and she comes highly recommended.

Live reviews

Many living legends have found their way onto the stage at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, but very few have been able to compete with the natural spectacle of the venue. Dolly Parton proved to be an exception to the rule on Wednesday night. At 70 years old, the woman best known for her contribution to country and western music, took one look at the grand monoliths towering above her and laughed like a little girl. “C’mon Colorado, let’s get our rocks off tonight!” Still perfectly comfortable playing the town trollop with a heart of gold, Dolly performed an epic two-hour set of hits, classics, and covers, all augmented with anecdotes plucked from her storied past, in an accent that conveyed a southern innocence with a healthy dose of grit.

Grandiose is every way — from her big blonde hair to her perfectly manicured toes; from her shiny made-up face to her silver six inch heels; from her rhinestone-encrusted dresses to her rhinestone-encrusted guitars; from her famously huge breasts to her famously tiny waistline — every feature augmented, every flaw erased, giving the impression of a real-life backwoods Barbie doll. Her appearance onstage was almost blinding. Sheer curtains acted as window dressing, and although her simple 3-piece band were up there as well, Dolly Parton was a beacon of light that negated everything around her. Dressed all in white, with her platinum hair and alabaster skin glowing under an intense spotlight, she resembled a woman half her age. Part beauty queen, part cartoon diva, Dolly was literally beaming with life as she gave her first warning of the evening; “they are filming tonight, so it you are here with someone you aren’t supposed to be, be careful,” she laughed, infecting everyone in the vicinity.

Dolly Parton has built an empire around her image (estimated net worth = $500 million). Aside from her work in the music industry, she is also an accomplished actress, author, and businesswoman. She literally has an amusement park called Dollywood. But none of that matters when it comes to her live performance. Sure, there is a novelty aspect to seeing someone like Dolly Parton in the flesh, but if she couldn’t sing, that’s all it would be. Luckily, her voice has held up as well as her various elective surgeries. “Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That” found the extremely diverse crowd on their feet, singing and dancing along with a song that came out in the late 80’s, yet sounded exactly as it did on White Limozeen. “Jolene”, presented surprisingly early in the set, came with its own introduction about the girl who tried to steal her husband away, but in failing to do so, made her a lot of money. She performed the song with an effortlessness that was almost surreal. How a 70-year-old woman can sound exactly as she did when she was 28, especially when performing at an elevation of 6,400 feet, is beyond me.

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As we stood there, starring at the dimly lit stage, we could feel the presence of an icon was about to descend on us. Children, grandmothers, flamboyantly dressed gay men, and women. A see of women and it felt great. We were all one now. The room began to rumble, as the no-one-cares-who-he-is guitarist announced: "Ladies and Gentlemen…... Miss Dollllllly Parrrrrrton!" With spunk and pep she cut into the darkness on to the stage. Her sequence collar and her tassled denim jacket squeeze her ribs tighter than string on a baked ham. And the crowd roared. How it roared. Her collagen filled lips split over porcelain teeth as her eyes glistened.

"How Ya'll doing out there?!" My heart stop. And for a moment, I struggled to breath.

I'd never seen anything like this. She wasn't human, she was a Devine spirit and we had all been born again.

The band began in perfect tempo as a lull behind this siren. From behind her back she took out a beautiful white acoustic guitar and started to strum on the strings- she could do it in her sleep. Over 50 years on stage, 10 record labels, 11 concert tours, 42 studio albums, and a theme park to boot.

For those who don't dig country music, you must listen to Dolly Parton, you must go to her shows and see this for yourself while she is still on Earth with us.

Her epic song writing has withstood the test of time. Songs of love and heart break. Of being strong and standing up for yourself in a world that is often so against us. Her music is timeless, her lyrics are deep in their simplicity and everything this woman stands for is awe-inspiring. Dolly Parton is the original Spice Girl, the first Lady Gaga and living proof that anything is possible when you refuse to conform. Don't be fooled by this dumb blond, she is an entrepreneurial powerhouse who heralds from a tiny shack in Tennessee. Her rise to fame can only be credited to her complete determination and strength. As a concert goers we all walked out of the arena that night with just a little bit of it rubbed into us. Strength. Determination. Being true to ones-self.

Thank you Miss Parton, you put on one hell of a show.

Last year at Glastonbury the likes of Kasabian and Metallica stepped up to headline the prestigious Pyramid Stage yet one iconic performer pulled crowds of vaster numbers to the very same stage on a Sunday afternoon. Country music sensation Dolly Parton sauntered out onto stage as the majority of the festival goers gathered to watch this legend of pop and country perform with her live band. She did not disappoint and clearly understood the sheer importance of the platform that she was stood upon.

Bringing her A game along with a whole host of hits, she held the tens of thousands strong crowd with a pure professional ease as she has charisma to spare. Playing an impulsive saxophone instrumental of the Benny Hill theme was not the most surreal moment of the set, that was perhaps saved for the bellowing of '9 to 5' by near to 100,000 patrons all at once. Considering Dolly is almost 70 years old, she moved with energy and vigour as her beehive bopped along to the irresistible tones of 'Jolene' and 'Blue Smoke' whilst she saved her swan song 'I Will Always Love You' for an emotional finale that dwarfed the performance of almost every other act of the weekend.

I love your music. Me and my grandparents have a very bittersweet memories of dressing up like you and Kenny Rogers grandma made me a dress it was blue and it had big old fake boobs cuz I was 14 and I didn't have any of my own but I sure do know LOL but they put me in the lip sync contest and I won first place. lol . They passed away and my buried in an urn on top of my grandpa's grave they were so close it was unreal. They met you a lot they went out to Dollywood. And a few concerts too. But they passed and now every time I listen to your music I cry and when I go to the cemetery I played their favorite song by you islands in the stream. I really hope I'm lucky enough to meet you too one day or at least see you in concert. And they raised me and they were the best people in the world they were good honest good art of people they were my mom and dad that I never had

Dolly Parton show was AWESOME! She is witty, beautiful, can play 15 instruments and sing with the voice of an angel. Storytelling time, sitting on the bench with the coat of many colors draped over it was a cool part of the show. I believe she sang every song that I remember growing up. She is so cute making fun of herself in regard of her wig, her boobs, etc. I wish it would have gone on for hours more. She had a cold and sinus drainage, but other than drinking some water and blowing her nose, occasionally, we could not tell it. She is a Christian and spoke of God and family...the crowd of about 8000 people applauded and loved every second of this show. One of the true women out performing on tour! Love ya, Dolly Parton!

Dolly Parton is charming, funny, and loves her audience. Granted I am not a big country music fan nor do I know more than 3 Dolly Parton songs, but if one thing is clear it's that she LOVES her fans.

Throughout the show, she spoke about her upbringing, about what the songs mean to her, and her life. She pokes fun at herself and her appearance and overall I came away thinking of Dolly as a person you could meet and be friends with.

Lovely show, definitely for the older crowd, go for Dolly to be in her presence because she is straight-up one of the nicest artist ever, and stay for Jolene and 9-5 (her closing song was "I will always love you" and she dedicated it to the audience =)).

We need more Dolly Parton concerts in Boston or New York or Connecticut or somewhere around these states. We need more of her spiritual and beautiful voice and story telling. We have never seen such a great uplifting concert like hers before. No one can touch her and we need a few more concerts here in these parts. Dying and starving for another Dolly Parton concert! To get us going while Dolly is resting and gearing up for another concert , if anyone can make a suggestion for another singer who comes a little close to the awesomeness of Dolly, let me know. We will see the concert and will need to hold us over until Dolly gets on the road again for more concerts.

Dolly please come to Minnesota. I really would love to see her. Dolly I admire her so. Talented, smart and real. Dolly is one of the few people I can still see if she comes. I missed Johnny Cash and so many others. Not many artists come here. I don’t know why. I can’t imagine there would not be enough interests. Please Dolly , please.

we have seen her in concert many times at different places. Where we love best is at Dollywood when she has a concert there. Here is hoping she will have a concert at Dollywood the end of may to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary and bring Carl along to help her sing!!

would love that................

dora sumner

Words cannot describe spending the evening with Dolly Parton! Such a beautiful soul and wonderful story teller. She's brilliant and her concerts are always stellar. She never disappoints. This was my 3rd Dolly concert and I will go to every show I get the chance.

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Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is a Grammy-winning musical icon whose powerful voice and songwriting skills have established her as a presence on the country and pop music charts for decades.

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1946-present

Dolly Parton Now: New Album Rockstar Now Out

Dolly Parton, 77, is officially a rock star. Her first rock music album—appropriately titled Rockstar —came out November 17. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of the ‘Rockstar’ album and I can’t tell you how happy I am that it’s finally here to be released!” Parton posted on social media just after midnight.

Listen to Rockstar on Amazon Music , Apple Music , or Spotify .

Created in part as a response to her induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year, the album features covers of famous rock songs, as well as collaborations with many artists from the genre. Some of the covers included are Parton’s versions of Prince ’s “Purple Rain,” Miley Cyrus ’ “Wrecking Ball,” The Rolling Stones ’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” Paul McCartney , Ringo Starr , Elton John , Sting , Joan Jett , Steven Tyler , and Pat Benatar are among the artists Parton teamed up with on Rockstar . “I really had a wonderful time working with all these iconic artists on the record and all these iconic musicians,” Parton also shared in her post.

Who Is Dolly Parton?

Quick facts, early songs: “jolene” and “i will always love you”, movies: 9 to 5 and more, dollywood and other business ventures, later music and rockstar album, husband and goddaughter miley cyrus, imagination library and other philanthropy.

Country music icon and actor Dolly Parton initially found success with country star Porter Wagoner in the 1960s, before embarking on a solo career marked by hit songs like “Joshua,” “Jolene,” “The Bargain Store,” “I Will Always Love You,” “Here You Come Again,” “9 to 5,” and “Islands in the Stream.” A highly skilled singer-songwriter known for thoughtful narratives and distinctive vocals, she has won many major awards, including 10 Grammys, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. She has also starred in the movies 9 to 5 , The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas , and Steel Magnolias. In 1986, she opened her Dollywood theme park, now part of a network of attractions. Parton continues to record and tour regularly.

FULL NAME: Dolly Rebecca Parton BORN: January 19, 1946 BIRTHPLACE: Locust Ridge, Tennessee SPOUSE: Carl Dean (1966-present) CHILDREN: None ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Capricorn

Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, to Robert Lee Parton, a sharecropper and farmer, and Avie Lee Caroline. Parton grew up poor in rural Appalachia. She was the fourth of 12 children , all of whom her mother delivered before turning 35. Parton said of her mother’s decision to name her Dolly: “I guess my mama knew I was going to want to be a star,” according to People . Parton described her family as “dirt poor,” and money was always an issue for them.

Parton’s first exposure to music came from family members, including her mother, who sang and played guitar. At an early age, she also learned about music while performing in church. She was writing songs before she knew how to read, according to People . Parton received her first guitar from a relative and soon began to pen her own tunes.

At age 10, she started performing professionally, appearing on local television and radio shows in Knoxville, roughly an hour from her home. Parton made her Grand Ole Opry debut three years later. Set on a career in music, she then moved to Nashville the day after finishing high school in 1964.

Parton’s singing career really started to take off in 1967. Around this time, she partnered with country singer Porter Wagoner on The Porter Wagoner Show . Parton and Wagoner became a popular duo, and the pair recorded a slew of country hits together. Much was made of her shapely curves, petite 5-foot-tall stature, and warm personality, which to some people belied a thoughtful, visionary artist with a strong business sense. Since her early career, Parton has protected the publishing rights to her catalog of songs, which has earned her millions in royalties.

“As soon as I could, I started my own publishing company, got my own record label. I think it’s important, if you can, to keep all of your goods close to home where you can control them and know what’s happening with them.”—Dolly Parton

Her work with Wagoner also helped Parton land a contract with RCA Records. After having had several charting singles, Parton scored her first No. 1 country hit in 1971 with “Joshua,” a bluegrass-inspired track about two solitary figures who find love. More No. 1 hits followed, including “Jolene,” a haunting 1973 single in which a woman begs another beautiful woman not to take her man, and “I Will Always Love You,” a 1974 tribute to Wagoner as the two parted ways professionally. Elvis Presley wished to record a cover of the song, but Parton refused when Presley’s infamous manager, Colonel Tom Parker , tried to insist she sign half the song’s publishing rights over to Presley.

Other country hits from this era included the ethereal “Love Is Like a Butterfly,” the provocative “The Bargain Store,” the spiritual “The Seeker,” and the rollicking “All I Can Do.” For the range of her compelling work, she won the Country Music Association Award for Female Vocalist in 1975 and 1976.

In 1977, Parton had her first crossover smash with the bouncy, bittersweet ode to a returning lover, “Here You Come Again.” The song reached the top of the country charts as well as No. 3 on the pop charts and also marked the singer-songwriter’s first Grammy Award, for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. More emotionally-driven No. 1 country hits followed including “It’s All Wrong, But It’s Alright,” “Heartbreaker,” and “Starting Over Again,” a ballad written by disco star Donna Summer .

Over the years, Parton has enjoyed many successful collaborations. In 1983, she scored another major smash with “Islands in the Stream,” her duet with Kenny Rogers . Four years later, she recorded the Grammy Award-winning album Trio with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt .

Parton perhaps reached the apex of her mainstream success in the 1980s. She made her film debut in the 1980 comedy hit 9 to 5 , starring alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin . She played a secretary who, along with her two co-workers, plots against her egotistical and sexist boss, in a movie that raised awareness of workplace discrimination. In addition to co-starring in 9 to 5 , Parton also contributed to its soundtrack. The title song, with one of the most memorable opening lines in popular music history, proved to be another No. 1 hit for Parton on both the pop and country charts. For “9 to 5,” Parton also took home two Grammy Awards—for Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance—and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

Parton next starred with Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise in the musical movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1982, which helped to introduce a new generation to her song “I Will Always Love You.” In 1984, Parton starred along with Sylvester Stallone in the musical comedy Rhinestone , portraying a country singer who tries to turn an obnoxious New York City cab driver (played by Stallone) into a successful country singer.

Over the years, Parton has continued to work as an actor in an array of movies and TV projects that include Steel Magnolias (1989), Straight Talk (1992), Unlikely Angel (1996), Frank McKlusky, C.I. (2002), and Joyful Noise (2012), having also hosted her own variety show in both 1976 and 1987-88.

The 1980s also saw Parton branch out in another new direction. Investing her considerable earnings into a variety of business ventures, she opened her own theme park called Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in 1986. The amusement park remains a popular travel destination to this day. Located near her hometown, Parton said she invested in the park because “I always thought that if I made it big or got successful at what I had started out to do, I wanted to come back to my part of the country and do something great, something that would bring a lot of jobs into this area.” Today, more than three million people visit Dollywood annually.

Parton is the co-owner of The Dollywood Company, which owns and operates a number of properties and entertainment venues in addition to the Dollywood theme park. Among them are the waterpark Dollywood’s Splash Country, the dinner attraction Dolly Parton’s Stampede, the Dream More Resort and Spa, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins, and more. It’s estimated Parton’s 50 percent stake in the Dollywood theme park alone is worth about $165 million .

In 1992, Whitney Houston recorded Parton’s song “I Will Always Love You” for the film The Bodyguard . Houston’s version catapulted Parton’s song into a new stratosphere of popularity, with the single sitting atop the pop charts for 14 weeks and becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time. “When Whitney did it, I got all the money for the publishing and for the writing, and I bought a lot of cheap wigs,” she told Anderson Cooper when he asked her how she spent her royalties from the song.

The next year, Parton teamed up with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette for the album Honky Tonk Angels . Parton revisited her now-signature song “I Will Always Love You” in 1995 as a duet with Vince Gill . Next, Parton explored the music of her Appalachian roots with The Grass Is Blue (1999) with a little help from Alison Krauss and Patty Loveless. The record won a Grammy—Parton’s sixth—for Best Bluegrass Album in 1999. That same year, Parton was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and won another Grammy in 2001 for the song “Shine” off her album Little Sparrow .

Continuing to write and record, Parton released Backwoods Barbie in 2008. The album featured two country singles, “Better Get to Livin’” and “Jesus & Gravity.” In 2011, Parton released the album Better Day , which included recordings by Parton of songs she previously wrote for the Broadway adaptation of the 9 to 5 movie. In August 2020, Parton released A Holly Dolly Christmas , her first holiday album in 30 years , which featured guest appearances by singers like Michael Bublé , Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus , and Willie Nelson .

In November 2022, Parton announced plans to release her first rock music album—appropriately titled Rockstar —partially in response to her nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier that year. The album released on November 17, 2023, and features covers of famous rock songs, as well as collaborations with many artists from the genre. Among the covers are Parton’s versions of Prince ’s “Purple Rain,” Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball,” The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” Paul McCartney , Ringo Starr , Elton John , Sting , Lizzo , and Pat Benatar are among the artists who appear in tracks on the new album.

Parton has a projected net worth of $650 million , which includes profits from albums, singles, movies, Dollywood theme park, and other business ventures. She earned $20 million in royalties from Whitney Houston ’s cover of “I Will Always Love You” alone. Part of her wealth derives from Parton’s insistence on owning her entire song catalog, which Forbes estimates is worth about $150 million.

With a career spanning seven decades, Parton has won a multitude of awards and lifetime honors. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. Parton initially declined her Rock & Roll Hall nomination because her music wasn’t part of the rock genre and she didn’t “feel I have earned that right,” but she later accepted after learning other non-rock musicians had been inducted and that fans help vote for inductees.

In 2006, Parton received special recognition for her lifetime contributions to the arts as one of five artists feted at the annual Kennedy Center Honors. At the 50 th Annual CMA Awards in 2016, Parton was honored as the recipient of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.

A decorated Grammy winner, Parton has taken home 10 trophies, as well as the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. Three of her songs—“I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” and “Coat of Many Colors”—have been enshrined in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Parton received another Grammy tribute during the February 2019 ceremony, with artists like Katy Perry , Miley Cyrus, and Kacey Musgraves joining her on stage to sing a medley of her hits. In November 2023, Parton received her 54 th Grammy nomination; her single “The Last Thing On My Mind” will compete for Best Country Solo Performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards in February.

Later in 2019, Parton joined a televised special to celebrate her 50 th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The previous year’s edition of the Guinness World Records recognized Parton for her accomplishments of most decades with a Top 20 hit on Billboard ’s Hot Country Songs chart (six) and most hits on Billboard ’s Hot Country Songs chart by a female artist (107). In 2021, Time magazine named her to its annual Time 100 list of the most influential people.

Parton has two Academy Award nominations, both for Best Original Song, to her name. She picked up her first with “9 to 5” in 1980 and her second for “Travelin’ Thru” from the 2005 movie Transamerica .

Parton has been married to Carl Dean since 1966. The couple met at a Nashville laundromat, the Wishy Washy, two years earlier. On their 50 th anniversary, the two renewed their vows. “My husband is not one who wants to be just thrown out there,” she has said about Dean. “He’s very private, and I’ve always respected that for him and about him.”

Parton doesn’t have any children. Alluding to her philanthropy work with children, Parton said during a 2017 interview on the Today show : “ God has a plan for everything. I think it probably was his plan for me not to have kids so everybody’s kids could be mine. And they are now.” Parton is the godmother of pop singer and actor Miley Cyrus .

Parton has worked with charitable organizations in support of numerous causes over the years and established her own Dollywood Foundation in 1996. With the goal of improving literacy among young children, she created Dolly’s Imagination Library , a program that donates more than 10 million books to children annually. “They call me the Book Lady. That’s what the little kids say when they get their books in the mail,” she told The Washington Post in 2006. “They think I bring them and put them in the mailbox myself, like Peter Rabbit or something.”

Though many of her charitable contributions are anonymous, Parton has used her success to give back to her community by providing scholarships for children, donating thousands to hospitals, and providing technology and supplies for classrooms.

After the town of Gaitlinburg, Tennessee, and other towns near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were devastated by wildfires in 2016, Parton helped raise $12.5 million to support the victims and help rebuild the area. She advised Oprah and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson when they launched a similar after in the wake of the 2023 Maui fires.

Parton donated $1 million to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center during the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped support the early development of the Moderna vaccine . After the vaccine was available, Parton filmed herself receiving the shot and publicly urged her fans to get vaccinated as well, adapting her famous song “Jolene” with the words “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine.”

Parton has written and released several books, including the 1994 memoir Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business and the 2012 book Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You . In 2022, she partnered with best-selling author James Patterson to co-write the thriller novel Run, Rose, Run , about an aspiring country singer.

Dolly Parton ’ s Coat of Many Color s, a television movie biopic about the singer’s childhood, aired in 2015. It starred Alyvia Alyn Lind as young Dolly and Sugarland star Jennifer Nettles as Parton’s mother. A two-hour documentary Biography: Dolly, aired on A&E in 2020, tracing Parton’s extraordinary journey from her childhood spent in poverty and early days in Nashville to her multiple hit songs.

• I’m not offended by dumb blonde jokes because I know that I’m not dumb. I also know I’m not blonde.
• As soon as I could, I started my own publishing company, got my own record label. I think it’s important, if you can, to keep all of your goods close to home where you can control them and know what’s happening with them.
• When I write, I don’t try to be commercial. I just write what I feel and hope that it might turn out to be a “Jolene” or an “I Will Always Love You.” You can’t really purposefully try to do that. If they’re good, they’re good, and if they’re mediocre, they’re mediocre. I got a lot of them, too.
• I think that I’ve been at this so long that [my audience has] come to know me, they know I’m not judgmental. They know I like everybody. I want to be accepted myself, and I not only accept, but celebrate the difference in everyone.
• I love to think of myself as an entertainer. I make things look like I’m better than I am, because I like to entertain. Even that tongue-in-cheek kind of stuff—when I say, “I know it so well I can play it backwards,” and I turn myself backwards—that’s corny as hell. But it works!
• My husband is not one who wants to be just thrown out there. He’s very private, and I’ve always respected that for him and about him. And so, we just try to live our lives. Everybody is not entitled to every single thing you do and thought you think, although I do share as much of my life as I possibly can. I’m not holding back any information, but there are just some things that are sacred and private.
• I look just like the girls next door... if you happen to live next door to an amusement park.

Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn’t look right, contact us !

The Biography.com staff is a team of people-obsessed and news-hungry editors with decades of collective experience. We have worked as daily newspaper reporters, major national magazine editors, and as editors-in-chief of regional media publications. Among our ranks are book authors and award-winning journalists. Our staff also works with freelance writers, researchers, and other contributors to produce the smart, compelling profiles and articles you see on our site. To meet the team, visit our About Us page: https://www.biography.com/about/a43602329/about-us

Colin McEvoy joined the Biography.com staff in 2023, and before that had spent 16 years as a journalist, writer, and communications professional. He is the author of two true crime books: Love Me or Else and Fatal Jealousy . He is also an avid film buff, reader, and lover of great stories.

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New Dolly Parton orchestra concert project on the way: Details here

Dolly Parton is telling her life story through song at the orchestra.

Parton announced a brand-new concert called "Dolly Parton Threads: My Songs in Symphony." A release announcing the event described it as "a full-evening symphonic storytelling experience exploring the 'threads' of her life in song."

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The "multimedia" event will weave the stories of Parton's songs and life events into one narrative.

The show "features Dolly's songs and the stories behind them in an innovative multimedia symphonic experience featuring Dolly on screen, leading audiences in a visual-musical journey of her songs, her life and her stories," according to the release.

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"I'm just so excited to share my songs and the stories behind them in this beautiful new way," read a statement from Parton included in the release. "'Threads: My Songs in Symphony' is like a journey through the heartstrings of my life. I hope we can take it far and wide to symphony orchestras everywhere!"

The songs on full display in the show feature some of Parton's greatest hits including "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors" and "I Will Always Love You."

Dolly Parton pays tribute to '9 to 5' co-star Dabney Coleman: 'I will miss him greatly'

The show premieres next year, March 20, 2025, in Nashville played by the Nashville Symphony. After the debut, the show will tour orchestras globally, according to the release.

The show is co-produced by Schirmer Theatrical and Sony Music Publishing.

"Audiences will hear for the first time Dolly's songs performed by orchestras worldwide in this innovative symphonic story-telling experience," stated Robert Thompson the president of Schirmer Theatrical.

Todd Ellis, the director of licensing and strategic marketing at Sony Music Publishing also expressed excitement for the project.

"We couldn't be more excited for fans to immerse themselves in her music and experience her songs in such a new and imaginative way," read a statement from Ellis.

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Kenita R. Miller, Alex Finke, and More Set for Dolly Parton Tribute Concert at Joe's Pub

The performance will be held Tuesday, September 17 at 9:30 PM.

Poetry Well (Artistic Director, Thomas Dooley) has announced a live concert, LET ME SAY THIS: A Dolly Parton TRIBUTE CONCERT, a one-night-only concert featuring all of Dolly's iconic hits alongside fresh poems inspired by her words and wisdom. Directed by Pearl Sun and starring Alex Finke (Come From Away), Raymond J. Lee (The Heart of Rock and Roll), Kenita R. Miller (Tony nom, For Colored Girls...), and Jennifer Sánchez (West Side Story) to be performed at Joe's Pub on Tuesday, September 17 at 9:30 PM.

LATEST NEWS

Ticket information.

LET ME SAY THIS: A Dolly Parton TRIBUTE CONCERT, will be presented on Tuesday, September 17 at 9:30 PM at Joe's Pub located at 425 Lafayette Street, NYC.

Tickets are $30 and are available online by visiting https://publictheater.org/productions/joes-pub/2024/l/let-me-say-this/

ABOUT POETRY WELL:

Poetry Well is committed to celebrating and promoting poetry as a vital part of our individual and collective wellness. We seek to connect our communities to poetry programs that entertain, educate, and heal. We create imaginative opportunities, from writing workshops to theatrical events to narrative medicine experientials, all to stir the inner life and nurture meaningful connections and community.

ABOUT THE ACTORS:

Kenita r. miller :.

Broadway: for colored girls… (Tony nomination), Come From Away, Once on This Island (Grammy nomination), The Color Purple, Xanadu. Off-Broadway: Bubbly Black Girl…, The Wild Party (Encores!); Bella: An American Tall Tale; Langston In Harlem ( Zora Neale Hurston /Drama Desk/AUDELCO Award nominations); Working (Drama Desk Award); Avenue Q. Film/TV: tick, tick…BOOM!; “Sesame Street;” “Bull;” “Hostages;” “The Blacklist;” Liberty City is Like Paris to Me ( Bruce Weber ).

Raymond J. Lee :

(Broadway: Sweeney Todd, The Heart of Rock and Roll, Aladdin, Groundhog Day, Honeymoon in Vegas, Anything Goes, Mamma Mia. Theatre: The Public, A.C.T., Alliance Theatre , CTG, Goodspeed, La Jolla, MUNY, Paper Mill. Television: “Law & Order,” “First Lady,” “Succession,” “Billions,” “Red Oaks.” Film: Marriage Story, Ghost Town. VO: Netflix, Dreamworks, Disney Junior. Proud Northwestern grad. For Robbi & Ella. Visit www.raymondjlee.com & follow @raymondjlee

Alex Finke :

Alex originated the role of Hope Harcourt on the 1st National Tour of Roundabout Theatre Company's Tony Award-winning revival of Anything Goes directed by Kathleen Marshall . Alex made her Broadway debut starring as Cosette in the Broadway revival of Les Miserables alongside Alfie Boe and Montego Glover . Shortly after closing Les Mis, Alex originated the role of Johanna in the critically acclaimed revival of Sweeney Todd at the Barrow Street Theatre which opened in March of 2017. Most recently on Broadway, Alex could be seen performing as Janice & Others in the Tony Award Winning Musical Come From Away.

JENNIFER SÁNCHEZ:

An Albuquerque, New Mexico native, Jennifer Sánchez is a Broadway actress and composer. She was most recently seen in Roundabout Theater's production of The Rose Tattoo starring Marisa Tomei . She made her Broadway debut as Rosalia in West Side Story, where she and Karen Olivo sang "America" hundreds of times, including on the Grammy award-winning album. Recent Broadway roles include the mean shopgirl in Pretty Woman and the nurse (opposite Jake Gyllenhaal ) in the revival of Sunday in the Park with George. She has sung for President Obama in "Broadway at the White House," in concert at The Hollywood Bowl and in Sondheim! The Birthday Concert. As a writer, Jennifer's work was featured in the Johnny Mercer Songwriter's project. She will be performing a show of her music at Green Room 42 on February 17th. Follow on Instagram @hennihennisanchez for more info.

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Nashville’s Mother Church of Country Music retains its roots as religious house of worship

More than 130 years after it was built as the nondenominational Union Gospel Tabernacle, Music City’s most revered concert venue retains its religious roots.

FILE - Brad Paisley performs during a tribute to country music star Naomi Judd at the Ryman Auditorium Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium is known as the Mother Church of Country Music. And, indeed, it began as a church, built by a riverboat captain who was converted to religion by an evangelist.

Thousands have filled its original wooden pews surrounded by colorful stained-glass windows to listen to stars ranging from Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton to Prince, Taylor Swift and Elvis, the king of rock ‘n’ roll.

“Technically it’s a building, but it’s clearly a living entity of some sort,” said Jessi Woods, a tourist from Massachusetts. She toured the Ryman’s museum in the morning of a recent visit and attended a performance by the band Postmodern Jukebox in the evening.

FILE - The Ryman Auditorium is surrounded by newer buildings in Nashville, Tenn., on April 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

The original wooden pews of the Union Gospel Tabernacle are seen at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., on July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)

A woman is silhouetted against the stained-glass windows at the Ryman Auditorium, known as the Mother Church of Country music, in Nashville, Tenn., on July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)

It all started with the Rev. Samuel Jones, an evangelist who came from Georgia to Nashville in 1885 for a revival sponsored by local churches under a huge tent.

Jones began denouncing Nashvillians for ignoring what he believed where the sins of the time: everything from baseball and bike riding to prostitution, gambling and dancing. Worst of all for the reformed alcoholic: drinking.

Tom Ryman, a wealthy captain who served whiskey in his steamship line, took offense. So, he rounded up a group of his friends to attend the revival and beat up Jones.

Instead, the story goes that after one sermon, the preacher convinced him to give his life to God.

Ryman stopped selling alcohol on his ships; he wouldn’t even christen steamships with champagne, and instead used jugs of water. He also began to dream about building a house of worship in Nashville for religious gatherings, so evangelists like Jones could have a place to preach.

Through his funding and with the help of donations from the community, the Union Gospel Tabernacle officially opened on May 4, 1892, with a music festival.

FILE - Country music stars, including Johnny Cash, foreground right, and Maybelle Carter, next to Cash, perform during the Grand Ole Opry's last show at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., March 18, 1974. (AP Photo/John Duricka)

The tabernacle did not have a dedicated congregation, said Ryman Auditorium curator Joshua Bronnenberg.

“It was more of a place for, say, like a traveling evangelist to preach in, such as a Billy Sunday or Gypsy Smith or Samuel Jones,” Bronnenberg said.

After Ryman’s death, it was renamed after him, and it went on to become revered as one of America’s leading music venues.

“What was built as a religious meeting place for Nashvillians,” the auditorium says on its site, “became a different type of sanctuary that grew bigger than Ryman ever imagined.”

For its first two decades or so, it was a hybrid gathering place hosting religious leaders and some of the biggest names in ballet, opera and theater. It became known as the Carnegie Hall of the South.

“We’ve had all sorts of progressive events: suffrage events, scientific demonstrations, magicians, all kinds of political icons and cultural icons have graced the stage,” Bronnenberg said.

A photo of steamboat captain Tom Ryman is displayed at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., on July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Posters of Dolly Parton and other artists who have played at the Ryman Auditorium are displayed at the concert venue's gift shop in Nashville, Tenn., on July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)

“You also had bizarre things: we’ve had boxing matches, circuses,” he said. “And alongside, we had funerals, we had civil rights protests. … If you had any kind of significant event in the city, it was here.”

It went on to host meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention, memorable performances by big names, such as comedian Charlie Chaplin and magician Harry Houdini, and appearances on stage by President Teddy Roosevelt and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

The venue also became known for its unique acoustics beloved by artists.

“It’s Ryman Auditorium’s roots as a church that resulted in its impressive acoustics,” the Ryman’s site says, “as the auditorium was constructed to project the voices, songs, and instruments of weekly church services.”

A statue of Grand Ole Opry star Little Jimmy Dickens is displayed outside the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., on July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)

A painting of the Ryman Auditorium is displayed inside the concert venue in Nashville, Tenn., on July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)

It also became the home of the Grand Ole Opry — the most famous country music and entertainment show of its time — from 1943 to 1974.

“The show was transmitted using the world’s tallest radio tower at the time, built just outside of Nashville, bringing country music to living rooms from California to New York for the first time” the site says. “Audiences across the U.S. had discovered a love for country music.”

After the Grand Ole Opry left, the Ryman was vacant for nearly two decades and fell into disrepair. It was restored thanks to donations by artists and members of the community and reopened in the 1990s. It now has a seating capacity of 2,362.

Today, lovers of country music — and other genres — travel to the Ryman from across America and sit on its pews. It’s lovingly known as “the Soul of Nashville.”

“It definitely has a soul feel,” said Woods, the Massachusetts tourist. “And I don’t believe it’s just because of the musical acts that have been there, but there’s a palpable energy, for sure.”

When is Dolly Parton at Dollywood? Here are your best chances to see the Queen of Country

A day riding the rides, enjoying the shows and eating the delicious food at Dollywood is truly a fun time . But seeing the Queen of Country in person turns an adventure-filled theme park visit into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

“You never know where Dolly might appear when she is here and that is what makes it more exciting when you experience a ‘Dolly sighting,’” Public Relations Director Wes Ramey told Knox News.

Dolly delights guests at Dollywood multiple times every year, but there’s never a set schedule, so timing is everything. Here’s a guide to when you might catch Dolly at Dollywood.

The first day of the Dollywood season

Dollywood is not yet a year-round park . It typically opens in March each year to start an exciting new season. And there to help kick things off is the park's Dreamer-in-Chief. Dolly usually leads the opening ceremonies for the season during a special day for season passholders.

"I just can't believe that this is our 39th season ... I looked out at the parking lot when I came in and I thought, oh my Lord, look at all those cars, all those people. But I'm so proud for every bit of it," Parton said during the 2024 season opening.

Opening of new attractions

Dollywood continues to evolve with updated and new attractions. When a major new project is unveiled or opened, it’s likely Dolly will be the first to welcome guests. She just won’t be the first to ride a new roller coaster.

“If I get on that thing, you’ll find one of my wigs in the top of a tree or the top of Clingmans Dome or something, ” she joked about riding the park's newest coaster, Big Bear Mountain.

In recent years, Dolly made appearances at the park for the openings of the Dolly Parton Experience museum about her life and career (May 2024) and Big Bear Mountain (May 2023). So, it’s worth planning a trip to Dollywood right when any new attractions debut.

Filming a project

The queen of entertainment has a perfect filming location whenever she’s ready to star in a new movie or show. What’s even better is that you could not only spot Dolly at Dollywood, but a few other celebrities, too. It wasn’t too long ago that Jimmy Fallon and Willie Nelson were spotted in Dollywood with Dolly for a movie.

Movies that have filmed at Dollywood include “Christmas at Dollywood,” “Mountain Magic Christmas,” and “A Country Christmas Story.”

Stays at a Dollywood resort

If you book a stay at the Dollywood resorts DreamMore Resort or HeartSong Lodge , you just might run into Dolly. She’s sometimes at the resorts for business and, of course, she has to check in on the special Dolly Parton suites available at the resorts.

The DeWitt Parade

You might have a chance to get within a few feet of the queen or even shake her hand during the DeWitt Parade Tour. When she’s at Dollywood, Dolly will ride in a parade through the park before the end of the day. Everyone gathers around full of excitement with big smiles as she passes by. You might even see a few tears.

Keep in mind, the parade is dependent on the weather. It can sometimes be canceled with late notice, even if Dolly is at the park and ready to ride.

A Dolly surprise!

The exciting thing about Dollywood is that you never know when Dolly will pop up. Sometimes she celebrates the opening of the seasonal and themed festivals at the park, especially if it’s a new or revamped festival.

And music and entertainment are always happening at Dollywood, so sometimes she’s there to cheer on other performers and will greet the crowd.

Though it might be hard to keep up because she’s the hardest working woman in Dollywood (and Hollywood), you should stay up to date with what’s new with Dolly. She just might be at Dollywood to announce or promote new projects.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email  [email protected] . On X, formerly known as Twitter  @dturner1208 .  

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