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Home » Blogs » Ace's blog » Dolly Parton is a woman of many talents

Dolly Parton is a woman of many talents

by
Ace

Every now and then I like to take a moment to appreciate how amazing Dolly Parton is — and now is one of those moments. A local movie theater showed the Dolly classic The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas last week and will be showing 9 to 5 next week, so I’ve got me a little Dolly-on-the-brain. (And I’ve been humming “A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place” for five days now!)

Dolly turned 63 this Monday and, frankly, I’m amazed that she seems to have about a zillion times more energy than I do. (I’m considerably younger than she is and I’m not lugging breasts the size of cantaloupes around with me.) Consider what she’s accomplished in the past year alone:

Last February she released Backwoods Barbie, a mainstream country album designed to “Get Dolly Parton back on the radio!”

Then, after recovering from breast-related back problems, she spent most of the rest of the year touring in support of the album. (And she was phenomenal on the tour, let me tell you.) She did, however, take a break from touring for the opening of the 9 to 5 musical last fall.

Oh, did I mention that she wrote all of the songs for said musical? (I didn’t know that it was possible for Dolly to be more amazing — and then she began writing show tunes.)

And Dolly’s in the news again for yet another non-traditional musical adventure — a collaboration with Yusuf Islam (the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens) and Paul McCartney on a track for Islam’s new album. (It kind of sounds like the opening to a bad joke: Dolly Parton, Yusuf Islam and Paul McCartney walk into — someplace other than a bar because Yusuf Islam is a devout Muslim.)

Of course, as prolific and adventurous as Dolly is, she is still true to her roots — and those Smokey Mountain roots are steeped in bluegrass and gospel.

Appropriately, next month, Dolly Parton will be inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in recognition of her long history with gospel music. Not only did she collaborate with the late “King of Country Gospel” Porter Wagoner and release several solo gospel albums, Dolly has a habit of including gospel tracks on non-gospel albums.

In fact, the second single on Backwoods Barbie, “Jesus and Gravity” has been recognized for the strength of its gospel-ness:

In less capable hands, this song could be trite, however, Dolly’s strength and humility penetrate quite sincerely and she delivers a powerful performance that is worthy of a church revival … Dolly, once again, proves that she can hold her own as the front woman of a gospel choir.

So take a moment to congratulate Dolly and enjoy her in all her gospel glory, and watch her perform "Jesus and Gravity."

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    • Submitted by
    Ace
    on January 21, 2009 - 10:00am.
    TAGS :: 
    gato's picture

    this woman

    Submitted by
    gato (935 posts)
    on January 21, 2009 - 10:59am.

    is one of my heroes!! I absolutly adore her! She needs more honors!!

     

    ________________________________________

    Voogle A Voogle Plea

    LilacLover's picture

    Agreed.

    Submitted by
    LilacLover (16 posts)
    on January 21, 2009 - 11:29am.

    And if you watch her in interviews and so on, very humble and boy, is she ever funny!  Doesn't take herself too seriously at all.

    I love Dolly -  immensely talented woman that she is!

     

    ~Lu

    moony's picture

    Dang ole Dolly Parton!

    Submitted by
    moony (145 posts)
    on January 21, 2009 - 11:45am.

    Love, love, love her.  Not only does she have an amazing voice (perfect pitch, wow), she is an incredibly prolific and talented songwriter.  Also, like Lucise mentioned above, she's funny as hell, and a born entertainer.

    Congratulations, Dolly!

    Gemini's picture

    LOVE. HER.

    Submitted by
    Gemini (83 posts)
    on January 21, 2009 - 12:33pm.
    My friends always make fun of me, but whatever. This woman is AMAZING. 
    You gotta love a hilarious Southerner who can wail you an Appalachian song! 
    (She also has the same birthday as Paula Deen. Fascinating, huh?) haha
    Melissa Hsu's picture

    I have an overwhelming

    Submitted by
    Melissa Hsu (not verified)
    on January 21, 2009 - 1:10pm.

    I have an overwhelming desire to go watch Steel Magnolias now. 

    Inkblots

    katie's picture

    I love Dolly, I have

    Submitted by
    katie (88 posts)
    on January 21, 2009 - 1:42pm.
    I love Dolly, I have backwoods barbie on my ipod the song is so striking. I think alot of people forget what a talented song writer she is. She's always so warm and friendly in interviews and she works for children's literacy programs so that makes her my hero anyway. I am so glad she is being recognised for her talents.
    Susan Gabriel's picture

    Down-to-earth and Accepting

    Submitted by
    Susan Gabriel (190 posts)
    on January 21, 2009 - 2:20pm.

    I have been a fan forever. Dolly and I grew up in the same "neck of the woods," as we say in the South. 

    When asked about gay marriage, I thought she had a great answer. I don't remember the exact quote, but it was something like: "Why shouldn't they get to be as miserable as the rest of us..."

    www.SeekingSaraSummers.com

    Ace's picture

    Love the Dolly-love

    Submitted by
    Ace (336 posts)
    on January 21, 2009 - 3:08pm.

    It always makes me happy to see the Dolly-love on AE. I've always been a fan but have definitely gotten into her more over the past five years or so. Whenever I read interviews with her, I'm always struck by how smart and self-aware she is. She definitely knows how to market herself and her image and, yet, I'm always convinced that she's fundamentally a decent person.

    I finally saw her in concert last spring and, oh my, she is an amazing musician. She must have played 10 instruments over the course of the evening.

    Mirror42's picture

    Totally awesome

    Submitted by
    Mirror42 (79 posts)
    on January 21, 2009 - 3:55pm.
    Ever since I first saw 9 to 5, I've liked Dolly Parton. A few summers ago, I went with my family to Dollywood and spent a weekend there! It was so much fun! Around the park they had tidbits of history about her (like a replication of the house she grew up in) and even a museum! It great to see how she helped the area where she is from^^
    Lindsey's picture

    Even

    Submitted by
    Lindsey (742 posts)
    on January 21, 2009 - 5:20pm.
    if you are not a fan of Dolly Parton's you have to respect all this woman has done.  She's everywhere and into everything!  Her interviews always intrigue me and leave me thinking she's a little bit more amazing than previously thought.  And the fact she is so down to earth and humble about everything she has accomplished already in her life just adds to how impressive she is.  Glad to see AE has been covering her and her works recently! :)
    tarrabbit's picture

    so glad i'm not the only one

    Submitted by
    tarrabbit (115 posts)
    on January 21, 2009 - 8:19pm.

     

    Dolly's duet with Norah Jones is one of my favorites. She just makes me smile and feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

    Melissa Hsu's picture

    im in good company

    Submitted by
    Melissa Hsu (not verified)
    on January 21, 2009 - 9:32pm.

    Yes completely- Dolly is the best- isnt she like gay aswell?

    Doesnt she have something going on with some longterm women in her life- Yes I know she's married- but Im sure I read that- anyone like to confirm or deny?

    Not wishing to distract from this homage to Dolly- she is undoubtably Fabulous!!!

    She is also humble as hell- and funny to boot and has a very dry sense of humour thats to the point.

    7Up's picture

    Dolly's super cool!

    Submitted by
    7Up (640 posts)
    on January 21, 2009 - 11:43pm.
    Congratulations Dolly, You Rock!!!!
    Darth Rosenberg's picture

    travelin' through!

    Submitted by
    Darth Rosenberg (9 posts)
    on January 22, 2009 - 1:24am.

    yay to praising dolly from time to time!

    i've been a fan ever since i listened to "9 to 5" as a kid; "jolene" always makes me smile; but the song that earned dolly a space in my heart for the rest of my life is "travelin' through" from the "transamerica"-soundtrack. i bought the whole album just to have this song. she sings so beautifully, the arrangement is spectacular and the lyrics keep watering my eyes. here's an excerpt:

    God made me for a reason and nothing is in vain
    Redemption comes in many shapes with many kinds of pain
    Oh sweet Jesus if you're listening, keep me ever close to you
    As I'm stumblin', tumblin', wonderin', as I'm travelin' thru

    dolly rocks. 

    LL's picture

    Collaborating with cat

    Submitted by
    LL (124 posts)
    on January 22, 2009 - 2:36am.
    Collaborating with cat stevens? The guy who agreed with the fatwa issued against salman Rushdie? Has he ever repudiated that? There's something really bizarre about the entertainment industry which shuns Christian conservatives as pariahs but will embrace a radical muslim.
    alex's picture

    Amazing

    Submitted by
    alex (471 posts)
    on January 23, 2009 - 2:20am.

    Absolutely LOVE dolly. she's incredible - jolene, coat of many colors, 9 to 5, islands in the stream - the list goes on!!! she's one of my favorite entertainers of all time, and totally deserves every accolade she's given. i saw emmylou harris earlier this year, and she was amazing - but id give my left arm to see Dolly. she's beautiful, funny, giving, smart, and incredibly talented! and she's 63!

    sure, the-artist-formerly-known-as-cat-stevens is a little wacky, but his music has always been great (father and son! the wind!) - and im totally looking forward to this collaboration! ooh and the gospel honor? awesome.

    ------
    http://rightmindleftcoast.wordpress.com


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