Dolly Parton's "Imagination"

Pictured L-R: The Dollywood Company President Craig Ross, Dollywood Foundation President David Dotson, Dolly Parton, CTK Management’s Danny Nozell, Webster PR’s Kirt Webster, Dollywood Dir. Public Relations Pete Owens, Dolly Parton Productions President Ted Miller.

Imagine with Dolly Parton...

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which began as a small community outreach in Parton’s native Sevier County, Tennessee, has evolved to become the largest literacy program in the world. In December, the “little literacy program that could” marks another impressive milestone—one million books gifted to children around the world each month.

To celebrate the unprecedented success, Evey Johns, a two-year-old from Conway, Arkansas who just enrolled in the Imagination Library, has been randomly selected to receive a $30,000 college scholarship. The announcement was made by Parton during her Pure & Simple concert tour stop in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on Nov. 15. Proceeds from the concert benefit the Imagination Library.

“I thought long and hard about the best way to honor our achievement of reaching a million children a month,” Parton said. “The Imagination Library is all about inspiring dreams, so what better way to pay tribute to this moment than by helping one special child pursue her college degree. I’m thrilled that today I can let the world know that precious little Evey Johns from Conway, Arkansas will receive a $30,000 scholarship for the college of her choice.”

The scholarship will be held in a special account and distributed to Johns when she enrolls in college. Over the next 16 years, the amount of scholarship should grow to nearly approximately $50,000. Johns is enrolled in the Imagination Library in Conway thanks to the local affiliate in her area, Arkansas Preschool Plus.

“The thought of our daughter Evey going to college has been just that—a thought,” explained Evey’s mother, Connie. “Now, due to the enormous kindness and generosity of the Dollywood Foundation, that thought has now become a reality. Our family now has the means to develop a solid plan for our daughter’s future education. Thank you all so much for this unbelievable opportunity for our daughter.”

In 2016, the Imagination Library and its local partners will gift nearly 11.5 million books to children from birth to age five in participating communities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. To date, the Imagination Library, which is administered through the Dollywood Foundation, has provided more than 85 million books to children around the world.

Arkansas Preschool Plus is just one of the many local affiliates the Dollywood Foundation works with to provide books to children. To provide the Imagination Library, a community must make the program accessible to all preschool children in their area, and the community pays for the books, promotes the program and registers the children. The Dollywood Foundation manages the delivery of books to children’s homes.

Arkansas Preschool Plus enrolls 960 children in Conway, Faulkner and Perry Counties. Currently, nearly 15,000 children are enrolled in Arkansas. The Imagination Library currently is working with elected officials, foundations and corporations in Arkansas in an effort to make the program available to all children from birth to age five in the state.

About Dolly Parton's Imagination Library:
Founded in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting organization that has, to date, mailed more than 85 million books to children in Australia, Belize, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States. Each month, the program currently mails more than one million specially selected, high-quality, age-appropriate books to registered children from birth until they start Kindergarten in participating communities. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading in children, preparing them for school and inspiring them to dream. Recent studies suggest participation in the Imagination Library is positively and significantly associated with higher measures of early language and math development. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Dolly Parton Is The World's Fastest!

30?! Happy Birthday Dolly(Wood)

DOLLYWOOD ADDS WORLD'S FASTEST WOOD ROLLER COASTER FOR 2016

$22 million Lightning Rod is world's fastest, first launching wood coaster
 

I'm going to be Travelin' Thru and hitching a ride on this coaster...! Dollywood today announced the addition of Lightning Rod, both the world’s fastest wood coaster and the world’s first launching wood coaster. Set to roll to the starting line in March 2016, Lightning Rod adds another groundbreaking roller coaster to the park’s already impressive portfolio of world-class attractions. The thrilling $22 million ride also marks the single largest attraction investment in The Dollywood Company’s history. Themed after a tricked out 1950s-era hot rod, Lightning Rod launches riders from zero to 45 mph more than 20 stories up its lift hill to one of the ride’s first airtime moments. At the crest of the hill, riders face twin summit airtime hills before tackling the daring first drop. Lightning Rod races down the 165-foot drop and propels guests along its 3,800-ft. track to a top speed of 73 mph, the fastest speed for a wood coaster in the world. “Lightning Rod reminds me so much of those colorful cars cruisin’ up and down Main Street in downtown Sevierville back when I was in high school. I remember all those souped up cars; but what I remember most were those good lookin’ boys behind the wheel with those flat top and ducktail haircuts,” Dolly Parton said with a laugh. “I’m truly excited about this ride because it will let our guests experience something just as fast as those hot rods I remember,” she continued. “Even better, it’s the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world, so I think we’re going to see a lot of people coming from all over to peel out on the Lightning Rod.” Located in Dollywood’s Jukebox Junction, Lightning Rod rockets riders around its massive wooden structure on an adrenaline-charged lap through the trees in the hills and valleys surrounding Dollywood. During the ride, guests experience nearly 20 seconds of airtime. The coaster train is comprised of 12 cars, carrying two passengers each, for a total of 24 people per train. Dollywood’s development team has tapped Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) as the ride manufacturer. RMC is no stranger to out-of-the-box coaster projects, having designed a number of innovative attractions around the world. Lightning Rod employs several unique features including the lift hill launch, twin summit airtime hills, a 90+ degree banked breaking wave turn, a 90+ degree outside banked turn, and a non-inverting half loop. Lightning Rod puts riders in the driver’s seat of Johnny Rev’s newest hot rod. After months of tinkering, Johnny invites Dollywood guests to step behind the wheel for the first test drive of his flashy new creation. Like any proper hot rod, massive header pipes and an imposing injector scoop peer out from the train’s flamed bodywork. Lightning Rod is the newest member of The Dollywood Company’s collection of award-winning attractions. In March 2012, Dollywood opened the $20 million Wild Eagle, the country’s first wing coaster. The company introduced River Rush, Tennessee’s first and only water coaster, at Dollywood’s Splash Country in 2013. FireChaser Express, the nation’s first dual-launch family coaster, was added at Dollywood in 2014. Dollywood mainstays Thunderhead, consistently among the world’s top five wood coasters, Mystery Mine, Blazing Fury and Tennessee Tornado round out the park’s list of innovative coasters. For more information about Dollywood’s attractions, please visit www.Dollywood.com or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.

Hello Little Dolly

                

Dolly & Her Doppelganger 

DOLLY PARTON MOVIE CASTING NEWS ANNOUNCED ON THE TODAY SHOW 

                                        Look! It's Little Dolly Parton!

The singing superstar had a thrilling surprise for the young actress, Alyvia Lind, personally giving her the news that she will play Dolly as a child in the upcoming original movie “Coat of Many Colors.” “Coat of Many Colors,” named after Parton’s song, will be based on Parton’s upbringing, with the Parton serving as executive producer.

Parton had called the 1971 track her favorite song she has written. It tells the story of how her mother stitched together a coat for her daughter out of rags given to the family, telling her the biblical story of Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors. But when the girl, all excited, debuts the new coat at school, she is ridiculed by her classmates for wearing rags.

The original coat is now on display in Parton’s Chasing Rainbows Museum at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN.

NBC’s deal with Parton, includes a series of standalone TV movies based on Parton’s songs, stories and life. They will contain music but won’t be musicals, with Parton possibly appearing in some. Parton is developing the projects with production partner Sam Haskell of Magnolia Hill Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television.
 

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Watch The Today Show piece here:http://www.today.com/video/dolly-parton-gives-7-year-old-actress-a-thrilling-surprise-483319875528

 

For more information on Dolly Parton please visit:
www.dollypartonentertainment.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/DollyParton
Twitter: Twitter.com/DollyParton
Tumblr: OfficialDollyParton.tumblr.com
Google+: Plus.Google.com/+DollyParton

Teach! Dolly Parton

Teachers Rule! Dolly Parton & Dyane Smokorowski

Dolly Parton Presents A Kansas Teacher
With The 2015 Chasing Rainbows Award
 

Doer of good deeds, Dolly Parton to the rescue! Dyane Smokorowski was named the 14th recipient of the Chasing Rainbows Award. She enjoyed a weekend trip to Dollywood where Dolly herself presented Dyane with the award. Each year, the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY) honors one outstanding educator with this prestigious award. The honoree is someone who “has overcome great obstacles in his or her life, has captured the rainbow and is helping children.” This year’s winner serves as the Instructional Technology Coach for Andover Public Schools in Andover, KS. Smokorowski said, “It is difficult to admit that my personal struggles actually prepared me to be a stronger person today. I wanted to be someone who could inspire others to reach beyond their environments, beyond their extremities, and to do as I have always done—to dream big!” In 2002, Dolly became the first to receive this award from the NNSTOY. The award celebrated her commitment to fostering a love of reading among children through her Imagination Library. Since then, Dolly has presented the award each year. Dyane Smokorowski's name will be added, along with past recipients, to the award displayed in the Chasing Rainbows Museum at Dollywood. For more information on the award and how to nominate an outstanding teacher, visit the NNSTOY website.   # # # Get social with Dolly! facebook.com/DollyParton twitter.com/dollyparton

Dolly Parton: Coat Of Many Colors

It's A Deal! Dolly & NBC Executives 

Dolly Parton, Dolly Parton, Dolly Parton...need I say more?

It's official!! During the NBC Upfronts in New York City this morning, where Dolly Parton made a surprise appearance, word came that NBC has greenlit the first original movie under its development deal with the music Icon, actress and songwriter. Coat of Many Colors, named after Parton’s song, will be based on Parton’s upbringing, with the Parton serving as executive producer.

Parton had called the 1971 track her favorite song she has written. It tells the story of how her mother stitched together a coat for her daughter out of rags given to the family, telling her the biblical story of Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors. But when the girl, all excited, debuts the new coat at school, she is ridiculed by her classmates for wearing rags.

The original coat is now on display in Parton’s Chasing Rainbows Museum at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN.

NBC’s deal with Parton, announced in January, includes a series of standalone TV movies based on Parton’s songs, stories and life. They will contain music but won’t be musicals, with Parton possibly appearing in some. Parton is developing the projects with production partner Sam Haskell of Magnolia Hill Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television.

Coat of Many Colors is part of NBC’s slate of event programming for next season, which also includes previously announced The Reaper, a miniseries based on the best-selling memoir by Sgt. Nicholas Irving, a decorated African-American sniper who was deployed in Afghanistan for 100 days, and holiday musical The Wiz Live!.

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For more information on Dolly Parton please visit:
www.dollypartonentertainment.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/DollyParton
Twitter: Twitter.com/DollyParton
Tumblr: OfficialDollyParton.tumblr.com
Google+: Plus.Google.com/+DollyParton

Hello Dolly(Wood)

As If! Dolly Parton

GUESTS ARE THE WINNERS DURING DOLLYWOOD'S 30 DAYS OF THANKS 

Grand prize includes meet and greet with Dolly Parton, stay at Dollywood's Dream More Resort
 

That Dolly, she's a giver and we love her for it...you'd better, I didn't stutter when I said that. Dolly Parton today announced Dollywood’s 30 Days of Thanks, a month-long celebration designed to recognize the award-winning park’s loyal guests for helping create cherished family memories for 30 years. During every park operating day in May, Dollywood will thank guests for their support with daily giveaways and prizes, including 2016 Dollywood season passes. Guests may register for the prizes at in-park kiosks located throughout Dollywood. Each day, 30 lucky contest entrants will win a 2016 Dollywood season pass. Additionally, each vehicle will receive a free car magnet upon entry to the park. The magnets include a link for guests to visit for free computer downloads. The contest ends with an extraordinary grand prize with the ultimate Dollywood vacation package. Every person who enters at an in-park kiosk during the month of May is entered for the grand prize, A Dollywood Summer Vacation. This incredible prize includes four tickets to Dolly Parton’s Pure and Simple concert on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. and a meet and greet with Parton prior to the concert. The grand prize also includes a two-night stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort (check-in date on Aug. 7 or 8), four tickets to both Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country water park, and four Dollywood 30th anniversary t-shirts. Entrants in the 30 Days of Thanks contest must be 18 years of age. Each guest may enter only once per day. Grand prize winner will be contacted on June 1. Transportation to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for the grand prize winner is not included. Dollywood celebrates its 30th anniversary season in 2015 with a schedule packed full of fabulous festivals, tremendous concerts and the same family fun guests have come to expect since 1986. For more information about Dollywood’s 30th anniversary, please visit www.dollywood.com.

Rockin' Around Dolly Parton's Christmas Tree

Rock Around Me, I Am Dolly Parton's Christmas Tree, Damn It!

Dolly Parton & some other music types decorate Christmas Trees to support their favorite causes. 

Did I mention Dolly Parton decorated one? It's the one featured above, Dolly Parton trimmed it. Oh and that's the tree Dolly did by the way...


Opryland’s Parade of Trees Up For Bid During Online Auction

Dolly Parton, Charlie Daniels, and Brenda Lee join Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, LeAnn Rimes, The Doobie Brothers, Zac Brown Band, and others to raise money for their favorite charities this holiday season in a new attraction at Gaylord Opryland Resort. Parade of Trees—a stunning collection of 15 spectacularly decorated Christmas trees—is now on display throughout the resort’s nine acres of indoor gardens as part of Gaylord Opryland’s A Country Christmas. Each tree is up for grabs to the highest online bidder with the funds raised benefiting the not-for-profit organization designated for the tree. The winning bidder will receive the tree’s decorations and all the prizes for that particular tree. Getting a little sneak peek under the tree, find out what is under Dolly’s, Charlie’s, and Brenda’s tree. More information on each artists gifts and goodies is located on the Opryland Parade of Trees website: www.OprylandParadeOfTrees.com. Dolly Parton’s tree which benefits The Imagination Library will include four tickets to Dollywood including a meet & greet with Dolly, signed 8 x 10 photo, one personal book from Dolly, one cookbook, and 38 Imagination Library books (4 of them will be autographed). Charlie Daniels tree will benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and Galilean Home Ministries. Under his tree, bidders can find show tickets for two concerts in 2015 including meet & greet with Charlie, an autographed Cowboy hat, an autographed Guitar with case, an autographed Gold fiddle with case, along with a basket full of Charlie Daniels goodies (T-Shirt, Hat, Books, CD’s, sheet music for “Devil Went Down to Georgia” (autographed), and fiddle bows). Brenda Lee’s tree will benefit NARAS/MusiCares, and will include a private lunch for 4 with Brenda at the Country Music Hall of Fame, including a guided Hall of Fame tour, an autographed “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” gold record, an autographed collectible “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” ornament, Country Music Hall of Fame gift bag and Malt Shop Memories souvenir backpack, autographed Malt Shop Memories scrapbook signed by many artists of the 50s and 60s, ornaments from The Beach Boys, Martha & The Vandellas, The Temptations, Dion, and others! Bids are being accepted online at www.OprylandParadeOfTrees.com through Dec. 31.