Dolly Parton, There's Gold In Those Hills

The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Dolly

Dolly Parton Strikes Gold With Blue Smoke – The Best Of 

Parton Earns Precious Metal with 'Better Day'

Dolly just keeps getting better with age and proves there is still plenty of gold in those hills...!

 

Dolly Parton earns, yet, another sales award as her 42nd studio album, Blue Smoke – The Best Of, has been certified Gold by the BPI and remains #3 on the official UK chart in its sixth week of release. “Dolly could not be any happier,” says Dolly’s manager Danny Nozell, CEO CTK Management.  “She has worked very hard over the past several years to create the momentum that we have going.  Everyone at Dolly Records and Sony Music has done an outstanding job with making Dolly’s new music available and the sales prove it.” Blue Smoke – The Best Of, includes her latest studio album Blue Smoke featuring "Home", "Blue Smoke" and new duet with long- time collaborator and friend Kenny Rogers and even a Bon Jovi cover!  Alongside her greatest hits on disc 2 featuring the classics such as "Jolene", "9 to 5", "Islands in the Stream", "Little Sparrow", "Here You Come Again" and "I Will Always Love You" plus many more. “Blue Smoke – The Best Of is officially Gold in the UK, which is a massive achievement for Dolly Parton and the team,” says Faye Donaldson, Sr. Marketing Manager/Sony Music.  “The response to Dolly after her Glastonbury performance has been amazing and having new music available at the same time has created a reaction that I've never seen before.  It’s been just perfect.”     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

It's A "Mad Men" Party

Sing Along With: Mad Men

With the end of the final season of Mad Men drawing near and fan anticipation growing of how the series will end, did you ever wonder how the cast celebrated the taping of the final episode of the Emmy Award winning drama?

Drink excessively? Chain smoke until dawn? Smoke pot and have a Bacchanalian orgy? You know the way they do on the show.

Christina Hendricks recently gave Vulture the 411:

“We partied for about a week straight,” Hendricks spilled. “We’re all surprisingly into musicals,” she explained “There was a lot of singing of "Little Shop of Horrors," ‘Defying Gravity’ (from Wicked), and a little bit of "Frozen.” The secret is out now, the cast of Mad Men are musical geeks “I wish we were cooler.”

Thanks Christina for that bit of fun information, what a great way to move on from a great show, that although I am dying to know how it all ends, I will be sad to see it, the cast and Jon Hamm's bulge go.

Go "Mad" at: https://www.facebook.com/MadMen

Bend It Like Paquin

Sookie Stackhouse Is No More

This item is more muse than news, hey it's Friday time for some fun! That being stated I felt inspired creatively when I came across this image of one of my favorite actresses, Anna Paquin with purple hair.

Immediately I started thinking of all things cool and purple: The Prince Movie Purple Rain, Flying Purple People Eaters, Ursula The Sea Witch, Tinky Winky and last but not least, Barney...

And now Anna Paquin is on that list. It also made me wish when I had hair and was bleaching it platinum blonde that I had tried purple hair too while I was at it.

What an awesome send off to the final season of True Blood and her character Sookie Stackhouse!

Anna took to her Twitter about her color with this statement:

"@Auracolorist just fulfilled my teen dream of being a mermaid. @_smoyer whatcha think?"

Awesome Anna glad you get to live out your mermaid fantasy, word of caution watch out for Ursula!

Anna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaPaquin

It's Thursday, Time To Get "Tacky"

Yeah We're Tacky: Aisha Tyler, Margaret Cho & Eric Stonestreet
Photo: Ken Phillips

If you're tacky and you know it, clap your hands, it you're tacky and you know it clap your hands...

Yes, that's right people I hereby declare, today, July 17th Tacky Thursday in honor of the King Of Parody - Weird Al Yankovic and his latest a riff on Pharrell Willaims Happy and yes it's called Tacky, duh!

Weird Al has assembled himself quite the list of co-stars including. Friend and Entertain Me staple Margaret Cho, Aisha Tyler (did you know she and Margaret attended High School together?) Jack Black & from Modern Family Eric Stonestreet.

Also exclusive only to Entertain Me is the photo taken on the set of the video above, courtesy of my friend and Margaret's publicist extraordinaire, Ken Phillips. 

So, break out your most garish clothes, spout vulgar inappropriate things from your lips and take all the obnoxious selfies you want, give in, you know you want to get Tacky, oh wait you already are!!!

                                                                   "Tacky"

Get "Weird" at:

http://www.weirdal.com/home.htm

Seriously Rose McGowan?! Wow!

The Cooler, Than Cool, Rose McGowan

I was kind of in shock and awe when I saw this item recently via the Huffpost, although I am not sure why.

My attitude towards women is a little more respectful than this, in fact I like them more than men as they tend to be way more interesting and intelligent.

Look at all of my amazing, beautiful, talented and intelligent female friends who have visited me here on a regular basis: Margaret Cho, Traci Lords and Naama Kates , to name a handful.

In all honesty the most shocking thing about this story is a woman said this to another woman, um, excuse me, I thought there was such a thing as sisterhood, in this tough business called show, maybe not?

Let me recount the tale of one of my favorite actresses and people Ms. Rose McGowan.

Two years ago, Rose McGowan says she was stifled by an agent for speaking too well.

The fact that she is an intelligent woman intimidated people — particularly men — McGowan says. She said that did not go over too well in production meetings.

"I had an agent that told me not to speak in meetings because I was too intelligent and it was stressing to the men," McGowan told HuffPost Live host Ricky Camilleri, recalling a two-year-old meeting. "It was a woman that told me that."

Wow! That woman who told you that really needs to learn a thing or two about men. A friend recently told me I was a bigot, I scratched my head thinking: "WTF does he mean?"

He continued: "You don't like unintelligent people"

Ya know what? I believe he's on to something.

Be on the lookout for her Directorial, debut Dawn a short film about a "young teenager who longs for something or someone to free her rom her sheltered life." It will play at the 2014 Sundance Festival early next year.

Rose you are welcome here on Entertain Me anytime you like.

From a man who is non-stressed about you.

Check out my favorite televised Rose McGowan moment below going off on the then Governator of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Go Rose! On IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000535/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1

Has Naama Kates Ever Been "Souled"?

Once upon a time... 

Singer/Songwriter/Actress Naama Kates had a chance meeting with Cyrus Melchor, an award-winning producer/composer, resulting in the release of her first album, The Unexamined Life. 

The Unexamined Life was a critical success, earning rave reviews from national and international press. The single “Before You Lose It” was featured on the CW's drama Ringer, and heard on the hit show, CSI. 

Kates' self-produced second album, King for the Day, mixed and recorded by three-time Grammy Award-nominee Scott Fraser, was another critical success, which helped Kates earn a new following in South America and Europe. In 2014, she reunited with Melchor for her upcoming third album, Souled.

I recently got together with Naama at Intelligentsia in Silverlake, CA to discuss Souled, Kate Bush, her movie Reinventing Chloe and why we both hate flying.

MS: Hey Naama, it sounds like you have more production value on Souled than you did on your previous efforts.

NK: Well I'm glad that it sounds that way. A lot of things didn't cost nearly as much as my first record. It was a lot of myself and Cy working together on sounds, even though there are some bass players on it. The mastering job was a top new hot up and coming guy, The Unexamined Life was my most expensive effort  Souled is a lot more electronic and done in the studio.

MS: It sounds more produced than King for the Day.

NK: I produced that myself. It was basically a really good live recording. I didn't really have the time or the means to do all of that production. I'm not really a Producer, I'm not sure how I end up in the Producer role all of the time. The musicians were great! The album was recorded by a real bad ass Producer, Scott Fraser, he did two songs on Souled - the last record since I produced it myself, how much could that have cost? (laughs) But The Unexamined Life in terms of how much it costs? A lot more than this one, it's my most expensive album to date.

MS: Souled has a really awesome Kate Bush influence to it.

NK: I love that! 

MS: OK, since you are much younger than me, how do you know her music?

NK: You know? I would be really miserable if the only music I knew, was the music that came out after I was in my teens.

MS: I hear that! So how did you first hear Kate Bush?

NK: Someone awesome, I can't remember who, did a great cover of Running Up That Hill.

I was like, "Who did this bad ass song?" so I checked it out.

MS: Too bad she only tours overseas, she is afraid to fly.

NK: Is she English?

MS: Yeah.

NK: Oh, I didn't know that.

MS: Flying doesn't bother me.

NK: Me either. Well it does now actually, because of all the nonsense you have to put up with before you board the plane. 

MS: That is annoying, but as far as the actual act of flying, no big thing.

NK: I agree. 

MS: The thing I don't like about flying is it is so claustrophobic.

NK: It's sooooooo claustrophobic. I've actually flown a plane, it's really fun and it's really easy.

MS: Oh wow! That sounds fun, I would love to do that! Also I would love to parachute out of a plane.

NK: I've done that a couple of times. It wasn't an adrenaline rush for me, maybe for some people it is, it for me was actually very peaceful.

MS: For some reason I have really taken to the title track of your latest record, Souled.

NK: That's not a bad thing, I obviously feel rather strongly about it, since it's the title track. Everyone has their favorites with this record and really strong opinions as to what song that is. Which is really great. it's not that one song is better than the other, it's a matter of taste. People's favorites from the album also change, certain songs are growers, not showers. (laughs)

MS: Chat a little more about the song Souled.

NK: Do you get the lyrics and what I am saying in that song? 

MS: Yes, the lyrics are below the song on the play list on Sound Cloud.

NK: The play on words confuses a lot of people, but if you have the lyrics in front of you and have read them...

MS: I did, I get it, it's a play on words.

NK: Good for you! A lot of people don't get it even if they know what the explanation is. When it comes to my music it matters to me if the listener enjoys it. I don't write songs in that regard thinking about how others will like it, but when it's finished and they are hearing it of course I care.

MS: Are you performing live anytime soon?

NK: Yes, on August 6th at the Silverlake Lounge at 9 pm. It's going to be the first time with the new material, we're going to have projection, a DJ and a back-up Keyboard player so I don't have to play on everything, I can stand up and not be behind the piano all the time. (laughs)

MS: Awesome! I am so going to be there! What about your film Reinventing Chloe hows that going?

NK: Reinventing Chloe is a movie I acted in, produced and wrote. The director is a friend of mine Princeton Holt. It's very autobiographical. It's about a singer that comes to Nashville, the songs I am playing in it are from The Unexamined Life - we submitted the film to a bunch of film festivals and it won nine jury awards, Best Feature, Best Actress and Screenplay. That was pretty awesome! 

It got a lot of attention and the film is getting picked up for distribution by a production company.Chloe will be released later this year.

Get Souled with Naama at: 

https://www.facebook.com/NaamaKates

http://www.naamakates.com/

Go Chloe at: 

https://www.facebook.com/ChloeMovie2014

Go Cruising With KC & The Sunshine Band

KC Is Hopping On Board The Soul Train Cruise To Spread Some Sunshine
Photo: Webster PR

KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND SET TO SAIL AS PART OF "THE SOUL TRAIN CRUISE" 

It's time to shake your booty and get on the Soul Train Cruise with KC & The Sunshine Band...who knew?!?! While you are at it also check out my  interview with KC I did last year, it's a groovy time! Interview Link: http://mshinafelt.blogspot.com/2013/03/shake-your-booty-kc-and-sunshine-band.html The Soul Train Cruise unveils a star-studded lineup for its 2015 voyage, which travels through the Caribbean from February 22, 2015 through March 1, 2015 with more than 30 R&B superstars performing nightly concerts and interacting with cruise guests during over 25 special events. The fourth sailing of the hippest trip at sea will star KC and the Sunshine Band, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Gladys Knight, James Ingram, The Spinners, Russell Thompkins, Jr. & The New Stylistics, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Regina Belle, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr., original 5th Dimension stars, Valerie Simpson of Ashford and Simpson, Will Hart of the original Delfonics and comedian Alonzo Bodden.  Also joining the cruise are Hitzville: Las Vegas Style Motown Revue, Chicago’s  legendary R&B record store merchant “Uncle George” Daniels and cruise host Tony Cornelius.  Held aboard the luxurious Holland America Eurodam, the Soul Train Cruise departs from Fort Lauderdale, FL for Turks and Caicos, San Juan (Puerto Rico), St. Thomas, the Bahamas and the private island of Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. "Many times during the '70s we appeared on Soul Train with Don Cornelius," said Harry Wayne 'KC' Casey.  "I only wish he could still be here to share this magic moment we are going to have on the Soul Train Cruise.  I'm looking forward to bringing our music alive once again, as we did so many times on the TV show." "This cruise has become the ultimate luxury vacation for fans of great R&B music," says Michael Mitchell, StarVista/Time Life Vice President and Executive Producer of the Soul Train Cruise.  “If you grew up watching Soul Train, this cruise will bring back all the memories-the great artists, fantastic songs, the dancers, the fashions and most of all the fun!" Chris Hearing, President of StarVista/Time Life, adds, "Our guests return time and time again for the music and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hang out with the biggest names in R&B history." The Soul Train Cruise not only offers more than 30 concerts throughout the seven-day voyage, but also invites travelers to meet the stars during over 25 special events, ranging from cooking demonstrations to dance lessons, Q&A panel discussions to tribute shows, a gospel hour, musician seminars, wine tasting and personal meet and greet sessions.  The cruise will also film interviews with artists in front of a live audience, airing on television on a future date.  And Soul Train Cruise partner SIRIUSXM will be aboard once again, recording exclusive radio shows with the artists and giving fans a backstage view into the excitement and the music that fill the ship while CENTRIC television also returns as title sponsor, hosting a number of the cruise’s most popular onboard activities. Soul Train has been an integral part of popular culture since its debut in 1970 and continues be a vital force in entertainment with its all-star Soul Train Awards shows.  Soul Train is also one of the most successful shows ever created, holding the record for the longest, first-run, nationally syndicated television show ever and remains popular to this day.  Vintage episodes have aired on CENTRIC in recent years, nearly 500,000 DVDs have been sold, and the Soul Train Awards draw international superstars to its annual ceremony. Reservations for cabins on this cruise may be made now by visiting SoulTrainCruise.com  or by calling (toll free) (855) SOUL TRAIN (855-768-5872). Cabin rates start at just $1975 per person and include all meals, concerts, entertainment and onboard activities. KC and the Sunshine Band On Tour: 07/09 Newport, RI - Newport Yachting Club 07/10 Stamford, CT - Alive At Five Concert Series 07/11 Rama, Ontario - Casino Rama 07/12 Salamanca, NY - Seneca Alleghany Casino 07/18 Manson, WA - Mill Bay Casino 07/19 Airway Heights, WA - Northern Quest Resort & Casino 07/24 Grand Rapids, MI - Meijer Gardens Amphitheater 07/26 Wisconsin Dells, WI - Crystal Grand Music Theatre 08/01 Biloxi, MS - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 08/02 Choctaw, MS - Arena at Golden Moon Hotel & Casino 08/07 Santa Ynez, CA - Chumash Casino 08/08 Cabazon, CA - Morongo Casino Resort & Spa 08/09 Modesto, CA - Gallo Center for the Arts 08/15 Lynn, MA - Lynn Auditorium 08/16 Atlantic City, NJ - Tropicana Hotel & Casino 08/21 Palmer, AK - Alaska State Fair 08/23 East Meadow, NY - Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre 08/24 Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom 08/29 St. Charles IL - Arcada Theatre 08/30 Duquoin, IL - DuQuoin State Fairgrounds 09/13 Kansas City, MO - KC Power and Lights District 10/03 Lincolnville, ME - VinFest at Cellardoor Winery 10/31 Norman, OK - Riverwind Casino To learn more about KC and the Sunshine Band and to find more details about their upcoming tour dates, visit heykcsb.com. Suggested Tweet: .@kcandsunshineb @hwcasey set to sail on #SoulTrainCruise@SoulTrain @SoulTrainAtSea @CENTRICTV