Dolly Parton: Born Gifted
So much has been made of the way Dolly Parton looks that it’s easy to forget how truly good she sounds. And I’m not just talking about her flawless soprano voice. I’m talking about the way she plays just about every instrument in the band. When her Backwoods Barbie tour came to Chicago last week, I was able to listen to her play almost every single one. And play them well. Not just the I-have-an-unplugged-guitar-on-to-feign-talent kind of playing. In just one two-hour show, Parton showed off genuine chops on the dulcimer, fiddle, autoharp, tin whistle, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica and piano. All interspersed with tales of her dirt poor childhood in the Smoky Mountains.
That could only mean one thing: Parton must’ve just been born gifted. I mean, this is not the kind of talent you get from being in some school band. And I’m willing to bet her mom didn’t pack up all 12 kids and drive around East Tennessee to private music lessons. Parton’s innate sense of rhythm and ear for bluegrass melodies seems integral to who she is. In concert, she told a few stories about fighting with her siblings. Her mom would inevitably tell them to go play a song about it. So maybe that kind of upbringing was music lesson enough.
Parton freely admits that there are a few parts of her that are a little artificial. But the part that’s most important — her gift for music — seems to come very naturally.
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kayefun says:
There’s only one Dolly! Her sense of humor is every bit as gifted as her music. Her generosity in sharing to help others is as natural as her big wide grin! I can’t see how any of us can help but to just love her.
misty ogdie says:
I LOVE YOUR MUSIC IT MAKES ME FEEL SAFE.
Dee says:
There is only ONE DOLLY! She is truly a gift to us from God and the world should treasure her. There will never be another Dolly!
Jonathan says:
She is God’s Gift to this world! An absolute angel living right her among us. She can walk into the darkest room and light it up! Amazing……. No right words to describe her.
T J says:
This is another great review..kudos again to Alison.
Dolly really is an angel, great heart, great music, fantastic appeal, incredible voice. It must be wonderful to sit/stand/jump/dance at a concert of hers!
DollyNood says:
Dolly is one of the greatest hotties of the world. At age 62 she still looks better than a lot of those so-called supermodels. I’d say it’s way overdue that she showed “The Best Boobs in the Bizz” to the world, so c’mon Dolly pose nude in the near future and don’t wait until y’er 100-th birthday or at least have the pictures that have been taken in the past published!!
robert says:
DollyNood,i have seen you post that message before,what a pig you are, and disrespectful. Dolly you are amazing!!!!!
Jeremy says:
Dolly is a breath of fresh air for so, so many. As many of you have said, there will never be another DOLLY!! Words can not describe how wonderful of a person I think she is. I thank God for giving us Dolly!
Katie says:
Dolly would be a bomb judge for nashville star. whos goig to wathc the nbc premeire otmorrow??
Linda says:
Dolly is the best female singer/songwriter/musician there is.
pam05 says:
She is in a class all of her own…loved her appearance on American Idol. Speaking of American Idol, did anyone see David Archuleta’s remix of Dolly’s Smokey Mt. Memories when she was on the show? It was Awesome!!!
CaroleS says:
I agree with pam05, Dolly is in a class all of her own and I also enjoyed her appearance on American Idol. David Archuleta’s remix of Smokey Mountain Memories was soooooooooo awesome on the show when Dolly was there. I would love to hear this remix of David Archuleta played on the country and western radio stations. It is wonderful.
Wanda says:
I have been a fan of Dolly’s my whole life and love all of her music. But, I would just like to say that I would love to see David Archuleta’s version of Smokey Mountain Memories played on the radios! It would most definitely be a hit for the both of them!
Big Sky says:
I agree with pam05 & CaroleS — David Archuleta’s rendition of Dolly’s “Smokey Mountain Memories” is mind boggling! Dolly fans MUST get their radio stations to play this –
Dolly was so touched by his emotion when he sang, that she was brought to tears — her breath taken away. :) Why can’t we get CMT to play David’s “S.M.M.” as well? It would be a runaway hit.. hands down…….
(If you haven’t heard David sing this - go to youtube and look up David Archuleta Smokey Mountain Memories)
jambo says:
I love some of the music Dolly has written. When I heard her music being sung on american idol it reminded me how great some of her songs that I haven’t heard for a while are. I particularly loved David Archuleta singing Smokey Mountain Memories. I would love to hear this played on the radio. Absolutely great. Dolly Parton is and icon in the country music business.