I'm Digging (and Digging Up) the Roots of Dolly Parton
Over the last few days, I've been happily reacquainting myself with Dolly Parton's music. You know how so many people sing about how they are country? Dolly could always convey that sentiment in her lyrics without clobbering you over the head. Instead, the rural imagery she offers is unmistakable -- strolling up to Joshua's cabin, taking pride in a patched-up coat of many colors and listening to the crickets at her Tennessee mountain home. In other words, she doesn't have to spell it out for you. She's showing you that she's country.
Encouraged by Porter Wagoner to write about something besides mountains, Parton found success on the country charts with other topics, too - "I Will Always Love You," "Please Don't Stop Loving Me," "Love is Like a Butterfly," "The Bargain Store," etc. However, with the exception of "9 to 5," most of her biggest hits of the 1980s were written by others, and by the mid-1990s, she hardly was played at country radio at all.
But rather than sulk, she made an outstanding acoustic album called The Grass Is Blue, released at the end of 1999. In the decade since then, she's released a few odd albums (religious and patriotic songs; 70s cover songs; a live album where she mostly talks), yet her songwriting can still catch me off-guard. Have you ever heard "What a Heartache" from Halos & Horns? Now that is a sad song. I can hardly bear it when she sings, "Wishes come true/They come false as well." True, her personality is larger-than-life, but she has a knack for making you feel like she's singing about you. Over the course of a long and very interesting career, that hasn't changed.
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Martie says:
Bring CMT message boards back. All this blogging is irrelevant without your favorite message board chats with the ppl you have come to love and know.
Dan M. says:
I’m so glad you’re blogging more regularly now, Craig. Another terrific entry, and relevant, too - a lot of today’s artists and songwriters would do well to study that “show, don’t tell” approach Dolly employed at her best.
Kim says:
Subtly is an art, for sure. Who would have thought that Dolly and subtle would ever share a common phrase?
Leeann says:
I’m with Dan…on both accounts.
Aaron says:
Don’t forget Dolly’s new album, “Backwoods Barbie” - a mainstream country album! The next single, the title song, will be released to country radio soon, and it is a “pure” country song that is worth of radioairplay!!! The video is being directed by the person who directed Taylor Swift’s “Teardrops on my Guitar,” among many others.
DollyNood says:
No doubt Dolly is an unequaled singer-songwriter but with the candy-floss hair and her bawdy, larger-than-life, knock-’em-out curves, Dolly is one of the greatest hotties of the world.
At age 63 now, she still looks better than a lot of those so-called supermodels. I’d say it’s way overdue that she showed those 34E’s aka “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!!
RedMaZ says:
I just threw up a little bit in my mouth…
countryiscool says:
Ewwww Red, did U have to be so graphic???? lol This poster has made this same comment on numerous blogs so I ignore. I like Dolly too, but since I’m a chick, I’m not interested in seeing her 34 E’s. I do like some of her musical stuff tho.
Ms. Feathers says:
Dolly is an icon. I’m glad she doesn’t just write about standard country imagery. There’s so many songs out there that seem to compete for the “most rhyming country images in one song” title, that it’s getting a bit annoying. I’ll take a song with human interest, quality musicianship and a universal theme ANYDAY over yet another musical laundry list of trucks, beer, fried chicken, chrome, muddy water, pigs in the ground, etc, etc, etc.
RedMaZ says:
How about the Moat of Kenny Muellers?
DollyNood says:
LOL @ countryiscool
With you being a chick I can understand what you’re saying but I’m pretty sure that 80% of Dolly’s male fans think the same as I do , they just don’t have to guts to say it out loud! (just being afraid of being smacked on the head by their wives LOL)
Kind Regards,
DollyNood
P.s. I’m not all that hard to find
countryiscool says:
I’m sure my husband would agree with you as well DollyNood. I guess for some guys, “more IS better.” lol, although my hubby has also been known to say anything more than a handful or mouthful is a waste. Wow, I can’t believe I said that. haha! Anyway, I still love Dolly, have for a LONG time. I always thought she & Kenny Rogers made a splendid looking couple, I’m sure Carl Dean wouldn’t appreciate THAT.
J.R. Journey says:
Right there with Dan and Leeann - as usual. Excellent read too.
CJ says:
Love Dolly and love this blog.You always make them interesting . Thanks
DollyNood says:
@ countryiscool : KUDO’s for you answering (at all)
See where my point is?
You’re sure your husband would agree?? Did he ever just flat out say so? Or didn’t he because he knew he’d get smacked?
Don’t get me wrong, I do love Dolly too and have done so for a very long time (actually longer than I’d care to remember, Yes I am that old) but for me it’s the total package that pushes my buttons.
In no particular order of importance, her wits, her ….. (no that would be too easy and cheesy) entrepreneurship (business-sense), her singing, her charitable work and her phantastic physique.
I just think that it would complete the picture if she did a layout.
Although it’s far from me to give her advice on what to do with the proceeds, I could “Imagine” her to “re-invest” them into her book program. No doubt she could “extort” a serious amount of money from the two big mainstream mag’s for a layout like this even when the layout would be totally directed, “the hows and whats”, by Dolly herself.
The mag sales would go through the roof.
By the way, did you know that Kenny is a way above average photographer?? And you think he never shot ……?
Somehow I have the feeling that Carl wouldn’t have much of a say in anything once Dolly has put her mind to it.
Well rambling long enough now, so until we meet again,
Kind Regards,
DollyNood
countryiscool says:
Yes, I love the (Dolly’s) whole pkg too, and have for years.I absolutely LOVE her movie “Straight Talk,” and have watched it numerous times, I also like her video they have before the movie. I think she’s a very smart, funny, astute business woman, and very genuine. I think Kellie Pickler is a mini-version in terms of personality, and would do good to follow in her idol’s footsteps. I saw Kellie in concert last summer and she was wonderful. I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Dolly but can only imagine how much fun SHE is too.
PS, I really don’t get after my hubby for noticing other women, he IS a guy after all. lol I also don’t feel threatened.
Yes I know Kenny is a photographer. He also is great at reinventing himself, or not putting all his cookies into one jar, diversifying his interests and talents. Heavens, I’m sure most people have MANY talents they are not aware of or don’t pursue for one reason or another. If you can though, I say GO FOR IT! Nice chattin’ with ya!
Camber Dave says:
Just found this forun and it’s great
I and my wife are great fans of Dolly
We are in the UK and as a lot of her fans are we allways look out for info, but following on from the nude pics ideas i believe that keeping us wondering is keeping us interested but her singing is is enough for me
DollyNood says:
@ countryiscool ;
eventhough it’s a nice convo, it seems a bit long-winded this way and like I said I’m not all that hard to find.
Just combine my screenname with Yahoo (answers) or MySpace,
could be nice.
@ CamberDave ;
maybe I’ve been living in (continental) Europe for too long but I sure do hear differently on the nudies.
and errhhhmmm.. I don’t want Dolly’s own prophecy to come true.
Quote
“I will at my 100-th birthday and y’all will be sorry I did”
Man even when I could be dead before that LOL
Kind Regards,
DollyNood
Rick E says:
Dolly Parton is a beautiful woman inside and out. She gives with her heart and with whatever she has. I am very proud of her and love to see her perform…well, on TV. She is the ultimate performer and person. She is just one of those people that I would love to meet. Why? Because she is a true person to herself and to her fans. Thank you, Dolly.