Working 9 to 5 or 12 to 12?

April 14th, 2009

4.14.09

Hey everybody,

Lots of things going on in my world since we last talked. I feel like one of those little dust devils that spins in the wind on a hot day. (Ha!)

At this moment I'm in New York at the Marriott Marquis Theater where we are already in previews for "9 to 5: The Musical." The buzz about the show is really good. We're selling out every show and we haven't even officially opened yet. The big night, of course, is April 30th. We'll have lots of stars coming to walk the red carpet and to see the show. That should be fun.

I'm loving hanging out with all the folks involved in the show. I threw a party for everybody at a restaurant called Vynl. They have a bathroom named after me where they have pictures of me, memorabilia on the walls and they play my music while you pee. (Ha!) I guess I should be flattered; but I keep wondering if it means they think my career is in the toilet... I hope not.

We go to work every day around Noon and work until midnight or so. We fall in bed, then get up and do it all over again trying to get it perfect. But I am really enjoying living in my new apartment. I have a great view of the city.

Every night after the show everybody signs autographs outside the stage door. That always draws a big crowd there as they're loving the cast. We're still doing little improvements on the show, as I said, trying to get it perfect before opening night. I've had lots of family and friends come from Nashville every weekend to see it. They all seem to love it.

I'm looking forward to recording the soundtrack album the first week of May with the cast.

I'm planning to do a few more TV shows while I'm in New York... David Letterman, The View and The Today Show. Hopefully the cast will sing some songs from the play on a couple of those shows, which should be fun.

I'm also very excited and pleased that the "Backwoods Barbie" video has been so well received and that the "Backwoods Barbie Collectors Edition" at Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores is selling so well. The same with the Collectors Edition of the Photo Album and the pink rocking chairs. Guess you can say I'm rockin' right along. (Ha!)

We had a great opening at Dollywood. I'm excited to receive my honorary doctorate from UT on May 8th and to see the opening of Sha-Kon-O-Hey on May 9th. I'll ride in Pigeon Forge parade on May 8th. Pray for nice weather. I'd hate to have it rain on our parade.

Gotta get back to work. We will talk more later.

I will always love you,
Dolly

Join the discussion! | 0 comments so far.

Musicals, Moonpies and More...

March 13th, 2009

3.13.09

Hello again. As usual, I've been a busy little bee the past several weeks. A big part of my time has been spent in New York working on all the final tweaks on the songs for "9 to 5: The Musical" which opens on April 30th, with previews beginning on April 7th. And I've been having fun hanging out with the cast while they're in rehearsals. I'm a big, big hit with all the cast and crew because I take loads of Moon Pies and Goo-Goo Clusters, both made in Tennessee. Mmm-Mmm good! I would worry that I'd be making the fat before the show opens, but they tell me that's not a problem with all the dancing that they're doing. I have noticed a few little pouches on some of the bellies that are not dancing in the show.mine included. (HA!)

We finished the "Backwoods Barbie" video. Trey Fanjoy has done a wonderful job. She is such a joy (a fan joy) to work with. Even Perez Hilton was captured in the video, a walk-by. Watch for him. The little girl who played me as a child in the video is too precious for words. I hope you love the video as much as I do. You should be seeing it any time now.

We've done lots of press and interviews since I've seen you. We even did an unplugged mini concert on CMT, as well as doing several of the CMT shows along with other media outlets on other networks. We've been to DC, New York and Atlanta recently talking about "9 to 5", the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains (for which I'm the International Ambassador, as I've mentioned), as well talking about "Sha-Kon-O-Hey", the musical at Dollywood that I've written eight new songs for, which I've also mentioned.

I've had fun, also, meeting with all the folks at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and working on promotions for the new CD "Backwoods Barbie, The Collectors Edition", which will be available only at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. We took pictures rocking in one of the beautiful pink rocking chairs with my logo and name, available also only at Cracker Barrel. Dolly Rocks! (Ha!)

We're still working on the new DVD and CD "Live in London O2 Arena". There's a lot more work involved in these things than one would imagine. But, like the video, hopefully it will all be worth it when we're finished.

The 24th season of Dollywood opens March 26-28, so we're gearing up for that.

Whew! Do you think I need to get myself an extra job? Wish me luck; and I will update you soon.

I will always love you,
Dolly

Join the discussion! | 0 comments so far.

On The Road With Dolly

February 20th, 2009

2.20.09

Well, it's been a whirlwind month so far. We went to Hollywood and did the "Backwoods Barbie" video. It turned out really, really nice. They're editing it now and everybody's excited about it. I'm looking forward for that to come out some time in March.

As I've mentioned, I am the International Ambassador for 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In connection with that, I wrote eight songs for the Sha-Kon-O-Hey musical at Dollywood. I went to Washington DC and did a big media campaign about me being the Ambassador and to promote Dollywood, among other things. We talked about Sha-Kon-O-Hey and I did some songs from the play with some of the Dollywood players.

From DC I went to New York to do some touch-up work and re-writes on the music for 9 to 5. That's coming along nicely.

While I was in New York, I recorded "I Will Always Love You" with Stephanie J. Block, who plays Judy Bernly (the Jane Fonda role) in 9 to 5 the Musical. She's a wonderful singer and is doing an album of her own of famous songs by famous composers. I guess she thought enough of me to want to do one of my songs, although I'm not famous yet. (HA!) I enjoyed singing with her on that.

We also did lots of press while in New York, one thing being the first part of a 60 Minute interview with Morley Safer. We talked about 9 to 5 the Musical during that interview. Then he came down to Dollywood, where I am now. We did the rest of the interview at the Chasing Rainbows Museum at Dollywood and at my Tennessee Mountain Home. I had a great time with Morley. He's a wonderful and professional man. He enjoyed being in the mountains and seeing my old home place.

I'm headed back to Nashville now. I have some more work to do in the studio this week. I'm recording a couple of songs that I've written for a children's movie called "First Dog". I'll fill you in a little more on that as time goes by.

Then I'm going back to New York the first of next month to work more on 9 to 5. We will really be in full swing working on that from now until the opening in April.

I'll keep you posted on all the other craziness (but good) going on in my life.

I will always love you,
Dolly

Join the discussion! | 0 comments so far.

Busy, Busy Dolly

February 4th, 2009

2.04.09

Boy, I really am busier than the one-legged man in a butt kicking contest. I've been re-writing and perfecting all the songs for "9 to 5" The Musical which opens on April 30th, as you know. So I've been traveling back-&-forth from Nashville to New York working on that.

I'm also writing some new children's songs for the Imagination Playhouse at Dollywood this season. And I'm finalizing all the new songs for the new musical at Dollywood this year. It's called Sha-Kon-O-Hey and I've written all the songs for that. It has eight pieces of music. It commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which I am acting as their Ambassador. That involves a lot of press and preparation.

We are also involved in doing the "Backwoods Barbie" video which is being shot in Los Angeles as I speak, as well as a million other things. As soon as I catch my breath, I'll fill you in on the rest. For now, take care.

I will always love you,
Dolly

P.S. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. I'm excited. I'm going in the studio with Kenny Rogers. We're singing a duet together for his upcoming album. That will be fun.

Join the discussion! | 0 comments so far.

DOLLY PARTON'S FIRST BLOG!!!!

January 17th, 2009

1.17.09

Well, hello you. I hope we have a wonderful New Year. Thank you for a wonderful year in 2008. I started the New Year in New York working on the musical "9 to 5", due to open on Broadway on April 30th. I feel very privileged to have written all the music and lyrics for the show. I hope you get a chance to see it and hope you love it.

I spent the holidays in Nashville with Carl, family and friends. But I am glad to be back at it now. We are now planning a video for "Backwoods Barbie" and have a publicity plan for it when it comes out as a single soon. I will keep you posted with the date, etc.

I will always love you,
Dolly

P.S. Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you that I have a birthday coming up on the 19th. Well, maybe I was trying to forget. (HA!) I do hope to be kicking up my high heels on that day and night.

Join the discussion! | 0 comments so far.