This wonderful Time Life set captures Dolly Parton in concerts, tv shows, guest appearances, and interviews throughout her extensive musical career. From her first appearance in Nashville on the Porter Wagoner tv show to her recent concert at Dollywood theme park, Dolly Parton always performs at her very best. Her well known songs are featured: “Jolene”, “I Will Always Love You”, “Nine to Five”, and “Coat of Many Colors”, as well as many other songs she has written. Dolly provides commentary about her life growing up in the Smoky Mountains of Eastern Tennessee as one of twelve children, her dream to become a musical star, and her efforts once she becomes a celebrity to promote economic development in Tennessee with a theme park—Dollywood—and to encourage literacy by donating books to children. In 2018 Dolly is congratulated at the Library of Congress for her successful literacy program “Imagination Library”.
Volume 1 consists of six discs and features Dolly’s appearances on the Porter Wagoner tv show as her career takes off in the 1970s. She sings “Jolene”, “Dumb Blonde”, “Coat of Many Colors”, and more. Dolly’s success grows and she begins to host her own variety show “Dolly” in the eighties; several entertaining episodes are included. A fun appearance is with Bob Hope on his Christmas Show aboard a cruise ship in 1988 as well as her concert appearance in London in 2009; overseas the crowd loves her. Volume 2 includes guest appearances on the “Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”, the “Oprah Winfrey Show”, and “Crook and Chase”. Dolly is delightful, funny, and warm, and sings songs on each show. A series called “Song by Song: Dolly Parton” looks at the origins of some of her famous songs. A dedication ceremony at the Library of Congress for Dolly’s Imagination Library’s 100 millionth book occurs in 2018 and Dolly is presented the award by Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress.
With four discs, volume 3 contains eight more episodes of the “Dolly” variety show with guests Burt Reynolds, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, and other well-known stars. Dolly’s costumes, hair styles and make-up are sensational. Her concert “Dolly Parton: Live and Well” takes place at Dollywood and is outstanding. Containing four discs, volume 4 features three appearances by Dolly on the “Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” and interviews with famous country music stars. The remaining discs feature Grand Ole Opry video classic duets with Dolly singing with Porter Wagoner, and the CMA awards for 1975—1977. At the awards Dolly sings “Love is Like a Butterfly” and “Here You Come Again”. From viewing the collection, it is clear Dolly Parton’s song writing talent, her natural singing ability, and business acumen combined with her creative persona to ensure she become the incomparable star she is today. Highly recommended. Editor’s choice. Aud: J, H, C, P.