Woman's World

The Stories Behind Dolly Parton’s Songs—In Her Own Words

mdagnese — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 02:12:36 +0000

Dolly Parton was a beloved country music legend, an actress, a philanthropist and above all, a songwriter—or as she always called herself a ‘songteller.’ Today, the world mourns as we say goodbye to the true Queen of Country. For more than six decades, the superstar enchanted the world with her majestic voice, her larger-than-life personality and, of course, her music. A spirited storyteller at her core, Dolly turned heartbreak and hard times into songs, making us laugh, cry and dream in equal measure.

Dolly grew up in a tiny cabin at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains before making her way to the sparkling city of Nashville, Tennessee. “As a songwriter, I am influenced by everything around me—by the people around me, by the feelings of people I know and by my own joys and sorrows,” Dolly wrote in her 2020 book Songteller.

“I write a lot from my own heart. But I also just have a big imagination. When I was young, we didn’t go to the movies, so I just created my own stories. It’s kind of embedded in me to make up songs and stories,” she continued.

As we mourn the loss of an extraordinary human in every way, we’re also celebrating the extraordinary songs she gifted the world. Now, we’re looking back at the stories behind some of Dolly’s greatest hits—the inspiration that gave these once-in-a-lifetime songs their meaning. And here at Woman’s World, we’re all just beyond heartbroken by this news. We will always love you, Dolly.

Dolly Parton (1976)
David Redfern / Staff

The story behind Dolly Parton’s iconic stage debut

Dolly was born on January 19, 1946, and according to her family, she began writing songs as a toddler and performing for people around age 8. She made her celebrated Grand Ole Opry debut at the age of 13. Introduced by Johnny Cash, Dolly sang George Jones’ ‘You Gotta Be My Baby’ and received three encores.

“As I heard the band play my introduction, I lifted my head and looked up toward the lights. I smiled at the people in the balcony and then let ‘er rip,” she recalled in an official note.

Becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry was one of Dolly’s very first dreams. “I had always wanted to be a member,” she wrote on Instagram. “Back home and in country music, the epitome of success was to be on the Grand Ole Opry. To become a member was a big deal.”

Then on January 4, 1969, 23-year-old Dolly was officially inducted. “I thought back to how I’d perform on my porch at my Tennessee mountain home, imagining that one day I was going to be on the Grand Ole Opry,” she added. “By becoming an official member, I would forever be associated with the Opry. It was a dream come true. And it still is.”

The stories behind the songs: ‘Coat of Many Colors’ — a lesson in love and acceptance

(L-R) Actress Jennifer Nettles, executive producer Dolly and actress Alyvia Alyn Lind speak onstage during NBC’s ‘Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors’ movie panel discussion. (2015)
Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Dolly Parton turned one of her childhood memories into one of her most beloved songs with “Coat of Many Colors.” Released in 1971, the song climbed to No. 4 on the country charts and later lent its name to a Top 10 country album. Its message has remained strong over the decades, inspiring covers by artists including Shania Twain and Alison Krauss. But the story behind the song began long before Dolly became a star, when her family had very little and her mother lovingly stitched together a coat for her—along with a lesson she would never forget.

“My mom made me this little coat,” Dolly wrote in Songteller. “In order to make me proud of that little coat, I know now, she told me the story about Joseph from the Bible and his coat of many colors.” Unfortunately, the kids at Dolly’s school didn’t see that and she was bullied about the coat. This traumatic moment made such an impact on her and the song came about many years later.

“That little song is like a world of things. It teaches about bullying, about love, about acceptance, about good parents,” Dolly continued. “That little story has even been written into a schoolbook to teach children about being different. You have to accept everything and everyone.”

‘I Will Always Love You’—a bittersweet goodbye to Porter Wagoner

Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner in a candid portrait in Nashville (1968)
Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer via Getty

An undisputed favorite among many Dolly fans, ‘I Will Always Love You’ was a No. 1 country hit when it was released in 1974 off the Jolene album. Dolly even recorded it for the soundtrack of her 1982 movie with Burt Reynolds, The Best Little Whore House in Texas. Then, 10 years later it was famously covered by Whitney Houston for The Bodyguard.

But what was Dolly’s inspiration when she first wrote it? Well, it is technically a breakup song, but not a romantic one. She originally wrote this song while trying to free herself from working exclusively with her musical collaborator Porter Wagoner.

Dolly spent seven years performing alongside him on The Porter Wagoner Show, the TV series that helped introduce her to a national audience. But one day, she knew it was time to move on. Instead of arguing or making a phone call, Dolly wrote “I Will Always Love You” as a heartfelt goodbye and thank you for everything they’d shared.

“The song came straight from the bottom of my heart,” Dolly wrote. “When I started to sing the song, he [Porter] started to cry. He knew that I had been crying when I wrote it. He got it. He said, ‘That’s the best song you ever wrote. And you can go, if I can produce that song. I said, ‘it’s a deal!’

“Now that song is going to live forever,” she continued. “I thank Porter for that song.”

‘Jolene’—inspired by a pretty bank teller—yes, really!

Album cover for “Jolene” by Dolly Parton, which was released in 1974.
Photo by Donaldson Collection/Getty Images

Dolly has hundreds of songs—and “Jolene” is the one most frequently covered by other artists. Released in 1973, the song topped the country charts and later earned Dolly a Grammy in 2017. But its origins can be traced back to her years performing with Porter Wagoner. During that time, a young fan once asked Dolly to sign an autograph “to Jolene.” The name caught her attention—so much so that she held onto it, eventually giving it to the woman at the center of one of country music’s most famous songs.

“Then later, I came up with a story that I knew women could relate to. Of course, then I thought of a story loosely based on Carl flirting with a girl down at the bank, which was true,” Dolly wrote in Songteller. “I went down there, and she was pretty. And he was flirting. And I made the whole thing into my song’s lyrics.”

A jaw-dropping fun fact: Dolly says she may have written ‘Jolene’ and ‘I Will Always Love You’ on the same day. “When we were going through all my old tapes to put my songs on hard drives, we found that ‘I Will Always Love You’ and ‘Jolene’ were on the same cassette tape, back-to-back…it very well could have been on the same day.”

‘Here You Come Again’—Dolly’s first million-selling single

This song—which was released in 1977—was a monumental one for Dolly in a few ways. Firstly, it marked a rare time where she sang a song she didn’t write. And secondly, it was her first single to sell a million copies.

“Here You Come Again” was written by legendary husband and wife songwriting duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil before it found its way to Dolly and her team.

“Gary Klein, I think, was producing Dolly Parton, and he heard it, and he loved it. Dolly, who was so gracious and adorable, thanks us every time she sees us for the song,” Weil told Huff Post in 2017. “At the time, she felt it might be a little too slick and might cost her some of her country fans. But she was talked into doing it and now she’s thrilled that she did.”

Though it became one of Dolly’s go-to songs to perform over the years, at first she didn’t want the polished song to alienate her fans. The solution? She added in some steel guitar and turned it all the way up.

‘Do I Ever Cross Your Mind’—one of Dolly’s favorites to sing live

(L-R) Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt first connected in the early 70s.
Photo by Julie Fineman/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

This song was one of Dolly’s most played songs live and remained in her set list for decades. As the flip side of her 1982 version of “I Will Always Love You,” it became a No. 1 hit in 1982. Its most recognized moment was when Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt recorded it together for their 1999 album Trio II. Other music stars have also recorded renditions of “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind,” including Randy Travis, Tom Jones and Joan Osbourne.

“[This song] has always been one of those fun songs for me to sing,” she wrote in Songteller. “We do it a capella in my concerts, using our voices like instruments.”

“When I first recorded it, it did not have that little bridge that goes ‘Do you ever wake up lonely in the middle of the night ‘cause you miss me?’ I added that later, and that’s the version that’s on Trio II.

‘9 to 5’—a song Dolly wrote on set while ‘clicking’ her nails

(L-R) Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton act in a scene from the movie “9 to 5” which was released in 1980.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Dolly’s high-energy and infectious ‘9 to 5’ became one of her biggest crossover hits in the 1980s. In fact, the upbeat song brought Dolly’s songwriting into the pop sphere for the first time. It also went No. 1 on country and adult contemporary radio, won two Grammys and earned an Oscar nomination.

Dolly wrote ‘9 to 5’ during the filming of the movie of the same name—her first major film role. The comedy starred Dolly alongside Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. Dolly recalled the long wait times on set and how she used that time to write. “I would just take my nails and make them sound like a typewriter,” she wrote. “Off by myself, I would click my nails and use that sound as my music. I wrote ‘9 to 5’ in my head that way. I’d go back to my hotel at night and put down what I had written that day…”

“Over a long period of time, I wrote the song on my nails. I’m famous for that now. Every time I go on TV, I have to ‘play’ my nails like a typewriter.”

‘Islands in the Stream’—serendipity in the studio

Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton performing onstage together (1990)
Getty

This 1983 song became one of Dolly’s most treasured duets with Kenny Rogers, but it was actually written by the Bee Gees—and originally intended for Marvin Gaye! (An even lesser-known fact: The love song’s title was inspired by a novel of the same name written by Ernest Hemingway.) While Barry Gibb and Kenny worked on ‘Islands in the Stream’ in the studio, Kenny recalled getting stuck creatively.

“We had been singing this song in my studio in L.A. for four days,” he told People magazine. “And I finally said, ‘Barry, I don’t even like this song anymore.’ “And Barry said, ‘We need Dolly Parton.’ So I said, ‘Well, why not, you know?’ And Ken Kragen, my manager, said, ‘I saw her downstairs.’ I said, ‘Well, go get her.’

It turns out fate was in their favor because a few minutes later Dolly walked right into the studio, according to Kenny. “And Dolly, in her inimitable fashion, marched into the room and the song was never the same.” The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Adult Contemporary charts and went on to become a certified platinum hit many times over.

We will think of you every step of the way, Dolly. Thank you for your music and your magic from the bottom of our hearts!

Remembering Dolly Parton: How the Icon Quietly Changed the World

mdillard — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 19:39:33 +0000

Our hearts are broken today as we say goodbye to Dolly Parton, the beloved country music legend whose voice, sparkling personality and extraordinary songwriting made her one of the most cherished stars around the globe.

Her family announced that Dolly died August 25 at age 80. In a statement shared by her nephew Bryan Seaver, he said, “Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.” While Dolly wrote an estimated 3,000 songs, sold more than 100 million records and gave us iconic toe-tapping treasures like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You,” her impact on the world reaches beyond just her musical talents and songwriting expertise.

Her family and fans adored her, and her influence was felt on and off the stage. She helped children discover the joy of reading, helped families rebuild after devastating fires, supported medical research, created jobs in her beloved East Tennessee and opened doors for people who simply needed someone to believe in them.

Dolly never shied away from helping others, and she has constantly used her own success to lift others up, especially children and the less fortunate.

Dolly’s Imagination Library Put Books in Little Hands

In honor of her father, Robert Lee Parton, who never learned to read or write, Dolly founded the Imagination Library in 1995 in her native Sevier County, Tennessee, through the Dollywood Foundation. Dolly’s Imagination Library program sends a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book every month to registered children from birth through age 5, regardless of their family’s income. What began as a local effort has blossomed into a worldwide movement spanning the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland to promote literacy.

Dolly Parton reads “Coat of Many Colors,” the one hundred millionth book donated by Parton’s nonprofit Imagination Library, during a ceremony in the Great Hall
Shawn Miller

As of June 2026, the Imagination Library had gifted more than 325 million books and sends more than 3.5 million books each month to children around the world. The program’s purpose has always been to help children fall in love with reading, give families books to share together and make sure every child has the opportunity to experience the wonder that can come from opening a book. Dolly once said, “You can never get enough books in the hands of enough children.”

Her love of children’s literature extended to books she wrote herself, too. In 1996, she turned her beloved song and childhood memory into Coat of Many Colors, the story of a little girl whose mother lovingly makes her a coat from scraps. In 2009, she wrote I Am a Rainbow, using the colors of the rainbow to help children understand and express their emotions. In 2023, she teamed with Erica S. Perl on Dolly Parton’s Billy the Kid Makes It Big, introducing young readers to her beloved French bulldog “god-dog,” Billy, who travels to Nashville, faces bullies and learns to believe in himself. The following year brought Dolly Parton’s Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas, a heartwarming holiday adventure about Billy choosing what matters most: fame or family.

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She Helped Her Hometown Rise Again

No matter how high her star rose, one thing always remained true — Dolly never forgot her roots. When wildfires swept through the Great Smoky Mountains in November 2016, killing 14 people and destroying thousands of homes and businesses, she immediately stepped in to help her neighbors.

Through her My People Fund with the Dollywood Foundation, Dolly provided families who had lost their homes with $1,000 a month for six months, eventually increasing the final payment to $5,000 as donations grew. Her efforts provided more than $10,000 to each participating family, and her telethon and other fundraising efforts brought millions of dollars in relief to the region.

The FBI even honored Dolly with its 2018 Director’s Community Leadership Award for her work helping wildfire victims. And when Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the Southeast in 2024, Dolly again stepped forward, donating $2 million to relief efforts — $1 million personally and another $1 million through her businesses and the Dollywood Foundation.

Dolly Always Found Ways to Help

Whenever Dolly saw a need, she wouldn’t stop searching for ways to help. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for coronavirus research, funding that contributed to the development of the Moderna vaccine.

In 2022, she gave another $1 million to Vanderbilt for pediatric infectious-disease research. Her generosity reached countless other causes — including disaster relief, education, cancer research, children’s health and her local Tennessee communities. And sometimes her giving was quiet and personal. She was revealed to have paid for band uniforms for Tennessee high schools and used royalties from Whitney Houston’s recording of “I Will Always Love You” to purchase a Nashville strip mall in order to support the surrounding Black community.

Her huge heart for helping earned her the 2022 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, honoring her work to alleviate poverty, expand early childhood education, increase college access and advance medical research. In 2025, she received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar recognizing her decades of charitable work and efforts to promote human welfare.

But Dolly never seemed to see herself as extraordinary for giving. “I just give from my heart,” she said when accepting the Carnegie honor. “I just see a need, and if I can fill it, then I will.” And that may be the simplest explanation for the extraordinary mark she left on the world: She saw a need, and she answered it.

Dolly’s Kindness Will Keep Singing

Dolly Parton leaves behind more than 3,000 songs, countless unforgettable performances and a career that made her a household name. If you ask just about anyone, they’ll be able to tell you how Dolly Parton impacted their life.

But perhaps the most beautiful measure of her life isn’t even the music that changed us, but rather the ways she helped spark a child’s love for reading, how she extended a helping hand to a family who lost everything, or how she saved a life from the medical research she helped make possible.

Dolly once said, “My dream was to make as many people happy as I could in this life.” She did that with her music, her generosity, and her “cup of ambition” that inspired us all.

Her songs will continue to play, her books will continue to reach little hands, and the kindness she shared will keep making the world a little brighter for generations to come.

We Saw Dolly's Symphony Show—Inside the Spectacular Experience (Excl)

mdagnese — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:30:41 +0000

On a summer night in 1959, a 13-year-old Dolly Parton made her live debut at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Introduced by Johnny Cash, she walked onto the legendary stage, sang George Jones’ “You Gotta Be My Baby,” earned three encores—and has been dazzling audiences ever since. For nearly six decades, Dolly has filled concert halls and arenas around the world. So a few years ago, when she and her publishers pitched the Nashville Symphony on creating a “symphonic homage” to her life and work, the answer was an easy yes. The result is Dolly Parton in Symphony: Threads, a celebration of her extraordinary legacy.

Last week, Woman’s World attended the show in Nashville—and stepped backstage into a recreation of Dolly’s iconic dressing rooms from over the years. We also caught up with the show’s lead vocalists Katelyn Drye, Hollie Hammel and Julie Williams, who perform Dolly’s tunes every night. They dished on what Dolly means to them, their favorite songs and what it was like finally meeting the icon.

Whether you’re a lifelong Dolly fan, looking to get tickets or simply want to know what this new show is all about, you’re in the right place! We’re sharing everything you need to know—from the expansive setlist to what it’s like inside the theater, to how you can see the show in a city near you and more!

What is Dolly Parton’s ‘Threads: My Songs In Symphony’?

Dolly Parton attends the symphony’s world premiere in Nashville! (2025)
Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Rather than a traditional concert, Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony unfolds as a cinematic celebration of the country icon’s extraordinary life and career. With Dolly herself appearing on screen, she virtually guides audiences onscreen through stories behind her music. The production pairs visuals with lush new orchestral arrangements by conductor David Hamilton, who performs alongside guest vocalists and musicians on stage.

The program weaves together classics—including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You”—with personal favorites and even a preview of an unreleased song from her upcoming Broadway musical (which Woman’s World previewed last summer!), creating a heartfelt tribute.

Meet the 3 “Dollys”—the talented vocalists behind the magic!

(L to R) Julie Williams, Katelyn Drye and Hollie Hammel.
Courtesy of @schirmer.theatrical on Instagram

While dozens of talented people work together to create this musical magic night after night, the three vocalists who bring Dolly’s songs to life truly steal the show. Each brings her own unique style and passion to the performance—and meeting them backstage ahead of the show was an extra special treat! The backstage “dressing room” was a replica inspired by Dolly’s various spaces over the years. Filled with handwritten notes from fans, sheet music, a beautiful piano and acoustic guitar and framed photos of Dolly galore, walking through the room is like taking a musical stroll down memory lane.

Katelyn Drye, a singer-songwriter based in Nashville, is one half of the country duo, The Dryes, alongside her husband Derek. After appearing on season 22 of The Voice, the pair sought guidance from their coach Blake Shelton and now continue to write, record and perform across the country. During Dolly’s symphony show, the Dryes perform “Islands In the Stream” together.

When we caught up with Katelyn backstage before the show, her excitement was palpable. “My whole life I have always told people that I would meet Dolly,” she told Woman’s World. “I am a person who speaks very boldly a lot of times about my dreams. My husband and I feel blessed to be a part of this show. I look back at my journey and I see all the little dots that led me here and I’m very thankful for it.”

The Dryes performing on the Voice in 2022.
Greg Gayne/NBC via Getty Images

Julie Williams is part of Nashville’s buzzing Americana scene after being named one of CMT’s Next Women of Country and Billboard’s Country Rookie. She’s also a member of the Black Opry Revue and her recent song, “The Women Who Made Me,” is a sweeping ‘90s country-inspired tune—complete with a music video starring country legend Trisha Yearwood.

“I first got the call to audition for the show when I was getting off a plane,” Julie said backstage. “Then I checked my email and saw the subject line: ‘audition to sing for Dolly Parton’ and I immediately started screaming. I auditioned with ‘Jolene’ and ‘The Coat of Many Colors.’ It’s now been over a year touring with the show and it truly gets better every single night.”

Rounding out the trio is Hollie Hammel, a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter and producer. Originally from Nashville, Hollie has toured with a range of artists from Joss Stone to Hans Zimmer and Brandi Carlile. Backstage ahead of the show, Hollie shared some of her favorite moments leading up to the show’s premiere including the time Dolly sat in during a rehearsal.

“Dolly was up in the box listening,” she said. “Quite literally the best moment of my life was getting a standing ovation from Dolly. I will never forget that. And getting to meet her—she was just as kind as everyone says. Now, whenever I’m doubting myself I think back to that night. I think to myself, if I got Dolly’s stamp of approval, who am I to not believe in myself? It was really, really encouraging.”

Inside Dolly’s symphony show—and why it’s so special

Dolly is seen onscreen throughout the entire symphony show, sharing stories behind her iconic songs.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Stepping into the theater to see Dolly’s song catalog performed with a symphony is nothing short of magical. After taking our seats, the full orchestra played background music as the lights dimmed. Then, Dolly appeared virtually to greet the crowd and continued popping in throughout the show as emcee.

“The threads of my life are woven together through my songs,” Dolly told the audience. “That’s why this project, Threads: My Songs In Symphony, is so special to me.”

The symphony, beautifully led by David Hamilton, played 17 songs in total with each of the three vocalists leading on different songs, but sometimes harmonizing together and hopping off the stage to dance and sing with fans in the crowd.

Between the flawless stage production, the musicians’ onstage enthusiasm, the vocalists’ eye-catching ensembles and Dolly’s “visits” where she shared the heartfelt, real-life stories behind her songs—from anecdotes about her Porter Wagoner days to the real woman behind her hit “Jolene” and more—the 90-minute show went by quickly.

There’s something uniquely moving about being in Dolly’s presence (even virtually!) while hearing her legendary songs come to life with the power of a full orchestra. Overall, the show was both grand and intimate. Throughout, the audience laughed, sang, danced and cried and definitely left the theater feeling a little closer to the beloved Queen of Country.

Setlist for Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs In Symphony

Dolly Parton (1976)
David Redfern / Staff

The “summer celebration” residency with the Nashville symphony ran from June through July with a 17-song set list featuring Dolly’s most beloved tunes. The program is listed below.

Threads Overture

Two Doors Down

My Tennessee Mountain Home

Blue Smoke

The Bridge

Better Get to Livin’

Jolene

If You Hadn’t Been There (from her upcoming Broadway musical)

Backwoods Barbie

Eagle When She Flies

Light of a Clear Blue Morning

Here You Come Again

Islands in the Stream

Coat of Many Colors

Travelin’ Thru

Baby I’m Burnin’

I Will Always Love You

How to get tickets to Dolly’s symphony show

Ready to experience this magical show for yourself? Tickets for Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony are available through each individual venue or orchestra’s box office. Fans can find ticket links and a complete tour schedule on the show’s official website, where they’ll be directed to the appropriate symphony for their chosen performance.

Remaining 2026 dates and cities:

September 11 – Calgary, AB
October 10 – Springfield, MO
October 17 – Jackson, TN
October 24 – Spokane, WA
October 30 – Houston, TX
November 1 – Houston, TX
November 6 – Milwaukee, WI
November 7 – Milwaukee, WI
November 8 – Milwaukee, WI

For more information, visit dollysymphony.com.

Dove Award Nominees Are In—Is Your Favorite Artist on the List?

mdillard — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:01:52 +0000

For Christian music fans, one of the biggest announcements of the year has officially arrived.

The Gospel Music Association unveiled the nominees for the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards, which celebrate the songs, albums and artists that have shaped Christian and Gospel music over the past year. See the full list of nominees at GospelMusic.org.

Eight-time Dove Award winner Tauren Wells will return to host the ceremony for a fourth consecutive year. This year, Wells is also serving as an executive producer, will perform during the show and earned two nominations of his own.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for ACM / John Shearer

Coming at no surprise, the incredible Phil Wickham leads all male artists with nine nominations, while the beautiful and beloved CeCe Winans tops all female artists with seven. Joining them in the coveted Artist of the Year category are Brandon Lake, Lauren Daigle and Josiah Queen.

New Artist of the Year nominees represent Christian music’s next generation

While many familiar names are back on this year’s ballot, the Dove Awards consistently shines a light on Christian music’s rising stars. The nominees for New Artist of the Year are bodie, Emerson Day, Jamie MacDonald, Megan Woods and SEU Worship. Among them, MacDonald continues her breakout year with a nomination that follows the success of her debut self-titled album and the hit song “Left It In the River,” which also earned a Song of the Year nomination.

Tauren Wells will return to host the Dove Awards for the fourth consecutive year, marking one of the longest hosting runs in the show’s history
Gospel Music Association

Brandon Lake, Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley highlight faith’s influence on country music

Faith continues to resonate across country music as well. Nominees for Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year include: Ella Langley’s “Speaking Terms”, Brandon Lake and Lainey Wilson’s “The Jesus I Know Now”, Ben Fuller’s “Black Sheep”, Scotty Inman’s “Broken Man Can”, Anne Wilson and Cole Swindell’s “Still Do”.

Lake and Wilson’s collaboration has already become one of Christian music’s standout moments of the year after the pair performed the song together during Cowboy Church at CMA Fest in Nashville. A moving performance that introduced thousands of country music fans to their powerful message of faith.

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As her star rises, Ella Langley has also been increasingly open about her Christian faith. During a recent concert, the country star paused her set to remind fans of their worth in God’s eyes, telling the crowd:

“You are good enough today. The fact that you woke up this morning made you good enough for today. The fact that we have a God that loves us is why you are good enough today. You will always be good enough. You will always be good enough. We’ll always fall short but always be good enough for that kind of love. I hope today that if you heard anything from me in this set tonight, I want you to feel that kind of love. Because there’s no one else in this world that can give it to you the way that our Lord and Savior can. That type of love.”

That same heart for God’s unconditional love shines through in “Speaking Terms,” her nominated song about grace and forgiveness. Langley is proof that when artists share their faith authentically, it touches hearts in profound ways.

Ella Langley is nominated for Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images

The 2026 Dove Awards theme celebrates unity in Christ

As one of Christian music’s favorite nights, the Dove Awards chooses a theme and focus for the show each year. This year’s theme is “Together For One,” inspired by Colossians 3:14: “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

“Every year, the Dove Awards bring the diverse voices of the Christian music community together to celebrate the God we all serve, and that’s exactly the heart behind this year’s theme, ‘Together For One,’ says Jackie Patillo, President of the Gospel Music Association. “This year’s class of nominees embodies that spirit, creating life-changing music that continues to unite people across the globe.”

CeCe Winans on the cover of Woman’s World
Woman's World

How to watch the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards

Christian music’s biggest night returns to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Tuesday, October 6, where thousands of fans, artists and industry leaders will gather for an unforgettable evening celebrating faith through music.

Beyond the awards show, fans can also take part in the Dove Awards Music City Fan Experience, which includes a Night of Worship at the historic Ryman Auditorium with Elevation Worship, the New Artist of the Year Showcase, a riverboat lunch cruise featuring artists and songwriters, exclusive faith-based entertainment previews and premium awards seating.

The 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards will broadcast exclusively on TBN and the TBN+ App on Friday, October 9, at 7:30 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET, with a rebroadcast on Friday, October 16, at the same times. Fans can also listen live on SiriusXM’s The Message (Channel 65) during the October 9 simulcast.

Thomas Rhett and Niall Horan Join Ella's Fellas Trend

mdillard — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 21:50:36 +0000

Thomas Rhett and Niall Horan have quickly become one of our favorite musical duos. After sharing the stage for Niall’s Grand Ole Opry debut and celebrating Thomas Rhett’s induction into the Music City Walk of Fame, the pals took their friendship to another level, performing together at Nashville’s GEODIS Park before heading to Hersheypark Stadium over the weekend.

In Nashville and at Hersheypark, fans expected incredible vocals and plenty of laughs as the two stars bantered on stage, but they also got an unexpected treat when the duo tipped their cowboy hats to one of country music’s brightest talents: Ella Langley.

Thomas Rhett and Niall Horan came together to perform Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’
Joseph Okpako/WireImage

What are ‘Ella’s Fellas’?

If you’ve been on social media lately, chances are you’ve seen the phrase “Ella’s Fellas.” The nickname has become a playful internet trend celebrating the growing list of male artists and fans who can’t stop singing Ella Langley’s praises. All for good reason, as Langley’s powerhouse voice, heartfelt songwriting and star power have earned admiration from fans and artists alike.

From fellow country stars covering her songs to openly cheering her on, these musicians and fans have proudly embraced the name for Ella’s unofficial fan club.

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‘We are Ella’s Fellas’

Thomas Rhett and Niall Horan had no shame in admitting their infatuation with the country superstar during both their GEODIS Park and Hersheypark Stadium concerts. Before breaking into Langley’s hit “Choosin’ Texas,” Thomas Rhett smiled at the crowd and declared, “We are Ella’s Fellas up here on stage tonight,” as Niall chuckled and nodded beside him in agreement.

The pair then launched into a gorgeous rendition of the song as their voices blended effortlessly while clearly having the time of their lives. Their performance wasn’t just a fun surprise — it was a genuine show of respect for a fellow artist whose career continues to soar.

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We’re here for this friendship

As far as we’re concerned, Thomas Rhett and Niall Horan have officially been initiated into the Ella’s Fellas fan club. We already adored watching this unlikely friendship blossom — from the Grand Ole Opry to the Walk of Fame celebration and now two unforgettable stadium shows. But seeing them support one of our favorite country stars makes us love them even more. Here’s to more beautiful friendships, more surprise covers, and more reasons to champion all artists.

Thomas Rhett Celebrates Macy Page's Chemo Milestone

mdillard — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 21:06:46 +0000

When Thomas Rhett took the stage at Nashville’s Geodis Park on July 9th, he had something more important than his hit songs to celebrate. His sister-in-law, Macy Page, had just rung the bell marking the end of six months of chemotherapy for stage 3 breast cancer.

“I want to sing a song to you about how life might hit you in funny places, and you never know what’s going to happen around the corner, but you just embrace it. You keep on going,” the country star told the crowd, his voice full of emotion. It was a moment that perfectly captured what fans love most about Thomas Rhett — his unwavering devotion to family, no matter what life throws their way.

Despite his overwhelming list of accolades and awards, the country music superstar never fails to put his wife, Lauren, and their five children ahead of everything else. Beyond his wife and children, Thomas Rhett and Lauren are extremely close with the rest of their tight-knit family — including both sets of parents and their siblings, among them Lauren’s sister, Macy Page, who has been amongst the biggest challenges of her life.

The Gregory-Akins-Page family spent time together at the beach this summer throughout Macy’s treatments
@macycpage

Macy Page’s breast cancer diagnosis came after an inspiring self-check

In February, Macy’s world changed when she received news no one wants to hear: She had stage 3 breast cancer. But in true family fashion, she didn’t face it alone — and she didn’t stay silent.

Inspired by watching the cancer journey of Bridget Bahl, creative director and co-founder of The Bar, Macy made a decision that would save her life: She did a self-check. The diagnosis was serious — the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes — but it hadn’t spread anywhere else in her body, which gave her so much hope despite the circumstance.

Thomas Rhett and Lauren’s family supported Macy through treatment

Throughout six months of chemotherapy, Macy showed the kind of strength that inspires everyone around her. She held tight to her faith, leaned on her family, and refused to let cancer steal life’s precious moments. When Thomas and Lauren welcomed their fifth child, baby boy Brave, Macy visited him in the hospital.

Despite everything happening in her own life, Macy was there for her sister, Lauren, in the hospital with their mother, Lisa, when baby Brave was born
@macycpage

Finally, after six months of chemo treatments, came the moment everyone had been praying for…Macy had her final round. She got to ring the bell — a tradition marking the end of cancer treatment — and there were celebrations from the entire family.

Thomas Rhett’s emotional tribute during his Soundtrack to Life tour

Just one day after Macy rang that bell, Thomas Rhett took the stage for his first-ever performance at Nashville’s GEODIS Park on July 9th. And he knew exactly who he wanted to honor.

Before singing his hit song “Life Changes,” the singer paused to share something deeply personal with the crowd.

Standing in front of thousands of fans, Thomas Rhett’s face lit up with joy as he shared the news about Macy. “I would normally set this song up talking about my children. This year we had our fifth kid, and it is absolutely insane. I’ve got a little boy,” he said, smiling ear to ear.

“But I really want to shout out a huge praise and a huge celebration; she’s not here tonight because she’s probably resting. But my sister-in-law got to ring the bell yesterday in her last day of chemotherapy. I love you, Macy, wherever you are.”

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Thomas Rhett’s public declaration of love showed the world what family support really looks like. He went on to say, “So I want to sing a song to you about how life might hit you in funny places, and you never know what’s going to happen around the corner, but you just embrace it. You keep on going.”

Macy’s faith and strength carried her through chemotherapy

While completing chemotherapy is a major victory, Macy’s journey isn’t over yet. She still faces surgery and likely radiation treatments ahead. But her spirit remains unshakeable, as she shared with her followers on Instagram.

Taking to Instagram, Macy shared her joy and her faith with the world: “I’m officially D O N E with chemo!!!!! Those words feel so surreal to say. I know the road ahead is long with surgery & more than likely radiation, but I have so much peace knowing the Lord has gone before me. And I’m not gonna lie, this portion felt huge.”

Thomas Rhett and Lauren’s entire family reminds us that when life throws its hardest challenges our way, love, faith, and family can carry us through. Macy’s journey isn’t just about surviving cancer; it’s about the power of staying strong, keeping faith, and knowing you’re never alone. And that’s a message of hope we can all hold onto.

Bonnie Tyler’s Inspiring Legacy: The Singer Who Vowed to Never Retire

jdennison — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:41:20 +0000

For anyone who has ever belted out “Turn around, bright eyes” into a hairbrush, the news lands with the weight of a lifetime of memories. Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer whose raspy, soul-stirring voice defined an era, has died at 75. And while her passing is a loss, her life offers something worth holding onto: the reminder that vitality, passion and purpose don’t have an expiration date.

Tyler died in a hospital in Portugal on the night of Wednesday, July 8; her family confirmed the following day. “Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in a hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for,” the message shared on her Facebook page read. The family asked for privacy “to deal with this tragedy.”

Her death came just two months after a health scare that will feel familiar to anyone who has watched a loved one—or themselves—navigate a sudden hospital stay later in life. In early May, Tyler was admitted to a hospital in Faro, Portugal, where she kept a home, for emergency intestinal surgery. The operation went well, her team announced at the time, and she was recuperating. A day later, her manager shared that doctors had placed her in an induced coma to aid her recovery. For a woman who had spent 50 years on stages around the world, it was a jarring pause.

A voice born of grit

Tyler was born Gaynor Hopkins in Wales on June 8, 1951. She was singing in a club with her band in 1975 when a talent scout discovered her, and soon after she signed with RCA Records and adopted the stage name that would follow her for the rest of her life. Her debut single, “My! My! Honeycomb,” arrived in 1976, followed by “Lost in France” that same year and the beloved “It’s a Heartache” in 1977. That February, she released her first album, The World Starts Tonight. Her second album, 1978’s Natural Force, was certified gold.

Then came 1983—and everything changed.

Bonnie Tyler performs at Theater am Potsdamer Platz on May 3, 2025, in Berlin, Germany
Jakubaszek/Redferns

The song that became a soundtrack for generations

“Total Eclipse of the Heart” spent four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. It earned Tyler a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1984. If you were alive in the 1980s, you likely have a memory attached to it—a wedding, a road trip, a heartbreak, a slow dance in a gymnasium under crepe paper streamers.

What many fans never knew is that the song almost didn’t belong to Tyler at all. In a 2023 interview with The Guardian, Tyler revealed that songwriter Jim Steinman had originally written it for a Broadway musical version of the vampire tale Nosferatu—a project he never finished. When Tyler visited Steinman’s Central Park apartment, he played it for her at his grand piano while singer Rory Dodd sang along.

“I understood immediately what an incredible song it was,” Tyler recalled. “I poured my heart out singing it. We shot the video in a frightening gothic former asylum in Surrey. The guard dogs wouldn’t set foot in the rooms downstairs where they used to give people electric shock treatment.”

The following year, she landed another anthem, “Holding Out for a Hero,” from the Footloose soundtrack. And in 1988, she released a single called “The Best”—a song that would find a second life the very next year when Tina Turner covered it and made it her own signature. Tyler’s fingerprints were on the biggest sounds of the decade, whether listeners realized it or not.

The marriage that lasted a lifetime

Tyler married businessman Robert Sullivan in July 1973—more than 50 years before her death. The couple never had children, but they built a life together that spanned continents, decades and the whirlwind of pop stardom. In an industry where marriages rarely survive one hit record, theirs quietly outlasted them all. She is survived by Sullivan.

For readers who have built long marriages of their own, there’s something quietly moving about that half-century partnership. It’s the kind of love that doesn’t make headlines but shapes every good thing that follows.

‘I’m never going to retire’

Perhaps the most inspiring piece of Tyler’s legacy is the philosophy she carried into her 70s. She released 18 studio albums over her career, with her final full-length record, The Best Is Yet to Come, arriving in 2021. She kept releasing new singles after that. She kept performing. She kept saying yes.

“I’m doing all right. I’m quite fit for my age, thank God. And I’m never going to retire,” she told The Sun in 2021. “I look at Tom Jones, he’s amazing. His voice is as strong as ever—and he’s got 10 years on me.”

Those words hit differently now. Not because they were prophetic, but because they were true to who she was. She wasn’t clinging to a past life. She was choosing, every single day, to keep doing the thing she loved. And she did it right up until the illness that took her.

For women in their 60s and 70s watching from the audience of their own lives, that mindset is worth carrying forward. So many of us have been quietly told—by culture, by advertising, by the assumptions of others—that a certain age is when you begin to fade. Tyler rejected that script entirely. Her voice, gravelly and glorious, refused to be tamed by time.

A bittersweet farewell

A card is left along floral tributes at the home of Bonnie Tyler on July 9, 2026 in Swansea, Wales. Singer Bonnie Tyler has died aged 75. According to her website, she “unexpectedly” died last night in a Portuguese hospital, where she had been receiving treatment for an illness
Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

There is something particularly tender about losing an artist whose music grew up with you. The songs Tyler recorded in the 1980s aren’t just tracks on a playlist. They’re time capsules. They’re the sound of your kitchen radio in 1983. They’re the wedding you attended, the crush you couldn’t shake, the drive home from work when a chorus made you feel understood.

Her sudden decline is a reminder, too, of how quickly life can shift—how a routine hospital stay can become something else, how the woman who was fit and touring in her 70s can be gone within weeks. It’s the kind of story that quietly nudges each of us to call the friend we’ve been meaning to call, to book the trip, to sing loudly in the car.

Tyler once said the song that made her famous was, at its heart, about longing. About turning around, and turning around, and turning around again. It feels fitting to turn around one more time toward her now—with gratitude for the voice, the vitality and the reminder that the best really can still be yet to come.

Thomas Rhett Celebrates Music City Walk of Fame Honor

mdillard — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 22:07:48 +0000

Country superstar Thomas Rhett added another milestone to his remarkable career when he was honored with the 113th star on the Music City Walk of Fame today in Nashville, a fitting tribute to one of country music’s biggest hitmakers.

This milestone celebrates his extraordinary 14-year career that includes seven studio albums, 25 chart-topping hits, more than 16 billion radio streams, and awards from the ACMs, CMAs, and Grammys. But as friend and fellow country star Jordan Davis told the crowd, Rhett’s greatest achievement isn’t measured in awards or sold-out arenas.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Thomas Rhett shared that when his daughter was recently asked what her famous dad does for work, she didn’t mention his 25 No. 1 hits or sold-out stadium tours. Her answer? “You sing.” And for the country superstar, that simple response captures everything he values most.

During the ceremony, host Kelly Sutton celebrated the country star’s remarkable journey. “Keep in mind his career started just 14 years ago,” Sutton said. “We fans have gotten to know his family so well. We know that this level of success only comes after a tremendous amount of work.”

Thomas Rhett speaks onstage during his Music City Walk of Fame induction ceremony
Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Jordan Davis says Thomas Rhett’s greatest success isn’t his music—it’s his family

One of the ceremony’s most heartfelt moments came when fellow country star and close friend Jordan Davis took the stage to introduce Thomas Rhett, reflecting on both their friendship and the values that have defined Rhett’s career.

Davis said Rhett’s greatest achievement isn’t measured by awards or sold-out arenas. “The thing I think I most admire about him is that he measures success totally different than most people,” Davis said.

“We’re all here to celebrate the star that Thomas Rhett obviously is, but if you spent any time around him, you know that TR’s pride is not found in a writing room or on the stage. His pride is found at home with his five beautiful kids and his lovely wife, Lauren, and I believe that pride and that love for them is what makes his music so impactful.

“You can’t fake authenticity; it has to be earned, and Thomas has earned that in every step of the way. So today the star is well-deserved recognition of an extraordinary career that represents years of talent, dedication, countless hours of hard work, but for those who know Thomas, it also represents something deeper. It’s a reminder that you can achieve incredible success without losing your humility, your kindness, and your values.”

Niall Horan celebrates Thomas Rhett after emotional Grand Ole Opry debut

Adding to the celebration was one of Rhett’s closest friends, Niall Horan, who made a special appearance just one day after Rhett had stood beside him for his Grand Ole Opry debut. The timing made the week even more meaningful, as the two friends were also set to perform together at Nashville’s Geodis Park tomorrow night.

Reflecting on their decade-long friendship, Rhett shared, “We’ve known each other for about 10 years now; last night was the coolest moment I’ve ever gotten to have with Naill. Watching how nervous he was — a guy that’s played stadiums his whole life — to be like a little boy walking up on stage last night was the coolest memory I probably will ever have with Naill. To top it off, playing at Geodis Park tomorrow night, both our first time playing there and playing any shows together. It’s a special, overwhelming week for me.”

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Thomas Rhett says wife Lauren and daughters keep him grounded through fame

While Rhett’s musical accomplishments continue to grow, he made it clear that the greatest joy in his life is his family. Married to his wife, Lauren Akins, since 2012, the couple is raising their four daughters and newest son—Willa Gray, Ada James, Lennon Love, Lillie Carolina and Brave Elijah—and Rhett continuously credits them for keeping him grounded amid his superstardom.

Throughout the ceremony, he spoke about his family and how they continually remind him what truly matters. He shared an anecdote about asking his daughter what she thinks he does for work. “She did not answer me with, ‘You’re an entertainer’ or ‘You’re a country artist’ or ‘You have number one songs,’ just, ‘You sing.’ And I love that because to her that is all it is and it’s simple,” he said, “And in so many ways she’s right.” He urged fans and supporters to chase their dreams but not at the expense of missing moments with family.

Lauren Akins and Thomas Rhett pose with their children during the Music City Walk of Fame induction ceremony for Thomas Rhett at Music City Walk of Fame
Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Thomas Rhett’s Music City Walk of Fame star celebrates a career built on talent, humility and family

As family, friends and fans gathered around him, the Walk of Fame induction became more than a celebration of an extraordinary career — it was a reflection of the character behind the success. With 25 #1 hits and billions of streams, Thomas Rhett has cemented his place among country music’s greatest stars.

Surrounded by Lauren, their children, and those who have supported him every step of the way, receiving the 113th star on the Music City Walk of Fame was a fitting honor for an artist whose talent, humility and devotion to family have made him one of Nashville’s most beloved entertainers.

Garth Brooks Announces 2026 Tour—How to Get Tickets

Raquel Lekic — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 18:29:44 +0000

Garth Brooks has long been an influential figure in the country music world, known for singalong hits like “Friends in Low Places” and “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” and this summer, he’s taking his talents out on the road yet again with the “Blame It All On My Roots” tour, stopping at an arena near you. Here, everything to know about Garth Brooks’ tour kicking off in August, including how to get tickets and what fans can expect.

Garth Brooks kicks off an arena tour in 2026

Earlier today, Garth Brooks announced his tour would begin later this summer. At this time, only two shows have been announced. On August 21 and 22, he will bring his hits to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. If you’re curious as to why this tour only consists of two dates so far, folks on Reddit have speculated that more dates will be announced over time.

“He announced back-to-back dates at a single venue, which is exactly how he did it last time, announcing additional shows as tickets sell while (literally) watching sale counts minutes after they go on sale,” wrote one Reddit user. “It’s the best approach to touring that I’ve ever seen from someone at his level. It kills scalpers if an artist is going to add new shows at the same venue if the first one sells out immediately,” chimed in another.

The iconic Drum Pod returns

The “Blame It All On My Roots” tour will pay homage to Brooks’ 1996 tour in a unique way: The Drum Pod—a structure that surrounded his drummer and became synonymous with his shows during this era—will be making its return!

Garth Brooks, 1994
Neil Kitson/Redferns/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

In a post shared to his Instagram, that already has 25,000 likes, Brooks shared this exciting tidbit. “Oh, yeah. How long has it been old girl?,” he said while gradually revealing the enclosure. “Thirty years? A little dusty. You know what? Maybe it’s time. Maybe it’s time we put you back to work.”

“Going back into the arenas is about putting the stadium show in a box,” Garth said in his announcement. “The excitement gets multiplied by the intimacy. Every seat is a great seat. This is personal.”

Garth Brooks tour: How to get tickets

Tickets for Garth Brooks’ 2026 tour will go on sale on Friday, July 17 at 10 a.m., sold through Ticketmaster. According to the official tour announcement, there will be no pre-sale for these events, and all tickets will go on sale at once, with each buyer able to purchase a maximum of eight tickets.

With a tour ahead, Garth recently looked back on his career in conversation with The Times. “Even though I’ve sold a lot of records, I’m still a dreamer. That’s my job.”

For fans who’ve been dreaming of seeing him live, this intimate arena tour is your chance.

Dolly Parton Shares Her Songwriting Secrets—From 'Jolene' to 'Coat of Many Colors'—In Her Own Words!

mdagnese — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 17:30:17 +0000

Ever wondered what Dolly Parton was thinking when she wrote ‘Jolene’? Or what inspired ‘Coat of Many Colors‘? For more than six decades, Dolly has enchanted the world with her remarkable voice, iconic style and charismatic personality. But years before her sparkling stage presence emerged, Dolly was just a girl growing up in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee—a girl who grew up to be one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

In 2020, Dolly released Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, a 370-page tome filled to the brim with stories and secrets behind some of her most beloved songs. If you’ve always been curious about what Dolly was thinking when she wrote ‘9 to 5,’ ‘I Will Always Love You’ and more, you’re in for a treat!

Here, we handpicked 5 fan-favorite Dolly Parton songs—in no particular order—and dug into their fascinating history. Keep reading to discover a little more about your favorite Dolly songs—in her own words!

Chronicle Books
Chronicle Books

Dolly Parton’s songwriting process: ‘I write a lot from my own heart’

Dolly smiling brightly on stage (1976)
David Redfern / Staff

Dolly was born on January 19, 1946 and according to her family, she began writing songs as a toddler and performing for people around age 8. She famously made her Grand Ole Opry debut at the age of 13. Introduced by the one-and-only Johnny Cash, Dolly sang George Jones’ ‘You Gotta Be My Baby’ and received three encores.

“As a songwriter, I am influenced by everything around me—by the people around me, by the feelings of people I know and by my own joys and sorrows,” Dolly writes in Songteller. “I write a lot from my own heart. But I also just have a big imagination. When I was young, we didn’t go to the movies, so I just created my own stories. It’s kind of embedded in me to make up songs and stories.”

The stories behind the songs: ‘Coat of Many Colors’—a lesson in love and acceptance

Released in 1971, ‘Coat of Many Colors’ rose to No. 4 on the country charts and was the title track of a Top 10 hit country LP the following year. This cherished song has been covered over the years from fellow country stars like Shania Twain and Alison Krauss, but the idea for the song goes all the way back to Dolly’s childhood. Dolly’s family grew up very poor, but one day her mom made her a coat—and told her a story about the coat.

“My mom made me this little coat,” Dolly writes. “In order to make me proud of that little coat, I know now, she told me the story about Joseph from the Bible and his coat of many colors.” Unfortunately, the kids at Dolly’s school didn’t see that and she was bullied about the coat. This traumatic moment made such an impact on her and the song came about many years later.

“That little song is like a world of things. It teaches about bullying, about love, about acceptance, about good parents,” Dolly writes. “That little story has even been written into a schoolbook to teach children about being different. You have to accept everything and everyone.”

Dolly’s ‘Blue Ridge Mountain Boy’ is a nod to her beloved husband Carl Dean

Dolly Parton and Carl Dean
@dollyparton/Instagram

In 1969, Dolly released ‘Blue Ridge Mountain Boy’ and it landed at No. 45 on the country charts. The song is considered one of Dolly’s deeper cuts and it’s about her beloved husband Carl Dean—Carl adored Dolly, but he famously didn’t adore the spotlight.

“‘My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy,’ is about a girl whose dream was to get out of the country,” Dolly writes. “A lot of people don’t realize I put my husband on the cover of the album.”

How ‘I Will Always Love You’ became Dolly’s heartfelt goodbye to Porter Wagoner

Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner onstage in 1967.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

But what was Dolly’s inspiration when she first wrote it? Well, it is a break up song, but not a romantic one. She originally wrote this song about trying to free herself from working exclusively with her musical collaborator Porter Wagoner.

Dolly spent seven years performing alongside him on The Porter Wagoner Show, the TV series that helped introduce her to a national audience. She said, one day she just knew it was time to move on. Instead of arguing, Dolly wrote “I Will Always Love You” as a heartfelt goodbye and thank you for everything they’d shared.

“The song came straight from the bottom of my heart,” Dolly writes. “When I started to sing the song, he [Porter] started to cry. He knew that I had been crying when I wrote it. He got it. He said, ‘That’s the best song you ever wrote. And you can go, if I can produce that song. I said, ‘it’s a deal!’

“Now that song is going to live forever,” she continues writing. “I thank Porter for that song.”

The real story behind ‘Jolene’—inspired by a pretty bank teller

Album cover for “Jolene” by Dolly Parton which was released in 1974.
Photo by Donaldson Collection/Getty Images

Out of Dolly’s hundreds of released songs, 1973’s ‘Jolene’ remains the one that is most performed by others. This tune was another No. 1 hit for Dolly—and she even eventually won a Grammy for it in 2017. The fruition of Jolene began during Dolly’s touring days with Porter. A fan asked for an autograph, saying ‘Would you sign this ‘to Jolene?’ Dolly was so struck by the beautiful name that she tucked it away in her mind for safekeeping.

“Then I came up with a story that I knew women could relate to. Of course, then I thought of a story loosely based on Carl flirting with a girl down at the bank, which was true,” Dolly writes. “I went down there, and she was pretty. And he was flirting. And I made the whole thing into my song’s lyric.”

How Dolly wrote ‘9 to 5’ using just her fingernails as a typewriter

(L-R) Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton act in a scene from the movie “9 to 5” which was released in 1980.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Dolly’s high-energy and infectious ‘9 to 5’ became one of her biggest crossover hits in the 1980s. The fun, upbeat tune brought Dolly’s songwriting into the pop sphere for the very first time. It also went No. 1 on country and adult contemporary radio, won two Grammys and earned an Oscar nomination.

Dolly wrote ‘9 to 5’ during the filming of the movie of the same name—her first major film role. The comedy starred Dolly alongside Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. Dolly recalled the long wait times on set and how she used that time to write. “I would just take my nails and make them sound like a typewriter,” she writes. “Off by myself, I would click my nails and use that sound as my music. I wrote ‘9 to 5’ in my head that way. I’d go back to my hotel at night and put down what I had written that day…”

“Over a long period of time, I wrote the song on my nails. I’m famous for that now. Every time I go on TV, I have to ‘play’ my nails like a typewriter.”

Want to know all the secrets behind the songs? Pick up Songteller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton and Robert K. Oerman to read all the magical musical stories.