Dolly Parton biography
She said in 2010 that she would like to start recording a country-dance album in November, and that it should be set for release in 2011. On January 6, 2011, Parton announced her new album would be titled, Better Day. In February 2011, she announced that she would embark on the Better Day World Tour on July 17, 2011, with shows in northern Europe and the U.S. The album's lead-off single, "Together You and I," was released on May 23, 2011, and Better Day was released on June 28, 2011.
In 2011, Parton voiced the character Dolly Gnome in the animated film Gnomeo and Juliet.
On February 11, 2012, after the sudden death of Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton stated, "Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston. I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song, and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, "Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed."
In 2013, Parton joined Lulu Roman (of Hee Haw fame) for a recording of "I Will Always Love You" for Roman's album At Last.
Parton toured extensively from the late 1960s until the early 1990s. In the 1960s and early 1970s, Parton toured as a member of Porter Wagoner's road show, as well as with a number of other country musicians, including George Jones and Linda Ronstadt. Upon leaving Wagoner's organization in 1974, Parton formed her own "Travelin' Family Band", made up largely of siblings, cousins and other family members, and touring with a number of other acts, including Willie Nelson and Mac Davis. In 1976, she disbanded the Travlin' Family Band, in order to form a new band, Gypsy Fever, composed of seasoned musicians who had more of a rock sensibility, in order to support her impending crossover. (One original member of Gypsy Fever, backing vocalist Richard Dennison, has remained with Parton's organization through the early 2010s, serving as a supporting vocalist, as well as the vocal arranger for Parton's band.) With Gypsy Fever, Parton toured as a headline act in 1977, 1978 and 1979, to promote her albums, New Harvest - First Gathering, Here You Come Again, Heartbreaker, and Great Balls of Fire. In the 1980s, movie roles and other ventures caused Parton to tour less than she had done during the previous decade. In 1982 and into early 1983, she toured to support her Heartbreak Express album, but health problems resulted in the cancellation of a number of that tour's dates. (Parton's March 1983 performance at London's Dominion Theatre from this tour was filmed and broadcast as a television special in the U.S.) From 1984 to 1985, she toured alongside Kenny Rogers for the Real Love Tour. She continued touring in 1986 with the Think About Love Tour, and 1989 for the White Limozeen Tour. Plans for a brief tour with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt to promote their 1987 collaboration Trio fell through, due to the three artists' conflicting schedules, as well as Parton's prior commitment to her 1987-88 ABC TV series. Parton's only tour in the 1990s was in support of her Eagle When She Files album in 1991 and into1992. In 2002 she returned to the concert stage; she later went on the Backwoods Barbie Tour in 2008 promoting Backwoods Barbie.
Biography from
, the free encyclopedia.It may not have been reviewed by a professional editor, and recent changes may not show up straight away. See the latest version of this article. Used under licence. Subject to disclaimers.
