Events

[COUNTRY] It hardly seems possible, but Dolly Parton hasn’t done a major tour of the United States and Canada in 25 years. Which isn’t to say she hasn’t been active—at 70, she remains admirably busy. But a lack of heavy chart play in the states has kept Parton focused on cultivating her fan base in other territories (Europe and Australia, primarily), with just a handful of stateside dates to go along each time. And it’s paid off: 2014’s Blue Smoke was a huge success overseas, becoming her biggest selling U.K. release ever. But after playing a pair of pared-down shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium last year, followed by the success of her biographical TV movie Coat of Many Colors during the holiday season, she began considering a tour of the United States to coincide with the release of Pure and Simple—her 43rd album—which drops in August. Between June and December, she’ll play 64 dates across the country, including a show that opens Artpark’s 2016 summer concert series this Sunday, June 12. We sat in on a teleconference with the country songwriting legend earlier this spring and learned a few things about her, her new album and her tour. Here are a half dozen of them.

 1.   The tour will literally be Pure and Simple with a pared-down acoustic flavor—no big production numbers or video displays, just Dolly Parton and a trio of musicians: Rich Dennison, Tom Rutledge, and Kent Wells.

 2.  The new album is comprised of all love songs and most of them are fresh, Parton-penned compositions, including one called “Mama,” which she wrote for her mother. Of the new material, she said she favors the title track, “Outside Your Door,” and “Never Not Love You,” two of which are included in the new set list. A second CD of past hits is included in a deluxe package to help promote the tour.

 3.  Parton is particularly proud of writing “Down from Dover,” a story song about pregnant teen who’s rejected by her family that ends tragically. She originally recorded it in 1969, and it has since been covered by Marianne Faithful as well as Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood. An updated version appeared on Parton’s ace Little Sparrow disc (2001), the second in a trio of critically heralded rootsy/bluegrass albums she released between 1999 and 2002.

 4.  Dolly doesn’t like to talk politics. When asked a few times about the passing of perceived anti-LGBTQ laws in North Carolina and Tennessee (her first tour stop and her childhood home, respectively) she was brief, but graceful. Referring to North Carolina’s HB2 as, “…all that commotion,” she said, “I always have thoughts and we all have our reactions, but I do not intend to be cancelling any of my shows. Everybody knows I have an open, generous heart and I believe that all people should be treated with respect. I don’t like to get caught up in controversial issues… I can address whatever my thoughts are—if need be—from the stage.”

 5.  Dolly’s bucket list still grows, even at 70. “It’s full of all kinds of things—I’ve got buckets on both sides,” she said, noting she would love to see her life story mounted as a Broadway musical and daydreams of starting her own cosmetic line. She quoted one of her own songs: “Empty or full, I’ve carried my pail/You don’t drink the water if you don’t dig the well.”

 6.  Parton said she rarely has weekdays off, but likes to try and keep weekends free to be with her husband (Carl Thomas Dean, 74), to whom she’s been married for 50 years as of last month. When time allows, they spend those weekends at their lake house in the Nashville area, where Parton said she enjoys the chance to cook, read, and get some extra sleep. 

Dolly Parton, Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater, Sunday, June 12. Gates are at 5:30 p.m., Show at 8:00 p.m., no opener. $22 - $100.