Dolly's Thanksgiving Day Kicks Off Busy Schedule

Posted by amyclark on 08/19/2008

11/21/2007 Stephen L. Betts After her appearance during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, Dolly Parton will be busy planning a major concert tour in the U.S. beginning in February, then following up with a European trek in the summer. Dolly will then return to the States, for a series of concert dates expected to extend into December 2008.  In addition to her numerous hits spanning four decades, fans can expect songs from the upcoming album, Backwoods Barbie, including the new single, “Better Get to Livin’” which she debuted recently on ABC-TV’s Dancing with the Stars. “I think life has always been a pressure cooker,” says Dolly. “People react to whatever pressures they’re under at the time according to their tolerance level and their mental attitude. Certainly with so much attention today on being skinny and beautiful, rich and famous, equal pay for equal work, getting ahead, raising kids, holding down a job, getting older, etc., well I think this song says some things to let people know they’re not the only ones in that fix. And this song offers some advice for a way out.” “Believe me when I tell you my life is not perfect,” adds Dolly. “I work hard. I fall down, I get up and I keep going. I pray a lot. I not only believe that tomorrow will be better, but that the next minute or the next hour will be better. You have to find the good in everything and in everybody, and believe that it is all for a reason. So set out to find the reason and purpose in everything, even if it seems to be awful at the time. I’ve always had a good attitude. I wake up every day expecting things to be good. And if they’re not, then I set out about trying to get it fixed. I try to live every day like it might be my last. I don’t want to have to wake up, face God and say, ‘Well, duh, I should have tried.’”  Also in the future is the stage musical of 9 to 5, which was scored by Dolly. The show is set to premiere in Los Angeles in September 2008, and will include the title song from the hit movie as well as material Dolly has written for the production. Allison Janney, Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty and Marc Kudisch will star in the show, which will be mounted by the Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre. Joe Mantello (Wicked, The Ritz) will direct.