Dolly & Carol in Nashville

Last updated
Dolly & Carol in Nashville
Dolly & Carol in Nashville ad.jpg
TV Guide ad
Written by Roger Beatty
Ken Welch
Mitzie Welch
Directed byRoger Beatty
Starring Dolly Parton
Carol Burnett
The Joe Layton Dancers
Music byKen Welch
Mitzie Welch
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producer Joe Hamilton
Running time60 minutes
Release
Original network CBS
Original releaseFebruary 14, 1979 (1979-02-14)

Dolly & Carol in Nashville is a television special starring Dolly Parton and Carol Burnett that was shot at The Grand Ole Opry and broadcast on CBS on Valentine's Day in 1979. It was part of a promotional campaign for Parton's recent album, Heartbreaker . [1]

Contents

Program

The show opens with Dolly and Carol singing "What Am I Doing Up Here?" [2] (frequently referred to as the "Pedestal Song") [3] [4] a comical number in which each declares the other belongs on a pedestal. As they sing, the boxes that they're seated on each rise into the air.

The next scene begins with a rendition of "Orange Blossom Special", but Carol fumbles with the banjo and proclaims, "No one picks like a Nashville picker picks." Seizing the opportunity, Dolly turns this line into a rousing song, and they soon find accompaniment from various musicians who are planted in the audience.

Next, Parton performs a gospel medley in the empty Ryman Auditorium, bookended by performances with Carol and a choir at the newer Opry house.

The show's only sketch features the stars as little girls. Trudy (Parton) is whiny and ignored by the boys, Marcy (Burnett) is a tomboy. The music of the Grand Ole Opry on the radio provides transitions through time as the girls age, featuring a few vintage radio introductions (Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Marty Robbins) as the dancers pantomime to old country hits. Once they reach puberty, the children's roles suddenly reverse, as all of the boys lavish affections upon the busty Trudy. Eventually, we’re introduced to Trudy's daughter, Bonnie (Lindy Speight), and Marcy's daughter, Ellie (Erin Hamilton), who are just like their mothers. Trudy and Marcy then perform "Turn Around (Where Are You Going, My Little One?)."

The duo then performs a 9-minute medley of "heart" songs, which includes Parton's "Heartbreaker".

Dressed in frilly gowns, Carol and Dolly do a little song and dance routine, "It's a Kick (Kickin' Around with You)". They're soon interrupted by The Joe Layton Dancers, which segues into "No One Kicks Like a Nashville Kicker Kicks." As the number ends, the dancers surround the ladies with bouquets as members of the audience pelt the stars with flowers.

The ladies sing a brief reprise of "What Am I Doing Up Here?" and the credits roll.

Production & Release

Production occurred in January 1979 at the Grand Ole Opry House and Ryman Auditorium, with the bulk of filming occurring on the 9th and 10th. [2] [5] In a 2016 interview, Burnett misremembered that filming occurred around Thanksgiving, remarking that Parton had generously cooked a feast. [6] It was Burnett's first special following the cancellation of her long-running variety show (although between, she starred in the feature-length pilot The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank), and real-life daughter Erin Hamilton portrayed her child in the Girl Friends sketch. [2]

The show was strategically timed to tie into a Valentine's Day promotional campaign for Parton's latest album, Heartbreaker . RCA Records provided over 3,000 American radio stations copies of the album and heart-shaped candy boxes for giveaways. [7] Participating stations designed their own contests, which included drawings, call-ins, poetry competitions, and more. [1]

Cast

Dancers

Nashville Pickers

Songs

Originals

By Ken and Mitzie Welch.

Gospel Medley

Girlfriends Sketch

Heart Medley

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolly Parton</span> American country singer (born 1946)

Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her decades-long career in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album debut in 1967 with Hello, I'm Dolly, which led to success during the remainder of the 1960s, before her sales and chart peak came during the 1970s and continued into the 1980s. Parton's albums in the 1990s did not sell as well, but she achieved commercial success again in the new millennium and has released albums on various independent labels since 2000, including her own label, Dolly Records.

<i>Grand Ole Opry</i> Country music concert in Nashville, Tennessee, US

The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment, it is the longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history. Dedicated to honoring country music and its history, the Opry showcases a mix of famous singers and contemporary chart-toppers performing country, bluegrass, Americana, folk, and gospel music as well as comedic performances and skits. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world and millions of radio and internet listeners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmylou Harris</span> American singer, songwriter and musician

Emmylou Harris is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She has released dozens of albums and singles over the course of her career and has won 14 Grammys, the Polar Music Prize, and numerous other honors, including becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1992 and an induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2018, she was presented the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryman Auditorium</span> United States historic place

Ryman Auditorium is a historic 2,362-seat live-performance venue located at 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee. A Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark, National Historic Landmark, and the former home of the Grand Ole Opry, it is one of the most influential and revered concert halls in the world. It is best known as the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. It is owned and operated by Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. Ryman Auditorium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and was later designated as a National Historic Landmark on June 25, 2001, for its pivotal role in the popularization of country music.A storied stage for Rock & Roll artists for decades, the Ryman was named a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porter Wagoner</span> American recording artist; country singer, songwriter

Porter Wayne Wagoner was an American country music singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Crow Medicine Show</span> Americana string band based in Tennessee

Old Crow Medicine Show is an Americana string band based in Nashville, Tennessee, that has been recording since 1998. They were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on September 17, 2013. Their ninth album, Remedy, released in 2014, won the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. The group's music has been called old-time, folk, and alternative country. Along with original songs, the band performs many pre-World War II blues and folk songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Jordanaires</span> American vocal group; back-up singers for Elvis Presley

The Jordanaires were an American vocal quartet that formed as a gospel group in 1948. Over the years, they recorded both sacred and secular music for recording companies such as Capitol Records, RCA Victor, Columbia Records, Decca Records, Vocalion Records, Stop Records, and many other smaller independent labels.

This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louise Mandrell</span> American country music singer (born 1954)

Thelma Louise Mandrell is an American country music singer. She is the younger sister of fellow country singer Barbara Mandrell, and older sister of actress Irlene Mandrell. Louise had a successful singing career in country music from the 1970s, with a string of hits during the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RCA Studio B</span> Music recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee

RCA Studio B was a music recording studio built in 1956 in Nashville, Tennessee by RCA Victor. Originally known simply as "RCA Studios," Studio B, along with the larger and later RCA Studio A became known in the 1960s for being an essential factor to the development of the musical production style and sound engineering technique known as the Nashville Sound. In the two decades the studio was in operation, RCA Studio B produced 60 percent of the Billboard magazine's Country chart hits. The studio closed in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeanne Pruett</span> American singer-songwriter

Jeanne Pruett is an American country music singer and songwriter. She also has credits as a published author. Pruett had several major hits as a music artist, but became best-known for 1973's "Satin Sheets". The song topped the country music charts and helped her secure a membership in the Grand Ole Opry cast.

<i>Heartbreaker</i> (Dolly Parton album) 1978 studio album by Dolly Parton

Heartbreaker is the twentieth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on July 17, 1978, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Gary Klein and Parton with Charles Koppelman serving as executive producer, and was an even more direct aim at the pop charts, with several of its songs verging on disco. The album topped the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for nine consecutive weeks and peaked at number 27 on the Billboard 200. The album produced two number one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, "Heartbreaker" and "I Really Got the Feeling", while "Baby I'm Burnin'" peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album has been certified Gold in the United States and Canada.

<i>Just Between You and Me</i> (Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton album) 1968 studio album by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton

Just Between You and Me is the first collaborative studio album by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. It was released on January 15, 1968, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Bob Ferguson. It peaked at number eight on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and spawned one single, "The Last Thing on My Mind", which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Carl Butler and Pearl were an American country music husband-and-wife duo. Between 1962 and 1969, the duo released several singles and charted thirteen times on the U.S. country charts, reaching No. 1 in 1962 with their first single, "Don't Let Me Cross Over".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Grascals</span> American bluegrass band

The Grascals are a six-piece American bluegrass band from Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in February 2004, the band has gained a level of fame by playing on the Grand Ole Opry and bluegrass festivals around the country, as well as with Dolly Parton.

Murrey Mizell "Buddy" Harman, Jr. was an American country music session musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tootsie's Orchid Lounge</span>

Tootsie's Orchid Lounge is a honky-tonk bar located in Nashville, Tennessee behind the Ryman Auditorium, home in past years and occasionally in the present to the stage and radio show The Grand Ole Opry. Tootsie's has three stages that host live local talent each night, covering modern-day country music artists such as Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, and other performers, as well as original work. Some of its early famous first customers were Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Mel Tillis, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Roger Miller and numerous other country musicians. According to the bar's website, Nelson received his first songwriting gig after singing at Tootsie's. Terri Clark, a Canadian-born country artist, started singing at Tootsie's in 1987, and has since become an internationally-known country star with hits such as "Better Things to Do," and the Warren Zevon cover, "Poor Poor Pitiful Me."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolly Parton filmography</span>

Dolly Parton is an American country singer, songwriter and actress. She has appeared in twelve theatrically released films and has made over 400 appearances on television.

William Earl "Bill" Owens was an American country music songwriter. He was the uncle of Dolly Parton. Over the course of his career, he wrote or co-wrote more than 800 songs, including “Put It Off Until Tomorrow," which he co-wrote with Parton. The song won the 1966 BMI Song of the Year award.

References

  1. 1 2 "RCA Promo 'Sweet' on Dolly". Cashbox. Feb 24, 1979.
  2. 1 2 3 "Rare Script DOLLY PARTON Carol Burnett NASHVILLE Grand Ole Opry 1979 TV SPECIAL". Archived from the original on 2021-05-05.
  3. "Nashville Then: Dolly Parton and Carol Burnett's TV special in Jan. 1979". The Tennessean. 2016-09-26. Carol Burnett and Dolly Parton perform the "Pedestal Song" skit during the taping of the "Dolly and Carol in Nashville" television special before a packed audience at the Grand Ole Opry House Jan. 10, 1979.
  4. "Dolly Parton and Carol Burnett "Pedestal Song"". YouTube. 2006-06-16.
  5. "Nashville Then: Dolly Parton and Carol Burnett's TV special in Jan. 1979". The Tennessean. 2016-09-26. Six-year-old banjo wizard Lewis Phillips, right, offers to teach Carol Burnett to play the banjo during the "No one picks like a Nashville picker" skit during the taping of the "Dolly and Carol in Nashville" television special before a packed audience at the Grand Ole Opry House Jan. 10, 1979.
  6. Juli Thanki (2016-09-26). "Carol Burnett announces second Ryman show". The Tennessean. It was around Thanksgiving, we were staying in a hotel, and Dolly cooked Thanksgiving dinner for us and brought it to the hotel," Burnett remembered. "She said, 'You've got to have some home cooking on Thanksgiving.' It was just so darn sweet of her.
  7. "RCA Stages Parton Valentine Day Promo" (PDF). Record World. 1979-02-24. The saturation effort in which RCA provided boxes of Valentine's candy and Dolly Parton albums for giveaway was timed to coincide with the CBS television network's Valentine's Day broadcast of the "Dolly And Carol In Nashville" special. More than 3000 boxes of candy and "Heartbreaker" albums were distributed to radio stations for the promotion.