Steve Summers

Last updated

Steven Kent Summers is an American costumer and creative director for Dolly Parton. He has been styling Dolly Parton for more than 30 years. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Summers was raised in Harriman, Tennessee. At age 2, he lost 75 percent of his hearing as a result of the mumps and is legally deaf. [2] [3] In his twenties, he worked as general manager at a retail store. He then went on to attend college to study English where he also sang with a group called the Celebration Singers. [4]

Career

In 1991, Summers auditioned as a singer/dancer at Dollywood and Opryland, and after offers from both signed on to Dollywood. He eventually became one of Dolly Parton's onstage dance partners. [2] After five years of performing there, Summers began designing sets and scenery for the productions, and later began designing wardrobe pieces. He remained on staff at Dollywood for 15 years. [4]

In 2006, Summers was appointed Parton's creative director for Dolly Parton Enterprises. At this point, Parton sent Summers to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology. [5]

As creative director and stylist, Summers and his team create up to 300 ensembles for Parton each year. All of the clothing is customized, including the shoes Parton wears, and is kept in a 50,000 square foot warehouse that stores archival pieces going back to 1964. [3] Summers is also involved in all visual aspects of Parton's production, including album covers and stage sets; [6] embellishing Parton's guitars and creating costume jewelry. [1] Additionally, he helped design and create the Chasing Rainbows Museum at Dollywood. [4]

Among Summers' designs for Parton was the dress she wore for her 50th wedding anniversary to Carl Dean in 2016. [7]

In 2020, Summers made his directorial debut with the "When Life is Good Again" music video, featuring Dolly Parton. [8] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Summers helped produce a series of virtual interviews and other content with Parton. He also was a producer for her 2022 holiday special "Dolly Parton's Magic Mountain Christmas." [9]

Personal life

Summers was married for 23 years beginning in his twenties, and has three children. [2] He came out as gay at age 44 and in 2008 met his now-husband, architect and interior designer Mark Williams. [10]

Related Research Articles

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

Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and philanthropist, 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 arrived during the 1970s and continued into the 1980s. Some of 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dollywood</span> Theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee owned by Dolly Parton Productions

Dollywood is a theme park that is jointly owned by Herschend Family Entertainment and country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton through her entertainment company, Dolly Parton Productions. It is located in the Knoxville metropolitan area in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near the gateway to The Great Smoky Mountains. Hosting nearly 3 million guests in a typical season from mid-March to the Christmas holidays, Dollywood is the biggest ticketed tourist attraction in Tennessee. It has won many international awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porter Wagoner</span> American country singer-songwriter and entertainer (1927–2007)

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">Stella Parton</span> American country singer (born 1949)

Stella Mae Parton is an American country singer and songwriter widely known for a series of country singles that charted during the mid-to-late-1970s, her biggest hit being "I Want to Hold You in My Dreams Tonight" in 1975. She is a younger sister of singer-songwriter Dolly Parton and an older sister of the late Randy Parton and former actress Rachel Parton George.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herschend Family Entertainment</span> Private entertainment company

Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE) is a privately owned themed-entertainment company that operates several theme parks and tourist attractions within the United States, and as of 2021, one aquarium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Dollywood's Splash Country is a 35-acre (14 ha) water park located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, adjacent to the Dollywood theme park. The park's central theme rests around entertainer Dolly Parton's childhood swimming in the rivers of the Great Smoky Mountains. Dollywood's Splash Country operates from May through September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manish Malhotra</span> Indian fashion designer (b. 1966)

Manish Malhotra is an Indian fashion designer, couturier, costume stylist, entrepreneur, filmmaker and revivalist based in Mumbai, India.

<i>Treasures</i> (Dolly Parton album) 1996 studio album by Dolly Parton

Treasures is the thirty-fourth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on September 24, 1996, by Rising Tide Records and Blue Eye Records. The Steve Buckingham-produced album is made up of covers of rock and country hits from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. It peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and spawned three singles: "Just When I Needed You Most", which peaked at number 62 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart; a dance remix of "Peace Train", which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot Dance Music chart; and a dance remix of "Walking on Sunshine". The album's release was accompanied by a CBS television special, Dolly Parton: Treasures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of Many Colors (song)</span> 1971 song written and composed by Dolly Parton

"Coat of Many Colors" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Dolly Parton. It was released in September 1971 as the second single and title track from the album Coat of Many Colors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chasing Rainbows Museum</span> Museum at Dollywood

The Chasing RainbowsMuseum was a museum based on the country music singer Dolly Parton. It is located in the Dollywood theme park, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States.

<i>Better Day</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Dolly Parton

Better Day is the forty-third solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on June 28, 2011, by Dolly Records and Warner Music Nashville. The album was produced by Parton and Kent Wells. To promote the album, Parton embarked on her Better Day World Tour. With 49 shows, the tour visited North America, Europe, and Australia.

Hollywood to Dollywood is an American documentary film that played at 60 film festivals in the U.S., Canada, Scotland, and Australia in 2011 and 2012. Directed by John Lavin, the film follows the cross-country journey of identical twins Gary and Larry Lane to deliver to Dolly Parton a screenplay they wrote, which includes a role for her. Hollywood to Dollywood has won 24 film festival awards and includes 17 Parton songs, two of which were previously unreleased. The film had a one-week theatrical release in New York beginning August 31, 2012, followed a week later in Los Angeles.

<i>Dolly Partons Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love</i> 2016 American TV series or program

Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love is a 2016 American made-for-television drama film based on a true story by Dolly Parton, written by Pamela K. Long and directed by Stephen Herek. The film is a sequel to Coat of Many Colors and premiered on NBC on November 30, 2016.

<i>I Believe in You</i> (Dolly Parton album) 2017 studio album by Dolly Parton

I Believe in You is the forty-sixth solo studio album and first children's album by American country music singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released digitally on September 29, 2017, and physically on October 13, 2017, by Dolly Records and RCA Records. All proceeds from the album's sales will go to benefit Parton's Imagination Library.

<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.

<i>Dolly Partons America</i> Podcast

Dolly Parton's America is a 2019 podcast hosted by Jad Abumrad and reported and produced by Shima Oliaee at WNYC Studios. It is a nine-part non-fiction series based on Dolly Parton's career and enduring legacy. The series begins with how Abumrad learned that his father, Naji Abumrad, a doctor, had befriended Parton after she survived a minor traffic accident. Abumrad sought out an introduction to Parton in an effort to understand how she remains one of the most popular and well respected musicians in America. Each episode covers a different aspect of Parton's career, from her early life, to her unique approach to politics, her most famous songs and creation of the Dollywood theme park. The name of the podcast was based on a history class at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville also titled Dolly Parton’s America taught by Dr. Lynn Sacco.

<i>A Holly Dolly Christmas</i> 2020 studio album by Dolly Parton

A Holly Dolly Christmas is the forty-seventh solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on October 2, 2020, by Parton's Butterfly Records in partnership with 12-Tone Music Group. The album was produced by Kent Wells, with Parton serving as executive producer. It is Parton's third Christmas album, following 1984's Once Upon a Christmas with Kenny Rogers and 1990's Home for Christmas. The album features guest appearances by Michael Bublé, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson, and Parton's brother Randy. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, becoming Parton's eighth album to top the chart. The album also peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart and number 16 on the Billboard 200. The album was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.

Nick Lenzini, also known as Nick Holiday, is an American art director, stylist and graphic designer. He is best known as the stylist for the music collective Brockhampton, and his eponymous clothing brand Holiday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrie Kaufman</span> Fashion designer

Barrie Kaufman is an American fashion designer and costume designer. She is the sole owner of the Fables by Barrie label. Known for her designs of retro garments and western wear inspired clothing, Kaufman has consistently worked on music industry projects and with various celebrities including Dolly Parton, Sierra Ferrell, Hailey Whitters, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Kacey Musgraves and Carrie Underwood.

References

  1. 1 2 Hirschberg, Lynn (2021-10-06). "Dolly Parton Simply Doesn't Stop". W Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  2. 1 2 3 Sheeler, Jason. "How Dolly Parton Looks Like Dolly: the Icon's Creative Director Reveals Her Costume Secrets". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  3. 1 2 Langston, Stephanie (2019-11-13). "Dressing Dolly: A look behind her iconic style". WATE 6 On Your Side. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  4. 1 2 3 Price, Deborah Evans (2019-10-30). "Industry Insiders: Meet Steve Summers, Dolly Parton's Creative Director". Sounds Like Nashville. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  5. ↑ Woods, Cat (2023-07-12). "Meet Steve Summers, From Dancer To Dolly Parton's Creative Director". Parton and Pearl. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  6. ↑ Allaire, Christian (2023-05-10). ""She Doesn't Follow Trends"; Dolly Parton's Longtime Stylist on Her Over-the-Top Style". Vogue. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  7. ↑ Carter, Maria (2023-08-30). "Dolly Parton and Her Husband of 57 Years, Carl Dean, Have the Sweetest Love Story". Country Living. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  8. ↑ Dolly, Team (2020-06-03). "Dolly Parton's "When Life Is Good Again" Video Inspires Hope With Help From Steve Summers" . Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  9. ↑ Haring, Bruce (2022-10-29). "'Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas' Holiday Special Film Sets Premiere Date". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  10. ↑ Mowry, Lisa (2020-04-27). "An Atlanta designer hits all the right notes with this midcentury renovation". Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.