Stella Parton

Last updated

Stella Parton
Stella Parton, smiling.jpg
Autographed photo of Stella Parton; late 1970s
Background information
Birth nameStella Mae Parton
Born (1949-05-04) May 4, 1949 (age 74)
Sevierville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1967–present
Labels Elektra
Soul, Country and Blues
Raptor
Website stellaparton.com

Stella Mae Parton (born May 4, 1949) [1] 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. [2] [3] 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.

Contents

Early life

Parton was born in Sevierville, Tennessee, [1] the sixth of 12 children born to Avie Lee Caroline ( née Owens; 1923–2003) and Robert Lee Parton Sr. (1921–2000). Dolly Parton is her elder sister by three years. [4] When Stella was seven, she and Dolly appeared on a Knoxville television program, and two years later she debuted on radio. During this time, Stella and her sisters Willadeene and Cassie formed a group who sang gospel music and made commercials around East Tennessee. During her high school years, she began writing songs. She married Marvin Carroll Rauhuff just before her high school graduation in 1966. She had one son by this marriage. [5]

Recording career

In 1967, Parton released her first album, In the Garden (a gospel project with Willadeene, Cassie and their mother). Shortly thereafter, she moved to Washington, D.C., and began performing at the Hillbilly Heaven club. Later moving to Nashville, she started her own record label, Soul, Country and Blues, in 1975 and released her first solo album, I Want to Hold You in My Dreams Tonight. Its title track was a substantial national hit, climbing into the country top ten. [3] Its success earned her a major-label deal with Elektra in 1976. [1] Her 1977 duet with Carmol Taylor, "Neon Woman", was somewhat successful, and she had three top 20 hits over 1977–1978 with "The Danger of a Stranger" (also a top 40 hit in the UK), "Four Little Letters" and "Standard Lie Number One". [1] She had an additional top-40 hit with her sister Dolly's composition, "Steady as the Rain", in 1979. [3] She recorded three albums for Elektra up to 1979. In 1984, Stella performed a song with Kin Vassey for the soundtrack of the movie Rhinestone , in which Dolly starred. [1]

Though her chart success tapered off after leaving Elektra in 1980, she continued to record, releasing albums for several independent labels, including Accord/Townhouse and Airborne. She is currently[ when? ] with Raptor Records. To date,[ when? ] she has released 22 albums and has had 28 charting singles.

Parton has released a DVD, Live in Nashville, of footage from a 1990 concert in Nashville taken from the Attic Entertainment archives. It is the first of a planned Vintage Collection Series.

In 2019, Parton released an album, Survivor. In addition to eight original songs, Survivor has a cover version of "Wake Me Up" by Avicii and Parton's interpretation of the Bob Seger classic, "Like a Rock". [6]

Television and film work

In 1970, Parton appeared on The Porter Wagoner Show. Parton performed George Hamilton IV's "Break My Mind" with sisters Dolly and Cassie. She performed "Cotton Fields" later in the show.

In 1979, Parton starred in The Dukes of Hazzard episode titled "Deputy Dukes" as Mary Beth Malone, a woman who impersonates a police officer to settle a family score with a prisoner who ends up being transported by Bo (John Schneider) and Luke (Tom Wopat) during a change of venue.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, she starred in several Broadway touring musicals, including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers , Pump Boys & Dinettes , Best Little Whorehouse In Texas and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes . Parton also wrote and staged several Dollywood shows the opening season, as well as appearing on The Dukes of Hazzard (the first country artist to have a dramatic role on the series), Live with Regis and Kathy Lee , The Today Show and Good Morning America . She has been on several international radio programs, including Get Focused Radio with host Kate Hennessy.

Parton appeared with Gena Rowlands and Louis Gossett in the 2000 TV movie The Color of Love: Jacey's Story which was nominated for a Primetime Emmy award. [7]

In 2006, Parton made appearances in two films, A Dance for Bethany and Ghost Town, both scheduled for release in 2007. Each film also includes her music on the soundtrack. Also ready for release in 2007 was her 21st album, which is a collection of original contemporary Christian songs. Followed in 2008, was her 22nd album, Testimony . [2]

She appeared in Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors with Jennifer Nettles and Ricky Schroder, [8] an NBC made-for-TV movie based on Dolly's song of the same name that was first broadcast on NBC in December 2015.

In 2016, Parton appeared in Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love as Corla Bass. The NBC TV movie was nominated for a Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Television Movie. [9]

In 2018, she took part in the BBC's Celebrity Masterchef series. [10]

She appeared as a mystery guest on To Tell the Truth hosted by Anthony Anderson in 2021, and none of the panelists guessed her as the real sibling of Dolly Parton. [11]

In 2022 she appeared in the Pure Flix film Nothing is Impossible, starring David A.R. White, which was filmed in Tennessee.

Social work

She devotes much of her time to causes such as domestic violence and teaches at the New Opportunity School for Women at Berea College, Kentucky, using her knowledge of hair and make-up to help women build self-esteem.

Parton has been a national spokesperson for Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Christian Appalachian Project and National Honorary Country Music Ambassador to the American Cancer Society. [2]

Parton went viral on Twitter in December 2020 with a tweet criticizing "old moldy politicians" over the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the United States. [12]

Consultancy

She has a consulting business (Attic Entertainment Artist Development and Entertainment Consulting) teaching stage presence, hair, make-up, wardrobe techniques and video coaching. Parton has also written three cookbooks, including her recipe-packed book State Fairs and Church Bazaars. [2]

Discography

Related Research Articles

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

Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily for her decades-long career in country music. Widely considered to be one of the top cultural icons in American history, 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. 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">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.

<i>Jolene</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Dolly Parton

Jolene is the thirteenth solo studio album by American entertainer Dolly Parton. It was released on February 4, 1974, by RCA Victor. The title track, "Jolene", tells the tale of a housewife confronting a beautiful seductress who she believes is having an affair with her husband. It became Parton's second solo number-one country single; it also was a moderate pop hit for her, and also did well in the United Kingdom. Since the introduction of downloads to the Official Chart in 2005, it has amassed 255,300 downloads and 6.68 million streams. It has been covered by numerous performers.

<i>Coat of Many Colors</i> 1971 studio album by Dolly Parton

Coat of Many Colors is the eighth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on October 4, 1971, by RCA Victor. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 1972 CMA Awards. It also appeared on Time magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Albums of All Time and at No. 257 on Rolling Stone's 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Parton has cited the title track on numerous occasions as her personal favorite of all the songs she has written.

<i>The Grass Is Blue</i> 1999 studio album by Dolly Parton

The Grass Is Blue is the thirty-seventh solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on October 26, 1999, by Sugar Hill and Blue Eye Records. The album won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album and "Travelin' Prayer" was nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

<i>Little Sparrow</i> 2001 studio album by Dolly Parton

Little Sparrow is the thirty-eighth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on January 23, 2001, by Sugar Hill and Blue Eye Records. The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album and "Shine" won Best Female Country Vocal Performance. The album is dedicated to Parton's father, Lee Parton, who died in November 2000.

<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.

<i>A Smoky Mountain Christmas</i> American TV series or program

A Smoky Mountain Christmas is a 1986 American made-for-television musical fantasy film starring Dolly Parton and Lee Majors, directed by Henry Winkler. It was originally broadcast on ABC on December 14, 1986.

<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>Blue Smoke</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Dolly Parton

Blue Smoke is the forty-fourth solo studio album by American country entertainer Dolly Parton. The album was released in Australia and New Zealand on January 31, 2014, in North America on May 13, 2014, in Ireland on June 6, 2014, and in Europe on June 9, 2014.

Rachel Ann Parton George is an American retired singer and actress and the youngest sibling of entertainer Dolly Parton.

<i>Dolly Partons Coat of Many Colors</i> 2015 American television film directed by Stephen Herek

Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors is a 2015 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 premiered on NBC on December 10, 2015. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.

<i>Pure & Simple</i> (Dolly Parton album) 2016 studio album by Dolly Parton

Pure & Simple is the forty-fifth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released worldwide on August 19, 2016 by Dolly Records and RCA Nashville. "Pure & Simple" is Dolly Parton's seventh #1 country album. It is her first #1 country album in 25 years.

<i>Dolly Partons Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love</i> 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.

<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.

"Here I Am" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. The song was included on her 1971 album Coat of Many Colors. It was recorded on April 27, 1971, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, and produced by Bob Ferguson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faith (Galantis and Dolly Parton song)</span> 2019 single by Galantis and Dolly Parton featuring Mr. Probz

"Faith" is a song by Swedish duo Galantis and American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton featuring Dutch singer-songwriter Mr. Probz, from Galantis' third studio album Church, which was released in early 2020. The song was released on 25 October 2019, through Big Beat and Atlantic Records. It is a remake of John Hiatt's 1987 song "Have a Little Faith in Me".

<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.

William Earl 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 3 4 5 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1916. ISBN   0-85112-939-0.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Parton, Stella (2011). Tell It Sister, Tell It. Attic Entertainment. p. 223. ISBN   978-0-615-44314-0.
  3. 1 2 3 "Stella Parton Billboard". Billboard.com. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Pedigree Chart for Rachel Ann Parton: Smoky Mountain Ancestral Quest". Smoky Kin. April 4, 201. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Stella Mae Parton b. 4 May 1949 d." Smoky Kin. Retrieved February 23, 2009. Stella Parton marries Marvin Rauhuff
  6. ↑ Whitmore, Laura (March 28, 2019). "Exclusive Premiere: Stella Parton Shares Inspiring Video for 'Like A Rock' from New Album Survivor". Parade. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
    - Stefano, Angela (March 2019). "Stella Parton, 'Dirty Rotten Dog' Music Video [Premiere]". The Boot. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  7. ↑ "The Color of Love: Jacey's Story (TV movie 2000)". IMDb. March 19, 2000. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors (TV movie 2015) – Full Cast & Crew – IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love (TV Movie 2016)". IMDb. November 30, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Celebrity MasterChef: Dolly Parton's sister in line-up". BBC. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  11. ↑ Bhattacharjee, Debopriya. "Dolly Parton's Sister has Made Quite a Wave on 'To Tell The Truth'". The CineTalk. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  12. ↑ Folley, Aris (December 20, 2020). "Stella Parton, singer and sister of Dolly, lashes out at politicians in viral tweet over COVID-19 vaccine rollout". The Hill. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
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.