WHITTLE: We are family says Dolly

DAN WHITTLE

When Dolly Parton brings her attributes, plus talents to town, the bright lights of Music City seem to shine even brighter!

Mention just the name 'Dolly' in a headline, and newspaper readers worldwide know you're talking about the biggest and brightest entertainment star ever to shine out of East Tennessee's Great Smokey Mountains.

Although an internationally-acclaimed movie star and legendary country music performing, songwriting icon, Dolly keeps it simple, while singing of family values everywhere she goes, including the taping of the nationally-popular "Marty Stuart Show" produced out of RFD Network studios based in Nashville.

Performing to a packed recording studio with fans, tears came to more than a few eyes in the audience as Dolly belted out "Coat Of Many Colors", one of the star's trademark songs she personally penned, recalling her humble family roots in the mountains.

But then, she brought the house down with her rapid-fire wit and upbeat persona while poking fun at host Marty Stuarts' big hair and her own enhanced attributes that are recognized globally.

"Marty, we're family, for we go back all the way to the days, when you had flat hair, and I had a flat chest," Dolly remarked with an impish giggle while cameras rolled and appreciative fans rolled in accompanying laughter.

"We are family," harmonized Dolly and Marty, along with legendary song bird Connie Smith as Dolly came to Music City USA for the final day of taping for season two of the Marty Stuart Show, billed as the most popular-viewed show that airs at 7 p.m. each Saturday on the national RFD Cable Channel.

Sometimes, it takes months of planning for a show to come together for modern-day core members of the Country Music Family who routinely play to packed halls and venues around the globe.

Marty came out a few minutes prior to the actual taping to greet the audience, that included his own family royalty, to wit, "my daddy, John, my mama, Hilda, and sister, Jennifer" in the audience.

His parents and sister all reside in Rutherford County.

He then turned to members of his own Fabulous Superlatives band, asking: "What's that girl singer's name performing with us today?"

"Dolly!!!" the boys in the band chorused loudly.

The studio audience erupted with applause and gave a standing ovation when Dolly briskly took center stage in a stunning shimmering and sparkling bright-glowing tight-fitting blue dress that accentuated her obviously-notable attributes and talents recognizable throughout the world.

"Here's the Smokey Mountain Nightingale," Marty introduced. "She's our diamond…so many facets of her that sparkle…a great actress and country music star…I want you to remember that Dolly also writes many great songs that can't be overlooked that's now recorded in the Great Book Of American Music Memories."

With her sparkling guitar, Dolly stepped center stage and peered directly at Marty's mother, Hilda Stuart, seated in the front row.

"I brought the rhinestones on my guitar in honor of you Marty, and our country music heritage," Dolly credited. "But I sing this song in honor of your mother, my own mother, and all the great mamas seeing us here today."

With that, Dolly opened with "Coat of Many Colors."

The audience grew 'hushed' out of respect for this vastly-talented lady who grew up poor as a girl in East Tennessee mountain country.

When she finished, the fans erupted with love and affection for the one and only "Dolly," country music's mega-star who has hit the industry's highest stratosphere.

"When I heard Dolly was to be here, I worked my butt off to get one of the limited number of studio tickets for the recording here today," confirmed Bradyville-community resident Norman Auftenburger.