Dolly Parton Announces New “Pure & Simple” Album and Major North American Tour
Dolly Parton will have a busy 2016 ahead of her, and held a press conference Monday morning to fill folks in on all she has planned. Along with upgrades to her theme park Dollywood, including the first “launched” wooden roller coaster called Lightning Rod, which will be the fastest wooden coaster at 73 mph once it’s completed, Dolly Parton will have a new double album, and will embark on a 60-date tour of North America.
“I’m going to go on tour this year in American and in Canada for the first time on a big extensive tour,” Dolly said. “Been about 25 years since I’ve actually toured in Canada. We’ve done a few shows in America, but we’re going to be really doing an extensive tour starting in June through December.”
The tour will coincide with the release of a new 2-disc album called Pure & Simple.
“I don’t know how pure I am but I’m pretty simple,” Dolly said laughing. “The reason I’m calling it that is because actually I’ve stripped down my show quite a bit to where we don’t have a lot of electric instruments, we don’t have a lot of videos … But I’m doing a lot of songs that’s really scaled down, and not a lot of music. Of course, I do a lot of talking. What else would I do, right? So we’re excited about the whole show. We did some shows at the Ryman last year, and some shows at Dollywood for the Imagination Library, and we used the Pure and Simple show. People really liked it.”
Pure and Simple will include “about 12 songs that I’ve written, new songs,” Dolly says, as well as ‘pure and simple’ versions of some of Dolly’s biggest hits.
Parton was also asked about the passing of Joey Martin Feek, who Dolly had made a video for right before she passed away. “When I heard she had passed it really hit me like a relative, it really made my heart sad,” Parton said. “I was just so sorry that she had to be taken but I guess the Lord needed her more than we did.”
Parton also talked about her TV movie Coat Of Many Colors, which will be released on DVD May 3rd. There’s also a second installment coming from NBC in the future which will be based off of Parton’s song “Jolene.”
Dolly may have just turned 70 years old in January, but there’s no signs she’s slowing down any time soon.
The release date for Pure and Simple and tour dates have yet to be announced.
March 7, 2016 @ 9:08 pm
I really wanna see her but my checkbook would beg for mercy if I got to see her and Sturgill. (got my Jr./Stapleton tickets hooray!!!)
Dolly Parton is one of the most talented female performers ever.
I think “Halos and Horns” is one of her best albums. Some of those numbers hit me like a freight train full of bobcats…
March 7, 2016 @ 10:38 pm
I agree that “Halos & Horns” is excellent, but I slightly prefer “The Grass is Blue.” The title song is as close to a perfectly written song as you can get and “I am Ready” is a fantastic gospel song.
March 8, 2016 @ 4:06 pm
I’m kinda surprised to hear you’re going to see Hank Jr. and Stapleton. For whatever reason there was a contingency on SCM complaining about that pairing.
March 11, 2016 @ 8:33 am
I to about three shows each year.
I wouldn’t pass up that show, regardless of how poor a pairing it seems. Jr. is a legend and not going to see him because he’s an intolerant loudmouth is letting politics spoil the legacy of one of the greatest entertainers in Country Music history. Stapleton is meanwhile the Jesus we’ve been waiting for, whether or not he’s the one we wanted, we’re not going to get somebody better, he’s done a lot of work towards saving this genre, intentional or not.
And I also got my Sturgill Simpson tickets. (it was hard to decide whether to see him in Chicago and go to the zoos and aquarium or see him in Michigan and go to the train museums)
As for complaints about that pairing… who cares?
March 7, 2016 @ 10:32 pm
This is exciting! I sure hope she comes out to Alberta – I’m looking forward to seeing the tour schedule.
March 8, 2016 @ 1:14 am
Yes, so many country singers forget about Alberta.
March 7, 2016 @ 11:02 pm
Stripped down versions of her songs? Lots of talking from Dolly? Yes and yes!
I’m also curious about this Jolene movie. Will she in fact take her man? And what actress will be cast to play this woman who is supposed to be so gorgeous that men are powerless to resist her?
March 7, 2016 @ 11:30 pm
Dolly said it will not be a the faith-based style of movie “Coat Of Many Colors” was, and that it would be realistic in its depiction of love, betrayal, and jealousy.
March 7, 2016 @ 11:34 pm
If Dolly isn’t the most inspiring music person in any country entertainer’s life….for God’s sake WHY ?
Personality , sincerity , incredible work ethic , incredibly entertaining live show , amazing voice ….and …oh yeah …..one of the best songwriters ANY genre has heard – ever .
Nobody holds a candle to her . Period .
Who cares that she’s 70 ?
March 8, 2016 @ 5:29 am
This will be a big album, even for Dolly.
March 8, 2016 @ 6:00 am
What size venues?
Basketball arenas? or smaller with higher ticket price?
March 8, 2016 @ 10:33 am
We don’t know, but I seriously doubt Dolly will be in arenas. Theaters, small amphitheaters, maybe a few casinos is what I’m guessing. We’ll see.
March 10, 2016 @ 7:40 am
There’s also the planned release in September of the two TRIO albums that Dolly did with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris, along with outtakes and alternative takes. I doubt, however, that they will do any outright promotion for it, much as they might want to; and Linda’s Parkinson’s condition would negate it anyway (IMHO).
March 9, 2016 @ 3:34 pm
Stripped down Dolly. Yay! I always wanted to hear some of her bigger hits more intimate. “Why’d You Come In Here Looking Like That?” would have been cool as a slow broody bluesy number or maybe even a waltz as opposed to pop/dance fest it became. And I can safely assume her stripped down will be me more acoustic than that laughable “acoustic” mess Hunter Hayes put out in his 3CD mess.
Go Ms. Parton. Go!
March 9, 2016 @ 7:17 pm
I hope to buy the new album whenever it comes around. Artists like Dolly and Loretta really make listening to their music an intimate experience. I streamed Loretta’s new cd and it really is good. I will be buying it as well.
Go, Dolly.
March 10, 2016 @ 1:58 pm
The country music landscape is richer when these legends keep providing quality music. I’ve heard both Loretta’s new album and Cobb’s on NPR First Listen, and plan to buy both. Dolly always brings quality, so I also look forward to that..
March 10, 2016 @ 11:11 am
Dolly is awesome.
March 11, 2016 @ 11:22 pm
I’m not even a big fan of Country music, but there has always been something so intriguing about Dolly Parton. She’s cute as a button, is a total girly girl (like myself) who loves makeup, high heels ect, is always laughing and cracking jokes and never takes herself too seriously, and most importantly, is just a phenominal singer/songwriter. I love her voice, I love her look, I love her attitude – I just love HER! She never forgot where she came from either, which is so appealing. She’s proud of her smoky mountain roots! Oh, and I also admire her as a businesswoman. Dolly had, a theme park, restraunts ect LONG before other female artists were doing this kind of thing!