Interview: Dolly Parton Brings 'Pure & Simple' to Uptown
WEBSTERPR.COM
THIS WEEKEND, Dolly Parton returns to Charlotte, fresh off a Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement honor received during the 2016 CMA Awards. Parton recently offered insight into her latest tunes, touring, and other topics during a conference call with Charlotte magazine and other publications. Parton visits the Spectrum Center (formerly, the Time Warner Cable Arena) on Saturday, Nov. 19, and you can grab tickets here. Below, check out what she had to say (and look for her trademark wit):
On why her tour has the moniker 'Pure & Simple' and is intentionally more intimate:
“I always felt like my personality was pure and simple. People seem to always relate to me and my stories, and my rags-to-riches, Cinderella background. I really have always enjoyed playing with all of my bands, no matter what size it was. A few years ago, I was asked to do a charity thing at the Ryman Auditorium (in Nashville). And most of my band was out of town, so we had to put together a little show. And we just got rave reviews, and it inspired an album and this tour. So it came out of an accidental and honest place. And it seems to work in both arenas and smaller places.”
On obtaining an award named for Nelson:
“Well, I love Willie as much as I love anybody as much as I love anyone outside of my family, and he feels like family to me. I’ve known Willie since we both came to Nashville in the '60s. We both used to sit out in the same building and write songs for the same publishing company and record same record labels. Willie’s one of the sweetest, most generous people I know, in addition to being one of the greatest songwriters and stylists of all time. So I was honored.”
On past accomplishments and future goals:
“I’m proud of every award, including the lifetime achievement award. It just makes you feel like you might have done something right. And sometimes it makes you feel like everyone thinks you’re old, and I feel like I’m just now getting started. But it’s just such an honor for being appreciated for what I wanted to do. I feel like I just know enough now to do good work. Every day, I have new dreams. I have lots of plans, TV plans, make-up lines, clothes down the line. I’ve got dreams all the time that I’d like to do while I’m still living, and I’m living it to the fullest.”
On her own Christmas traditions:
“Most families have a basic thing that they do, and our family always gets together and and sing and talk and eat—and talk about everybody when they leave the room. But seriously, I love to bake cookies with my nieces and nephews. Everyone always stays over at my house during Christmas. And I have an elevator at my house, painted like a chimney, and I come down with presents, dressed up as Santa Claus. I love Christmas. I’m a kid myself during Christmas.”
