Dolly Parton Biography by Chris Dicker

Author:Chris Dicker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: country music, country club, dolly parton, country singer, dollywood, celebrity bios, country girls, dolly, countrymusic, dolly parton biography
Publisher: Digital Publishing Group

Part IV: Country Success

The most notable development that took place for Parton in the early aftermath of her split with Wagoner was that she began seeking ways of diversifying her audience base, which involved branching out from the country and attracting a broader demographic. In 1974, Parton had formed the “Travelling Family Band,” comprised mainly of family members, but the group was terminated in 1976 as Parton began devoting her energies toward expanding outside the country genre. That same year, Parton formed a new band, “Gypsy Fever,” that was geared more toward a crossover audience. Parton also released All I Can Do (1976), the final album for which Wagoner received a production credit.

The next year, Parton released New Harvest…First Gathering (1977), the first of her albums that were geared for mass appeal. The album featured songs that Dolly herself had written, as well as covers of The Temptations’ “My Girl” and Gary Jackson and Carl Smith’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher,” clear attempts to capitalize on the pop demographic. While “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” was nominated for a Grammy and the album topped the country charts, it achieved only modest success on the Billboard charts, topping out at #71.

Here You Come Again Parton’s 1977 album was the first of her albums to excel with both a pop and country audience truly. The album was headlined by the title song, which remains one of Parton’s most famous songs despite the fact she didn’t write it herself. Another song, “Two Doors Down,” proved to be popular as well, and this time, the album topped the country charts and reached #20 in the Billboard rankings. That achievement was copied the following year with the release of Heartbreaker (1978), and by the end of the decade; Dolly Parton’s name was no longer simply synonymous with country music but one that every American knew.

Another example of Dolly Parton’s efforts to break into the mainstream audience was her decision to begin acting in films. The first of these, 9 to 5, was released in 1980 and remains one of the most beloved comedies of the decade. Parton was fortunate enough to star with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, both of whom were highly acclaimed, and more than just its comedic merits, the movie was culturally important for its feminist message. The plot concerns three co-workers who are employed in various capacities in a company that is presided over by a sexist boss. The film is an over-the-top comedy and involves an elaborate and farcical attempt to overthrow the boss, but it also offered a rare cinematic representation of sexism in American culture, particularly in the corporate realm. Parton is cast as the secretary to the chauvinist boss, yet her characterization overcomes the “dumb blonde” stereotype one might expect. Not only does she resist her boss’s advances, but she also reveals herself to be a strong woman while interacting with her co-workers.

Jane Fonda

To understand the value of 9 to 5,

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