In the 1970s, Dolly Parton embarked on lengthy tour legs with members of her band. They traveled together by bus and spent weeks at a time away from home. Though Parton was married by this point, it didn’t take long before people began to whisper rumors of her flirtations with members of her band. Her former guitarist spoke about the affectionate way she treated people.
Dolly Parton was affectionate with members of her band
When Barbara Walters interviewed Parton in 1977, she asked the singer if there was any “hanky-panky” on the tour bus.
“Well, that depends on what you mean by hanky-panky,” Parton responded, per the book Dolly by Alanna Nash. “We do a lot of celebratin’ on the bus. Let’s put it that way. If there’s really something to celebrate, if we want to stop and buy some wine or some champagne, if there’s somethin’ really nice.
Dolly Parton was affectionate with members of her band
When Barbara Walters interviewed Parton in 1977, she asked the singer if there was any “hanky-panky” on the tour bus.
“Well, that depends on what you mean by hanky-panky,” Parton responded, per the book Dolly by Alanna Nash. “We do a lot of celebratin’ on the bus. Let’s put it that way. If there’s really something to celebrate, if we want to stop and buy some wine or some champagne, if there’s somethin’ really nice.
- 5/8/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the 1970s, Dolly Parton embarked on long stretches of tours with her band. While she paid well, the work was hard and took people away from home for weeks at a time. Her band had a high turnover rate, though not because people tired of the schedule. Instead, Parton fired many of her band members in search of the perfect lineup.
Dolly Parton’s band didn’t feel safe in their jobs
As Parton worked to cross over from a strictly country audience to a mainstream one, she tried to make sure she had the perfect band to back her. This became a major point of concern for the people who joined her on tour. Her former guitarist, Don Roth, said Parton struggled to find people because of her reputation.
“First of all, everybody’s afraid they’re gonna get fired; there’s no stability,” he said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash.
Dolly Parton’s band didn’t feel safe in their jobs
As Parton worked to cross over from a strictly country audience to a mainstream one, she tried to make sure she had the perfect band to back her. This became a major point of concern for the people who joined her on tour. Her former guitarist, Don Roth, said Parton struggled to find people because of her reputation.
“First of all, everybody’s afraid they’re gonna get fired; there’s no stability,” he said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash.
- 5/5/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the 1970s, Dolly Parton picked up a reputation that wasn’t great for someone looking to hire a band. She explained that people in Nashville felt she couldn’t keep her backing musicians. Parton was looking for a specific sound and dynamic, and she fired people if they didn’t fit this vision. According to one of her former band members, some people felt extremely bitter toward her.
Some members of Dolly Parton’s band resented her
For many musicians, the chance to play in Parton’s band was significant and exciting. She paid well and was on a seemingly endless rise. Still, it was hard work that required long hours on the road. They also felt that Parton’s new management had made it difficult to work with her.
“On top of that, a good many things promised by Dolly did not happen,” her former guitarist, Don Roth...
Some members of Dolly Parton’s band resented her
For many musicians, the chance to play in Parton’s band was significant and exciting. She paid well and was on a seemingly endless rise. Still, it was hard work that required long hours on the road. They also felt that Parton’s new management had made it difficult to work with her.
“On top of that, a good many things promised by Dolly did not happen,” her former guitarist, Don Roth...
- 5/3/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Dolly Parton’s former guitarist, Don Roth, traveled with the singer for weeks at a time as she toured. He grew familiar with her work ethic, sense of humor, and flirtatious nature. He also got to know her husband, Carl Dean. Roth said that while he was well aware of the rumors about Parton’s infidelity, he thought her sense of right and wrong was so strong that she never would have cheated on him.
Dolly Parton’s guitarist said she was obsessed with her morals
For much of her career, Parton was the subject of affair rumors. People wondered if she was romantically involved with many of her professional connections, like band members or co-stars. Parton flirted with these rumors, believing the media attention would give a boost to her various projects. While she rarely confirmed or denied having affairs, Roth felt confident that she never had.
“[S]he’s totally loyal to Carl Dean,...
Dolly Parton’s guitarist said she was obsessed with her morals
For much of her career, Parton was the subject of affair rumors. People wondered if she was romantically involved with many of her professional connections, like band members or co-stars. Parton flirted with these rumors, believing the media attention would give a boost to her various projects. While she rarely confirmed or denied having affairs, Roth felt confident that she never had.
“[S]he’s totally loyal to Carl Dean,...
- 5/1/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Dolly Parton places great value on her friendships. She has known her best friend, Judy Ogle, since childhood, and built solid relationships with many of the people who support her career. When she moved to Los Angeles, she relied on a network of friends in the city. Eventually, though, she had to pull back from these relationships. She said this left her feeling incredibly lonely.
Dolly Parton said she felt alone after dealing with a problem in her friendship
In the early 1980s, Parton began spending more time in LA because of her burgeoning film career. She built an LA family out of Ogle, her bandleader Gregg Perry, and his secretary, Susie Glickman.
“Judy and I had more time for each other now with Gregg and Susie managing things so smoothly,” Parton wrote in her book Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business. “We were able to take our trips together and felt good again.
Dolly Parton said she felt alone after dealing with a problem in her friendship
In the early 1980s, Parton began spending more time in LA because of her burgeoning film career. She built an LA family out of Ogle, her bandleader Gregg Perry, and his secretary, Susie Glickman.
“Judy and I had more time for each other now with Gregg and Susie managing things so smoothly,” Parton wrote in her book Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business. “We were able to take our trips together and felt good again.
- 4/13/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the early 1980s, Dolly Parton began working on The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. The film, while perhaps not a critical success, opened at No. 1 in the United States and earned Parton a Golden Globe nomination. It was also a nightmare to make. Parton described the challenge of making the movie at a particularly low point in her personal life. She also admitted that in trying to land a friend a job, she got someone else fired. Parton explained why all of this made her feel that everyone involved in the film were “losers.”
Dolly Parton said ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ was a miserable experience
Parton was extremely close with her bandleader, Gregg Perry. She wanted to bring him in to work on the music for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with her. Unfortunately, Perry’s hiring meant that the sitting musical supervisor lost his job.
Dolly Parton said ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ was a miserable experience
Parton was extremely close with her bandleader, Gregg Perry. She wanted to bring him in to work on the music for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with her. Unfortunately, Perry’s hiring meant that the sitting musical supervisor lost his job.
- 7/30/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1982, Dolly Parton starred in the musical film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. While the film was a success — Parton even picked up a Golden Globe nomination for her acting — she did not enjoy her on-set experience. Parton struggled behind the scenes and dealt with problems in her personal life. When reflecting on her work in the film, she felt she needed to apologize for any pain she’d caused anyone on set.
Dolly Parton felt she might have caused pain on the set of ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’
After thoroughly enjoying her experience acting in 9 to 5, Parton felt let down by The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. While things weren’t perfect on set, she noted that her personal life was the root of much of her dissatisfaction.
“Without meaning to, I added to the hurt feelings and confusion surrounding Best Little Whorehouse,” she wrote in...
Dolly Parton felt she might have caused pain on the set of ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’
After thoroughly enjoying her experience acting in 9 to 5, Parton felt let down by The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. While things weren’t perfect on set, she noted that her personal life was the root of much of her dissatisfaction.
“Without meaning to, I added to the hurt feelings and confusion surrounding Best Little Whorehouse,” she wrote in...
- 7/7/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Over the weekend, Dolly Parton’s 1979 album, Great Balls of Fire, turned 44 years old. The album came out during a time when the country star was making big changes to her career. She had plans of becoming a superstar, and needed to get her music heard by a wider audience. So she put out some music that wasn’t necessarily true to her roots. Let’s take a look back at the 1979 album and what Parton thought about it.
Dolly Parton | ABC Photo Archives/Ann Limongello Dolly Parton’s ‘Great Balls of Fire’
Parton’s Great Balls of Fire came out on May 28, 1979, released by RCA Victor. It was the artist’s 21st solo studio album. The album was produced by Gregg Perry and Dean Parks; Parton and Charles Koppelman acted as executive producers.
Certified Gold in the U.S., Great Balls of Fire performed well. It reached number four...
Dolly Parton | ABC Photo Archives/Ann Limongello Dolly Parton’s ‘Great Balls of Fire’
Parton’s Great Balls of Fire came out on May 28, 1979, released by RCA Victor. It was the artist’s 21st solo studio album. The album was produced by Gregg Perry and Dean Parks; Parton and Charles Koppelman acted as executive producers.
Certified Gold in the U.S., Great Balls of Fire performed well. It reached number four...
- 5/31/2023
- by Kelsey Goeres
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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