Dolly Parton is helping out an independent family film with a selection of several new, original songs to make up its score.
“First Dogs” is being filmed over the next few weeks in Morgan Hill, Calif., with Dan Aykroyd and Eric Roberts. It stars a little boy who finds a lost dog he believes belongs to the president of the United States and embarks on a cross-country adventure to return the animal home.
No word on Dolly making any appearance in the film but she has written and recorded several new tunes for the film’s soundtrack.
The project was written and directed by Bryan Michael Stoller, and it's not Dolly’s first connection to him. She had earlier composed four songs for and signed on to play the starring role in his film about a woman running an orphanage who befriends an ex-con played by Michael Clarke Duncan.
It had been in development under the titles “A Christmas Rap” about eight years ago and “The Wishing Well” about five years ago, but that project fell through before filming could begin.
Dolly’s holiday classic “Once Upon A Christmas” with Kenny Rogers stuck around for a fourth week this year on the country catalog albums chart last week, dipping one to No. 14 in its 52nd week since its original release.
The album also earned a third week this year on the Canadian country albums chart, rising two to No. 13. Her “Backwoods Barbie” fell off the Canadian country chart after returning for two weeks following her tour dates north of the border, falling from No. 39 the previous week, its 10th.
Her “16 Biggest Hits” shot up a dozen digits to No. 50 U.S. country in its 60th week. Jessica Simpson's “Do You Know,” with Dolly on the title track she wrote, gained four to No. 44 country in its 10th week.
Harris’ “All I Intended To Be” fell back off the 75-position country albums tally, down from No. 73 the previous week, its 23rd.
Dolly’s music video for "Shinola" from “Backwoods Barbie” dipped a bit last week on the countdown for CMT's digital music channel, Pure Country. The video lost four places to No. 6 in the online-voted Pure 12 Pack in its 11th week.
In Ireland, “The Very Best Of Dolly Parton, Vol. 1” dropped 17 spots to No. 91 in its 68th week on the top 100 Irish pop albums chart.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has re-issued the public service announcement Dolly helped with back in 2003 to encourage pet owners to not leave their four-legged loved ones alone too long. Her song “Will He Be Waiting” plays as actress Kathy Najimy lip-synchs while she rushes home.
It turns out at the end that she is speeding to return to her beloved dog. The ad has been re-issued as a reminder to properly care for pets over the holidays.
Hushabye Baby, a record label that makes children’s instrumental lullabies out of country songs, has announced plans to cover some Dolly tracks soon, although no release date has been revealed for the Dolly CD.
Congratulations to Dollywood for taking home four trophies from this year's International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) awards.
The park won its third consecutive Heartbeat Award for the theme park show with the greatest ability to reach the hearts of its audience. “Dreamland Drive-In” repeated the win in this category it first claimed in 2006, while the park’s “Great American Country Show” won last year.
The Gem Tones took home Best Atmosphere/Street Performer, “Creature Adventures Starring The Kratt Brothers” snagged an honorable mention for Best Live Edutainment Show, and Arnie Shaw from “The Great American Country Show” got an honorable mention for Best Female Performer.
The four honors bring the park’s total IAAPA wins to 11 over the past three years, more than any other theme park worldwide.
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