Family over everything.
Dolly Parton is gearing up to release a massive album this Friday, titled Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables, which includes many of her family members on all of the whopping 37 songs.
Dolly will honor her family legacy and heritage in East Tennessee through the songs and stories, with at least 20 of her relatives appearing on the record in total.
Specifically, Dolly will focus on both her paternal side, the Parton family, and maternal side, the Owens family, tracing their origin back to the United Kingdom in the 1600s, following their ultimate journey to the magical Smoky Mountains, where Dolly grew up.
It’s been a big undertaking, and in an interview with AP, Dolly said she “got very, very emotional” many times throughout the recording process:
“I got very, very emotional many times when I was singing, especially with the ones that have already passed and just remembering their voices, hearing them. It just kind of threw me in to a deep emotional place, just like I had them back again.
So, the whole thing was very heart wrenching. But it was really amazing and very restoring. It had so many colors of emotions in it.”
Of course, family has always been a focal point of her life, and one of the tracks included on the project is called “When It’s Family,” which was written by Dolly and Carl Perkins, and first released as “Family” on her 1991 album, Eagle When She Flies.
She sings about love and acceptance, and choosing to overlook differences in the name of family and unconditional love:
“Some are preachers, some are gay
Some are addicts, drunks and strays
But not a one is turned away
When it’s family
Some are lucky, others ain’t
Some are fighters, others faint
Winners, losers, sinners, saints
It’s all family”
She explained that the song wasn’t, and still isn’t, a political take, as she doesn’t “condemn nor condone anything.” It’s rather a statement on loving and accepting people “where they are for who they are.”
Dolly explained that, coming from a huge family, they have all types of people from “drunks” to “drug addicts,” and they all matter to her:
“I don’t condemn nor condone anything. I just love and accept people where they are, for who they are. And I don’t judge because I’ve said before, I’ve got some of everybody in my immediate family, whether they be trans, whether they be gay, whether they be drag queens or whatever.
I mean, we’ve got drunks, we’ve got strays, we’ve got drug addicts — you always have that when you got a family as big as ours. And you love them all.”
Dolly has released a few songs so far, including the title track and a song called “A Rose Won’t Fix It,” which features her niece Heidi Parton on lead vocals (it was actually written in 1988 but never released).
“Smoky Mountain DNA”
The record is available everywhere this Friday, which Dolly also called her favorite.” You can check out the full tracklist below.
Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables Tracklist:
1. Dolly Parton — Introduction / My Tennessee Mountain Home (Instrumental)
Written by Dolly Parton / Traditional, Arranged by Richie Owens
2. Dolly Parton — My Tennessee Mountain Home
Written by Dolly Parton
3. Roger Helton — Groom’s Tune (Bonaparte’s Retreat) (Instrumental)
Traditional
4. Reverend. Jake Owens & Dolly Parton — I Live In Glory
Written by John Melvin Henson
5. Bill & Louis Owens and the Family — Singing His Praise / Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man
Written by Jake Owens / Dolly Parton & Dorothy Jo Hope Owens Parton
6. Jake Owens, Avie Lee Parton, Dorothy Jo Owens & Estelle Owens Watson —
I’ll Meet You In The Morning
Written by Albert E. Brumley
7. Avie Lee Parton & Dolly Parton — Rosewood Casket
Traditional, Arranged by Avie Lee Parton
8. Dorothy Jo Owens & Dolly Parton — Runaway Girl
Written by Dorothy Jo Hope Owens Parton
9. John Henry Owens & Dolly Parton — I Just Stopped By
Written by Robert Owens
10. Louis Owens & Dolly Parton — When Possession Gets Too Strong
Written by Dolly Parton & Louis Owens
11. Bill Owens & Dolly Parton — Put It Off Until Tomorrow
Written by Dolly Parton & Bill Owens
12. Dolly Parton — Smoky Mountain DNA
Written by Dolly Parton
13. Stella Parton & Dolly Parton — Heart Don’t Fail Me Now
Written by Randy Parton, Bill Owens & Marion Franklin Dycus
14. Cassie Parton Griffith & Dolly Parton — Momma’s Special Touch
Written by Avie Lee Parton
15. Randy Parton & Rachel Parton George — Take It Slow
Written by Randy Parton & Floyd Parton
16. Floyd Parton & Dolly Parton — Foolin’ Around
Written by Floyd Parton
17. Freida Parton & Dolly Parton — The Crops Came In
Written by Freida Parton
18. Rachel Parton George & Dolly Parton — I Will Know
Written by Rachel Parton George & Patricia Roberts
19. Dwight Puckett & Dolly Parton — Applejack
Written by Dolly Parton
20. Debbi Jo Hess & Dolly Parton — It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right
Written by Dolly Parton
21. Richie Owens & Dolly Parton — Tell Me That You Love Me
Written by Richie Owens
22. Tim Rauhoff & Dolly Parton — Canceled Plans
Written by Timothy Rauhoff & Jada Star Roberts
23. Danielle Parton & Dolly Parton — The Man
Written by Dolly Parton
24. Jada Star & Dolly Parton — The Orchard
Written by Jada Star Roberts
25. Sabyn Mayfield & Dolly Parton — Holy Water
Written by Dolly Parton & Sabyn Mayfield
26. Heidi Parton & Dolly Parton — A Rose Won’t Fix It
Written by Dolly Parton
27. Rebecca Seaver & Dolly Parton — Where Will We Live Tomorrow
Written by Richie Owens
28. Dolly Parton & Family — Puppy Love
Written by Dolly Parton & Bill Owens
29. Shelley Rená & Dolly Parton — Not Bad
Written by Dolly Parton
30. Tanya Renee & Dolly Parton — For Keeps
Written by Dolly Parton & Marty Stuart
31. Estelle Owens & Dolly Parton — Crazy In Love With You
Written by Richie Owens
32. Lainey Parton & Dolly Parton — Be Your Own Man
Written by Dolly Parton
33. Leroy Brown & Dolly Parton — Being Me
Written by Leroy Brown & Dolly Parton
34. Faith Reeann & Dolly Parton — We Might Be In Love
Written by Dolly Parton
35. Merin Seaver & Dolly Parton — Randy Floyd
Written by Merin Seaver & Dolly Parton
36. Dolly Parton & Family — When It’s Family
Written by Dolly Parton & Carl Perkins
37. Dolly Parton — Outro / Smoky Mountain DNA (Instrumental)
Written by Dolly Parton
