Wildfires Have Forced Dolly Parton to Close Her Theme Park Until Friday
It’s a bittersweet day for DOLLY PARTON. Her TV special “Christmas of Many Colors” is debuting tonight on NBC . . . but it’s overshadowed by the terrible wildfires near her Dollywood theme park.
The park had to close down for safety reasons . . . and it’ll reopen on Friday. In the meantime, employees have been pitching in on the cleanup and doing whatever they can to support the community.
Dolly issued a statement, saying, “I’ve been watching the terrible fires in the Great Smoky Mountains and I’m heartbroken. I’m praying for the families and the firefighters. It’s a blessing that my theme park, and so many businesses in Pigeon Forge have been spared.”
Sunny Sweeney Drinks Her Way Through Family Gatherings
SUNNY SWEENEY has been performing a song called “One More Christmas Beer” for several years . . . and she’s finally going to release it tomorrow. She co-wrote it and like all great art, it’s based in reality. (???)
She tells “Rolling Stone”, quote, “It was inspired by true family events, and names haven’t been changed to protect the non-innocent. My family puts the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Sometimes you have to just drink your way through a family gathering.”
She says a lot of people have been relating to it. Quote, “Every family has a little bit of crazy looming over their heads during the holidays . . . or in my case, all year round.”
“On More Christmas Beer”will be available tomorrow on iTunes. (You can also listen to it, here.)
CHARLIE DANIELS turned 80 last month, and he’s as good on stage as ever . . . as long as he takes his time. Quote, “You learn to pace your songs. You start off like a house on fire and then you ease it down a bit. By the time you get to the end, you build up to the highest point you’re gonna get to.” (Delicious Audio)
MARTINA MCBRIDE has extended her Love Unleashed Tour into next year. It’ll get going February 2nd in St. Louis . . . and run into March. LAUREN ALAINA will be the opener. Dates are at MartinaMcBride.com.
BRAD PAISLEY’s first guitar was given to him by his grandfather . . . and now it’s part of his exhibit in the Country Music Hall of Fame. (Delicious Audio)