BBC to honour Dolly Parton with evening dedicated to country superstar

The BBC will pay tribute to country superstar Dolly Parton with a night of special shows.

The evening, on Saturday September 19, will feature a number of performances from the US singer who died aged 80 on August 25 following a brief battle with cancer.

Airing on BBC Two, the special will open with Parton’s 2014 Glastonbury set on the Pyramid Stage during the Legends spot on the Sunday afternoon of the festival.

Glastonbury Festival 2014 – Day 3

Parton performed a string of her hits including Jolene, Coat of Many Colours, 9 to 5, Islands in the Stream and I Will Always Love You to a delighted crowd which echoed the lyrics back to the singer.

The evening will also feature a documentary exploring the friendship and musical careers of Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris over several decades.

The BBC Four film, Sisters in Country: Dolly, Linda and Emmylou, also assesses how their distinct takes on country music and friendship helped unite their different audiences through their 1987 album, Trio.

The entertainment will end with a look back on some of her greatest performances on the BBC, showcasing her enduring songwriting and the sense of humour that first made her name back in the 1970s.

Over the course of her career, which spanned more than 60 years, Parton sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and wrote more than 3,000 songs, including hits Coat Of Many Colours and Joshua.

Dolly Parton concert – London

She was a savvy businesswoman with an empire that included a theme park, aptly named Dollywood, and also a pioneering philanthropist.

Her Imagination Library, a book-gifting programme devoted to inspiring a love of reading in children, has given more than 300 million books to youngsters across the world.

Tributes poured in from around the world including some of the the biggest names in music, including: Miley Cyrus, Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Mick Jagger, Taylor Swift and Beyonce; in detailing her impact and legacy, as both a musician and a humanitarian.

The Dolly Parton night will air on BBC Two on Saturday September 19 from 9.15pm.

All shows will be available on BBC iPlayer after transmission.

Original source BBC to honour Dolly Parton with evening dedicated to country superstar

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