Dolly Parton Honored With Two Emmy Awards

Dolly Parton (Dolly Records/RCA Nashville) received her first two Emmy awards Saturday night (Jan. 20) at the Midsouth Regional Emmy ceremony at the Music City Center in Nashville, both focused on her work giving back to those in need. Parton, who was first nominated for an Emmy in 1978, is the only country artist to have received nods from the Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, Golden Globes and Grammys.

At this weekend’s Emmy event, Parton was awarded the Best Community Service program trophy for her Smoky Mountains Rise telethon, which raised more than $13 million dollars for her My People Fund. Parton, who was not in attendance, shared this honor will fellow telethon collaborators Nicholas E. Dugger, Danny Nozell, Pete Owens, Scott Durand, Shanna Strassberg, Edie Lynn Hoback and John Zarling.

The National Association of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Midsouth also recognized the legend’s lifetime of giving back with the Governor’s Award. In her acceptance, Parton noted that she is most proud of her efforts on behalf of Dollywood, the Dollywood Foundation, including the Imagination Library, the My People Fund and Mountain Tough.

“I am so excited to receive these awards tonight,” noted Parton, who is currently working on new music for the upcoming film Dumplin’. “When people ask me what I want them to say about me 100 years from now, I always joke that I want them to say ‘boy, she sure does look good for her age!’ But, in all honesty, I want the work we’ve done through the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library to stand the test of time. Of course, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I want my music to be a part of that story, but in all honesty, my music has been a part of everything I have ever done in this business. My music has given wings to my dreams ever since I was a child, and as I sit here tonight, I am so thankful for the fans who have stood by me and supported me all of these years.”

Parton’s latest release, her first children’s album I Believe In You, is directing proceeds from the project to the Imagination Library, which has sent nearly 100 million books to children from birth to five years of age in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The album project will be featured in select Kroger grocery stores during the Easter season, spotlighted in check-out displays with Jesus Calling children’s devotionals.

Shanna Strassberg with Scott Durand. Photo courtesy Shanna Strassberg