The following list only comprises of TV specials where Dolly was the main star and/or was personally involved in the making of them. Please note the list is not exhaustive and there may be omissions. Interview shows where Dolly is a guest are not included, although there are some exceptions, such as the Mike Douglas show, where she was the co-host.
A still from the opening credits of Musik Laden
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1977 – Musik Laden – This was a weekly German music show, which here featured Dolly performing a 45 minute set to a studio audience. No official DVD release.
Dolly Performs: Higher and Higher, All I Can Do, Jolene, My Tennessee Mountain Home, Do I Ever Cross Your Mind, Coat of Many Colors, Applejack, Light of a Clear Blue Morning, I Will Always Love You, Getting In My Way, Me and Little Andy, How Does it Feel, Holdin’ Onto You, The Seeker |
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The DVD cover for Country’s Greatest Stars Live Vol 1
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1978 – 50 Years of Country Music – Dolly hosted this particular 2 hour special and featured most of the country stars of this era. This is available on DVD as Country’s Greatest Stars Live: Vol. 1. Aired on NBC on Jan 22nd 1978.
Dolly performs: Here You Come Again, Muleskinner Blues, The Cowgirl and the Dandy, A Hits Medley, Hank Williams Medley |
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Dolly making a family recipe, Stone Soup
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1977 – The Mike Douglas Show – This was an interview based show, much like The Tonight Show. Dolly appeared as guest host for an entire week during the last week in May 77 and sang several songs (including a duet with sister Stella), interviewed guests, performed a cookery feature, a fashion show, comedy skits and a whole lot more. These shows are fantastic, funny and rather special.... if only her TV series could have been this entertaining. No DVD official release and very hard to get hold of amongst fans. Apparently she also guested on the show on two previous occasions, once in 1970 and again in 1974, although no details are available.
Dolly performs: Getting In My Way. Me and Little Andy, How Does it Feel, Higher and Higher, Coat of Many Colors, Jolene, Let’s All Go Down To The River (duet with Stella Parton), Lonesome Me (duet with Mike Douglas), Applejack
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The opening credits of Dolly in Central Park
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1979 – Dolly Sings for New York – This 30 minute TV special featured Dolly singing live in Central Park.
Dolly performs: Higher and Higher, Baby I’m Burning, Jolene, Applejack, Heartbreaker, All I Can Do, Here You Come Again, Two Doors Down. |
Dolly and Carol in the TV Special
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1979 – Dolly and Carol in Nashville – Dolly teams up with Carol Burnett, a Broadway actress/singer for an hour long special. No DVD official release.
Songs performed: No One Picks Like a Nashville Picker Picks, It's a Kick, Kickin' Around with You, Wayfaring Stranger, Amazing Grace, In The Sweet By and By, I'll Fly Away, Old Time Religion, This Little Light of Mine, The Pedestal Song, Heart to Heart Medley |
Dolly talking about the tour in the TV special
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1980 – Dolly Parton On Tour – This BBC documentary followed Dolly around, on her US tour in 1979. Dolly performs several songs and we get to see her on her tour bus and even shopping at a supermarket. No DVD official release.
Dolly performs: Higher and Higher, Here You Come Again, All I Can Do, Jolene, Rocky Top, To Daddy, Coat of Many Colors, Applejack, Do I Ever Cross Your Mind, Heartbreaker, Baby I’m Burning, I Will Always Love You |
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The VHS cover for Dolly in London
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1983 – Dolly in London – This proved a massive success when it was aired on HBO in the US and the subsequent VHS release. It features Dolly in Concert at the Dominion Theatre in London in the spring of 1983. Unfortunately it has never been released on DVD.
Dolly performs: Baby I'm Burnin', Jolene, Two Doors Down, Coat of Many Colors, Appalachian Memories, Applejack, Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?, Me and Little Andy, All Shook Up, Down From Dover, Here You Come Again, Nine to Five, Great Balls of Fire, I Will Always Love You |
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Opening titles for Dolly meets the kids
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1983 – Dolly Meets The Kids – A 30 minute show where Dolly answers a bunch of questions from kids. Its not really worth making the effort to track this down, although Dolly does sing Little Tiny Tassletop, which was the first song she ever wrote. No official DVD release. |
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A screen grab from the TV special
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1984 – A Christmas To Remember – This TV special featured Dolly and Kenny singing new and old Christmas favourites. An album of the same name was released, featuring all this songs. No official DVD release.
Songs performed: A Christmas to Remember, The Christmas Song, Winter Wonderland/Sleigh Ride, With Bells On, The Greatest Gift of All, White Christmas, I Believe in Santa Claus, Christmas Without You, Once Upon a Christmas |
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The Import DVD cover
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1985 – Real Love – This HBO TV special features Kenny and Dolly’s Portland concert from 1985. Features songs from the show and fun backstage. Available on VHS and Import DVD.
Songs performed: Applejack, Coat of Many Colors, Real Love, Here You Come Again, Jolene, We've Got Tonight, Blaze of Glory, Baby I'm Burning, Two Doors Down, I Don't Want to Throw Rice, I'll Oilwells Love You, Appalachian Memories, 9 to 5, The Stranger, Islands in the Stream |
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Dolly singing a solo on The Winning Hand
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1985 – The Winning Hand – This TV special and accompanying album was really done as a benefit to help struggling record company, Monument out. The special featured only songs owned by the company and they were performed by Dolly, Kris Kristofferson, Brenda Lee, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash in a concert setting. No official DVD release.
Dolly songs performed: The Little Things, Everything's Beautiful (In It's Own Way (duet with Willie Nelson), What Do You Think About Lovin’ (duet with Brenda Lee), Ping Pong (duet with Kris Kristofferson), Put It Off Until Tomorrow (duet with Kris Kristofferson), Happy, Happy Birthday Baby (duet with Willie Nelson)
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Dolly with Kenny and Willie Nelson
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1989 – Something Inside So Strong - A concert featuring Kenny Rogers, Dolly and Willie Nelson as they perform together for the first time. The special was taped during an open-air concert for NASA employees and their families.
Dolly songs performed: Why’d You Come Here Lookin’ Like That, Something Inside So Strong |
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Dolly singing Joy To The World
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1990 – Christmas at Home – This ABC hour special features lots of pretty country scenery as Dolly delivers a strong variety of Christmas songs. Its an old-fashioned special that works well, without seeming condescending or ironic
Songs performed: Joy To The World, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bells, Go Tell It On The Mountain, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Deck The Halls |
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Opening credits from Treasures
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1996 – Treasures – A hour long CBS special featuring Dolly singing songs from her Treasures album accompanied by video footage of the news stories and events from the year of each song's original release.
Songs performed: Peace Train, Today I Started Loving You Again, Just When I Needed You Most, Something's Burning, Before the Next Teardrop Falls, Walking on Sunshine, Behind Closed Doors, Don't Let Me Cross Over, Satin Sheets, For the Good Times |
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Titles for Precious Memories
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1999 – Precious Memories – Dolly shares her love of gospel music, helped by Alison Krauss, The Cox Family and Dollywood's own group, Kingdom Heirs in this TNN special.
Songs performed: Precious Memories, The Seeker, In The Sweet Bye and Bye, In The Garden, Softly and Tenderly, When the Roll is Called Up Yonder, Washed in the Blood, Power in the Blood, Coat of Many Colors, Over in the Glory Land |
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Dolly singing Tennessee Homesick Blues
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1999 – The Southbank Show – This UK arts TV show featured Dolly as the its choice for its career retrospective and she featured heavily, giving an in depth interview about her long career. This show was re-edited for Bravo and renamed Diamond in a Rhinestone World. Not available on DVD
Songs performed: lots of clips, but none specifically for this show. |
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The CD from the Austin City Limits show
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2001 – Austin City Limits – Dolly performed a mini concert in front of a live audience in 2001 for this long running music TV show. Available on DVD and more recently on CD.
Songs performed: Train, Train, Mule Skinner Blues, Little Sparrow, Shine, I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby, A Tender Lie, Mountain Angel, Coat of Many Colors, I Will Always Love You |
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Dolly trying out a period costume at Dollywood
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2001 – Graham Goes To Dollywood - The popular UK chat show host, Graham Norton did a TV special, filmed at Dollywood, with Dolly as his tour guide. Light hearted and entertaining. Not available on DVD.
Songs performed: My Tennessee Mountain Home, Coat of Many Colors, Shine, Islands In The Stream. |
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Dolly being interviewed on Heaven and Earth
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2002- Heaven and Earth – Dolly was the focus of this hour long weekly religious show on the BBC. The extensive interview, conducted in Nashville, covers her career as well as her spirtual beliefs. Her brother Randy is also interviewed.
No songs performed
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Opening titles for Platinum Blonde documentary
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2003 – Platinum Blonde – A BBC special, focusing on Dolly’s entire career. Features interviews with Dolly, her friends and family, as well as loads of behind the scenes footage from her UK visits in 2002. Not available on DVD.
Songs performed – Lots of clips, but none specifically for this show. |
Dolly and Melissa signing together on Crossroads
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2003 – Crossroads – CMT special featuring Melissa Etheridge and Dolly singing each others songs, before a studio audience. Not available on DVD.
Songs performed by Dolly: Bring Me Some Water, Come To My Window, I Want To Be In Love. |
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Dolly cracks a joke to the crowd
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2004 – A Captitol Fourth – Dolly gets induced into the US library of Congress and performs a few songs for the invited audience. Shown on the PBS channel. Not available on DVD.
Songs performed: Red, White and Bluegrass, Coat of Many Colors, Black Drought Theme, 9 to 5, Here You Come Again, Jolene, I Will Always Love You, Welcome Home, Color Me America |
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The cover from the DVD, Live and Well
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2004 – Live and Well – A 2003 Dollywood concert recorded for commercial DVD release. Unfortunately, a tame crowd dilutes what should have been a great show. Available on DVD
Songs performed: Orange Blossom Special, Train, Train, The Grass Is Blue, Mountain Angel, Shine, Little Sparrow, Rocky Top, My Tennessee Mountain Home, Coat of Many Colors, Smokey Mountain Memories, Applejack, Marry Me, Halos And Horns, I'm Gone, Dagger Through The Heart, If, After The Gold Rush, 9 to 5, Jolene, Acappella medley: Islands In The Steam/Here You Come Again/Why'd You Come In Here Lookin' Like That?/Two Doors Down, We Irish, Stairway to Heaven, I Will Always Love You.
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DVD cover
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2005 – Chasing Rainbows – An insiders tour of the Chasing Rainbows Museum at Dollywood. DVD available at Dollywood.
Songs performed: My Tennessee Mountain Home, Chasing Rainbows, Little Tiny Tassletop, Coat of Many Colors, 9 to 5, Color Me America |
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A scene from the interview
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2007 – When Jake Met Dolly – Scissor Sister’s frontman Jake Shears meets his idol, Dolly, in this 30 minute programme made for Channel 4 in the UK. He interviews her and gets to sing a duet too.
Song performed: Calm on the Water |
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DVD cover for Live From London
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2009 – Dolly – Live in London – After the enormous success of the video release from 1983, Dolly decided to choose London again, as the setting for another concert to be released on DVD. Again, the amazing crowd make for a great show. Available on DVD
Songs performed: Two Doors Down, Jolene, Backwoods Barbie, Coat of Many Colors, Only Dreamin', Shinola, Here You Come Again, 9 to 5, Better Get To Livin', Little Sparrow, Grass Is Blue, Do I Ever Cross Your Mind, Islands In The Stream, I Will Always Love You, Jesus and Gravity. |
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Opening title sequence for the Hallmark TV Special
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2010 - Dolly Celebrates 25 Years of Dollywood
Produced for the Hallmark Channel in the US, this special was made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Dollywood. The special featured Dolly singing several songs and also talking with her guests Kenny Rogers, Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus about the theme park and her career.
Songs performed:
My Mountains, My Home, I Will Always Love You (with Kenny Rogers), My Tennessee Mountain Home, Jolene (with Miley Cyrus)
Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man (with Billy Ray Cyrus), Islands in the Stream (with Kenny Rogers), Romeo, 9 to 5, Sha-Kon-O-Hey, Light of a Clear Blue Morning, Celebrate the Dreamer in You |
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