Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
During the cable special "Dolly Celebrates 25 Years of Dollywood," Dolly Parton points out what others overlook in Miley Cyrus.
"I just think you're a great songwriter," Parton tells the starlet. "People don't realize that. You'll have a long and great career."
Not wanting to brush Parton's comment aside, Billy Ray Cyrus told his daughter to be aware of the significance of such a compliment.
"I want you to remember this moment," he told Miley. "You were just told that by one of the greatest singer-songwriters-entertainers in the history of time."
It's one of the few sincere moments in the often flat special "Dolly Celebrates 25 Years of Dollywood" (8 p.m. Saturday, Hallmark Channel) - which has a technically incorrect title since the theme park opened 24 years ago and is in its 25th season. It isn't so much a celebration of Parton as it is a travelogue for her Pigeon Forge venture. The hour drifts between nice-enough musical numbers (the best being "Jolene," performed by Parton and Miley Cyrus) and Parton doing a tutorial on Dollywood.
She's proud of Dollywood, as well she should be, but the special marking its 25th season sputters with informercial-like dialogue and obvious stock footage used for commercials, which cheapens the whole production.
Dollywood employees joining Parton as she sings working-anthem "9 to 5" is a campy segment. A better produced segment would have had Dollywood's own singing talent back-up Parton on the song against a backdrop of employees going about their day.
The "Dollywood" special is salvaged by the musical numbers, shot on a huge wooden stage in the middle of the theme park. (Don't go looking for it on your next visit. It was put there just for the special.)
Along with a brief appearance on stage from Miley Cyrus, Kenny Rogers shares the mic with Parton on a beautifully balanced "I Will Always Love You." Billy Ray Cyrus is buried under Parton's more spirited vocals on "Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man."
If the intent of the "Dollywood" special was to sell tickets to the already popular attraction, it's a little forced and hardly subtle. But the real purpose was to appreciate Dollywood and its founder for making it this far.
And if that's the case, the "Dollywood" special doesn't do enough to make that clear.
Score: 2 1/2 (out of five)
Terry Morrow may be reached at morrowt@knoxville.com or 865-342-6445. His blog can be found at http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/.
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