Dolly Parton To Cover All College Fees For Dollywood Employees

Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group

February 9th, 2022 11:14 AM

Dolly Parton is covering 100% of tuition, fees, and books for any employee of her Dollywood Theme Park who chooses to pursue further education.

The program makes it exponentially easier for employees – or “hosts,” as they are known at Dollywood – at all levels to pursue their personal and professional dreams through education. The program officially launches on February 24, for all seasonal, part-time, and full-time employees at Dollywood Parks & Resorts. Hosts can enroll in the program on their first day of employment.

Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company said in a press release, “Our goal at Dollywood Parks and Resorts is to provide the best possible experience for both our guests and our hosts. We know when our hosts are happy and feel cared for that they are going to pass that along to our guests. The creation of the program allows another avenue for us to care for our hosts.”

The significant investment in employee education will be made through Herschend’s GROW U., a new program, piloted by Herschend Enterprises, Dolly Parton’s operating partner in Dollywood.

Dolly Parton’s Best 75 Songs

75 – “Straight Talk” – 1992
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From the movie of the same name. Dolly played a radio talk show host.
74 – “These Old Bones” – 2002
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Dolly says that the "old lady voice" she uses in this song sounds just like her own mother.
73 – “Here I Am” – 2018
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From the Netflix movie, 'Dumplin'.'
72 – “Holdin’ On To You” w/ Elle King – 2018
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A great remake of a song Dolly first recorded in the 1970s. Elle King is awesome teaming with Parton on this one.
71 – “Not Enough” w/ Queen Latifah – 2012
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From the soundtrack to 'Joyful Noise.'
70 – “Don’t Think Twice” – 2014
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A cover of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" from his 1963 album, 'The Freewheeling' Bob Dylan.
69 – “Lay Your Hands On Me” – 2014
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Yep, it's a cover of the Bon Jovi classic.
68 – “Better Day” – 2011
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An uplifting song Parton wrote for her 'Better Day"'album.
67 – “When Life Is Good Again” – 2020
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We all needed to hear this song in 2020, a year that Dolly brought a bit of light to.
66 – “Backwood Barbie” – 2008
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A song she wrote about who she is. Dolly used dolls made with her image to promote this song. She has a handful of diehard fans who make Dolly dolls exclusively.
65 – “If I Were A Carpenter” w/ Joe Nichols -2005
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A cover of the song by folk singer Tim Hardin, which has also been covered by Johnny Cash. She gets an assist here from country singer Joe Nichols.
64 – “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” w/ Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn – 1993
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This album was so good and what a teaming of country icons.
63 – “Red, White and Bluegrass” – 2003
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An original song from her album she recorded as a response to 9/11.
62 – “Better Get To Livin'” – 2008
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A song that reflects Dolly's optimism on life.
61 – “Lovesick Blues” w/ Patsy Cline, Loretta, Tammy – 1993
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A remake of a Hank Williams song that featured Dolly, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and the late Patsy Cline's voice.
60 – “Halos and Horns” – 1998
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The title track of her 1998 bluegrass album.
59 – “Down From Dover” – 1970
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She cites this as a favorite tune she has written.
58 – “Seven Bridges Road” – 2000
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A great cover of the Eagles song.
57 – “Travelin’ Prayer” – 1999
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A Billy Joel cover.
56 – “Honky Tonk Songs” – 1998
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Here, she got back to her roots country sound with this classic Kitty Wells remake that Wells sings on.
55 – “I Still Miss Someone” – 1999
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Dolly's remake of a classic Johnny Cash song.
54 – “Time and Tears” – 1998
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Dolly wrote this song with which has a catchy beat.
53 – “The Camel’s Heart – 1998
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Another gem she wrote with a clever play on a old saying.
52 – “The Grass Is Blue” – 1999
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This is the title cut from her Grammy winning bluegrass project.
51 – “The Salt In My Tears” – 1998
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This album, called 'Hungry Again,' came out soon after the death of Tammy Wynette. Dolly had written some unfinished songs with Wynette.
50 – “Me and Little Andy” – 1977
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This song was never a single but is a favorite of many Dolly fans for its unique subject matter. Dolly used a childlike voice to sing a part.
49 – “To Daddy” – 1994
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Dolly wrote this song in the '60s and gave it to Emmylou Harris to record as a single.
48 – “After The Goldrush” w/ the Trio – 1999
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This Neil Young cover won a Grammy in 2000.
47 – “Starting Over Again” – 1980
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This is a Dolly classic that Reba remade in the 1990's.
46 – “Single Women” – 1982
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This album "Heartbreak Express" was the followup album to Dolly's huge "9 to 5" album. This was a number one song.
45 – “Heartsongs” – 1994
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The title track from Dolly's live album recorded in her native East Tennessee.
44 – “Yellow Roses” – 1989
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A classic Dolly love song.
43 – “You Can’t Make Old Friends” w/ Kenny Rogers – 2014
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This collaboration won Kenny and Dolly a Grammy in 2015.
42 – “Pure and Simple” – 2016
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This is the title track of the album that she toured on for the first time in twenty-five years.
41 – “Traveling Man” – 1971
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One of Dolly's early hits that she shared her mother didn't really care for because of the subject matter.
40 – “Don’t Call It Love” – 1985
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It's one of her catchiest songs, you won't get it out of your head for days.
39 – “All I Can Do” – 1976
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It's a quick ride of a song with perfect lyrics.
38 – “Light Of A Clear Blue Morning” – 1977
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A song Dolly put on a few of her albums. This version, from 1977, is the first of them. It's one of those songs that you listen to when you need to feel better about something. It's full of hope.
36 – “High And Mighty” – 1993
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This is another song that Dolly put on a few of her albums. When she really believes in a song she just releases it again for a new generation of listeners.
35 – “Wildflowers” – w/ Trio – 1987
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The 'Trio' album won a Grammy in 1988 for Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt.
34 – “Appalachian Memories” – 1983
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A song she later re-recorded as "Smoky Mountain Memories" about her people in East Tennessee.
33 – “Calm On The Water” – 1983
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An album cut from Dolly's "Burlap and Satin" album that is a spiritual ride and an all-time favorite.
32 – “The Seeker” – 1975
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An early hit for Dolly that leaned toward inspiration.
31 – “Heartbreak Express.” – 1982
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The title cut from her Heartbreak Express album. Coming out after 9 to 5, the album sold over a million copies.
30 – “The Bargain Store” – 1975
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A song that Dolly said is about finding love.
29 – “The PMS Blues” – 1994
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A comical look at what women deal with on a monthly basis. Yeah, it's what you think it is and it's hillarious.
28 – “Baby I’m Burning” – 1978
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This is a catchy song that Dolly had remixed to a dance mix and released on pink vinyl that same year. It's my husband's favorite Dolly song and he's a heavy metal guy. Go figure.
27 – “Applejack” – 1977
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Never a single but always played in every Dolly concert since she first recorded it. She plays a mean banjo too.
26 – “Love is Like A Butterfly” – 1974
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Classic Dolly and her love of butterflies has always been her trademark.
25 – “Hush Bye Hard Times” – 1980
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What a great song on her huge "9 to 5" album. Every song on that album could have been a single.
24 – “Twelfth of Never” w/ Keith Urban – 2005
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Just as Keith Urban started to become a country superstar he record this classic with Dolly. He sang it with Dolly at his New Faces Show at CRS in Nashville in 2005. The song ends with Keith saying, "You give me chills Dolly."
23 – “What A Heartache” – 1991
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A song Dolly has put on a couple of her albums. A serious heartbreak of a song.
22 – “Stairway To Heaven” – 2002
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Yep, Dolly covered this classic and it's great. She is covering it once again for her 2023 "Rock" album.
21 – “Eagle When She Flies” – 1991
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A powerful song for a powerful woman. This song even inspired a series of greeting cards.
20 – “Tennessee Homesick Blues” – 1984
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A great song for the Rhinestone movie with Sylvester Stallone. She held a huge party for the movie at her home in Tennessee for the movie's opening.
19 – “Down” – 1979
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A great and catchy album cut Dolly wrote from her "Great Balls Of Fire" album.
18 – “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That” – 1989
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Love this and the video is awesome as well. Number one song.
17 – “Lonely Comin’ Down” – 1974
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Another stellar album cut from the same album that gave us "Jolene" and " I Will Always Love You."
16 – “Old Flames ( Can’t Hold A Candle To You)” – 1980
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Classic Dolly, but a song written by pop singer Kesha's mom, Pebe Sebert.
15 – “My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy” – 1969
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The boy on the album cover is Dolly's not often seen husband Carl Dean.
14 – “One Emotion After Another” – 1984
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Yeah, the movie (Rhinestone) got panned and Sly Stallone singing was rough, but Dolly on the soundtrack and this song is amazing.
13 – “Islands In The Steam” – 1982
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One of the biggest selling songs of all time. Written by The Bee Gees. I can't hear this one enough.
12 – “It’s Such A Heartache” – 1985
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The perfect heartbreak song.
11 – “Two Doors Down” – 1977
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This is a the song that Jane Fonda heard on the radio that inspired her to cast Dolly in 9 to 5.
10 – “Think About Love” – 1985
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Perfect for the "Real Love" album and one of my very favorites.
9 – “Nickels and Dimes” – 1978
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An album cut that tells the story of her first taking her guitar out to sing on the streets. She wrote the song with her brother Randy Parton.
8 – “Jesus and Gravity” – 2008
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A single she released in 2008. I always say this song is just as powerful as Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take The Wheel."
7 – “He’s Alive” 1989
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Dolly won a Dove award for this powerful Easter song.
6 – “Joshua” – 1971
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Dolly's first number one solo song. It's a great story song.
5 – “9 to 5” – 1980
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What more can be said of this classic country and pop song? Can you think of Dolly without thinking about this song?
4 – “Here You Come Again” – 1977
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A Grammy winner for Dolly. Believe it or not, she didn't write this one, but what a hit it was for her.
3 – “Coat Of Many Colors” 1971
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Dolly says this is her favorite song that she's written. It's of course a true story of what her mother had sewn her to wear to school as a kid.
2 – “I Will Always Love You” – 1974
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Dolly says this is her favorite song to sing. It's what she is known for, not to mention the Whitney Houston hit.
1 – “Jolene” – 1974
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This song is a marvel and it's been my ring tone since 1995. You know, Dolly says she can't totally remember but speculates that she wrote this song and "I Will Always Love You" on the same day. What a day!

Nancy Brooks has been working in the country music industry for almost 30 years. She has interviewed pretty much any country star you can think of. In the late 1990s, she started working with Dolly Parton. And yes, Nancy reports that Parton is as sweet as you would think. She loves her life in country music and has been backstage at every CMA Awards show since the late 1990s. Many of her stories are from her one-on-one interviews. She was there at the beginning of the incredible careers of many music superstars today, including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Blake Shelton, and has interviewed them multiple times throughout the years.

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Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group

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Dolly Parton To Cover All College Fees For Dollywood Employees

Dolly Parton’s Best 75 Songs

75 – “Straight Talk” – 1992

74 – “These Old Bones” – 2002

73 – “Here I Am” – 2018

72 – “Holdin’ On To You” w/ Elle King – 2018

71 – “Not Enough” w/ Queen Latifah – 2012

70 – “Don’t Think Twice” – 2014

69 – “Lay Your Hands On Me” – 2014

68 – “Better Day” – 2011

67 – “When Life Is Good Again” – 2020

66 – “Backwood Barbie” – 2008

65 – “If I Were A Carpenter” w/ Joe Nichols -2005

64 – “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” w/ Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn – 1993

63 – “Red, White and Bluegrass” – 2003

62 – “Better Get To Livin'” – 2008

61 – “Lovesick Blues” w/ Patsy Cline, Loretta, Tammy – 1993

60 – “Halos and Horns” – 1998

59 – “Down From Dover” – 1970

58 – “Seven Bridges Road” – 2000

57 – “Travelin’ Prayer” – 1999

56 – “Honky Tonk Songs” – 1998

55 – “I Still Miss Someone” – 1999

54 – “Time and Tears” – 1998

53 – “The Camel’s Heart – 1998

52 – “The Grass Is Blue” – 1999

51 – “The Salt In My Tears” – 1998

50 – “Me and Little Andy” – 1977

49 – “To Daddy” – 1994

48 – “After The Goldrush” w/ the Trio – 1999

47 – “Starting Over Again” – 1980

46 – “Single Women” – 1982

45 – “Heartsongs” – 1994

44 – “Yellow Roses” – 1989

43 – “You Can’t Make Old Friends” w/ Kenny Rogers – 2014

42 – “Pure and Simple” – 2016

41 – “Traveling Man” – 1971

40 – “Don’t Call It Love” – 1985

39 – “All I Can Do” – 1976

38 – “Light Of A Clear Blue Morning” – 1977

36 – “High And Mighty” – 1993

35 – “Wildflowers” – w/ Trio – 1987

34 – “Appalachian Memories” – 1983

33 – “Calm On The Water” – 1983

32 – “The Seeker” – 1975

31 – “Heartbreak Express.” – 1982

30 – “The Bargain Store” – 1975

29 – “The PMS Blues” – 1994

28 – “Baby I’m Burning” – 1978

27 – “Applejack” – 1977

26 – “Love is Like A Butterfly” – 1974

25 – “Hush Bye Hard Times” – 1980

24 – “Twelfth of Never” w/ Keith Urban – 2005

23 – “What A Heartache” – 1991

22 – “Stairway To Heaven” – 2002

21 – “Eagle When She Flies” – 1991

20 – “Tennessee Homesick Blues” – 1984

19 – “Down” – 1979

18 – “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That” – 1989

17 – “Lonely Comin’ Down” – 1974