Can't Take the Country Out of Dolly

[RonJonSurfer]

Dolly Parton plans country album, world tour By Ray Waddell

NASHVILLE (Billboard) - Dolly Parton will release her first "mainstream country" album in 17 years next February, and will promote it with a world tour, her manager said.

The disc will be the debut release for the country legend's new label, Dolly Records.

"She's going to be the only person on that label. We're not signing any other artists -- it's going to be strictly for Dolly Parton," said Danny Nozell, who also serves as the label's general manager.

In recent years, as traditional country artists have been pushed aside by younger acts, Parton has diversified into gospel, bluegrass and patriotic standards. Her latest release, 2005's "Those Were the Days" (Sugar Hill Records) featured covers of tunes by the likes of John Lennon and Cat Stevens.

So why go independent and in-house? "She's a free agent right now so we decided to go around to the majors to at least see what kind of distribution deals they were bringing in, and didn't see anything I was interested in," said Nozell.

"To be honest, we have the finances the major labels have, and I put together a marketing plan that was way more extensive than any major has brought to me," Nozell added.

Distribution is still being finalized, but a deal is in the works with iTunes for digital sales. The first single, "Better Get To Livin'," will reach radio September 24, and Parton will perform it on a "national TV show" a few days later, Nozell said.

Touring will begin in the first quarter of next year.

"We're going to definitely do a world tour to support the album, starting in March," Nozell said. "We're going to be doing Europe, Australia, America and Canada."

Reuters/Billboard