All Photos: Alan Mercer
Coming from one of America’s most creative families, Stella Parton has blazed her own unique pathway to success. From the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains, she emerged from extreme poverty and disenfranchisement to see her dreams of performing on the Grand Ole Opry come true and to become an international award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, author and producer.
Stella recently relived those humble beginnings while filming NBC’s made-for-tv movie, 'Coat of Many Colors.' At the request of her sister, Stella served as a consultant on the film, and landed the role of “Corla Bass.” The film is based on her sister, Dolly Parton’s well-known song, 'Coat of Many Colors.' Stella's first foray into acting was on the hit TV series, 'The Dukes of Hazzard.' She was the first country artist to guest star on the show in a character role and since that time she has shared the screen with numerous notables including Louis Gossett, Jr. and Gena Rowlands.
Musically, Stella most recently released, ‘Mountain Songbird,’ a tribute album to her sister, Dolly. She covers eleven of her favorite Dolly Parton songs in addition to the title track she wrote with Tom T. Hall and his wife Dixie and a duet with Dolly they co-wrote called, ‘More Power To Ya.’ The album is on Raptor Records.
Also an author, Stella released her self-published inspirational memoir, 'Tell It Sister, Tell It.' She opens her soul with her trademark straight to the heart candor and writes about everything from miracles and childhood stories to spine-chilling and terrifying real-life nightmares. As an acclaimed motivational speaker, Stella utilizes this book/audiobook to not only share hope and inspiration but to also help raise awareness in the fight against domestic violence.
Domestic Violence has long been a cause close to Stella’s heart, having suffered from it herself. She established the Red Tent Women's Conference, a 3-day women’s conference and concert. The launch was a huge success and the organization is currently exploring options and sponsors to host the event in different cities across the United States, Europe and Australia.
Stella’s entertainment career is filled with awards and accolades including being named the Christian Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist and Mainstream Country Artist of the Year, the Alabama Country Music Hall of Fame’s Entertainer of the Year, Most Promising International Act by the CMA/GB, Honorary Ambassador of Country Music in Kentucky, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and New Zealand, not to mention being inducted into the American Country Music Hall of Fame.
Stella was one of the very first “Indie” artists, before the phrase was coined. At the tender age of 24, she wrote, produced, recorded and secured the promotion/distribution for her very first album, 'I Want To Hold You (In My Dreams Tonight).' Releasing it on her own label, the album and title single became huge hits on the country charts - at a time when the industry was controlled by the major labels and very much a good ole boy system. Stella took Nashville by storm - topping the charts and inciting fear in many that a young single mother from East Tennessee could so quickly become a threat, in spite of the fact that her older sister Dolly was already a nationally known singer/songwriter. And with that maverick spirit she continued to move forward.
After her first hit record, Stella signed with Elektra records and had a string of top 20 Billboard singles and albums in conjunction with extensive international touring of the U.S., Canada, UK, South America & Australia. She garnered international awards and acclaim for the pop crossovers such as 'Danger of a Stranger,''Steady as the Rain,''Undercover Lovers' and 'Four Little Letters.'
After her days with Elektra, she submerged herself into the thriving theater scene of New York City, starring in several major Broadway touring productions, including 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,''Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,''Gentleman Prefer Blondes' and 'Pump Boys & Dinettes.' The productions were an incredible success, with Stella receiving phenomenal reviews.
Stella’s career is like a kaleidoscope of creative talent – beautiful, inspiring, heart-warming and full of color – encompassing everything from music and writing to acting. Thankfully, she has never been one to be held back by the proverbial “glass ceiling,” or any other creative boundaries, Stella’s pure and characteristic blend of country, bluegrass, gospel, jazz and blues mixed with her sincere and faithful heart makes her one of America’s richest musical treasures!
AM: Stella, Mountain Songbird, your tribute to Dolly is such an enjoyable album. How did you narrow down the songs you wanted to record?
SP: It took me years to figure this out. I started working on this album ten years ago. The more I delved into Dolly’s catalog, which is so vast, with over 3000 songs, I did get discombobulated for a little bit. Finally I just decided I would work on it from a place that resonated inside me. I realized that a lot of her story songs from the Seventies were my favorites.
AM: Those are some of my favorites too.
SP: I consider that one of her most fertile songwriting times. I also realized her songs were so advanced compared to songs other people were recording at that time. Those story songs are amazing. ‘Down From Dover’ is amazing. These are like two and a half minute movies. She’s so gifted with wrapping a story up in two and a half minutes.
AM: Those songs really are ahead of their time.
SP: Way ahead of their time. They are epic novels told in a couple minutes. So I decided to cover the story songs. I knew I would have to record ‘I Will Always Love You’ too.
AM: Of course!
SP: A lot of people told me they couldn’t believe I had the courage to record that! I said, “Excuse me! I’m not trying to suit somebody else.” I didn’t make this album to cater to radio or even to fans. My only motive was to do a tribute to Dolly. Of course I’m going to include two or three of her most popular songs.
AM: You absolutely made the right choices.
SP: Besides ‘I Will Always Love You’ that would include ‘Coat of Many Colors’ and ‘Jolene.’ I put them on the album, but from my perspective.
AM: The album is really well produced.
SP: I tried not to over produce it. I worked with several different producers but ultimately I pulled away from all of that. I decided to just do it myself other than the three cuts I did with Jerry Salley , which have more of a bluegrass feel. As far as the rest, I was just singing my sister’s songs. The songs stand on their own.
AM: You are your own songwriter as well. I love how you wrote ‘Mountain Songbird’ with Tom T. Hall and his wife Dixie.
SP: Yes I wrote it with Miss Dixie and Tom T., actually it was Miss Dixie who was the one who helped me formulate the concept and the end result. I worked on that song for ten years trying to figure out what to do. Everybody I worked with wanted to make it a statement about themselves. I didn’t want it to be anyone’s statement. It’s a tribute to my sister, not to me. Miss Dixie understood the dilemma I was facing and she told me, “Come on out to the home studio and work on your song with us.” We came up with the right concept and that song gave me the platform to do the album from my perspective.
AM: I really like it and think you are your own gifted songwriter.
SP: I appreciate that.
AM: Even though I’m a longtime fan, I was unaware of what a savvy business woman you are. You started your own independent label long before it became the norm. What possessed you to do that?
SP: Necessity and rejection. Everyone in Nashville said no to me, but I’m not one to be pushed around. There’s more than one way to skin a cat, so I thought I’d do it myself. Every record label in town rejected ‘I Want To Hold You In My Dreams.’ Not one producer wanted anything to do with me because I was Dolly’s little sister. I thought, “To hell with all of you. I’ll do this myself.” Before they caught me, I had a Billboard hit.
AM: Have you always been an independent thinker?
SP: I guess so but it’s because I have been pushed around by the good ole boys in this industry. I could have gone back under the porch like a whipped dog but I decided that I had a right to have a life. I had a right to have a career. Everybody else has a right so why shouldn’t I? I did it because it was what I had to do.
AM: I find that to be one of your most outstanding qualities.
SP: It is my nature. I am stubborn. I use that aspect of my personality to say, “Listen God gave me this life and this gift and I don’t need other people to give me permission to have a dream.” I certainly don’t need to put my dreams away in a box. I’m not doing that! Who has the right to tell me that?
AM: You really are a good role model for women or anyone for that matter.
SP: I had a kid to raise. I was a single mother by the time he was four years old. I had dreams and hopes for him and I grew up singing myself. I didn’t get into the business because of my sister. We all grew up doing the same thing. The general public doesn’t know that. That’s what we are as a family. I saw opportunities and I still see opportunities and I try to seize opportunities when they present themselves.
AM: I know you have been an actress for several years and you’re about to film the next ‘Coat of Many Colors’ movie. Are you looking forward to that?
SP: I’m excited about this time in my life. I think it’s a productive, creative time. I’ve always acted. I’m just happy and pleased I get to be a part of these movies. Even though it is Dolly’s movie, it’s about me too. (Laughter) It’s all my loved ones too so I’m happy to be a part of it.
AM: Is acting as much of a passion for you as singing?
SP: I really have the bug for acting. I was one of the first Country Music artists to appear on ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ playing a character role. I realized then I could act. The director, Bill Asher told me I was talented and had natural timing.
AM: Well there you go!
SP: I enjoyed it and it was fun so I started taking acting lessons. I was able to star in four Broadway touring musicals.
AM: That takes real talent and hard work.
SP: I try to incorporate all that I have done into my current shows. It’s all creative. I don’t think there’s one thing I should do or not do. If it comes to mind and I get inspired by it, I just do it.
AM: I have been enjoying your singing for many years now and I think you can sing anything you want. Your voice is soulful.
SP: Thank you, I just finished a project that we are mixing this week. It’s called ‘Nashville Nights’ and it’s a bunch of cover tunes like ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ and ‘Bad Moon Rising.’ I like to sing a lot of different types of music and I don’t worry about how slick it is or how perfect it is. I just concern myself with how honest it is.
AM: Is there anything left for you to do that you haven’t done?
SP: Yes, I would love to star in a production on the London stage and I would love to have one of my screenplays made into a movie. I’d also love to star on Broadway. That’s my bucket list. I’ll have to live to be 115 in order to do all the projects I have lined up right now.
To learn more about Stella Parton visit her web site http://www.stellaparton.com/http://www.stellaparton.com/