PARTON PLANS HOLIDAY ALBUM
Dolly Parton will release her first holiday album in 30 years on Oct. 2. A Holly Dolly Christmas is dedicated to the memory of Burl Ives, who had a big hit with A Holly Jolly Christmas in 1964.
“He used to be on all of my Christmas specials all through the years,” Parton, shown, tells Billboard.
“I think of him as Mr. Christmas. I thought, ‘Why don’t I call it something cute and clever, like that or Deck the Halls with Boughs of Dolly, something corny like that?’”
The album’s first single will be Parton’s collaboration with Michael Bublé — Cuddle Up, Cozy Down Christmas. The album will also feature Parton dueting with Jimmy Fallon, plus other stars such as Willie Nelson, Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus, Parton’s goddaughter.
Parton’s last holiday album, Home for Christmas, was released in 1990.