For many years I wondered about the beautiful song Dolly wrote and sang called I Will Always Love You. I've seen her sing it with such feeling and it was evident that it meant a lot to her. Was it for a real person? I mean, Karina, in my books is not real, but she could have been so. Well, tonight I found out, from Dolly's own mouth, who the song was written for.
As Dolly was trying to make it big in Nashville, duets were coming into vogue in country music. George Jones and Tammy Wynette leap to mind. Porter Wagoner had his own TV show. My folks watched it, but I didn't watch it much. I was into rock, though I liked a lot of country songs from Johnny Cash and others. Well, Dolly got her big break with Porter and signed a 5 year contract with him. He was her mentor but they didn't get along well and Dolly wanted to go out on her own. So, Dolly left and Porter actually sued her for 3 million dollars. A hefty sum at that time, as it is today. She actually wrote this song for Porter. Whatever the reason or the people involved, it is a lovely song.
I found other things interesting about this interview. An English chap was conducting it and he asked her about the movie, 9 To 5. As you may know, Jane Fonda was in this show. They showed Jane Fonda talking about Dolly. She related how, at the time of the movie's production, her 11 year old son met Dolly. Jane said that the boy's face immediately blushed red. Ha, ha. Let's move along.
Jane said that she visited Dolly at her home in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Dolly took her out into the backwoods to meet some real country people in their very humble surroundings. Jane was in tears, trying to describe the experience. She said that she had heard Dolly's song, Coat of Many Colors many times, but on that day, it hit home to her. I was touched as I watched the interview. I reflected on these two famous ladies and their relationship. You could not find two women from more different backgrounds. One, the privileged daughter of Henry Fonda, raised amongst the elite of Hollywood.
It is likely that she had never been really hungry. A movie star in her own right. Vietnam War protestor. Married to Ted Turner, though not at that time.
The other lady, raised in acute poverty in the backwoods of Tennessee. Dressed in rags. Huge family. Dreamed of going to Nashville and being a star. Becomes a star at a young age. Builds her own theme park, in her own home town. Actually, she bought a western theme park called Silver Dollar City and renovated, expanded it and turned it into Dollywood. I have been there, both before and after the name change. Stuff is a bit high and when they charged me $5 for a Coke, I went home.
What a pair to team up in a movie! Hugely talented, bright, gutsy, and controversial women. Hollywood and Dollywood, but still similar in some ways. I like them both. I watched the movie and it was okay, though not one of my favorites. Hey, right off the top of my head, I can't remember the other lady in this movie, can you?
Ooops. Hit the wrong button and published it before I finished. Ha, ha. How embarrassing. I meant to hit save! Anyway, the third lady was Lily Tomlin, from Saturday Night Live, another larger than life character. How would you like to have a been a fly on the wall when that threesome went to dinner? It would have been a hoot! Seems like I heard that Lily had been ill but I can't say for sure, so don't quote me on that.
Once again I have rambled on. But obviously, you read it, so it must have been okay.
From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.
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