In 1969 an up-and-coming young singer named Dolly Parton composed a little song called "Coat Of Many Colors." The autobiographical song told the sad tale of a poor family forced to share hand-me-down clothing and one special coat in particular that Parton's mother had stitched together from a box of rags.
The song, released as a single in 1971, instantly became a country classic, and little did Parton know the endurance it would have. Years later it would take the form of an illustrated children' s book and become something of an anthem for anti-bullying.
Now, 44 years after its release, the song has found another life as TV movie "Dolly Parton's Coat Of Many Colors," debuting Thursday night on NBC.
Parton, no stranger to TV or the big screen, serves as executive producer on the project that stars Rick Schroder, Jennifer Nettles and newcomer Alyvia Lind as a 9-year-old Parton.
For Nettles, a country superstar in her own right thanks to the success of her band Sugarland, landing the part of Parton's mother Avie Lee Parton was an honor.
Was doing Broadway dream come true for you?
Playing Roxie Hart in "Chicago"... It was a blast! I can't wait to do it again. I've been sniffing and chatting and in the dreamy creative phase with a couple of different folks for some projects that may end up coming to fruition. I love musical theater and for me it brings elements together that are just such a joy. This movie, although not a musical, the fact that Dolly Parton's family was all musical and all played instruments and that there was music in her home all the time, we have shared a parallel story in the sense that I grew up singing in church, she grew up singing in church, so to be able to do this movie that has such a music background within it, it's really exciting to me - so yes - more theater.
You also did study drama for a while, correct?
I grew up doing theater, and even through college I did it. There was a time I wondered which way am I going to go. I love storytelling and the performing arts. I had to ask myself that question, "Do I want to dig in more to acting and theater, or do I go more the singer-songwriter route?" Obviously I had a lot of fun growing up in music and felt I wanted to give that a go, and I'm so glad I did. Not only has it been successful, the success I've had has allowed me to branch out in these ways to a level that I think I'll have a steep learning curve, but I am excited for that.
Did you have to change much of your schedule to accommodate this?
This worked out so well for me because I was finishing up a new record, my second solo album, so the timing of it worked out great between finishing that before its release, but I had a little bit of downtime so it's perfect timing.
Could you ever see your own story being told?
I have to laugh because I don't know about that. I know where all the bodies are buried, and nobody wants me to tell my story [laughs]. There's way too much darkness, I don't mean that in a bad way, but this story has so much beauty and levity to its that I think people will really relate to it.
Do we get to actually see you sing in the movie?
There's a little bit of singing in terms of the family, but it's not a musical as such. We won't be suddenly bursting out into song to further the story; it's just a part of the story.
And as a mom yourself, how's motherhood treating you?
I am loving it! It's the hardest thing I've ever done that's for sure. I'm a working mama!
