Dolly Parton’s latest movie, Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love , which is the sequel to her 2015 hit movie Coat of Many Colors , continues to follow young Dolly and the rest of the Parton family during the next chapter of her life. According to The Boot , in addition to serving as the film’s executive producer and narrator , the 70-year-old Parton will also make a cameo appearance.
NBC cast photo for #ChristmasOfManyColors , featuring @JenniferNettles , @kelliberglund , more. pic.twitter.com/p3MsondeVN
— Headline Planet (@headlineplanet) November 15, 2016
Like the previous film, Christmas of Many Colors is based on a true story and tells the tale of a Christmas miracle that Parton and her family experienced. The sequel centers around Robert Lee Parton’s desire to buy Avie Lee the wedding ring he was never able to give her. Dolly and the rest of the family decide to sacrifice their Christmas in order to help him raise the money, and as the story unfolds, an unexpected blizzard puts their lives in danger. The movie also has several lighthearted moments, which gives viewers a glimpse of what Parton’s humble beginnings were like, and how the family’s strength and resilience kept them going despite their humble surroundings.
“It’s very emotional. It’s like Emotions of Many Colors, because … it makes me remember Mom and Daddy so well,” Parton told The Boot .
“It’s precious in a way, but when it’s over, it’s like such a loss, on account that they’re still gone. But this is a way to have them always, and immortalize them.”
“My brothers and sisters all love it, too,” she adds, “and getting the chance to let them be presented in a good way — I take a lot of pride in it, but it’s very emotional.”
Parton’s sister Stella also has a role in Christmas of Many Colors , returning as Corla Bass, who is the owner of the town market. Several other actors are reprising their roles including Alyvia Alyn Lind as the young, high-spirited Dolly; Jennifer Nettles as matriarch Avie Lee Parton; and Ricky Schroder as Dolly’s father Robert Lee Parton. Dolly Parton joined the cast of Christmas of Many Colors in the role of the Painted Lady, the town prostitute that she modeled her style after as a youngster growing up in the small, rustic cabin located in Locust Ridge, Tennessee.
According to USA Today , during the red carpet premiere at Dollywood on November 22 of Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love , Aylvia Alyn Lind talked about her role as young Dolly and how that role has changed for this film.
Check out this sneak peek from #ChristmasOfManyColors ! https://t.co/PQbVoupqtm
— AccessCountry.com (@AccessCountry1) November 10, 2016
“Well, I think in this movie, I think Dolly is starting to pursue her music career a little bit more in this movie,” she said.
“And we meet a new character in this movie, Uncle Billy (played by Cameron Jones), and he’s going to help her get to the top because she wants to be a star so bad, and he wants to help her get there. He knows that she is a star.”
She also described what it was like to actually work with Dolly Parton during the filming of Christmas of Many Colors .
“Getting to do a few scenes with Dolly, that was so awesome because she is such an amazing actress,” Lind said.
“She adds her little Dollyisms to the scene and makes it just so much more real. And working with her is just so fun.”
Parton stated that reliving some parts of her life was painful, but she hopes that her story is an inspiration to others. She realizes that people are interested in learning more about her childhood, and both films are a way for her to share what it was like to grow up in the Great Smoky Mountain region of Tennessee in the mid to late 1950s. She also wanted to produce heartwarming movies that families can enjoy together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFSw9QUzGNU
“One of the reasons I wanted to do this now is because I’m missing family, faith-based shows, like Little House on the Prairie , the Waltons ; they were great shows,” Parton shares.
“It showed about the struggles of family, and the love, and the things you go through. I know myself, I really miss that…”
“Plus, people are interested in my childhood,” she adds.
“They’ve heard me talk about it, and they always respond well. I thought, ‘Well, if I’m special, I’d like them to see why; I’d like them to see the people that I came from … the special people that made me who I am and what I am.”
Did you watch the first film and will you be checking out the sequel? Leave your comments, thoughts, and opinions below. Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love will air on Wednesday, November 30, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
[Featured Image by NBC]