SCOOP: Dolly Parton symphony concert heads to DC's Kennedy Center in event 'no one will want to miss'
"The threads of my life are woven together through my songs. That's why the project, Threads: My Songs In Symphony, is so special to me," Parton said in the Kennedy Center's announcement of the show, which was first exclusively shared with Fox Digital on Sunday. "It's about sharing my music and my musical journey with audiences in a new way."
The concert, called "Dolly Parton's Threads: My Songs in Symphony," made its premiere last year in Nashville and has since toured the nation from Pittsburgh to Portland, Oregon. The Kennedy Center will host the program on June 26 and 27, with the National Symphony Orchestra performing hits such as "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors," and "I Will Always Love You."
Parton will not sing during the concerts, but the events will feature "a unique performance that honors her enduring spirit and unparalleled impact on American popular music culture." The National Symphony Orchestra will perform alongside guest vocalists and musicians to deliver a "fresh symphonic take on the timeless songs of Dolly Parton," according to the Kennedy Center.
"Bringing Dolly Parton's music to life through the power of a full symphony orchestra has long been a dream of mine," National Symphony Orchestra Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke said. "Dolly is one of the great storytellers of American music, and I am excited to bring her expansive catalog to the Kennedy Center. Through these unique symphonic charts, her music will be showcased like never before and will surely be an evening no one will want to miss!"
The concert is billed as "multimedia," and will include imagery of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer on screen that will lead "audiences in a visual-musical journey of her songs, her life, and her stories," according to the Kennedy Center.
"Dolly Parton is an American icon whose music resonates with people from all walks of life and we are overjoyed to bring her symphony to the Kennedy Center!" Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations at The Kennedy Center, told Fox News Digital.
Tickets will become available to Kennedy Center members April 29 at 10 a.m., while the general public can begin purchasing tickets on May 1.
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell told Fox News Digital back in February that he and his team will help usher in the "Golden Age of the Arts" with shows Americans actually want to see after years of the performing arts center running in the red.
"This will be the Golden Age of the Arts," Grenell said. "The Kennedy Center has zero cash on hand and zero dollars in reserves - while taking tens of millions of dollars in public funds. We must have programs that sell tickets. We can't afford to pay for content that doesn't at least pay for itself right now. I wish we didn't have to consider the costs of production, but we do."
"The good news is that there are plenty of shows that are very popular, and therefore the ticket sales will pay for themselves," Grenell added.
Grenell added during remarks at CPAC that the Kennedy Center will now focus on performances "the public want to see," such as Christmas-focused productions in December. The Kennedy Center under the Biden administration had rolled out drag show performances, which drew the ire of President Donald Trump earlier this year.
"We have to do the big productions that the masses and the public want to see, we want to have really good programming," Grenell said at CPAC. "So the first thing that we're doing … you've got to be at the Kennedy Center in December, because we are doing a big, huge celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas. How crazy is it to think that we're going to celebrate Christ at Christmas with a big traditional production to celebrate what we are all celebrating in the world during Christmastime, which is the birth of Christ."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rare Beauty Is Introducing Their Tangiest Collab Yet, and Foodies Are Here For It
Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Selena Gomez is a total foodie, this we know from her Instagram posts with fiance Benny Blanco and the various iterations of her cooking show Selena + Chef. So it stands to reason that at some point she would combine her love of food with her best-selling brand Rare Beauty. But how do you connect the dots between lip gloss and the contents of one's pantry? It's actually easier than you think, especially when you take into account all of the vibrant colors you might find in your spice rack. Then, you just let the magic happen. Because some collaborations are meant to be. 🍳 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & fun food news in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter 🍳 Available exclusively at and Sephora, the brand has teamed up with Tajin seasoning to launch a limited edition set: Rare Beauty x Tajín Cheek & Lip Set. And it's all about that gorgeous chili pepper red. Rare Beauty x Tajin Cheek & Lip Set, $30 at Sephora The set, which retails for $30 but is considered a $45 value, is truly limited edition—once it's gone, it's gone. It includes the fan-favorite Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Chamoy (that's a a deep red-brown) and a new addition to the brand, the Positive Light Luminizing Lip Gloss in Clásico, which is described as a "rich terracotta with copper and gold shimmer." It's super important to note that both products are full-size, no deluxe samples or travel sizes here. "This collab is a celebration of what makes us unique—our culture, our energy and the moments that bring us together," Gomez says. "Just like Tajín, these shades bring boldness, warmth and a spark of joy to every occasion."What People Are Saying Since the set just dropped, there aren't any reviews on Sephora's site just yet. However on Instagram, Rare Beauty fans are flipping out over this collab. "Yay, just ordered mine," says someone in the comments. "Y'all need to slow down with all these releases cause ya girl keeps spending all the money." Others just can't wait to have their orders delivered. Meanwhile one shopper cites a missed opportunity here. "Girl, I was thinking that there was a mini size of Tajin inside," they lamented. The brand hasn't advertised just how limited edition this drop is, like whether or not it will sell out before the week is over, so if you want to get your hands on a set, best to do it sooner rather than story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business Insider
I work in advertising during the day and stand-up comedy at night. The jobs are surprisingly similar.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Garron Chiu, 37, an American-born Hongkonger who works in advertising and stand-up comedy. His words have been edited for length and clarity. I used to run from my Asian identity. As a Westernized Chinese guy growing up between cultures, I thought the Asian part of me was less "cool" — especially through the lens of Western media. But now, I run to it. I've learned that the contradiction of being Cantonese-speaking, Hong Kong-raised, and also very American is where the best comedy lives. I was born in Los Angeles to Chinese parents. In Pasadena, we were one of two Asian families on the block. When I was 4, my family moved to Hong Kong. All of a sudden, I was in a city where everyone looked like me — but the cultural clash didn't go away. Hong Kong is a remix city. The movies, the music, the food: Everything borrows from somewhere else and spins into something new. Growing up, my house was full of cultural crossovers. My parents loved traditional Cantonese pop music and '70s disco — ABBA, Earth, Wind & Fire, the Bee Gees. That mashup of influences shaped not just my sense of humor, but my entire worldview. College in the US prepped me for stand-up After high school, I left Hong Kong and returned to the US to study at Boston University, where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree. BU was a cultural collision in the best way: Some classmates had never left their home state, while others were more worldly than I was. Learning to connect across that spectrum prepared me for stand-up more than any textbook ever could. Comedy is all about finding common ground. Though I grew up watching David Letterman and Chris Rock and devouring Christopher Titus specials, I never thought I could try stand-up comedy. That changed when my college roommate, who went on to be a Comedy Central producer, pushed me: "You know how to write jokes. Why not get on stage?" It was like a light switch flipped. My plan had been to stay in LA, but when a marketing job fell through, I moved back to Hong Kong. Comedy isn't just my side gig, it's a second career In 2012, walking through Hong Kong's Lan Kwai Fong, I spotted a bar advertising Open Mic Night. I went downstairs, watched people try out material, and thought: I could do this. A week later, I got on stage and haven't stopped since. I'm on stage three or four times a week and have headlined shows across Asia and around the world. At this point, the hours I put in go way beyond "hobby" territory. I hold a comedy residency at Soho House Hong Kong and have opened on tour for some of the best in the business, including Jim Gaffigan, Hannibal Buress, Neal Brennan, Russell Howard, and Roy Wood Jr. Still, I don't do it full-time. At least not yet. Comedy might cover the occasional rent bill or grocery run, but it's not enough to live on in Hong Kong — one of the world's most expensive cities. By day, I work as a strategy director at an advertising firm. And while the jobs seem worlds apart, they share a lot. Both require a sharp read on human behavior, unspoken truths, and cultural nuance. Sometimes I'll spin a client concept into a joke; other times, a bit that works on stage will spark a campaign idea. Comedy also makes me a better leader. In Hong Kong, where people tend to be reserved, being confident and expressive stands out. Clients and coworkers come to shows and walk away seeing me as fun and approachable. Balancing both careers isn't easy. I don't sleep enough, and I overwork. But comedy is my purest creative outlet. Unlike advertising, it's entirely self-driven: no layers of approval, no committees. The outcome depends entirely on your own effort. And that's incredibly fulfilling. Hong Kong has its own rhythm People often assume America is the greatest place on earth — until you live somewhere like Hong Kong and realize how much faster things move, how efficient life can be, and how good public transport is. At the same time, Hong Kong can be brutal. It's expensive, intense, and sometimes isolating. But that's what makes comedy essential. Laughter cuts through the chaos. Over time, my material has evolved, just like my identity. Outwardly, I come across as American in how I speak, perform, even the volume. My wife jokes that when we travel, no one mistakes me for a Chinese tourist; I'm unmistakably the American in the room. But internally, I've grown more Hongkonger over time. Still, identity today isn't just tied to geography. With social media, travel, and cultural exchange, it feels more like a mindset than a passport. On stage, my rule is simple: Everything serves the laugh. If I can laugh once and make someone else laugh once in a day, that day's a win.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Chris Pratt pulled into Katy Perry legal drama over $15 million mansion as trial gets underway
Chris Pratt has been named as a potential witness in Katy Perry's ongoing legal battle with the former owner of her $15 million Montecito mansion. In July 2020, the 'Firework' pop star, 40, and her now-ex Orlando Bloom purchased the sprawling, 8.9-acre estate from 86-year-old Carl Westcott, the founder of 1-800-Flowers. However, shortly afterward, Westcott tried to back out of the deal, claiming he was mentally incapacitated when he sold them the property. Perry and Westcott have been locked in a bitter legal dispute ever since. The first part of the trial, which has been split into two phases, took place in November 2023, and saw a judge side with Perry, upholding the original sale contract. The trial, which picked up again Thursday, has now entered the damages phase. Perry, who in 2024 paid $9 million in escrow once she gained ownership of the home, is seeking the remaining $6 million in damages from Westcott. She has claimed that in the four years she had to wait to take control of the house, she lost $3 million in fair-market rental income, per Rolling Stone. She further alleges that Westcott's 'lack of maintenance' for the property during that time, cost her $2.29 million in necessary repairs to restore the home to the state it was in when she first purchased it. Perry has been ordered to testify at this month's trial. While Pratt, who has been renting and residing in the property with his family, has not yet been deposed, Westcott's legal team has reportedly asked the judge to question the Guardians of the Galaxy actor about the mansion's supposed damages. Court documents filed July 31 by Westcott and seen by Fox News Digital stated: 'Now, just before the Phase 2 Trial, there is new, never-before disclosed evidence that Perry has rented out the Westcott Property to the actor Chris Pratt and his wife (the daughter of Maria Shriver, who the Court will recall from Cristal Clarke's Phase 1 Trial testimony was bidding against Perry in 2020 to buy the Westcott Property, which is why Perry increased her original $13.5 offer to Westcott to the agreed-on $15 million price). 'The $2.29 million in estimated repairs was bogus and Perry was able to rent the Westcott Property as-is to Chris Pratt (for what some have rumored to be $150,000 in rent just for this summer).' The Independent has contacted Pratt's representative for further comment. Speaking to the publication about the case, legal expert Christopher C. Melcher explained: 'Westcott's defense is that the home could not have had mold and other major issues because Perry rented the place to Chris Pratt. 'But repairs could have been made by Perry before renting the home to Pratt,' he noted. 'If so, the subsequent condition of the home when Pratt was a tenant is not relevant to what the home looked like when Perry got the keys.' Westcott had initially asked the judge to call on Bloom as a witness to testify about the cost of the repairs, but the judge denied his request. 'Why do you need Mr. Bloom to do that, other than to make it a celebrity circus?' Judge Joseph Lipner asked at an earlier hearing. 'Why don't you just talk to the construction person who actually did it?'
