PARTON TO RECEIVE WILLIE NELSON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD DURING “THE
50th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS” AIRING LIVE ON THE ABC TELEVISION NETWORK NOV. 2
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 4, 2016) – Superstar Dolly Parton
will be the 2016 recipient of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement
Award, which will be presented during “The 50th Annual CMA Awards,”
airing Wednesday, Nov. 2 (8:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network live
from Nashville.
The announcement was made Monday during Parton’s appearance on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” See clip here.
The Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award is for an iconic artist
who has attained the highest degree of recognition in Country Music. The
Award was established to recognize an artist who has achieved both
national and international prominence and stature through concert
performances, humanitarian efforts, philanthropy, record sales, and
public representation at the highest level. The artist receiving this
Award has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of the genre
throughout a course of years that have proven to have an unprecedented
historical impact on fans and industry alike.
“Dolly epitomizes the very definition of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Sarah Trahern,
CMA Chief Executive Officer. “She is a trailblazer who continues to
enchant and captivate fans around the world, from her latest No. 1
album, to her sold-out tour, and numerous television projects. She is a
treasure and deserving of this industry acclaim for her undeniable
contributions to the success of Country Music, today.”
Previous recipients of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award
include Willie Nelson (2012), Kenny Rogers (2013), and Johnny Cash
(2015).
Parton has received 44 CMA Awards nominations and has won nine times
including Entertainer (1978) and Female Vocalist of the Year (1975,
1976). In 1996, she and Vince Gill won Musical Event of the Year for “I
Will Always Love You,” which is heavily featured in CMA’s hugely popular
“Forever Country” single and music video project celebrating the 50th
Anniversary of the CMA Awards.
An internationally renowned superstar, the iconic and irrepressible
Dolly Parton has contributed countless treasures to the world of
entertainment. Her latest album Pure & Simple recently
debuted at No. 1 – her first in 25 years. All-inclusive sales of
singles, albums, hits collections, paid digital downloads, and
compilation usage during her illustrious career have topped a staggering
100 million records worldwide. Achieving 25 RIAA certified Gold,
Platinum and multi-Platinum awards, Parton has had 25 songs reach No. 1
on the Billboard Country charts, a record for a female artist.
Making her film debut in the 1980 hit comedy “9 to 5,” Parton earned
rave reviews for her performance and an Oscar nomination for writing the
title tune, along with her second and third Grammy Awards. Roles in
“Steel Magnolias,” “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “Rhinestone,” and
“Straight Talk” followed.
Parton saw a cherished dream become a reality in 1986 with the
opening of her own theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. In
1988, Dolly began the Dollywood Foundation which funds Dolly Parton’s
Imagination Library across America and in Canada by giving every
preschool child a book each month from the time he or she is born until
the child reaches kindergarten. Currently 80,000,000 books are mailed to
children in the US, Canada and throughout the U.K. In 1999, Dolly was
inducted as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. She has her own
star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 2004, the U.S. Library of
Congress presented her with their Living Legend Award for her
contribution to the cultural heritage of the United States. In December
2015, more than 13 million viewers tuned in to “Dolly Parton’s Coat of
Many Colors,” which was the most-watched film on broadcast network
television since May 2012.
To learn more about this American icon, visit DollyParton.com.
“The 50th Annual CMA Awards” will be hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood and broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 2 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.
For more information on “Forever Country” visit ForeverCountry50.com. For more information on “The 50th Annual CMA Awards” and to sign up for CMA emails and exclusives, visit CMAawards50.com. Celebrate Country Music Month in October.