NBC and Dolly’s family films

I was recently pleased to discover that my former television home NBC is to partner with my longtime friend and former movie co-star Dolly Parton.

The network signed a development deal with the American icon for a series of films.

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A Constant Man of Music – Dr. Ralph Stanley

With each passing year, I look around and find fewer of my musical heroes still contributing to the great America music legacy.

I am honored to call Dr. Ralph Stanley a friend and to have produced and recorded with him.

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Grand Ole Opry’s Jim Ed Brown – In Style Again

It is not often that I become enthused by the release of a new music CD, but ever since I heard that my long-time friend Grand Ole Opry star Jim Ed Brown will have a new project, I have looked forward to it.
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Numbers, what are all these numbers?

The year ends, the New Year begins and then like an avalanche of snow in winter, there they come – numbers.

All kinds of numbers begin covering me from head to toe. At least that is the way it seems to feel. Slowly, paperwork trickles in over the month of January telling me what I must report to the government and the state. Piles of receipts must now be sorted, itemized, added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided.

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Elly Mae and Little Jimmy

A love for critters of all shapes and sizes is one of the traits that audiences came to know about “Elly Mae Clampett.” That attribute combines along with her ability to whip Jethro or anything else that came her way that needing whipping.

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Dreaming of the new year

A new year is upon us and with its arrival is the promise of another opportunity.

Perhaps it’s the practice of making resolutions, or the celebrations of ringing out the old and ringing in the new. I always see Jan. 1 as a new chance to do things more effectively.

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Lights are flickering and the halls are decked

Flickering lights shimmered in the breeze hanging from trees, light poles, porch eaves and buildings as I drove around my hometown last week.

It is such a heartwarming sight to see the efforts made both by our city staff and individual property owners to raise people’s spirits during the Christmas season. For me the warmth generated within by the beautiful decorations helps to make my hopes swell watching to see the goodness and kindness that so many exhibit during the season.

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Seeing through the masks

Have you ever wondered what is beyond the face someone is showing you?

Is there another series of thoughts running through their head that is different than the words coming out of their mouth or the expression on their face?

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An Evening Among Friends

The sun swept across the dark wood floor forming a light spot in the shape of a heart that I noticed as my mother buzzed around the room with dishes in her hand setting the table.

On the kitchen stove, pans were gurgling as meatballs simmered in a sauce, angel hair pasta boiled with a hint of basil filling the air.

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Don’t watch the world go by, use your imagination

The water whished over the rocks below creating a gurgling sound as I sat dangling my feet off the bridge. I was just high enough above the water where if I could stretch out as far as I could I still couldn’t touch the water but I dreamed of the day when I would be big enough to do so.

As I sat there I counted the leaves that floated beneath the bridge imagining that each one was a ship heading out to an adventure at sea.

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