Dolly Parton’s TV movie “Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love,” received an Emmy nomination for best TV movie this summer. In an interview with the New York Times, she discussed her reaction to the honor, her family, and the UT course bearing her name. The course Dolly’s America, taught by Lynn Sacco, associate professor of history, is designed to help students analyze popular culture as a historical source by using the life of singer-songwriter.
“I was very honored,” Parton said of the course. “I’ve been around a long time, and people feel like they know me. I’m like a favorite old aunt or an older sister or a grandma, in my case. But I think it’s wonderful that people have taken pride in the fact that I’m a local East Tennessee girl and that I’ve accomplished enough for them to make a class out of it. I’m humbled by it.” Read the interview online.