Dolly Parton returns from successful Europe tour

Parton was in Europe for a leg of stadium and arena dates running from June 13 to July 6 in Sweden, Ireland, Scotland and England with no support act. Her sold-out shows in Glasgow (12,000) and 2 in London (17,000 each) were filmed by director Fran Strine (Nickelback's "Rock Star" video) for a future DVD release.

Parton will release a new single and a new leg of U.S. tour dates. "Shinola," the third single from "Backwoods Barbie," the first release on her own new Parton Records label and her first mainstream country album in 17 years. The CD (released Feb. 26) entered the Top 200 Albums chart at 17 and 2 on both the Country Album and Indie Album charts and has featured two singles, "Better Get To Livin'" and "Jesus & Gravity." On the touring front, Parton will head back out on the road Aug. 1 for 12 shows, which will be followed by a U.S./Canada tour beginning in October.

Tour dates are:
Aug. 1 San Diego Humphrey's
Aug. 3 Los Angeles Greek Theatre
Aug. 4 Sacramento Arco Arena
Aug. 5 Berkeley, Cal. Greek Theatre
Aug. 7 Portland, Ore. Theatre of the Clouds
Aug. 8 Seattle WaMu Theatre
Aug. 10 Denver Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Aug. 11 Omaha, Neb. Qwest Center
Aug. 13 Detroit DTE Energy Music Theatre
Aug. 14 St. Louis Fox Theatre
Aug. 16-17 Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Dollywood

This week, Parton will go into the studio to record vocals for a new song that she wrote for Jessica Simpson's upcoming CD. Parton says, "Well, Jessica Simpson has recorded a song I wrote for her titled 'Do You Know.' I believe that will be the name of her new CD as well. Not only did she record it, she sang the living daylights out of it. Boy, can she sing. I'm excited and honored that she recorded my song, but equally as excited that I am going to sing on it with her as well. Guess you could say it's the 'blonde leading the blonde.'"

The "9 to 5" musical, for which Parton wrote all the music and lyrics including the "Backwoods Barbie" song, premieres at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles Sept. 20 (previews begin Sept. 3) and hits Broadway April 23, 2009 at the Marquis Theatre.