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a14 people & arts
Tuesday 8 March 2022
Dolly Parton, James Patterson — in words and music

By HILLEL ITALIE are unscrupulous execu-
LA VERGNE, Tennessee (AP) tives, unwanted physical
— Sometimes even Dolly advances and the male-
Parton has a hard time oriented ways of the mar-
keeping up with the legend ket, defined by a radio
of Dolly Parton. consultant's "salad" theory,
"I often go into my museum in which men are the es-
in Dollywood, you know, sential artists, "the lettuce,"
because I'm in the mood to the women more like to-
be there or we're in there matoes, "to be sprinkled
doing something or put- into airplay now and again
ting something new in. And as garnish."
I look at all that stuff and Parton, who famously rose
think 'When, how did that from a cabin in the Great
happen?'" she says. "I shake Smoky Mountains of East
my head when I see, like Tennessee to international
a documentary or some- acclaim, says her back sto-
thing. I think how did I do all ry differs from AnnieLee's.
that, how did I get all that But she did endure "having
done?" bad managers and having
The singer, songwriter, ac- to, you know, just squirm,
tor and philanthropist is trying to get out of situa-
speaking from another tions." AnnieLee's struggles
wing of her empire, one Author James Patterson appears at an event to promote his novel in New York on June 5, 2018, to take control of her ca-
of two sound stages at a left, and Dolly Parton performs in concert on July 31, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. reer reminded Parton of
7,200-square foot studio Associated Press her early work with Porter
complex outside of Nash- Waggoner, who helped
ville, with assistants and thousands of songs. Until a The collaboration began as As Patterson and Par- her break through profes-
technicians moving about couple of years ago, they just one of countless ideas ton both recall, Patterson sionally in 1967 when he
and Parton herself in a were mutual admirers who for Patterson, who reliably contacted Parton's team brought her on to his popu-
characteristically cheer- had never met. Now, they turns out several books a and the two soon spoke in lar television show. They re-
ful mood on an otherwise have completed a novel year, from children's stories Nashville. corded and toured togeth-
overcast afternoon. Seat- that comes out this week, to a biography of the Ken- "We liked each other right er for seven years, their bat-
ed next to her — and wear- "Run, Rose, Run," an Ama- nedys to two best-selling away. And we kind of tles well publicized, before
ing a dark tuxedo jacket zon.com bestseller even thrillers written with former made the deal right there she announced her depar-
touched with black and before publication and the President Bill Clinton. Pat- — no lawyers. We didn't ture. The end of their work-
red to match the pattern of rare work of fiction to arrive terson spent a lot of time want anybody in the way," ing partnership inspired her
her dress — is a novelist as with an accompanying in Nashville in the 1960s Patterson says. classic "I Will Always Love
prolific in his field as she is soundtrack. while attending Vander- "Run, Rose, Run" is a close You."
in songwriting, James Pat- "He'd give me ideas for the bilt University and thought look at the Nashville music "Oh God, I used to fight all
terson. songs. I gave him ideas of an archetypal story — scene, through the eyes of the time with Porter Wag-
He is among the best sell- that he expanded on for a young, promising and women. The narrative has goner," she says of the late
ing authors in history and, the characters and incor- frightened country singer, music and romance and singer, who died in 2007.
like Parton, a champion porated in the book," says AnnieLee Keyes, facing a cheering crowds, and lyr- "We were known for, you
of literacy programs. He is Parton, whose "Run, Rose, "million to one odds," and ics to Parton songs such know, for our disagree-
74 and has written or co- Run" album includes 12 her bond with a retired as the mid-tempo rocker ments. But he gave me a
written hundreds of books. new songs. "So it really was country superstar, Ruthan- "Big Dreams and Faded big hand up and I always
She is 76 and has written a magical team." na Ryder. Jeans." On the darker side appreciated that. q

Poet Sonia Sanchez to receive Edwin MacDowell

Medal

NEW YORK (AP) — The friend, Sister Toni (Morri- century including James the first in-person ceremo-
poet, activist and educa- son), and so many others Baldwin, Leonard Bern- ny since 2019, the year be-
tor Sonia Sanchez is this who have been given this stein, Louise Erdrich and fore the pandemic.
year's winner of the Ed- award, I feel so welcomed Ta-Nehisi Coates. "Sonia Sanchez's illustrious
ward MacDowell Medal, to be part of that group. Sanchez was a prominent career spans seven de-
a lifetime achievement It is a great honor to be figure in the Black Arts cades. Her commanding
honor started in 1960 and this year's awardee. Mac- Movement of the 1960s oeuvre continues to ele-
previously given to Robert Dowell has such a great and 1970s, and is known vate language's ability to
Frost, Toni Morrison and herstory and history of car- for such poetry collections give voice to entire com-
Stephen Sondheim among ing and concern for artists; as "Homegirls and Hand- munities (their daily plea-
others. it is a joy this place exists grenades" and "Shake sures and pains) inside our
Philadelphia poet laure- "I had tears in my eyes to keep the world on a Loose My Skin." shared and troubled his-
ate Sonia Sanchez looks on as I learned about this path toward re-civilization, Novelist Walter Mosley will tory," poet and playwright
during a news conference award," Sanchez, 87, said peace, and humanity." present Sanchez her med- Claudia Rankine, chair
in Philadelphia on Dec. 29, in a statement released MacDowell is an artist resi- al on July 10 on the Mac- of this year's MacDowell
2011. Sunday by MacDowell. dency founded in 1907, Dowell grounds in Peter- Medal selection panel,
Associated Press
"When I consider my dear with fellows over the past borough, New Hampshire, said in a statement.q