Dolly Parton reunited with fellow cast members on red carpet at Dollywood last week to celebrate the premiere of "Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love." The movie airs Nov. 30 on NBC at 8 p.m. CST, and focuses on a Christmas miracle. Christian attitude is the backbone of the new film. "Hi, Lord, it's Dolly-I'm back!" says Alyvia Alyn Lind who plays a nine-year-old Parton living in Tennessee in the 1950s.
The 2-hour production is framed around school rehearsals of a nativity play (Dolly prays to God to get her cast as Mary, and the Big Guy comes through for her), and then a series of tests that strains faith. The Partons endure a terrible blizzard, a dangerous coal-mining accident, and Gerald McRaney as Dolly's Bible-thumping grandfather. They emerge from all these travails stronger than ever. Little Dolly even encounters her first indoor toilet, which she mistakes for "a private foot washer."
Last December, just in time for Christmas, Parton delighted viewers with her heartwarming tale "Coat of Many Colors," drawn straight from her inspiring real life and music. In this all-new holiday sequel, the Partons, a family of humble means living in the mountains of Tennessee, face a devastating event but are drawn closer together than ever - with deepened faith and love for one another.
See The Gospel Herald coverage: Dolly Parton's True Life 'Coat Of Many Colors' Movie Spotlights Faith in God, Blessings from Rags to Riches
The all-star cast also includes Jennifer Nettles, Ricky Schroder, Kelli Berglund, Mary Lane Haskell, Hannah Nordberg, Forrest Deal and Blane Crockarell. Cameron Jones, a young New Zealand-born actor, was cast as Dolly's Uncle Bill Owens.
When asked what the "Little Dolly" inside her would have to say about all the excitement of the premiere night, Parton said, "I still feel like that little girl, that's why I wanted Little Dolly, little Alyvia Lind, to be with me because it's really kind of like going back in time...I feel like Mama and Daddy is kind of right here with us, and it's very touching, and it's very emotional."
The premiere event also drew a few Hollywood A-list stars. Dollywood was open for general admission attendees as well, who were delighted to catch a glimpse of some of their favorite stars from the film.
Once the red carpet activities commenced, everyone gathered inside Dollywood's Showstreet Palace theater to watch the new movie. Following the film viewing, the cast and special VIPs enjoyed hor d'oeuvres, desserts and beverages around Dolly's Chasing Rainbows Museum. Everyone was treated to Dollywood's all new Parade of Many Colors at the end of the night, according to Yahoo.
