Entertainment superstar, East Tennessee native and official ambassador of the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), Dolly Parton has released a new eight-song commemorative CD entitled Sha-Kon-O-Hey! to benefit Friends of the Smokies.
The CD retails for $10, $8 of which Parton is donating during 2009 to the non-profit Friends of the Smokies, an organization devoted to preserving and protecting GSMNP by raising funds and public awareness.
“Having grown up and lived in the heart of these beautiful mountains, my love for this area is deep, genuine and heartfelt,” Parton said. “The mountains have inspired so much of my music, and these new songs convey my love for this area as well as the folks like me who call the Great Smoky Mountains home.”
The Sha-Kon-O-Hey! CD features eight original songs written by Parton, all of which will be performed in Dollywood’s new stage show Sha-Kon-O-Hey! Premiering on Saturday, May 9, Sha-Kon-O-Hey! is the most elaborate show in the theme park’s 24-year history. The 45-minute show commemorates the national park’s 75th anniversary and captures the spirit of the mountains and the rich heritage of the people who call them home as it takes audiences back to a time of great change in the Smoky Mountains in 1930s.
“Sha-Kon-O-Hey” is derived from the Cherokee name for the Smoky Mountains meaning “land of blue smoke.”
Parton’s Sha-Kon-O-Hey! CD can be purchased at Dollywood, Dollywood’s Splash Country, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede and Dinner Attraction, select Food City locations, GSMNP Visitor Center, dollywood.com, and www.smokiesstore.org as well as many additional locations throughout the area.
“This is a great way for other folks in the area to get involved and help raise money to support all the good work Friends of the Smokies does to take care of the country’s most visited national park,” Parton added. “As the official ambassador, I hope everyone gets involved and helps us make this an anniversary celebration that no one will soon forget!”
Sevierville-based Brochure Distribution Service is coordinating distribution and sales of the CD. Anyone interested in supporting Friends of the Smokies through the sale of CDs should contact Steve Williams at (865) 428-8735 for more information.