REVIEW BY KARRA SMALL
- Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony
- Kauffman Center
- Kansas City, Missouri
Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
In this age of division and anger, it seems like only one person can bring us together- and that person is Dolly Parton. With that in mind, it should be no surprise that guests young and old alike packed the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts to see “Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony.”
The Kansas City Symphony, along with guest conductor David Hamilton, put on a spectacular performance of some of Dolly’s biggest hits. Alongside vocalists Katelyn Drye, Hollie Hammel and Julie Williams, Dolly’s songs filled the air with the merriment that only Dolly could bring.
Even though Dolly wasn’t there in person, she did make recorded appearances throughout the show, playing a role of emcee.
As a Dolly fan myself, hearing Dolly talk about the inspiration behind her catalog of music was my favorite part of the show.
Spoiler alert ahead: Jolene was based on a real woman that Dolly’s late husband Carl Dean was a little too chatty with at their local bank back in Tennessee. “It’s okay,” Dolly said,”Jolene made me a lot of money.”
Dolly also talked a lot about her relationship with Porter Wagoner and the seven years she spent on “The Porter Wagoner Show.” I can only imagine that he would’ve found the symphony performance as a fitting tribute to their time together.
The vocalists and symphony put on a touching performance of “Travelin’ Thru,” a pro-transgender acceptance song that Dolly wrote for the 2005 film “Transamerica.” The song earned Dolly critical acclaim, including an Oscar nomination.
As I sat in the audience hearing the story behind that song for the first time, Dolly preached acceptance and happiness on the screen and it was personally touching to see an older couple gladly clapping and nodding in agreement.
There’s something inherently beautiful about people working together for a common goal, or in this case, putting on a tribute to a living legend.
“Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony” will have you tapping your toes…and it just might warm your heart.