South Jersey’s Unexpected Connections with Dolly Parton

By: Madison Rosenberg

Image Credit: Dolly Parton website https://www.dollyparton.com/

Dolly Parton and South Jersey share a few things in common. While South Jersey isn’t studded with rhinestones, nor does it wear sky-high blonde wigs, its connections and relationship with the singer span decades.

While the singer made her big break in Nashville, she had an affinity for performing in Atlantic City as well. She made her first appearance in the South Jersey town in May of 1981 for an entire week. Parton performed at Resorts International, Atlantic City’s first casino. At the time, the casino had only been open for three years, starting in 1978. Gambling had been legalized in Atlantic City only two years prior. The casino’s opening was just the start of the glitz and glamour and casino culture that characterizes Atlantic City.

A few months prior, in November of 1980, Parton released her smash hit “9 to 5.” Parton was already rising in stardom with songs like “Coat of Many Colors,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “Jolene.” The sheer popularity of “9 to 5,” along with the accompanying movie that shared the same name, propelled her into the mainstream. This made her one of the first major stars to make an appearance at the newly founded casino, in its famed Superstar Theater. Her recent success paired well with the casino’s recent opening.

Along with a week’s worth of performances, Parton imprinted her hands in a concrete slab to commemorate her appearance at the resort. She was one of many celebrities to do so at the start of Resorts International’s residence, and the legendary handprints from the country star and others contributed to the resort’s legacy and Atlantic City’s history. Parton’s handprints are currently on display outside the Superstar Theater at Resorts International in honor of her recent passing.

The star’s appearances in Atlantic City didn’t end in 1981, though. Dolly Parton returned several times to Atlantic City in 1993, 2004, and 2005. Her final appearance was in 2008. In 1993, she played at Caesars Atlantic City Hotel and Casino following the success of Whitney Houston’s rendition of Parton’s song “I Will Always Love You.” She performed in the casino’s Circus Maximus Showroom. In 2004, the country star returned to the venue for her “Hello, I’m Dolly” tour.

In 2005, Parton decided to open her “Vintage” tour at House of Blues in Atlantic City, which had just opened earlier that year. During this tour, she also performed in iconic places like Radio City Music Hall in New York City and Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. By this time, Parton was a household name among many, with several chart-topping songs and major roles in movies like “Steel Magnolias” and “9 to 5.” Choosing Atlantic City to host the opening night of a major tour at this point in her career is not insignificant. Opening the tour at House of Blues was a major contribution to the almost three-decade-long relationship between Parton and Atlantic City.

Parton’s final appearance in Atlantic City was at the Borgata in 2008 on her “Backwoods Barbie” tour following the release of her 42nd studio album of the same name. The album was a major success, charting in the top 20 of the Billboard Top 200 and was number two on Billboard Top Country Albums. At the time of her performance, the Borgata had been open since 2003, making it only five years old. Parton’s history of performing at major venues early on in their existence helped drive visitors and, except for House of Blues, which closed in 2014, played a part in their longevity.

Along with having a nearly 30-year history of performing and touring in Atlantic City, the country star has connections with the gambling culture of the town. The country icon has her own video slot machine at Resorts International, where fans can try their luck on a hot-pink machine with Parton’s face and famous signature on display. Parton also has a song titled “Kentucky Gambler,” which ironically details a story of a man experiencing heavy consequences due to a gambling habit turned sour. Regardless, Parton is familiar with and has contributed to the casino culture that defines Atlantic City.

Parton’s glamorous fashion is very similar to the flashy and glitzy style of Atlantic City, making the two pair well together. The pizzazz of the city’s casinos and hotels made it a perfect place for a glittering personality like Dolly Parton to shine during her time performing there.

Parton also made a point of giving back, using the money she made from her success to help educate children and improve the communities around her. Through programs like the Dollywood Foundation and the Imagination Library, Parton’s endless commitment to philanthropy had a major impact. Parton lowered the dropout rate of seventh- and eighth-graders in her home county’s high school from 35 percent to six percent through her Buddy Program, according to the Imagination Library website.

The Imagination Library is a program Parton created that distributes books monthly to children from birth until they reach the age of five, regardless of their family’s income. The service is completely free and accessible. At first, the program only distributed books to Sevierville, where Parton grew up. In 2000, the program was able to expand, and books started being distributed across the United States. This program has reached thousands of families and provided accessible, age-appropriate reading materials.

Today, in Camden, a nonprofit organization called Better Tomorrows has partnered with the Imagination Library. Better Tomorrows provides “… case management services and impactful community programming to low-income adults, seniors, children, and youth,” according to its website. It has staff offices in several residential areas throughout New Jersey so that people who rely on the organization have easy access to its services. As one of three Imagination Library distributors in New Jersey, it contributes to helping thousands of children have access to reading materials they normally would not have.

Along with providing books to children, Better Tomorrows offers programs for academic support, financial literacy, health and wellness, job readiness, and social engagement. It gets directly involved in communities to encourage growth and development within them. Parton was always heavily involved in philanthropy to the point where it became a main aspect of her legacy. In South Jersey, organizations like Better Tomorrows that continue the path Parton laid out through her Imagination Library are reflective of the values that the country star displayed throughout her career.

Dolly Parton’s direct influence reaches South Jersey through organizations such as her Imagination Library and her many years performing in one of the region’s most iconic locations. Most may not think of Dolly Parton when they imagine the people and places in South Jersey, but the connections are there. Parton’s ability to relate to and connect with people, from A-list stars to residents of a state thousands of miles away from her home, defined her career and has cemented her legacy as one of the biggest and most compassionate stars of the past few decades.

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