The Week's News in Christian Publishing

Superstar Dolly Parton appears on the Jesus Calling podcast

In the newest episode, Dolly shares her heart for family, faith, her new children’s CD, and her beloved literacy initiative, the Imagination Library

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 11, 2017) – Dolly Parton, superstar musician, actress, philanthropist, EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) recipient and all-around dynamic entertainer, will be the next guest on the Jesus Calling podcast. The podcast, born from the devotional that has sold more than 23 million copies world-wide, will be available for download October 12 on iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify, Stitcher, and many other platforms, Thomas Nelson announced today.

In the episode, Parton shares stories from her upbringing and how her faith taught her the importance of giving back. Having grown up in a large family of twelve children herself, now, 50 years after the release of her first record, her newest project is a children’s CD called I Believe In You (RCA Records), available now on Amazon.

“It’s for kids and kids at heart,” Parton said. “These songs will appeal to the moms and dads too, and the grandmas and grandpas, because they’re very uplifting. They have good messages. This world is so dark and negative right now in so many ways, but these little songs lift you up. They will certainly lift the children up, and they’ll learn and be taught by the messages that I have. It makes me feel good to sing about the positive things.”

One positive thing in Dolly’s life and career is the Imagination Library, a program that provides free books each month to children from birth to age five across the world. Parton began that program in her hometown in Tennessee in honor of her father, who couldn’t read and write. This year, the Imagination Library will send its 100 millionth book, and proceeds from I Believe in You will further expand the reach of the Imagination Library to children all over the world.

Parton believes that when families spend quality time together, whether it is by reading books, listening to music, or praying together, that it results in strong bonds. She shares that faith is a big part of her own daily life.  

“I believe, that through God, all things are possible, and I’ve proved a lot of that,” Parton said. “I pray every day that God will let me do something to uplift mankind and to glorify Him. Those are my prayers in the mornings. I get up, I do my little spiritual work. I read my little Jesus Calling book. It means a lot to me. I’ve noticed so many times, that I myself have had things going on, and I was just wondering about the answer. Then I read, and it just makes it clear. So God does work through people and He does work in strange and mysterious ways.”

The podcast currently has more than 600,000 downloads, features stories from readers of Jesus Calling and their compelling testimonies, provides insight into the lives and stories of remarkable people, celebrities, and leaders, and illustrates how spending time with the devotional has made a difference in people’s lives. Previous episodes have secured the #1 position in the Religion & Spirituality category on iTunes.

Previous episodes have featured interviews with Reba McEntire, Charlie Daniels, Kathie Lee Gifford, Josh Turner and Amy Grant, among others.

About Thomas Nelson: Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson, is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

Media Contact: Stefanie Schroeder, Publicity Manager
615.902.1722  Stefanie.schroeder@harpercollins.com

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