Most people know that Dolly Parton is a country music megastar. Those same individuals may not, however, know just how influential Parton has been, not just in country music but throughout all of popular culture. Beginning this week, NBC will begin telling that story, and Douglas’s own Jennifer Nettles will play a key role in the narrative.
Thursday night at 9 p.m., NBC will air “Coat of Many Colors,” the first in a series of television movies based on several of Parton’s hit songs. “Coat of Many Colors” focuses on the relationship Parton had with her mother, Avie. Nettles was chosen to play the part of Avie, alongside Ricky Schroder, who plays Parton’s father.
Coat of Many Colors, released in 1971, was Parton’s eighth album. Both the album and the title track centered on Parton’s relationship with Avie. It carries with it obvious biblical overtones (referencing the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors) and a look at the extreme poverty in which Parton grew up. “Coat of Many Colors” the single discusses the clothing Avie made for Parton out of old clothes, rags, and other discarded material. “Coat of Many Colors” the movie is a look at how the relationship Parton and Avie shared laid the foundation for a career the likes of which few entertainers, male or female, have ever enjoyed. In press events, Nettles has mentioned the close relationship she had with her own mother, who also recognized and encouraged her talent for singing.