Backwoods Barbie Tour Explained

Concert Tour Name:Backwoods Barbie Tour
Landscape:no
Artist:Dolly Parton
Album:Backwoods Barbie
Number Of Legs:4
Number Of Shows:47 in North America
17 in Europe
64 Total
Last Tour:An Evening with Dolly Parton
(2006–2007)
This Tour:Backwoods Barbie Tour
(2008)
Next Tour:Better Day World Tour
(2011)

The Backwoods Barbie Tour[1] was the ninth headlining concert tour by American recording artist, Dolly Parton. Visiting the United States, Northern Europe and Canada, the tour supported her 42nd studio album, Backwoods Barbie. The tour was well received by critics and spectators alike, earning more than nine million dollars in 2008. The European leg of the tour was the most successful outing of Parton's touring history, performing for 170,000 spectators in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.[2] The tour was expected to reach Australia as well but this did not come to fruition.

Background

After completing her previous trek, Parton focused on the upcoming musical 9 to 5: The Musical and recording her next album. The singer also started her own independent record label[3] after being told she was "too old" for mainstream music.[4] While promoting the song, "Better Get to Livin'", Parton announced her upcoming tour. The first dates revealed in Los Angeles, New York City and Chicago served as rehearsal shows before Parton played in arenas, theatres, amphitheatres and stadiums in North America and Northern Europe.[5] The tour was set to run from February to June, however, it was expanded several times to meet public demand.

To introduce the tour, Parton remarked:[6]

"I had this product that I wanted to sell. It was my performing. I try to think of it as the music business, and you can't just throw it out to anyone and then move on to a new product. So I got involved. God created me, but he gave me the go-ahead to do what I could with it."

Before the tour began, Parton positioned the first round of dates in the United States due to back issues.[7] The singer poked fun at her condition saying, "I know I have been breaking my neck and bending over backwards trying to get my new 'Backwoods Barbie' CD and world tour together, but I didn't mean to hurt myself doing it, But hey, you try wagging these puppies around a while and see if you don't have back problems. Seriously though, the doctors said I will be good as new in a few weeks, and I can't wait to get back out there."[8] The tour began in March instead of early February. After her rehearsal dates, the tour officially commenced on April 22, 2008, at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Death rumor

After Parton finished her European leg, rumors circulated the Internet of her death. It was believed this rumor began at a high school football game (in Tennessee) as the crowd gave a moment of silence for her death. FOX News later reported the singer died in early August of congestive heart failure at the Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center. Parton and her manager dispelled this rumor, stating the singer was "alive and well", although Parton joked she nearly had a heart attack upon hearing the news of her death, but laughed it off.[9] [10]

Critical reception

Overall, the majority of feedback from music critics was favorable for the tour. Ben Ratliff (The New York Times) describes Parton's performance at the Radio City Music Hall as “nothing short of uplifting”. He further comments that, “Between the songs and her nonstop patter — she is an assassin of dead air — the show was a seminar on the peril of accepting received wisdom, whether the subject was drag queens, the rural poor, working stiffs, politicians, Pentecostalists, young media stars or bosomy women. She granted pretty much everybody a complex interior life, and the power of independent thought.”[11] For the same concert, Mandi Bierly (Entertainment Weekly) felt the highlight of the show was Parton's “banter”. She elaborated, “"I never leave a rhinestone unturned", she said, heading to her studded white piano. And, as the headline states, she's got the best stage banter in the business. She's sufficiently quippy, but also shares her life story. After the jump, some of her greatest hits.”[12]

During the European leg, the reviews commended Parton's stage personality and interaction with the audience. Edwin McFee (The Belfast Telegraph) thought Parton's concert at the Odyssey Arena proved her star power. He penned, “She sings, she dances, she plays no less than six musical instruments and she also tells us stories of her childhood as if we were the first ones to hear them, though Dolly fanatics have probably heard them a million times before. At times it was actually quite surreal listening to evergreen anthems such as ‘Jolene’ performed with as much passion as if they were recorded only yesterday, and in many ways her show was a masterclass in traditional old school musical theatre.”[13] David Sinclair (The Times) found the concert at the Glasgow SECC to be "all about the music". He wrote, “…But, in the end, it all came back to the songs. Here she insisted was where the essence of her personality could always be found. I might look artificial/ But where it counts I'm real, she sang in the title track of Backwoods Barbie. And in a funny way, she is.”[14]

Madeleine Brindley (Western Mail) believed Parton's concert at the Cardiff International Arena, Wales proved her to be the First Lady of Country and Western the world over. Brindley explained, “As last night amply demonstrated, Dolly has lost none of her songwriting, or story-telling, talents, as almost every number was prefaced by a short story, which gave us the tiniest of glimpses into the thought process which drives this diminutive star.”[15] David Smyth (Evening Standard) gave the concert at The O2 Arena four out of five stars. Smyth stated, “Tracks representing the jolly country pop of her latest album, the knowingly-titled Backwoods Barbie, fitted in well, especially the man-baiting 'Shinola'. It was only when she stopped the gabbing and rolled out hits in quick succession that the crowd rose to its feet and remained there. 'Here You Come Again', 'Islands In The Stream', '9 to 5' and the biggest of the big ballads, 'I Will Always Love You', confirmed that while she weaves a good yarn, it's when Dolly Parton sings that she's really on-song.”[16]

Returning to the United States, the praise for the tour continued. Annie Zaleski (Riverfront Times) wrote that the performance at the Fabulous Fox Theatre was “charming, meeting all expectations.” She continued, “Also fantastic was the ease with which she transitioned from such seemingly different instruments—all of which were white and covered in rhinestones. For "Thank God I’m a Country Girl", she flew through fiddle, banjo, and harmonica, all feverishly supplied by her "useful and ornamental" hick Chippendale (Steve Summers) who dosey-doed in shirtless abandon in overalls nearby.”[17] Evan Rytlewski (Shepherd Express) wrote of Parton's stage persona, during her concert at Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater, "Parton's hokey facade is a remnant of the old Las Vegas/Grand Ole Opry era of entertainment, and it still dominates her concerts. She spent nearly as much of her performance Monday night sharing stories and cracking jokes as she did singing, proving herself quite the comedian. At 62, she's part-grandmother (she riffed on her poor eyesight and mortality), part-cougar (she ogled a dancing beefcake), and her sharp quips had the audience roaring with laughter."[18]

Set list

This set list is representative of the August 14 show in West Hollywood, California. It is not representative of all concerts for the duration of the tour

  1. "Two Doors Down"
  2. "Why'd You Come in Here Lookin' Like That"
  3. "Jolene"
  4. "Thank God I'm a Country Girl"
  5. "I'm Little, But I'm Loud"
  6. "Backwoods Barbie"
  7. "White Limozeen"
  8. "Drives Me Crazy"
  9. Shattered Image"
  10. "Coat of Many Colors"
  11. "Only Dreamin'"
  12. Gospel Medley: "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" / "I'll Fly Away" / "When the Saints Go Marching In" / "Old Time Religion" / "Calm on the Water" / "Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man"
  13. "Baby I'm Burnin'"
  14. "Better Get to Livin'"
  15. "Shinola"
  16. "The Grass Is Blue"
  17. "Great Balls of Fire"
  18. "Puppy Love"
  19. "Little Sparrow"
  20. "Here You Come Again"
  21. "Islands in the Stream"
  22. "9 to 5"
  23. "I Will Always Love You"
Encore
  1. "He's Alive"
  2. Jesus and Gravity"

Broadcasts and recordings

The concerts at The O2 Arena in London were filmed for a concert special and DVD release. The concert special, "Dolly: Live in London O2 Arena", aired on PBS in conduction with their summer pledge drive.[19] The concert was later released as a CD/DVD package titled, "Dolly: Live from London". Parton released the live version of "Here You Come Again" to promote the package.[20]

In 2011, the concert was reissued exclusively to Cracker Barrel stores as An Evening With Dolly Parton. The DVD remains unchanged and contains all of the material from the original release. The CD removes most of the songs from the Backwoods Barbie album with the exception of "Only Dreamin'", but adds two bonus unreleased live tracks, "Shattered Image" and "My Tennessee Mountain Home." In stark contrast to the original release, which charted as an album on the Billboard 200 at #195 and sold poorly, An Evening With Dolly Parton reached #2 on the Billboard Music Video Charts and eventually sold well enough to receive a Gold Music Video certification from the RIAA for shipments of over 50,000 copies.

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenue
North America[21] [22] [23]
March 28, 2008West HollywoodUnited StatesRoxy Theatre
March 30, 2008ChicagoPark West
April 2, 2008New York CityHighline Ballroom
April 22, 2008PittsburghBenedum Center for the Performing Arts
April 23, 2008HersheyHershey Theatre
April 25, 2008UncasvilleMohegan Sun Arena
April 26, 2008BinghamtonBroome County Veterans Memorial Arena
April 28, 2008FairfaxPatriot Center
April 29, 2008AtlantaFox Theatre
May 1, 2008New York CityRadio City Music Hall
May 3, 2008Atlantic CityBorgata Event Center
May 5, 2008BostonBoston Opera House
May 7, 2008MinneapolisNorthrop Memorial Auditorium
May 8, 2008ChicagoChicago Theatre
May 9, 2008
May 11, 2008Grand PrairieNokia Theatre at Grand Prairie
Europe
June 13, 2008StockholmSweden
June 14, 2008Malmö
June 15, 2008ViborgDenmark
June 17, 2008KristiansandNorway
June 19, 2008RotterdamNetherlands
June 21, 2008CorkIrelandThe Docklands
June 22, 2008Kilkenny
June 24, 2008BelfastNorthern Ireland
June 25, 2008
June 27, 2008GlasgowScotland
June 28, 2008ManchesterEngland
June 29, 2008GlasgowScotlandScottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
July 1, 2008NottinghamEnglandTrent FM Arena Nottingham
July 2, 2008Birmingham
July 4, 2008CardiffWales
July 5, 2008LondonEnglandThe O2 Arena
July 6, 2008
North America[24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29]
August 1, 2008San DiegoUnited StatesHumphrey's Concert by the Bay
August 3, 2008Los AngelesGreek Theatre
August 4, 2008 SacramentoARCO Arena
August 5, 2008BerkeleyHearst Greek Theatre
August 7, 2008PortlandTheater of the Clouds
August 8, 2008SeattleWaMu Theater
August 10, 2008DenverEllie Caulkins Opera House
August 11, 2008 OmahaQwest Center Arena
August 13, 2008ClarkstonDTE Energy Music Theatre
August 14, 2008Fox Theatre
August 16, 2008Pigeon ForgeDolly Parton Celebrity Theatre
August 17, 2008
October 17, 2008Boca RatonCount de Hoernle Amphitheater
October 18, 2008OrlandoUCF Arena
October 20, 2008Ruth Eckerd Hall
October 21, 2008Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
October 24, 2008AtlantaChastain Park Amphitheater
October 25, 2008RichmondBrock Auditorium
October 26, 2008LouisvillePalace Theatre
November 1, 2008ProvidenceProvidence Performing Arts Center
November 2, 2008LedyardMGM Grand Theatre
November 5, 2008RaleighRBC Center
November 6, 2008NorfolkConstant Convocation Center
November 7, 2008ReadingReading Eagle Theater
November 9, 2008OrilliaCanadaCasino Rama Entertainment Centre
November 10, 2008
November 13, 2008WinnipegMTS Centre
November 14, 2008SaskatoonCredit Union Centre
November 17, 2008MilwaukeeUnited StatesRiverside Theater
November 18, 2008Green BayResch Center
November 19, 2008Des MoinesCivic Center of Greater Des Moines

Cancelled shows

List of cancelled concerts, showing date, city, country, venue, and reason for cancellation
DateCityCountryVenueReason
March 14, 2008AustinUnited StatesAustin Music HallUnknown[30] [31] [32]
October 31, 2008NewarkPrudential Hall

Box office score data

VenueCityTickets sold / availableGross revenue
Hershey TheatreHershey1,907 / 1,928 (99%)$150,762[33]
Patriot CenterFairfax2,958 / 5,027 (59%)$260,647
Fox TheatreAtlanta4,216 / 4,670 (90%)$309,791[34]
Radio City Music HallNew York City5,824 / 5,824 (100%)$466,728
Borgata Event CenterAtlantic City2,050 / 2,259 (91%)$159,720[35]
Northrop Memorial AuditoriumMinneapolis2,928 / 4,474 (65%)$199,400
Chicago TheatreChicago5,821 / 6,843 (85%)$524,378
Nokia Theatre at Grand PrairieGrand Prairie4,069 / 4,173 (97%)$270,505[36]
The DocklandsCork5,000 / 5,000 (100%)$584,786[37]
Nowlan ParkKilkenny18,103 / 20,000 (90%)$2,256,876[38]
Odyssey ArenaBelfast13,025 / 14,000 (93%)$1,508,715
Greek TheatreLos Angeles4,695 / 5,295 (89%)$394,960[39]
ARCO ArenaSacramento4,533 / 11,752 (39%)$174,378[40]
Hearst Greek TheatreBerkeley3,501 / 4,200 (83%)$280,225[41]
Theatre of the CloudsPortland2,884 / 3,074 (94%)$143,535
Qwest Center ArenaOmaha1,706 / 3,885 (44%)$123,069[42]
DTE Energy Music TheatreClarkston10,586 / 15,274 (69%)$145,329
Count de Hoernle AmphitheaterBoca Raton2,056 / 3,408 (60%)$102,117[43]
Ruth Eckerd HallClearwater1,776 / 2,025 (88%)$223,845
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial ArenaJacksonville2,481 / 5,841 (42%)$149,325
Chastain Park AmphitheaterAtlanta4,241 / 6,700 (63%)$267,545[44]
Palace TheatreLouisville1,873 / 2,587 (72%)$162,020[45]
RBC CenterRaleigh2,663 / 4,989 (53%)$154,270
Constant Convocation CenterNorfolk2,100 / 5,973 (35%)$103,738
Reading Eagle TheaterReading2,144 / 4,915 (44%)$116,179
TOTAL113,143 / 154,116 (73%)$9,232,843

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dolly Parton – The 'Backwoods Barbie Tour' . 3 September 2008 . HamptonRoads dot com . . 1 April 2011.
  2. Web site: Dolly Parton Wraps Up European Tour . 22 July 2008. . . 1 April 2011.
  3. Parton Launching Own Label With Country Album . Waddell, Ray . 1 August 2007. Billboard. 1 April 2011.
  4. Web site: All dolled up. Parsi, Novid . 30 April 2008 . Time Out: Chicago . . 1 April 2011.
  5. Web site: Dolly Parton Announces 'Backwoods Barbie' Tour. 2 January 2008 . Artistdirect Network . . 1 April 2011.
  6. Web site: Dolly Parton's 'Backyard Barbie' tour rolls into Reading . Rasmussen, Tracy . 6 November 2008 . . Reading Eagle Company . 1 April 2011.
  7. Web site: Parton back ache delays US tour . 12 February 2008 . . . 1 April 2011.
  8. Web site: Dolly Parton delays U.S. concert tour . 11 February 2008 . . . 1 April 2011.
  9. Web site: Dolly Parton 'Alive and Well' Despite Death Rumor. 25 August 2008 . . . 1 April 2011.
  10. Web site: Dolly Parton Puts Death Rumors to Rest . Darden, Beville . 27 August 2008 . The Boot. . 1 April 2011.
  11. Web site: Ratliff, Ben. 3 May 2008. Forever Dolly: Unbowed, Unsinkable. 1 April 2011. The New York Times.
  12. Bierly, Mandi. 2 May 2008. On the Scene: Dolly Parton (and the biz's best stage banter) at Radio City. 1 April 2011. Entertainment Weekly.
  13. Web site: McFee, Edwin. 25 June 2008. Dolly Parton rocks fans on return to Belfast. 1 April 2011. The Belfast Telegraph.
  14. Web site: Sinclair, David. 2 July 2008. Dolly Parton at SECC, Glasgow. 1 April 2011. The Times. News Corporation.
  15. Web site: Brindley, Madeleine. 5 July 2008. Vintage Dolly at CIA. 1 April 2011. Western Mail. Trinity Mirror.
  16. Web site: Smyth, David. 7 July 2008. You're looking and sounding swell, Dolly. 1 April 2011. Evening Standard. Daily Mail and General Trust.
  17. Web site: Wendt, Kristy. Zaleski Annie. 15 August 2008. Show Review + Setlist: Dolly Parton at the Fox Theater, St. Louis, Thursday, August 14. dead. https://archive.today/20130201111344/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2008/08/show_review_setlist_dolly_parton_fabulous_fox_theater_august_14_backwoods_barbie_tour_concert.php. 1 February 2013. 1 April 2011. Riverfront Times. Village Voice Media.
  18. Web site: Rytlewski, Evan. 17 November 2008. Dolly Parton @ The Riverside Theater. 1 April 2011. Shepherd Express.
  19. Web site: DOLLY: LIVE IN LONDON O2 ARENA. 1 April 2011. American Public Television.
  20. Web site: 23 September 2009. Dolly Parton's Dolly: Live From London CD/DVD Due November 10. https://web.archive.org/web/20100223201041/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1622150/dolly-partons-dolly-live-from-london-cd-dvd-due-nov-10.jhtml. dead. February 23, 2010. 1 April 2011. CMT News. MTV Networks.
  21. Web site: Dolly Parton emerges from 'Backwoods' to mount world tour . Madison, T. James . 10 December 2007 . . . 1 April 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20080217003837/http://www.livedaily.com/news/13327.html. 17 February 2008.
  22. Web site: Dolly Parton album delayed, tour expanded. Zahlaway, Jon . 11 January 2008 . LiveDaily . Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. . 1 April 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20080217012536/http://www.livedaily.com/news/13481.html. 17 February 2008.
  23. Web site: Dolly Parton reschedules 'Barbie' dates. Madison, T. James . 15 February 2008 . LiveDaily . Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. . 1 April 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20080217104502/http://www.livedaily.com/news/13689.html. 17 February 2008.
  24. Web site: Dolly Parton tours North America following record breaking European tour. Cohen, Jane. Grossweiner, Bob . 22 July 2008. TicketNews . TicketNetwork, Inc.. 1 April 2011.
  25. Web site: Dolly Parton maps mid-summer 'Backwoods' trek. Madison, T. James . 6 June 2008 . LiveDaily . Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. . 1 April 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20080607114856/http://www.livedaily.com/news/14336.html. 7 June 2008.
  26. Web site: Dolly Parton tour maps more 'Backwoods Barbie' dates . Reitz, Allison . 10 September 2008 . TicketNews . TicketNetwork, Inc.. 1 April 2011.
  27. Web site: Dolly Parton continues 'Backwoods' trek. Kilgore, Kym. 10 September 2008 . LiveDaily . Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. . 1 April 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20080912000043/http://www.livedaily.com/news/14859.html. 12 September 2008.
  28. Web site: Dolly Parton Revises North American Tour . Tsigonis, Victoria . 16 September 2008 . . Giant Digital . 1 April 2011.
  29. Web site: Dolly Parton ramps up 'Barbie' tour. Kilgore, Kym. 17 September 2008 . LiveDaily . Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. . 1 April 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20080918134410/http://www.livedaily.com/news/14893.html. 18 September 2008.
  30. Web site: Melia, Daniel. 13 March 2008. Dolly Parton Forced To Cancel SXSW Performance . 1 April 2011. Gigwise. Giant Digital.
  31. Web site: February 2008. SXSW Music: February Update. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120322074806/http://www.lommen.com/getdoc/341c82f0-9e71-4bb3-a05d-61312af89da7/SXSW-2008-Brochure.aspx. 22 March 2012. 1 April 2011. SxSW Music Newsletter. SXSW Inc..
  32. Web site: Cohen, Jane. Grossweiner, Bob. 22 October 2008. Dolly Parton tour cancels NJPAC show on October 31. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120309170751/http://www.ticketnews.com/news/Dolly-Parton-tour-cancels-NJPAC-show-in-October10822754. 9 March 2012. 1 April 2011. TicketNews. TicketNetwork, Inc..
  33. Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses. Billboard. 17 May 2008. 9 May 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080723180129/http://billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp. July 23, 2008. live.
  34. Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses. Billboard. 24 May 2008. 16 May 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080723180129/http://billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp. July 23, 2008. live.
  35. Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses. Billboard. 28 June 2008. 20 June 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080723180129/http://billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp. July 23, 2008. live.
  36. Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses. Billboard. 18 October 2008. 31 October 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081006105422/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp. October 6, 2008. live.
  37. Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses. Billboard. 2 August 2008. 25 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080723180129/http://billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp. 23 July 2008 . live.
  38. Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses. Billboard. 12 July 2008. 4 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080723180129/http://billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp. July 23, 2008. live.
  39. Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses. Billboard. 23 August 2008. 15 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080723180129/http://billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp. 23 July 2008 . live.
  40. Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses. Billboard. 30 August 2008. 22 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080723180129/http://billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp. 23 July 2008 . live.
  41. Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses. Billboard. 8 November 2008. 31 October 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081006105422/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp. October 6, 2008. live.
  42. Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses. Billboard. 6 September 2008. 29 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081006105422/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp. October 6, 2008. live.
  43. Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses. Billboard. 15 November 2008. 7 November 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081006105422/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp. October 6, 2008. live.
  44. Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses. Billboard. 22 November 2008. 14 November 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081006105422/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp. October 6, 2008. live.
  45. Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses. Billboard. 17 January 2009. 9 January 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20081006105422/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/currentboxscore.jsp. October 6, 2008. live.