Country music, Broadway and film star Stella Parton is coming to Ringgold, Nov. 13 for a gospel concert for the Share America Foundation.
“I am so excited to welcome one of the most talented stars of Nashville, New York and Hollywood to our stage at the Ringgold Depot,” said Randall Franks, Share America president.
Ms. Parton is part of a talented East Tennessee family beginning her recording career with her mother and two sisters performing gospel. She landed her first top 10 country single in 1975 and went on to earn over 28 hit songs in her career, said Mr. Franks.
"I grew up in my granddad's little cinder block church beside a gravel road,” said Ms. Parton. “The sounds coming from that little church were such sweet harmonies I couldn't help but love gospel music."
She was awarded as Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and for Album of the Year from the Christian Country Music Association.
According to Mr. Franks, Ms. Parton is sharing her time to encourage the music she herself has contributed to fostering through the years though her talents have spanned many genres.
"I feel so strongly about preserving our Appalachian gospel music that I recorded an entire album of the music I grew up on singing every song from a vast collection of old church hymnals," she said. "The purity of Appalachian music is such a part of who we are we owe it to the world to help try to preserve it."
As an actress she has appeared on television and films including The Dukes of Hazzard, A Dance for Bethany, Ghost Town: The Movie, Seven to Midnight, The Color of Love: Jacey's Story, Phoenix Falling and Ragin' Cajun.
She also starred in several Broadway plays including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Pump Boys & Dinettes and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
She has a new CD to be released entitled Mountain Rose – Live in Norway.
Ms. Parton will appear at Sacred Sounds Fridays, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Ringgold Depot, corner of Depot Street and U.S. 41 in Ringgold. The Jeff Hullender Family and youth guitarist Kylan Rodgers will also appear. Randall Franks will emcee.
The event is a fundraiser for the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship Fund helping musicians achieve higher education. Donations for tickets are adults: $5, children five and under are free with adult. Tickets may be purchased locally in advance during business hours at SonShine Christian Books 706 861-7675 in Fort Oglethorpe.
For more information, Share America Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 42 Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.