Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2005, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Stella Parton, which she submitted to this site on Sunday 10 July 2005.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Stella Parton who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Stella Parton
This quote was submitted on Sunday 10 July 2005.
‘Gene Watson is the greatest interpreter of a country song of anyone in the business – past, present or possibly the future.
Anyone would be hard pressed to improve on his interpretation.
He should be studied by everyone to learn how a country song should be sung.
Gene has always been one of my favourite entertainers’
Thank you, Stella Parton, for your support of Gene Watson.
Stella Parton is the younger sister of Dolly Parton and was born in Sevierville, Tennessee on Wednesday 4 May 1949.
In 1967, Stella Parton saw the release of her first album, ‘In The Garden’ (Soul Records, 1975), which was a gospel project featuring her sisters, Willadeene and Cassie, along with her mother Avie Lee. Shortly thereafter, Stella Parton moved to Washington, DC and began performing country music at Hillbilly Heaven.
Later moving to Nashville, Stella Parton started her own record label, Soul, Country & Blues Records, in 1975, and saw the release, in August 1975, of the album, ‘I Want To Hold You In My Dreams Tonight’ (Soul Records, 1975).
Stella Parton’s ‘I Want To Hold You in My Dreams Tonight’ (Soul Records, 1975) included three tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘I Want To Hold You In My Dreams Tonight’ (written by Bob G. Dean and Stella Parton) (No.9, 1975)
‘It’s Not Funny Anymore’ (written by Bob G. Dean and Paul Overstreet) (No.56, 1975)
‘The Mood I’m In’ (written by Stella Parton) / this track was released as a single in 1975, but it did not chart
Stella Parton’s ‘I Want To Hold You In My Dreams Tonight’ (Soul Records, 1975) also included the following tracks:
‘Don’t Do It Again’ (written by Bob G. Dean and Paul Overstreet)
‘Long Legged Truck Drivers’ (written by Stella Parton)
‘When The Fire Went Out Last Night’ (written by Bob G. Dean and Stella Parton)
‘I’ve Got To Get Back On The Right Side of God’ (written by Bob G. Dean and Paul Overstreet)
‘Ode To Olivia’ (written by Bob G. Dean and Stella Parton)
‘Truck Driving Mother’ (written by Bob G. Dean and Stella Parton)
‘You Kiss The Fire Out of Me’ (written by Bob G. Dean and Stella Parton)
As a result of Stella Parton’s ‘I Want To Hold You In My Dreams Tonight’ (Soul Records, 1975) becoming a substantial national hit single, reaching to No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975, Stella Parton landed a major record label deal with Elektra Records in 1976.
In 1977, Stella Parton saw the release, on Elektra Records, of a non-album single, ‘Neon Woman’, which was written by Carmol Taylor (Saturday 5 September 1931 – Friday 5 December 1986), Bobby Cole and Tony Doe; the track, which was a non-album single, was a duet with Carmol Taylor, and reached No.87 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1974.
In July 1977, Stella Parton saw the release of ‘Country Sweet’ (Elektra Records, 1977), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘I’m Not That Good At Goodbye’, which was written by Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017) and Bob McDill (No.60, 1977)
‘Danger of A Stranger’, which was written by Even Stevens and Shel Silverstein (Thursday 25 September 1930 – Monday 10 May 1999) (No.15, 1977) / this track also reached No.35 on the United Kingdom Singles Chart in 1977
‘Standard Lie No.1’ (written by Dennis Wilson) (No.14, 1977)
Stella Parton’s ‘Country Sweet’ (Elektra Records, 1977) also included the following tracks:
‘Easy To Love’, which was written by Eddie Rabbitt (Thursday 27 November 1941 – Thursday 7 May 1998) and Even Stevens
‘Charlie’s Baby’ (written by Dave Hall)
‘A Little Bitty Tear’, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010)
‘If You’re A Dream’ (written by Stella Parton)
‘I’ve Got To Have You For Mine’ (written by Stella Parton)
‘It’s The Little Things’ (written by David Malloy and Even Stevens)
‘The More The Change’ (written by Stella Parton)
Stella Parton’s ‘Country Sweet’ (Elektra Records, 1977) reached No.27 three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1977.
Gene Watson recorded Dolly Parton’s ‘Most of All Why’ and included the track on ‘Paper Rosie‘ (Capitol Records, 1977); Dolly Parton is Stella Parton’s older sister.
In March 1978, Stella Parton saw the release of ‘Stella Parton’ (Elektra Records, 1978), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Four Little Letters’ (written by Even Stevens and Dan Tyler) (No.20, 1978)
‘Undercover Lovers’ (written by Even Stevens and Sherry Grooms) (No.28, 1978)
Stella Parton’s ‘Stella Parton’ (Elektra Records, 1978) also included the following tracks:
‘The Late Late Late Show’, which was written by Shel Silverstein (Thursday 25 September 1930 – Monday 10 May 1999)
‘Love Is A Word’ (written by Otha Young)
‘There’s A Rumor Going ‘Round’ (written by Bill S. Graham)
‘Haven’t You Heard’, which was written by Red Lane (Thursday 2 February 1939 – Wednesday 1 July 2015) and Wayne Kemp (Sunday 1 June 1941 – Monday 9 March 2015)
‘Lie To Linda’ (written by Billy Smith and Stella Parton)
‘Wishing Well’ (written by Chip Hardy and Sam Lorber)
‘Fade My Blues Away’ (written by Stella Parton)
‘Down To Earth’ (written by Even Stevens and Sherry Grooms) / this track featured guest vocals from Dolly Parton
Stella Parton’s ‘Stella Parton’ (Elektra Records, 1978) reached No.38 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1978, and No.21 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1978.
In 1979, Stella Parton starred in an episode of ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ entitled ‘Deputy Dukes’ as Mary Beth, a woman who impersonates a police officer in order to settle a family score with a prisoner who Bo Duke (played by John Schneider) and Luke Duke (played by Tom Wopat) end up transporting during a change of venue.
In April 1979, Stella Parton saw the release of ‘Love Ya’ (Elektra Records, 1979), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Stormy Weather’ (written by Leo Sayer and Tom Snow) (No.21, 1978)
‘Steady As The Rain’ (written by Dolly Parton) (No.26, 1979)
‘The Room At The Top of The Stairs’ (written by Even Stevens and Dan Tyler) (No.36, 1979)
Stella Parton’s ‘Love Ya’ (Elektra Records, 1979) also included the following tracks:
‘I Cried For The Lady’ (written by Even Stevens)
‘Long Lost Love’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Even Stevens)
‘Someone’, which was written by Eddie Rabbitt (Thursday 27 November 1941 – Thursday 7 May 1998) and Even Stevens
‘A Little Inconvenient’ (written by Jim Malloy and Even Stevens)
‘I Want To Hold You In My Dreams Tonight’ (written by Bob G. Dean and Stella Parton)
‘Honey Come Home’ (written by Bobby David, June Lasalvia and Even Stevens)
‘The Rest of The Way’ (written by Deborah Allen and Sparky Lawrence)
In October 1979, Stella Parton saw the release of ‘The Best of Stella Parton’ (Elektra Records, 1979), which included the following tracks:
‘Danger of A Stranger’, which was written by Even Stevens and Shel Silverstein (Thursday 25 September 1930 – Monday 10 May 1999) (No.15, 1977) / this track also reached No.35 on the United Kingdom Singles Chart in 1977
‘The Room At The Top of The Stairs’ (written by Even Stevens and Dan Tyler) (No.36, 1979)
‘Steady As The Rain’ (written by Dolly Parton) (No.26, 1979)
‘I’m Not That Good At Goodbye’, which was written by Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017) and Bob McDill (No.60, 1977)
‘Stormy Weather’ (written by Leo Sayer and Tom Snow) (No.21, 1978)
‘I Want To Hold You In My Dreams Tonight’ (written by Bob G. Dean and Stella Parton) (No.9, 1975)
‘Undercover Lovers’ (written by Even Stevens and Sherry Grooms) (No.28, 1978)
‘Standard Lie No.1’ (written by Dennis Wilson) (No.14, 1977)
‘Four Little Letters’ (written by Even Stevens and Dan Tyler) (No.20, 1978)
‘Down To Earth’ (written by Even Stevens and Sherry Grooms) / this track, which featured guest vocals from Dolly Parton, was originally included on Stella Parton’s ‘Stella Parton’ (Elektra Records, 1978)
After leaving Elektra Records, Stella Parton recorded for several independent record labels, including Accord / Townhouse Records, Airborne Records and Raptor Records.
In April 1982, Stella Parton saw the release of ‘So Far So Good’ (Raptor Records, 1982), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘I’ll Miss You’ (No.65, 1982)
‘Young Love’ (written by Ric Cartey and Carole Joyner) (No.75, 1982) / this track was also included on Stella Parton’s ‘Picture In A Frame’ (Renaissance Records, 1997)
In 1983, Stella Parton saw the release, on Wedge Records, of a non-album track, ‘Legs’, which was written by Bob Teague, L.E. White (Tuesday 27 May 1930 – Tuesday 7 September 2004), Shirl Milete and Stella Parton; the track, which did not chart on the Billboard country music singles chart, was subsequently included on ‘Favourites, Volume 1’ (Montana Country Records, 1989).
In May 1984, RCA Nashville Records released the soundtrack album for the film ‘Rhinestone’, which starred Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone.
The Dolly Parton-composed soundtrack produced two Top 10 country music hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart: ‘God Won’t Get You’ (No.10, 1984) and ‘Tennessee Homesick Blues’ (No.1 for one week in September 1984).
Dolly Parton stated, in her memoirs, ‘My Life & Other Unfinished Business’, that she regarded the soundtrack album as some of the best work she had done.
The track, ‘Goin’ Back To Heaven’, which was performed by Stella Parton & Charles Kindred ‘Kin’ Vassy (Monday 16 August 1943 – Thursday 23 June 1994), was also included on the ‘Rhinestone’ soundtrack album, which reached No.32 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1984.
In 1988, Stella Parton recorded Jan Buckingham‘s ‘I Don’t Miss You Like I Used To’ (co-written with Curtis Stone) for Airborne Records; the track, which reached No.74 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988, was subsequently included on ‘Always Tomorrow’ (Raptor Records, 1989).
During the 1980s and the 1990s, Stella Parton starred in several Broadway touring musicals, including ‘Seven Brides For Seven Brothers’, ‘Pump Boys & Dinettes’, ‘Best Little Whorehouse In Texas’ and ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’.
During the course of her country music career, Stella Parton saw the release of twenty-two albums and achieved twenty-eight chart singles on the Billboard country music singles chart.
Stella Parton has also written three cookbooks, including her recipe-packed book, ‘State Fairs & Church Bazaars’.
Stella Parton also devotes much of her time to causes like domestic violence and, typical of her hands on approach, teaches at New Opportunity School For Women At Berea College in Berea, Kentucky utilising her knowledge of hair and make-up to help women build self-esteem.
Stella Parton also has a thriving consulting business, Attic Entertainment Artist Development & Entertainment Consulting, teaching stage presence, hair, make-up, wardrobe techniques and video coaching.
Stella Parton has also served as national spokesperson for Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Christian Appalachian Project & National Honorary Country Music Ambassador to the American Cancer Society.
• Visit Stella Parton’s official site at stellaparton.com