Dolly Parton Puts Her Personal Touch On Beloved American Classics

Steve Easton YouTube Channel

Fans of Dolly Parton know that she is as American as apple pie. The country legend and her songs have been ingrained in our culture for decades. Like Parton, many artists have created songs that have found their way into our nation’s history. 

During a performance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on her Pure & Simple Tour, Parton decided to cover some of the most beloved American classics of all time. After introducing her band, Parton kicked off a nearly seven minute medley she called “A Slice of American Pie.”

As you could guess, the first song Parton sang was none other than Don McLean‘s “American Pie.” The song was a number one hit for four weeks in 1972, which helped to cement its place in history.

Parton also added her personal touch to a Bob Dylan classic, his 1963 single “Blowin’ in the Wind.” The song is so iconic that it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1994 and Rolling Stone ranked it in the 14th position on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Other songs Parton included in her medley were “If I Had a Hammer,” “Dust in the Wind,” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.”

Parton sang in sweet harmony with her band throughout the medley, which stayed true to the “simple” part of her tour name. The more toned down arrangement gave Parton the perfect opportunity to showcase her angelic vocals, as well as her harmonica playing.

You read right…Parton didn’t just stand aside and let her band do all of the instrumental work. During the introduction to two of the songs in the medley, Parton whipped out her little harmonica and set the stage on fire!

If you’re looking for the ideal showcase of Parton’s many talents, this performance is it. See it for your own eyes in the video below.

It doesn’t get any more American than listening to Parton sing these songs!