In this series of blogs inspired by Ken Burns’ documentary Country Music, premiering Sunday, September 15 at 8 p.m. on GPB, I’m taking a look back at some of my favorite interviews and experiences while working at the Country Music Association (CMA) in Nashville.

“Okay, Linda Tripp, I ain’t gonna tell you nothin’ that I wouldn’t tell the world,” Dolly Parton quipped as she walked in the room and spotted two tape recorders on the conference room table.

It was the summer of 1998, and Parton was referencing the infamous taped conversations in that year’s highly publicized Clinton-Lewinsky political scandal. Unfortunately for me, I discovered that I’d been left with malfunctioning tape recorders that day, as a few of my colleagues were still out doing interviews as well, so I grabbed two of them on my way out of my office, in the hope that one of them would get me through. She’d walked in the conference room as I was still anxiously deciding which tape recorder was the lesser of two evils before stuffing the other one back in my purse.

I was speaking with herfor the September 1998 issue of CMA's monthly magazine Close Up about her upcoming album, Hungry Again, set for release that same month.

At that point in my career, I had interviewed people from all facets of the music industry, but she was larger than life. 

A singer, actress, songwriter, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Parton emerged with her first album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967. It contained her first chart hit, the tongue-in-cheek song “Dumb Blonde,” and in the 31 years leading up to this meeting, she had become a superstar. In my opinion, she hadn't lost the warmth and sincerity of the young performer I first remember watching when I was a child on The Porter Wagoner Show, and her wit was obviously as sharp as ever. 

At the time of our interview, she was in a transition, as Hungry Again marked her first release on Decca Records. Though Parton had written all of the songs for the album, she relayed to me that when she first began thinking about it, she really wasn’t sure what listeners wanted from her. She followed her instincts and went back to her old homeplace, where she fasted, prayed, and determined she should keep it honest, writing and singing like she’s “hungry again,” hence the album’s title.

“My songs are the door to every dream I’ve ever had and every success I’ve ever achieved,” Parton said during the interview.

Though Parton has walked through many doors of success, she's never strayed far from her mountain roots, and in “The Rub (Beginnings – 1933),” the premiere episode of Ken Burns’ Country Music, Sunday, September 15 at 8 p.m. on GPB, she helps guide the story of the music’s Appalachian influence.

Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner pictured at the 1970 Country Music Association Awards as she holds their award for Vocal Duo of the Year (Photo Credit: CMA)

Later on in episode seven, “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?, (1973- 1983),” premiering Tuesday, September 24 at  8 p.m., viewers will learn the story behind one of Parton’s biggest self-penned hits -  “I Will Always Love You.” As she reveals in the documentary series, it marked a turning point in her career, and set her on a course to become one of country music’s most beloved entertainers.

As we talked about the release of Hungry Again back in 1998, she was clear about her love for the Nashville music industry, even if she didn’t have a hit with the album.

“…No matter what happens in the future, I want to be a part of it. But even if I am not, I’ll always be proud that I’ve been involved, and I’ll always do whatever I can in any way to help further country music," Parton said.

Now, in the year 2019, Dolly Parton is still going strong. In October, the Grand Ole Opry will commemorate her 50thyear as a member with special shows and a week-long celebration. In November, she’s set to serve as special guest host of the 53rdAnnual CMA Awards, along with Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood.

So it seems, Dolly Parton fans will always be “hungry for more.”

As for me, I'm happy to say the tape recorder didn’t fail during the interview, and the experience of talking with Parton has become one of my fondest memories. 

Check out these Parton additions to our GPB Goes Country playlist: "Jolene," the autobiographical “Coat of Many Colors,” “I Will Always Love You,” and “Telling Me Lies,” featuring her harmonizing with her 1987 Trio album partners Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt.