Dolly Parton says NBC's 'Coat of Many Colors' movie is 'very personal'

Dolly Parton says NBC’s ‘Coat of Many Colors’ movie is ‘very personal’

Executive producer Dolly Parton and actress Alyvia Lind speak onstage during NBC's 'Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors' panel discussion at the NBCUniversal portion of the TCA summer press tour at the Beverly Hilton.

Aug. 13, 2015 3:39 PM PT

Dolly Parton wants her NBC movie “Coat of Many Colors” to be a family event.

“I’m just hoping during the holiday season this will be my gift to the public,” the country music icon said at the Television Critics Assn. summer media tour in Beverly Hills on Thursday. “To say, ‘Hey, do sit down as a family. Do watch this.’”

“Coat of Many Colors,” which is neither a biopic nor musical of Parton’s whole life, is a family-oriented story based on Parton’s upbringing in Tennessee. Country music singer Jennifer Nettles plays Parton’s mom, Ricky Schroder plays Parton’s dad and Alyvia Lind plays an 8-year-old Parton.

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The network announced in January that it had signed a deal to develop a slate of TV movies “based on the songs, stories and inspiring life” of the music legend.

The movie reflects NBC’s efforts to delve into family-friendly programming following its successful live stagings of “The Sound of Music” and “Peter Pan.” Parton also previously worked with NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt on the Broadway musical adaptation of her film “9 to 5.”

“This is exciting to do because it’s very personal to me,” she said. “It’s a true story of a certain period of my life. I always wanted my people to be proud of me. This whole story really shows ... the kind of parents we had, the neighbors, the good friends, the brothers and sisters. It’s all about family.”

Full coverage: Television Crtitics Association press tour 2015

Co-executive producer Sam Haskell said he and Parton began talking about the project a year and a half ago.

“We are telling this story so we can show where it all begam,” Haskell said. “And the heart and soul of the family she was so proud to be part of and the struggles her family had to go through .... ‘Coat of Many Colors’ [the song] defines who Dolly is as a person and performer.”