Hip Cookeville Indeed
James E. Akenson
Tennessee Tech University (Retired)
Cookeville, Tennessee, U.S.A
Christmas 2025 was its usual enjoyable self following a clearly establish ritual pattern. We get up when we’re ready. Put out the King James version of the Bible to the Gospel of Luke. Read the Christmas Story. Say a prayer. And I hand the Christmas presents to daughter Ashley, then LP (Life Partner) Mickie, and then I deliver a present to myself.
Not bad. It’s consistent with our cultural heritage. The Bible reading and prayer would please our parents. The rituals keep us positively linked to the past despite any softening of our perception regarding empirical truth.
So, you say, why bother with an introductory paragraph about Christmas? Well, it connects to the Hip Cookeville Dolly Parton tribute concert that I attended at the Cookeville Performing Arts Center (CPAC). A Dolly tribute concert, like Christmas, takes on a spiritual connection to a greater, higher power that gives life meaning. A great Christmas 2025 present was the “Dolly Parton: Star of the Show” book.
I liked it so much that I even wrote a separate piece for ICM Dot Net about it. Check it out. Yes. There are lots and lots of books, articles, and social media posts about Dolly. No. We won’t get into the Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop on I-65 south of Nashville.
It’s not surprising that Natasha Neely…or somebody like her….would create a Dolly Tribute program. As a cultural icon, Dolly resonates deeply with a diverse audience while being ‘Country.’ Dolly is part of our lives. In her 80th year Dolly still going strong…well maybe not strong…. but she is definitely still on the go.
Natasha Neely is from Kentucky, has been a performer at Dollywood and elsewhere, and worked in several positions in the Country Music industry. She is female, blond, and can look like Dolly. Makes sense that Natasha Neely is doing a Dolly tribute. I must say that it was truly better than I anticipated!
Going to the Dolly tribute I had some thoughts in mind. First, there would be some artifacts on display. Not as many as displayed at the recent Community Sings Dylan 2 that had a veritable shrine. I thought there would be a cardboard life sized Dolly and maybe a few pics on display.
There weren’t. There were several women with Dolly tops that they had purchased elsewhere…maybe Dollywood. There might be a chance to generate additional revenue with Dolly type merch. It would enhance “the arrival sequence” and the “departure sequence.”
Then again, the arrival and departure sequence met and exceeded some of my expectations. The Cookeville Performing Arts Center (CPAC) looks the part. The electronic sign clearly announced the Dolly tribute. The unexpected always makes it all worthwhile. A woman came up to me and introduced herself and her LP (Life Partner a.k.a. husband).
I had Randi Fuston in class over twenty years ago, hadn’t seen her since, but I showed her work to my social studies methods class every semester. Randi Fuston came because she was friends with Dolly tribute artist Natasha Neely. You never know what life may bring. We’ll save the departure sequence for later.
Second, I thought that Cherokee Hope as the opening act would sing original songs or cover some classic songs by women other than Dolly. Maybe something by Kitty Wells, Tammy Wynette, or Loretta Lynn. Dolly songs make sense, but given the Dolly tribute event, it might take away from Natasha Neely’s headline Dolly tribute. Cherokee Hope ‘Done Good as they say in the English Department.’ How about opening the evening with Hank Williams? I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry touched me.
Take a look and listen. That sealed the deal for me. Cherokee Hope sang John Wilkes Booth which isn’t your typical Country Music fare although The Civil War has a long presence in Country Music. She covered the Judds Had a Dream (For The Heart) and did a fine job on Loretta’s You Ain’t Woman Enough to Take My Man.
I liked her Willow Grove (Dam the Man) as it was like Old Crow Medicine Show’s Half Mile Down about The Tennessee Valey Authority (TVA) damming rivers in Appalachia for flood control and power. She concluded her set with an original song about Home. Cherokee Hope wore her blue summer gingham dress and played guitar. She comes across as a traditional, authentic artist. All in all, a fine opening act!
Third, I thought that there would be images of Dolly throughout her life projected onto a screen. It would be powerful to show a rural, East Tennessee image of the Smoky Mountains and the humble cabin in which she grew up. I would also include images of Dolly and Porter, movie images from Rhinestone, Steel Magnolias, and 9 to 5. There weren’t any images projected onto a screen, but the four foot tall lit up DOLLY sign on stage did set a tone.
Fourth, I thought that the Dolly tribute would begin with My Tennessee Mountain Home and maybe include a Gospel song. Dumb Blond would be logical and of course I Will Always Love You. Of course, movie related songs such as 9 to 5 will be included. Something from the disco years like Two Doors Down makes sense.
I’m big on Eagle When She Flies and yes a Kenny Rogers event with Island In The Stream. That, of course, raises the Jolene question. Will she lead with Jolene or close with Jolene. I would close with Jolene since it’s become mega iconic. The audience will be salivating to sing along with Jolene.
I didn’t do too badly on my expectations. Then again, you would expect a Dolly Tribute to feature major hits the audience would know and could sing along to. Dumb Blond and Eagle When She flies weren’t included. She started with Here You Come Again, Joshua and then My Tennessee Mountain Home. I was wrong about Jolene. It ended the first half. Yes. Islands in the Stream and movie songs such as 9 to 5 and Tennessee Homesick Blues made it.
Yes, I forgot to predict Rocky Top which of course got a big response from a Tennessee crowd. Apple Jack lent itself well to Dolly talking about her Tennessee Roots and the inflections were tip-top. Coat Of Many Colors did have its place. The Seeker provided a gospel touch. Of course, she mentioned Porter and sang I Will Always Love You.
My ultimate favorite…no telling why given so many great songs…was Rockling Years. I’ve always enjoyed her duet with Ricky Van Shelton. Yes. It started with a great whining steel guitar as God intended in Country Music. How can you not like lyrics than mention “rockin’ chairs, rockin’ babies, rock-a-bye, rock of ages.” It gets at major points of a typical life cycle.
True, “until the end there’ll be no other” doesn’t always work out even here in the Bible Belt. But it does for some folks and it’s a great goal. Plus, the rock of ages reference connects it to the strong Evangelical Protestant culture in which Dolly grew up, much of the Dolly tribute audience (including myself) experienced, and which is powerful today in U.S. culture.
It also fits with the research I do with my friend and colleague Randy Williams about the Sacred and Profane…sin and salvation…references in Country Music.
I must say I was impressed. I didn’t expect a six-piece band and two backup singers. They were all skilled musicians who interacted with Dolly throughout the performance. She featured the band and Orange Blossom Special showed off their talents.
Dolly wore three different costumes. Her backup singers changed twice as well. Natasha Neely has the total Dolly look, movement, and inflections as she speaks. She ‘sings good,’ too. Take a look and listen.
Fifth, I thought the audience would be more diverse in term of age than a recent Community Sings Bob Dylan 2 performance. Dolly may be 80, but she has an appeal that should include more than Baby Boomers. Cookeville isn’t exactly a Blue State hot bed of welcoming LGBTQ folks. I would have been pleased, though, if some alternative life styles were clearly present.
The age range included several young girls. One was the granddaughter of a deceased former student who came with her grandfather. There were middle age adults and one or two young women with tattoos and some gothic touches. Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland aren’t exactly super diverse, but there were some young people of color in attendance.
Let’s mention the exit experience. Dolly emphasized that she would be out in the CPAC lobby to meet and greet. That’s literally and symbolically making connection to her audience immediate and concrete. Dolly and her two backup singers spoke to every fan. I managed to say hello and show her the pic I shared on Facebook and plus a comment.
Almost immediately, I had a Country Music expert from the University of Michigan commenting “Love the silver platforms! Love the 
jumpsuit! Where ARE you, James? Wish I were there too!” Dolly was pleased. She mentioned that she saw me singing to the words of almost every song. That’s a fun and satisfying connection.
I also complimented the backup singers that it was well structured and impressive. The backup singers responded with genuine appreciation that to me said “they’re authentically country.” I liked that. I then said goodbye to my former student and walked out into the hot Tennessee night feeling that Dolly had fulfilled my desire to be transported into her musical world.
I must say that the Dolly tribute was a grand experience. Hip Cookeville made it hip to be in Cookeville. That includes emerging artist Cherokee Hope’s opening set. I sat down near the front. Establishing eye contact with Dolly more than once made for an extra dimension.. The tribute flowed smoothly from beginning to end.
The faithful saw a ‘genuine Dolly’ with the look, mannerisms, inflections, and sound to make the congregation enjoy their spiritual experience with a marvellous cultural icon. Natasha Neely and company delivered an experience that met their…and my…desire to be transported into Dolly’s musical universe.
Like my Christmas experience, we were connected to something greater that gives meaning to our world.
