![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640x360/p04drcvy.jpg)
Sisters in Country: Dolly, Linda and Emmylou
How Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris's careers took off in the 1970s with distinct takes on country, but how they ended up uniting as close harmony singers on Trio.
Documentary which explores how Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris's careers took off in the 1970s with very distinct takes on country before they ended up uniting as close harmony singers and eventually collaborated on 1987's four-million-selling debut album, Trio.
In the 60s country music was viewed by most of America as blue collar, and Dolly was country through and through. Linda Ronstadt's take on classic country helped make her the biggest female star in mid-70s America. Folkie Emmylou learned about country from mentor Gram Parsons and, after his death in 1973, she became a bandleader in her own right. It was Emmylou and Linda - the two west coast folk rockers - who voiced their mutual appreciation of Dolly, the mountain girl singer from Tennessee, when they became early students of her work.
The artists talk about uniting as harmony singers and eventually collaborating on their debut album, Trio. The album helped launch the mountain music revival that would peak with the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou. In 2012 Linda Ronstadt was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which left her unable to sing, but 2016 saw unreleased songs from their sessions compiled to create a third Trio album. This is the story of how their alliance made them pioneers in bringing different music worlds together and raising the game for women in the country tradition.
Contributors: Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Rodney Crowell, George Lucas, Peter Asher, Chris Hillman, Laura Cantrell, Robert K Oermann, John Boylan, Phil Kaufman, David Lindley, Albert Lee, Herb Pedersen, George Massenberg and Applewood Road.
Last on
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
-
00:01
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris
The Memories of You
-
00:03
Earl Scruggs
Nashville Skyline Rag (Album Version)
-
00:04
Loretta Lynn
The ±«Óãtv You're Tearin' Down
-
00:04
Dolly Parton
Joshua (Album Version)
-
00:06
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton
The Last Thing On My Mind
-
00:07
Dolly Parton
Dumb Blonde
-
00:08
The Upbeat Beatles
I Saw Her Standing There
-
00:09
The Everly Brothers
When Will I Be Loved
-
00:09
The Byrds
So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star (Mono Version)
-
00:09
The Byrds
So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star
-
00:15
Merle Haggard
Okie From Muskogee
-
00:16
Tammy Wynette, George Jones & Tammy Wynette, George Jones
We're Gonna Hold On (Album Version)
-
00:17
Gram Parsons
How Did You Meet Emmylou Harris?
-
00:17
Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels
That's All It Took
-
00:17
Gram Parsons
Ooh Las Vegas
-
00:18
Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels
Six Days On The Road
-
00:19
Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels
The New Soft Shoe
-
00:21
Emmylou Harris
Boulder to Birmingham
-
00:26
Dolly Parton
Jolene
-
00:35
Emmylou Harris
Mister Sandman
-
00:35
Emmylou Harris With Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt
Mister Sandman
-
00:36
Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt
Mr Sandman
-
00:37
Linda Ronstadt
I've Got A Crush On You
-
00:38
Dan Seals
Bop
-
00:38
Alabama
A Forty Hour Week For A Living
-
00:45
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris
Hobos Meditation
-
00:52
Linda Ronstadt
High Sierra
-
00:44
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris
Rosewood Casket
-
00:54
The Soggy Bottom Boys
I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow (with band) (feat. Dan Tyminski)
-
00:55
Harris,Emmylouparton,Dolly & Ronstadt,Linda
In A Deep Sleep (Unreleased 1986)
-
00:58
Harris,Emmylouparton,Dolly & Ronstadt,Linda
You Dont Knock (Unreleased 1986)
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Narrator | KT Tunstall |
Producer | Dione Newton |
Director | Dione Newton |
Executive Producer | Mark Cooper |
Participant | Dolly Parton |
Participant | Linda Ronstadt |
Participant | Emmylou Harris |
Broadcasts
- Fri 4 Nov 2016 22:00
- Sat 5 Nov 2016 01:35
- Fri 21 Jul 2017 23:00
- Sat 22 Jul 2017 02:35
- Fri 22 Sep 2017 21:00
- Sat 23 Sep 2017 01:30
- Fri 22 Jun 2018 22:00
- Sat 1 Dec 2018 22:25
- Fri 13 Dec 2019 23:15
- Mon 13 Apr 2020 22:15±«Óãtv Two except Scotland
- Fri 7 May 2021 23:40
- Sat 25 Feb 2023 23:25±«Óãtv Two except Scotland
- Sat 18 Nov 2023 00:25
- Fri 8 Mar 2024 23:45
- Sun 21 Jul 2024 00:25±«Óãtv Two except Scotland
Featured in...
Queens of Music
Collection of top female leads in the musical realm.
Country
A collection of programmes celebrating County Music
Music Documentaries
Get the inside track on some of music's most influential songs, albums and personalities.
Pop Greats
Celebrating some of the biggest names in music
The Joy of Country
The very best in country.
Brilliant Female Artists
The very best female musicians.
Country Music
Dolly Parton. Johnny Cash. Bob Harris. Watch all the big legends of country music
Music Stories
Get the inside track on some of music's most influential songs, albums and personalities.
Trailblazing Women
Celebrating the stories and performances of women who broke the mould.
Country Nights
±«Óãtv Four and Radio 2 celebrate all things Country.