Dolly Parton Signs With APA Agency

With only a couple days until Dolly Parton kicks off the international leg of her Blue Smoke World Tour, the singer has signed with APA for her North American touring and personal appearances.

The news comes as the 68-year-old prepares to release her 'Blue Smoke' CD this May, as well as tour throughout New Zealand, Australia and Europe, plus several shows in the United States.

APA will represent Parton in North America, while Neil Warnock from the Agency Group continues to represent her worldwide, excluding North America.

The songstress, who has sold more than 100 million records since her debut album 'Hello, I'm Dolly' was released in 1967, is respected in the music industry as much for her business savvy as her chart-topping tunes. Determined to do things on her own terms, Parton eschewed tradition and opened her own publishing company, Velvet Apple Music (BMI), early in her career, making her the owner of the publishing of her entire song catalog.

'Blue Smoke,' which is already available for purchase in Australia and New Zealand in advance of her tour, is being released on her own Dolly Records, in partnership with Sony Masterworks.

“We at Masterworks think that ‘Blue Smoke’ sits with Dolly Parton’s very best recorded work," says Bogdan Roscic, president of Sony Masterworks. “We’re very happy to be associated with this great American music artist.”

The album includes several songs written by Parton, as well as Bob Dylan's 'Don't Think Twice' and Bon Jovi's 'Lay Your Hands on Me,' and her duet with Kenny Rogers, 'You Can't Make Old Friends,' which is the title track off his latest album.

Order 'Blue Smoke' here.

Parton's Blue Smoke World Tour will play two shows in New Zealand on Feb. 7 and 8, and then begin a series of shows in Australia. See all of her upcoming concerts here.