Dolly Parton to Produce TV Movies Based on Her Music

Dolly Parton is returning to the small screen. The award-winning singer will produce a series of TV movies for NBC based on her life, stories and songs.

"We're going to try and create uplifting movies the entire family can enjoy together," NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt says (quote via the Hollywood Reporter), calling the new project an "untapped genre" for television.

"I don't know anyone in the world who doesn't love Dolly Parton, and the idea of developing television movies inspired by her incredible life and the stories she has sung about for decades is exciting to all of us at NBC," he adds." I hope we will create some uplifting movies that the entire family can enjoy together, a genre of programming that still seems largely untapped on television."

The 68-year-old will be working with production partner Sam Haskell of Magnolia Hill Entertainment of Warner Bros. Television as well as Bob Greenblatt.

“I am so excited to be involved with my friend Bob Greenblatt, who produced the Broadway version of' 9 to 5: The Musical' with me, and my longtime friend and former agent Sam Haskell," Parton says. "We want to create projects for NBC that are both fun and inspirational with a family audience in mind.”

While the network has yet to announce a release date, we already know that the movies will include plenty of Parton's music.

"We all feel so lucky to be in business with Dolly," Jennifer Salke, President of NBC Entertainment says. "We're so excited about working with her to infuse these movies with her incredible work ethic and that genuine hopefulness and positive outlook that has been her trademark for years. And you can bet there will be a lot of her music in them too."

Parton, who may appear in some of the TV movies, is certainly no stranger to acting. She has appeared in several award-winning films, including '9 to 5,' 'Steel Magnolias' and 'Joyful Noise.' She hinted last year, while on her global Blue Nation World Tour, that she wanted to focus more on acting in the near future.

“I’m working on some new music,” she revealed. “I’m doing my life story as a musical. I’m also doing my life story as a movie, which also has a lot of music in it. I may possibly do some television and some producing. I’ve got a lot of other business thoughts in mind. I do not plan to do any more touring in the near future ... For now, I’m going to concentrate more on business end of the things and creative stuff like the musical, movie and TV.”