Dolly Parton kicked off Dolly Parton’s Pet Gala with an unforgettable performance of her very first single, “Puppy Love.”
“Well hello you puppy lovers,” Parton shouted as she entered the stage from beneath a massive star, a nod to her latest project, Rockstar.
Watch Dolly Parton Perform “Puppy Love”
Donning a red and white dress complete with sparkly paw prints and outlined in plaid ruffles, Parton let her infectious personality shine as she sang about young love.
“Puppy love, puppy love/ They all call it puppy love/ I’m old enough now to kiss and hug/ And I like it, it’s puppy love,” she sang.
Dolly Parton’s First Ever Pet Gala
After the performance, Parton greeted viewers with a smile as she explained what the night had in store.
“Hey everybody, are you feeling good tonight? Well, you know, I have done a lot of different kinds of shows over the past 60 something years, but tonight is my first ever Pet Gala! A night of music and fashion and adorable doggies walking the runway,” she exclaimed, adding, “Now, who wouldn’t love that, right?”
She promised an “amazing party” ahead and teased that it would celebrate “all kinds of dogs, including some famous dogs, some working dogs and dogs that have skills that will make you drool.”
She continued, “I’m going to be performing with a bunch of my favorite human friends, and of course you can’t have a pet gala without pets. So our very special audience has some of the most dashing doggies and PAWSitively precious pups that you have ever seen.”
Welcomed Her Co-Host Jane Lynch To Stage
The GRAMMY-winning star went on to hilariously encourage the crowd to bark at her and introduced her co-host, Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch. The pair then joked with each other before getting the show started.
“You know, I always tell people that there are two things that make me smile, dogs and Dolly. Of course, I’m talking about the beyond legendary Dolly Parton,” Lynch said.
The pair concluded their opening segment by introducing the “Disco Doggie Runway Show,” with a performance of “Boogie Shoes” by KC of KC And The Sunshine Band alongside Dolly Parton’s all-star band.
Parton Releases Billy’s Version Of “Puppy Love”
“Puppy Love” was Dolly Parton’s first single. She wrote the song when she was just 11 years old alongside her uncle, Bill Owens. The track was released as a single by Goldband Records in 1959.
The lyrics convey the emotions of young love as she sings, “Sometimes you won’t even carry my books/ The next time you’ll see me you’ll rag on my looks/ You’re meaner to me than a mean ole crook/ And I must confess I’m really hooked.”
In honor of her first-ever Pet Gala, Parton released a new version of “Puppy Love.” This new release is dubbed “Billy’s Version,” which is a nod to her God dog, Billy.
While the country music icon may not have a dog of her own these days, Billy, also known as Billy the Kid, is a French bulldog who holds a special place in her heart. Billy is also the inspiration behind her 2023 children’s book, Dolly Parton’s Billy the Kid Makes it Big.
Dolly’s Pet Gala
Dolly Parton’s Pet Gala featured performances by some of the biggest stars in music, including Lainey Wilson, Carly Pearce, Chris Janson, Joy Oladokun, Grace Bowers, KC of KC And The Sunshine Band, and more.
Iain Armitage, Drew Barrymore, Kristen Bell, Kristin Cavallari, Kristin Chenoweth, Margaret Cho, Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose, Neil Patrick Harris, Carson Kressley, Jim Nantz, Jessica Simpson and Tigirlily Gold were also on hand to serve as presenters.
Additionally, the show presented a one-of-a-kind runway, showcasing the best in doggie fashion, as well as spotlighting some of Parton’s most iconic looks. The pups starring in the show also wore dazzling outfits from the “9 to 5” singer’s Doggy Parton pet collection.
Dolly Parton’s Pet Gala aired on Wednesday, February 21, at 9/8c on the CBS Television Network, and streamed on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs).
