.

Dolly Parton's Mountain Soul vocal competition open for entries

# # State
dolly_parton

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The fourteenth annual Mountain Soul Vocal Competition honoring Dolly Parton's songwriting began calling for entries.

The competition was established to honor Parton by encouraging contestants from across the nation to sing one of the more than 3,000 songs she's written over the years.

Contestants in categories 13 and up, and 12 and under can apply for the competition.

“The Mountain Soul Vocal Competition does a great job showcasing new talent while also proving that Dolly’s songwriting is incredibly versatile and can easily cross musical genres,”
says Sevierville Chamber of Commerce Director of Marketing and Communications Amanda Marr.
“Since Dolly Parton is Sevierville’s hometown girl, holding a competition that honors her songwriting ability was a natural fit for us. We are honored that Dollywood assists us with the prize coordination for the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition each year.”

The entry deadline for the competition was set for Friday, April 6. Audition files should be sent by mail to be judged.

Thirty finalists, 20 in the 13 and up category, and 10 in the 12 and under category, will be invited to perform during the final rounds at Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass on May 19 in downtown Sevierville.

Winners will take home cash and prizes like a recording session in Nashville or a guitar autographed by Dolly herself.

For a complete list of songs Dolly has written, click here. All songs written by Dolly are eligible, but organizers said it would not be necessary or encouraged to impersonate Dolly Parton, either physically or vocally during the competition.

Those interested in the competition can find an application and complete set of rules here or by calling the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce at 1-888-889-7415. Entries must be postmarked by April 6, 2018.

The annual Bloomin' BBQ & Bluegrass event was planned for May 18-19, 2018.