Image credit: Infosee Media / Pinterest
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Cassie Nan Parton Griffith (b. February 12, 1951) is a singer, former president of the Dolly Parton Fan Club, and oversees Dolly's properties. She is the seventh of twelve children born to Lee and Avie Lee Parton. Born in Sevierville, Tennessee, she grew up in a musical family where storytelling through song was a tradition. Her parents fostered a love of music that shaped the entire Parton family. As a child, she often sang with sisters Dolly and Stella at churches, funerals, and other small local events. She performed with Stella on the road for a while. Cassie sang on a 1968 gospel album with her mother Avie Lee and sisters Willadeene and Stella, titled The Parton Family Sings "In the Garden".
Cassie ran Dolly's official fan club from 1975 to 1978 and again from 1983 to 1986. She also oversaw Dolly's booth at Fan Fair for many years and won an award for her efforts in 1975 from the International Fan Club Organization. Cassie performed in the My People show at Dollywood for several seasons beginning in 2013. She has also worked in other capacities for Dolly behind the scenes. She has two children with her first husband Larry Seaver; Bryan Seaver (Director of Security for Dolly) and Rebecca Seaver (Director of Archive and Museum Services for Dolly). |
Studio albums
Album cover. Inspiration (LPS I-0833) (1968)
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The Parton Family Sings "In the Garden" is a gospel album by Avie Lee Parton and her daughters, Willadeene, Cassie, and Stella. It was released in May 1968 by Inspiration Records. Original copies of the LP appear on eBay from time to time and sells for $300 or more. The album was released digitally for the first time on December 20, 2024, by Owepar Records and released on CD in May 2025.
Stella wrote about the album on her website in 2008. She said, "This is a very special recording because my mother and two sisters, Willadeene and Cassie, are singing on it. This is the authentic sound of our family harmony blend. If you want to hear how we sounded in church, this is it. We sang at churches, funerals and local functions as I was growing up. Usually I sang lead, not because I was the best singer, but I had the most nerve in public. |
"This album was recorded at the old Starday studios with studio musicians in Nashville. I remember the most significant event of the experience was Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. being shot the night we were recording. We were in shock when we heard it on the radio on the drive home from the studio.
"A lady by the name of Marion R. Mangrum who owned a newspaper in Maryville, Tennessee produced it. She had heard us sing at an event and felt we should have a recorded album released to radio."
Songwriting credits below are adapted from online research and ASCAP listings. Some of the credits listed on the LP labels are inaccurate. Additionally, Avie Lee and Willadeene's names are misspelled on the back cover as "Avielee/Avielle and Willadeen."
"A lady by the name of Marion R. Mangrum who owned a newspaper in Maryville, Tennessee produced it. She had heard us sing at an event and felt we should have a recorded album released to radio."
Songwriting credits below are adapted from online research and ASCAP listings. Some of the credits listed on the LP labels are inaccurate. Additionally, Avie Lee and Willadeene's names are misspelled on the back cover as "Avielee/Avielle and Willadeen."
Track listing
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Personnel
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Cast albums
Album cover. The Dollywood Company (2013)
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Dolly Parton's My People (The Original Cast Album) is a soundtrack album by the cast of Dolly Parton's My People, which ran at Dollywood from 2013 through 2017, and features Dolly on several tracks. It was released on November 9, 2013, by The Dollywood Foundation as the park kicked off their annual Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. The show featured Dolly's brother Randy Parton, sister Cassie Parton, cousin Debbie Jo Puckett, niece Heidi Parton, cousin Dwight Puckett, and niece Jada Star. The album was only sold at Dollywood for a short time and is out of print, making it extremely hard to find.
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Track listing
- My Mountains, My Home Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 4:21
- In the Pines Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Traditional) 2:19
- My Tennessee Mountain Home Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 1:44
- Tip-Toe, Tip-Toe, Little Dolly Parton / Little Tiny Tassletop Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 1:32
- Mama / Being Dad Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 4:38
- The Dinner Bucket Song Original Cast (Dolly Parton) 1:24
- Coat of Many Colors Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 2:20
- Dumb Blonde Original Cast (Curly Putman) 1:48
- Applejack Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 1:26
- Family Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton, Carl Perkins) 3:47
- Travelin' Family Band Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 0:57
- I Will Always Love You Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 2:52
- 9 to 5 Original Cast and Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton) 1:27
- My Mountains, My Home (Reprise) Original Cast (Dolly Parton) 1:31
Other album appearances
TITLE / ARTIST / ALBUM / YEAR
- Just a Friend / Bill Owens with the Vocalaires (Dolly, Cassie, and Stella Parton) / Single A-side / 1961
- Vagabond / Bill Owens with the Vocalaires (Dolly, Cassie, and Stella Parton) / "Just a Friend" B-side / 1961
- Down to Earth / Stella Parton* / Stella Parton / 1978
- It Seems Like a Lifetime / Bill Owens with the Vocalaires (Dolly, Cassie, and Stella Parton) / Uncle Bill Owens – Dolly Parton / c. 1994
- Shine On / Dolly Parton** / Hungry Again / 1998
- Singing His Praise / Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man / Bill Owens, Louis Owens, and Family* / Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables / 2024
- Momma's Special Touch / Cassie Parton Griffith and Dolly Parton / Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables / 2024
- When It's Family / Dolly Parton and Family* / Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables / 2024
* Cassie provided backing vocals on these tracks.
** Cassie provided backing vocals on "Shine On" as a member of The House of Prayer Congregation.