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Image credit: Greg Gorman / Columbia
Rachel Ann Parton George (b. August 31, 1959) is an actress, singer, songwriter, and author. Born in Sevierville, Tennessee, Rachel is the youngest of twelve children born to Lee and Avie Lee Parton. When she was little, she liked to mimic her favorite celebrities and wear makeup. After the eighth grade, she left school and traveled the country with her big sister Dolly, doing her makeup and singing backup in her Travelin' Family Band for several years. She made her stage debut as a solo performer at the age of 15. She recalls that "straight off I noticed this new piano man (pianist Richard Dennison) and knew he was the fella for me." Three years later, she married Dennison. They share one daughter together, Hannah, who sometimes works for Dolly behind the scenes. Though Rachel and Richard later divorced, he sings backup for Dolly to this day and has been a part of her organization in multiple capacities for decades.
​Rachel portrayed Doralee Rhodes in the 1982 ABC series, 9 to 5, the same character Dolly portrayed in the 1980 film. She released one solo album, Light Up the Night, in 1984 under her married name at the time. She opened a short-lived boutique in Franklin, Tennessee, in 1991 called 9 to 5. The boutique was open 9 to 5 with prices geared toward 9 to 5 workers. She had a makeup and perfume line also called 9 to 5. Rachel performed at Dollywood in the late 1990s as a member of Honey Creek with her bother Randy, Lakieta Bagwell, and Jimmy Bryant. Notable among her work as a songwriter, Rachel wrote "I Am Ready" which was recorded by sister Dolly for her 1999 album, The Grass Is Blue, and by niece Heidi for her 2017 album, This Kind of Love. Rachel wrote it about their mother, and it was originally recorded by Honey Creek for an unreleased Mike Post-produced album. Post had previously produced Dolly's 1980 album, 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs.
Rachel has worked for Dolly behind the scenes in multiple capacities throughout the years, including personal makeup artist for photoshoots and TV tapings. Rachel serves as an executive director for a variety of Dolly's various endeavors.

Rachel and Dolly collaborated on the 2024 New York Times #1 best-selling cookbook, Good Lookin' Cookin': A Year of Meals.

Studio albums

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Album cover. Columbia (FC 39474) (1984)
Light Up the Night is a studio album by Rachel Parton George, released as Rachel Dennison, her married name at the time. It was released in October 1984 by Columbia Records. The album was produced by David Wolfert. It was released digitally for the first time on February 28, 2025.

Track listing

  1. Light Up the Night (David Wolfert, Susan Sheridan) 2:58
  2. Round & Round (Rachel Dennison) 3:15
  3. Fragile (Randy Parton, Floyd Parton) 2:41
  4. Can't Let It Worry Me (Peter Kingsberry) 3:57
  5. When the Lovin' Goes Out of the Lovin' (Richard Parker, Bobby Whiteside) 3:51
  6. Slow Rock and Roll (Stephen Tubin, Ronald Getman, John Crowder, Jon Silbermann) 3:38
  7. You're Mine Tonight (Rare Van Hoy) 3:10
  8. A Child with You Tonight (Susan Sheridan, David Wolfert) 3:26
  9. When My Sugar Calls Me Honey (Marc Blatte, Larry Gottlieb) 2:44
  10. Baby Love (Edward Holland, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier) 2:49
  11. Do My Heart in Blue (Mark Giger, Woody Mullis) 3:22

Liner notes

Special thanks to my producer David Wollert for making my first album so special. 
Thanks to my sister Dolly for her inspiration.
My thanks and love to Richard for his help, support and love!
Thanks to Diana Thomas, Sandy Gallin, Charles Koppelman.
Thanks to all the great singers and musicians who gave of their time and talent, and to everyone who worked on this album.
And Sadie.

Rachel

Personnel

Performance
  • Anita Ball – background vocals
  • Kathy Burdick – background vocals
  • Richard Carpenter – background vocals
  • Richard Crooks – drums, percussion
  • Willie Collins – background vocals
  • ​Rachel Dennison – lead vocals
  • Richard Dennison – background vocals
  • Sonny Garish – pedal steel
  • Mike Giger  – guitars
  • ​Doyle Grisham – pedal steel​
  • Donna McElroy – background vocals
  • Sid McGinnis – guitars​
  • Terry McMillan – harmonica
  • Woody Mullis  – guitars
  • Gary Pigg – background vocals
  • Thom Rotella – guitars
  • Steve Tubin – keyboards
  • Ed Walsh – synthesizer bass, synthesizers
  • Eric Weissberg – pedal steel
  • David Wolfert – guitars
Production
  • Richard Dennison – background vocal arrangements
  • Dennis Ferrante – mixing (tracks 6-11)
  • Joe Funderburk – assistant engineer
  • Linda Gerrity – production coordinator
  • Charles Koppelman – executive producer​
  • ​Pete Milius – assistant engineer
  • Marie Ostrosky – assistant engineer
  • Lee Peterzell – mixing (tracks 1–5)
  • Jay Rifkin – basic track recoding
  • ​Thom Rotella –rhythm arrangement on "You're Mine Tonight"
  • Steve Tubin – rhythm arrangement on "Slow Rock and Roll"
  • Ed Walsh – rhythm arrangement on "Can't Let It Worry Me"
  • Hank Williams – mastering
  • David Wolfert – producer, arrangements, background vocal arrangements
Other personnel
  • Mary Ann Bozek – wardrobe design
  • Donna Gilbert – hair
  • Greg Gorman – photography
  • Lane/Donald – set direction
  • Donna Gilbert – hair​
  • Mike Goldberg – special thanks
  • ​Phil Medley – copyist
  • Noboru Tarui – design
  • Dennis Tompkins – wardrobe design
  • Donna Gilbert – hair

Other album appearances

​TITLE / ARTIST / ALBUM / YEAR
  • Down to Earth / Stella Parton* / Stella Parton / 1978
  • Honky Tonk Songs / Dolly Parton* / Hungry Again / 1998
  • Shine On / Dolly Parton** / Hungry Again / 1998
  • In the Sweet By and By / Dolly Parton* / Precious Memories / 1999
  • Church in the Wildwood / Dolly Parton* / Precious Memories / 1999
  • Softly and Tenderly / Dolly Parton* / Precious Memories / 1999
  • Farther Along / Dolly Parton* / Precious Memories / 1999
  • What a Friend We Have in Jesus / Dolly Parton* / Precious Memories / 1999
  • In the Garden / Dolly Parton* / Precious Memories / 1999
  • Singing His Praise / Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man / Bill Owens, Louis Owens, and Family* / Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables / 2024
  • Take It Slow / Randy Parton and Rachel Parton George / Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables / 2024
  • I Will Know / Rachel Parton George 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
​
​* Rachel provided backing vocals on these tracks.
** Rachel provided backing vocals on "Shine On" as a member of The House of Prayer Congregation.