‘Hometown Vocal Competition Celebrates Dolly Parton’s Songwriting’

Sevierville, TN is gearing up for the twentieth annual Mountain Soul Vocal Competition in 2024, which celebrates the legendary songwriting of native Dolly Parton. Contestants are encouraged to showcase their vocal talents by performing one of the over 3,000 songs written by Dolly Parton in their own unique style.

According to organizers, this competition is the only one in the world that pays tribute to Dolly Parton’s songwriting. Amanda Marr, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of storytelling in Smoky Mountain culture and praised Dolly Parton for her impressive and diverse music catalog.

The deadline for entries for the preliminary round is on Friday, April 12, 2024, and auditions must be submitted online at BloominBBQ.com. Thirty finalists will be chosen to perform at the final rounds at the Bloomin’ BBQ Music & Food Festival on May 18, 2024, in downtown Sevierville. Prizes for the top vocalists include autographed guitars, a recording session in Nashville, Dollywood passes, and cash prizes.

Interested participants can apply online, submit a recorded audition, and pay the entry fee. The complete rules can be found at www.BloominBBQ.com, and questions can be directed to the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce. Contestants are allowed to submit up to two songs written by Dolly Parton per entry, and impersonating Dolly is neither necessary nor encouraged during the competition.

The Mountain Soul Vocal Competition is part of Sevierville’s 20th annual Bloomin’ BBQ Music & Food Festival taking place on May 17-18, 2024. For more information on the competition and festival, visit www.BloominBBQ.com.