Jesus & Gravity

Album: Backwoods Barbie (2008)
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Songfacts®:

  • In this tune, the country music veteran credits her faith for bringing her success and keeping her grounded throughout her long career. At her record release party in Los Angeles, Parton said of this song: "It's about spirituality and reality. I grew up in a Christian family, so anything about Jesus is good."
  • Parton writes most of her own songs, but this one was written by Nashville hitmaker Craig Wiseman ("Live Like You Were Dying") and Betsy Ulmer, a staff songwriter at his Big Loud Shirt music publishing company. It peaked at #56 on the Country chart.
  • Parton performed this on season 7 of American Idol during Dolly Parton week.
  • The music video, directed by Steven Lippman, begins in black and white and transitions into color as various unhappy folks are transformed by the message of Parton's song. Lippman also directed the carnival-themed clip for the album's first single, "Better Get To Livin'."
  • Backwoods Barbie, Parton's 42nd solo album, was released through her new label, Dolly Records. Her mainstream country album in more than a decade, it peaked at #17 on the albums chart and #2 on the Country chart.

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