Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story
Encyclopedia
Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story is a 1995 television biopic
about the life of country music
singer Dottie West
portrayed by Michele Lee
. Bill D'Elia
directed the film which was shot in Nashville TN
between 11 July and 4 August 1994.
The original air date was 22 January 1995 on the CBS
network.
(Lee). It starts off with West as a young child living with her abusive
father, then leading to her first big break on the Landmark Jamboree television show in Ohio
in the early 50s. The movie then moves to the 60s where West skyrockets to fame as a country music singer with the Top 10 hit "Here Comes My Baby Back Again
", which then leads to West winning a Grammy Award
in 1965, becoming the first female country singer to win a Grammy. The movie continues providing the highs and lows of West's career, including her new image in the late-70s, where West has her biggest success duetting with Kenny Rogers
(who plays himself in the movie). The movie also chronicles some of West's personal problems, including her three marriages and her financial problems, culminating in her death in a car accident.
Lee later described this role as the role she was born to play, and cited the role as one of her favorites. Most of the outfits Lee wore in the movie were West's original clothing, including six wigs, three kinds of artificial nails
, and West's infamous Spandex
pants, a total of 56 costumes in all. In addition to Rogers, country singers Larry Gatlin
and Loretta Lynn
(close friends of West's) portrayed themselve, and Dolly Parton
and Willie Nelson
also provide narration. West's family, including her children (William, Shelly
, Mo, Dale) helped with the making of the movie.
The role of Patsy Cline
was to be played by Kate Jackson
. When Jackson's health problems necessitated she withdraw from the film just before shooting started in Nashville local stage actress Tere Myers who was appearing at the Ryman Auditorium
in a production of Always…Patsy Cline was recruited to take over the role. (During her long association with Always…Patsy Cline, Myers has always played Cline's friend Louise Seeger rather than the singer herself.)
The soundtrack was released on CD and cassette.
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
about the life of country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Dottie West
Dottie West
Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
portrayed by Michele Lee
Michele Lee
Michele Lee is an American singer, dancer, actress, producer, director and frequent game show panelist of the 1970s. She is best-known for her role as Karen Cooper Fairgate MacKenzie on the 1980s prime-time soap opera, Knots Landing...
. Bill D'Elia
Bill D'Elia
Bill D'Elia is an American television screenwriter, producer, and director. He was an executive producer of Boston Legal and Ally McBeal, and is the co-creator and a principal screenwriter for Judging Amy....
directed the film which was shot in Nashville TN
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
between 11 July and 4 August 1994.
The original air date was 22 January 1995 on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
network.
Background
The movie chronicles the life and rise to fame of country music singer Dottie WestDottie West
Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
(Lee). It starts off with West as a young child living with her abusive
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
father, then leading to her first big break on the Landmark Jamboree television show in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in the early 50s. The movie then moves to the 60s where West skyrockets to fame as a country music singer with the Top 10 hit "Here Comes My Baby Back Again
Here Comes My Baby (Dottie West song)
"Here Comes My Baby" is a popular Grammy-winning country song written and made popular by Dottie West in 1964.-History:"Here Comes My Baby" was the first song to be written and made famous by Dottie West. In 1964, Dottie West was trying to make it big in Nashville. She released a single the...
", which then leads to West winning a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 1965, becoming the first female country singer to win a Grammy. The movie continues providing the highs and lows of West's career, including her new image in the late-70s, where West has her biggest success duetting with Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
(who plays himself in the movie). The movie also chronicles some of West's personal problems, including her three marriages and her financial problems, culminating in her death in a car accident.
Lee later described this role as the role she was born to play, and cited the role as one of her favorites. Most of the outfits Lee wore in the movie were West's original clothing, including six wigs, three kinds of artificial nails
Artificial nails
Artificial nails, also known as fake nails, false nails, fashion nails, nail enhancements, or nail extensions, are coverings placed over fingernails as fashion accessories. Some artificial nails attempt to mimic the appearance of real fingernails as closely as possible, while other designs may...
, and West's infamous Spandex
Spandex
Spandex or elastane is a synthetic fibre known for its exceptional elasticity. It is strong, but less durable than natural Latex, its major non-synthetic competitor. It is a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer that was co-invented in 1959 by chemists C. L. Sandquist and Joseph Shivers at DuPont's...
pants, a total of 56 costumes in all. In addition to Rogers, country singers Larry Gatlin
Larry Gatlin
Larry Wayne Gatlin is an American country music singer/songwriter. He is perhaps best known for teaming up with his brothers Steve and Rudy in the late 1970s, becoming one of country music's most successful acts of the 1970s and 1980s. Gatlin has had a total of 33 Top 40 singles...
and Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Lynn. Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he...
(close friends of West's) portrayed themselve, and Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
and Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
also provide narration. West's family, including her children (William, Shelly
Shelly West
Shelly West is an American country music singer. Her mother was the country music star Dottie West, whose career spanned three decades. Shelly West is best known for having hit duets with David Frizzell, and for their #1 hit "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma"...
, Mo, Dale) helped with the making of the movie.
The role of Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
was to be played by Kate Jackson
Kate Jackson
Kate Jackson is an American actress, director, and producer, perhaps best known for her role as Sabrina Duncan in the popular 1970s television series Charlie's Angels...
. When Jackson's health problems necessitated she withdraw from the film just before shooting started in Nashville local stage actress Tere Myers who was appearing at the Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue, located at 115 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee and is best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry....
in a production of Always…Patsy Cline was recruited to take over the role. (During her long association with Always…Patsy Cline, Myers has always played Cline's friend Louise Seeger rather than the singer herself.)
Main cast
| Actor | Role |
| Michele Lee Michele Lee Michele Lee is an American singer, dancer, actress, producer, director and frequent game show panelist of the 1970s. She is best-known for her role as Karen Cooper Fairgate MacKenzie on the 1980s prime-time soap opera, Knots Landing... |
Dottie West Dottie West Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists... |
| William Russ William Russ William Russ is an American actor, best known for his role as Alan Matthews on Boy Meets World.-Early life:Russ was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and is the son of a naval officer... |
Bill West |
| Lisa Akey | Shelly West Shelly West Shelly West is an American country music singer. Her mother was the country music star Dottie West, whose career spanned three decades. Shelly West is best known for having hit duets with David Frizzell, and for their #1 hit "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma"... |
| David James Elliott David James Elliott David James Elliott is a Canadian-born actor who was the star of the series JAG, playing lead character Harmon Rabb Jr. from 1995 to 2005. In the Fall of 2010, Elliott was cast on CSI: NY.-Biography:... |
Byron Metcalf |
| Norm Woodel | Jim Reeves Jim Reeves James Travis Reeves , better known as Jim Reeves, was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well-known for being a practitioner of the Nashville sound... |
| Tere Myers | Patsy Cline Patsy Cline Patsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s... |
| Cathy Worthington | Jeannie Seely Jeannie Seely Jeannie Seely is an American country music singer and Grand Ole Opry star. She is best-known for her 1966 Grammy award-winning Country hit, "Don't Touch Me", which peaked at No... |
| Ben Browder Ben Browder Robert Benedic "Ben" Browder is an American actor and writer, best known for his roles as John Crichton in Farscape and Cameron Mitchell in Stargate SG-1.-Early life:... |
Al Winters |
| Tony Higgins Tony Higgins Anthony Higgins is a Scottish former professional association football player.-Club career:During his career Higgins played for Hibernian, Partick Thistle, Greenock Morton and Stranraer... |
Kris Kristofferson Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"... (younger) |
| Kris Kristofferson Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"... |
Himself |
| Kenny Rogers Kenny Rogers Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur... |
Himself |
| Stuart Greer Stuart Greer Stuart Greer is an American character actor. He began acting in college productions while a student at the University of Arkansas/Little Rock before being accepted into the Professional Workshop at Circle in the Square in New York where he studied from 1987 to 1989... |
Owen |
| Chris McCarty | Willie Nelson Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized... (younger) |
| Dolly Parton Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk... |
Herself |
| Willie Nelson Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized... |
Himself |
| Larry Gatlin Larry Gatlin Larry Wayne Gatlin is an American country music singer/songwriter. He is perhaps best known for teaming up with his brothers Steve and Rudy in the late 1970s, becoming one of country music's most successful acts of the 1970s and 1980s. Gatlin has had a total of 33 Top 40 singles... |
Himself |
| Chet Atkins Chet Atkins Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle... |
Himself |
| Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 13 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Lynn. Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he... |
Herself |
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for the movie was not West's original recordings. Michele Lee sang all of West's material for the movie. The soundtrack is listed as follows:- "Country Sunshine" (Michele Lee)
- "Act Naturally" (Michele Lee)
- "Welcome to My World" (Michele Lee)
- "Here Comes My Baby Back AgainHere Comes My Baby (Dottie West song)"Here Comes My Baby" is a popular Grammy-winning country song written and made popular by Dottie West in 1964.-History:"Here Comes My Baby" was the first song to be written and made famous by Dottie West. In 1964, Dottie West was trying to make it big in Nashville. She released a single the...
" (Michele Lee) - "Country Girl" (Michele Lee)
- "Life of the Party" (Larry Gatlin)
- "Every Time Two Fools CollideEvery Time Two Fools Collide (song)"Every Time Two Fools Collide" is a country music song written by Jan Dyer and Jeff Tweel, and recorded by Kenny Rogers and Dottie West. Released in 1978, the song reached No...
" (Michele Lee and Kenny Rogers) - "Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight" (Michele Lee and Kenny Rogers)
- "Paper MansionsPaper Mansions"Paper Mansions" is the name of a 1967 single and hit by Dottie West. The single was first a 45 RPM."Paper Mansions" was released by Dottie West in 1967 for her new With All My Heart and Soul album , which only featured this single. This song was West's last Top 10 hit of the decade as a solo act...
" (Michele Lee) - "Last Time I Saw HimLast Time I Saw Him (song)"Last Time I Saw Him" is the title of a 1973 single release by Diana Ross, being a composition by Michael Masser and lyricist Pam Sawyer: the track was produced by Masser and released in December 1973 at the same time as Ross' Last Time I Saw Him album....
" (Michele Lee) - "A Lesson in LeavingA Lesson in Leaving"A Lesson in Leavin'", also titled as "Lesson in Leavin'", is a country music song written by Randy Goodrum and Brent Maher. It was originally recorded in 1980 by American country music singer, Dottie West, who brought the song to #1 on the Billboard Country Chart...
" (Michele Lee) - "Blue as I Want To" (Michele Lee)
The soundtrack was released on CD and cassette.
Award nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy Award Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming... |
Nominated | OOutstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Special | Richard Rawlings |
| Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Special | James Encao |