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"The roads been long, I'm a little bit weary. A lot of miles behind me, but Home's a lot nearer�"
Those words penned by Dottie Rambo 25 years ago are echoing again today as Dottie is joined by country music legend and friend Dolly Parton, on Dottie's latest single release called, "Stand By the River," which also happens to be Dottie's first single to radio in over 15 years. Dottie shares, "God has brought me through so much with all the back surgeries and my family and so on. But He has been so faithful and yes, the road has been long and there are times I am a little bit weary, but I have many years ahead of me. I am doing better than ever and having the time of my life. It is like God told me you are a 16 year old girl again and you are like an eagle, so fly." And fly she has!
Having already made it's mark overseas as a #1 song and then hitting #1 in the Christian Country charts here in America, "Stand By the River", as recorded by Dottie and Dolly, is beginning to make its mark on the Southern Gospel charts as well by debuting on the Singing News Top 80 chart in the month of March. Dottie, for all obvious reasons, has been elated with how the song and the collaboration with Dolly has been accepted. "I think we have been on 16 magazine and newspaper covers together and I don't know how many actual articles and write-ups the song has gotten. We've just now started pushing it to Southern Gospel and we hope it will chart high there as well. Singing News will be charting the song and in fact it debuts on the chart for the month of March. A lot of the large country stations are playing it as well. That is a great way to share the gospel and I'm so proud that!" Dolly Parton even shares in that enthusiasm as she states, "I'm very proud to be a part of any number one song, and especially one with Dottie Rambo. That makes it twice as sweet!"
Dolly shares that the friendship between her and Dottie has lasted for many years, "I've known about Dottie from the time she came on the scene. I'm such a big fan of hers as a singer and songwriter, and was before we met. We actually met in the late 60's when we shared an office next to each other on music row." Dottie picks up the story; "We actually first met when she was working on the Porter Wagoner show. We used to see each other a lot but as she started making movies back in the 80's and I started having all those back surgeries, we just sort of lost track of each other. My manager, Larry, took me to see her Christmas show the year before last and we hit it off and it's been a rekindled friendship ever since then."
Along with the single, Spring Hill Music Group is releasing a brand new CD by Dottie produced by Michael Sykes slated for release sometime as early as June. Included are some Dottie Rambo classics as well as some brand new songs. Dottie shares, "For so many years I couldn't write the music to my lyrics because I couldn't sit up long enough with my guitar. But I am writing and also finishing some things that were started before my surgeries happened and some of those songs are included on this new CD." Also coming up is a new biography video being released through the "More Than The Music: Life Story" video series on the life and music of Dottie Rambo. Dottie says, "This video will tell about before I was even married and goes up to today and what I am doing now. Gary Chapman, who used to be in our band, is on the video, Dolly Parton, Vestal Goodman, Bill Golden and lots of people are on it as well." And to top it all off, the Dottie Rambo Tribute Concert recorded last year in Nashville is slated for release June 10. Dottie is very excited about this release as she shares, "I was so touched at all the work that went in to that show. Barbara Mandrell was the host and we have been friends for many years and she did a great job. So many great country and gospel people were there and it was very much an honor." To make that evening and video even more special, Dottie, her daughter Reba and her granddaughter Destiny united for a special song as a trio, which will no doubt be the highlight of the video.
Dottie's music spans 5 decades and she has seen many changes in the gospel music field since she first started. She shares that though most changes have been for the better, there is still some room for improvement. "I love the fact that more people are listening to the lyrics and not just a hand clappy beat. I think people in the business seem to live better than what some of the groups used to do in the early days. I see things are more ministry oriented, which is what matters. I really hate though, to see some of the things that are being passed off as gospel music and the way some of the singers are dressing. I want to hear a song that speaks to my heart not just a lot of words and chords. I would like to see Southern Gospel along with all gospel fields be treated fairly on the Dove awards and be treated equally."
Having learned more about the Lord by laying on her back the last several years, Dottie's relationship with the Lord has grown immensely. "I feel more close to the Lord than ever because he has brought me through so much and I just can't wait to get out and minister and tell people about Jesus and what He has done for me."
For Dottie, many times the road has been long and weary. Though Dottie has many miles behind her, it does seem that at this time in her life, God is using Dottie in a fresh, new and mighty way. Dottie has literally lived in the valley, but through restoration, revival and faith in her Savior, as she so eloquently says in a song, in the valley, God has restored her soul. So Dottie, just as an eagle takes flight, fly Dottie�fly as high as you can go!
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Written: 02/28/2003 
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