Produced By Ole Miss Alum Sam Haskell "Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors" Earns Emmy Nomination

Haskell and Dolly Parton with cast members Lind (Front), Schroder (Left) and Nettles (Right)

In November 2016, “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors,” produced by Ole Miss alum Sam Haskell, was seen by almost 12 million people has now been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie.

Haskell and Parton have been friends for over 30 years since they met at the William Morris Agency, where Haskell worked his way from the mailroom to become the Worldwide Head Of Television. When he heard the news of the nomination, Haskell shared it with Parton, and the two are incredibly thankful.  
“Dolly and I are thrilled to be nominated for Best TV Movie Of The Year.  This is my first Emmy Nomination, and words can’t describe how I’m feeling right now!  When I called Dolly after the nominations were announced yesterday morning, we both screamed and cried a little,” Haskell said. “The story of our NBC/Warner Brothers Movie is taken from a special time in Dolly’s life during Christmas of 1955.  To have stories from her life honored in this way has touched us deeply!  The movie is about hope, faith, forgiveness, and love….exactly what we need right now in this country!”  
Haskell recalls a memory from his childhood that has a chance to come full circle if the film wins the award. 
“When I was a little boy, I was invited to Pickwick with my best friend Randy Hollis and his parents! His mother, Weesie was driving a station wagon full of ten-year-old little boys.  I was in the front seat talking to Miss Weesie about Hollywood, and I had a TV Guide listing the Emmy Nominees that had just been announced,” Haskell said. “I announced to the entire car that when I grew up, I wanted to win an Emmy.  All my friends laughed, but Miss Weesie quietly said, ‘Honey, I believe in you, and I believe you will win an Emmy!’
The 69th annual Emmy Awards will take place on Sunday, September 17, at 7 p.m. central time on ABC. 

Steven Gagliano is the managing editor of HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at steven.gagliano@hottytoddy.com.