What Would Dolly Do?
Why Nashville is "Doing it for Dolly" (And How You Can Too)
Zelda snapped this selfie outside the 5 Spot, in front of the Dolly mural.
Dolly Parton famously said, "Find out who you are and do it on purpose." For decades, she did exactly that, showing the world that you don't need a textbook "perfect" voice to move a crowd. Dolly openly admitted she didn't view herself as the world's technically greatest singer. And yet it was her raw authenticity, brilliant storytelling, and unmatched performance style that made her the most beloved icon in music history. And in her recent passing millions of people all around the world mourned for Dolly, many admitting they weren’t even big country music fans. That’s the Dolly effect.
The Secret to Singing Fast Lyrics
How to Sing Her Fastest Hits Without Running out of Breath
Whenever a song has a massive wall of words, singers of all levels tend to get tongue-tied, or fall behind the beat, or run out of breath. To nail a fast-paced Dolly anthem, you need to focus on crisp articulation and breath control.
Activate Your Articulators: Your tongue, lips, and teeth act as the "valves" for your sound. If your jaw is tight, your words will turn into mush.
The Coach Zelda Tip: Before you sing, over-enunciate the lyrics using just your consonants. Crisping up the "T," "K," and "P" sounds keeps your rhythm locked in place and prevents the words from running together.
Running on Empty? Master the "Catch Breath"
If you've ever tried belt out a fast Dolly track, you know the verses leave almost zero space to stop and rest. If you try to take a slow, deep belly breath between lines, you will completely miss the next lyric.
This is where you need to use the "Catch Breath" (AKA Tuck Breath or Snatch Breath) technique taught in Zelda's private vocal lessons:
Keep it Silent and Fast: Instead of a dramatic gasping sound, think of a sudden "gasp of surprise" or a quick, silent inhalation through a slightly open mouth.
Release the Abs Instantly: The secret to a fast catch breath is exhaling first then immediately opening your mouth dropping your jaw and dropping your lower abdominal muscles on the rest. This creates a vacuum effect, dropping air instantly into the lower lungs without moving your shoulders or tightening your throat.
Stay Ahead of the Beat: Practice snatching that micro-breath on the exact fraction of a second before the next phrase starts.
Dolly Day is Friday 9/25
Everyone around the country is into Dolly Day.
Now, Nashville is honoring that legacy in a massive way. The city has officially declared September 25 as Dolly Day, turning it into a city-wide "9 to 5" celebration where Nashville’s Mayor will announce the very first ‘Dolly Day’ and everyone across town will be blasting and singing her iconic anthem. And there are fireworks planned that same evening at 9.25pm lighting up the Nashville sky.
Our Dolly Tribute:
Exactly one month after that city-wide celebration—marking 60 days since her passing—the ultimate community tribute is coming to East Nashville. On Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Dive Bar Choir is taking over The 5 Spot to transform a room of strangers into a massive, 3-part harmony chorus singing a legendary Dolly hit.
Dive Bar Choir invites you to come and join this awesome tribute and sing it for Dolly!
Tix Link here: https://the5spotnashville.com/shows/27757/
The Dolly song that Dive Bar Choir will be singing is still under wraps. However, regardless of whether you are a seasoned vocalist or only sing in the shower, tackling a Dolly classic like “Jolene’ or "9 to 5" comes with major vocal hurdles. Both these songs are packed with rapid-fire lyrics and unrelenting rhythm. To help you "Do it Like Dolly" and get ready for the big night, practice the professional vocal coach lyrics and breathing breakdown from Zelda at the beginning of this article. We’ll see and HEAR you there!
