Rita Moreno

Bush. The first cloned mammal was a sheep named "Dolly" in honor of Dolly Parton, because it was cloned from a mammary cell. In June 2004, she became the first Hispanic to be awarded the "Presidential Medal of Freedom" by President George W. Library of Congress for her contributions to the cultural heritage of the United States. Rita Moreno became the first Puerto Rican to have been awarded the Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy's. On April 14, 2004, she was awarded the Living Legend medal by U.S. Rita Moreno's real contribution has been her ability to transcend the discriminatory practices of Hollywood and set a precedent for hispanic actors to be recognized by talent rather than ethnicity. She has recorded several times with Melissa Etheridge.

Rita Moreno has participated in more than 50 productions, combining her television, movie and theatrical works. Parton has said that as a little girl she always idolized the outcasts in her town (such as prostitutes, whose long fingernails and big blonde wigs inspired Parton) and that has continued in her adult years. During the late 1990s, she gained exposure to a new generation of viewers as she played a Catholic nun trained as a psychologist in the popular HBO series, Oz. Parton is unique among country music stars in that she is admired and acclaimed by fans from all walks of life, and has strong ties to the gay community. series. Although she has admitted to having some amount of cosmetic surgery (notably a breast lift), rumors that she has also had some breast augmentation surgery remain unsubstantiated. She also made appearances in the Rockford Files T.V. She reportedly turned down several offers to pose for Playboy magazine and similar publications.

Moreno's popularity grew even more in the 1970s when she appeared on the PBS series The Electric Company and the Muppet Show. She often mocked this reputation with quips such as "I would have burned my bra in the 60s but it would have taken the fire department three days to put it out" or "the reason I have a small waist and small feet is that nothing grows well in the shade". Moreno also appeared in "Singing in the Rain" (1952) and Tennessee Williams "Summer and Smoke". Parton's physical trademark is her large bust. Rita Moreno married Doctor Lenny Gordon on June 18, 1965, who still remains her husband and manager, and later had a daughter, Fernanda Gordon. After being dropped by country radio stations' playlists in the mid-1990s she re-discovered her roots by recording a series of critically acclaimed bluegrass albums including Grammy Award-winning Little Sparrow (2001) which was the theme tune of the very popular movie of the same name. Moreno was the second person in history to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award, the first and only Hispanic entertainer to have done so. In 1981, Parton also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for the title track to the film Nine to Five.

Moreno gained fame and an "Oscar" as the best supporting actress that year. As Parton owned the song, she raked in huge profits from Houston's cover. Finally, in 1961 she landed the role of "Anita" in Robert Wises film "West Side Story", an epic film about the lives of the Puerto Ricans in New York during the 1950's. Houston's version became the best-selling hit written and performed by a female vocalist, with worldwide sales of 12 million. For the next ten years Rita played roles in movies which she felt degrading. In 1992, "I Will Always Love You" was performed by Whitney Houston on The Bodyguard soundtrack. She had her first Broadway role by the time she was thirteen, which caught the attention of Hollywood talent scouts. In 1982, Parton recorded a second version of that song for the film The Best Little Whorehouse of Texas; the second version proved to be another #1 C&W hit and also managed to reach the pop charts going to US #53.

When she was eleven years old Rita lent her voice to Spanish-language versions of American films. Parton refused and that decision is credited with helping make her many millions of dollars in royalties over the years. At the age of five Rita and her mother moved to New York. Dolly was interested until Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, told her she would have to sign over some of the profits if Elvis recorded the song. Rosita Dolores Alverio (b.December 11, 1931), born in Humacao, Puerto Rico is better known as Rita Moreno, an actress who has achieved fame both in Hollywood and Broadway. Around the same time, Elvis Presley wanted to cover the song. In 1974, her version of "I Will Always Love You" was released going up to #1 on the C&W charts, though it never charted anywhere else.

Her Coat of Many Colors has become a classic in the field, as have a number of others. Parton is a hugely successful songwriter, having begun by writing country songs with strong elements of folk music in them based upon her upbringing in humble mountain surroundings. Parton thus put something back into the community where she was born and raised. This region of the U.S., like most areas of Appalachia, traditionally has been characterized by economic poverty.

She invested much of her earnings into business ventures in her native East Tennessee, notably Pigeon Forge which includes a theme park named Dollywood, resulting in a thriving tourism industry drawing visitors from large parts of the southeastern and midwestern US, notably, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. Parton is also a shrewd businesswoman. Her last starring role was in 1992's Straight Talk, with James Woods. Parton was very selective about her future film material, but did have successes in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and in a supporting role in Steel Magnolias.

Parton agreed to be in the film, and went on to steal the notices and score a major hit with the title song. She felt Parton was perfect for the role. Fonda was looking for a brassy Southern woman for a supporting role in her new film, 9 to 5. In 1980 Parton was sitting next to actress Jane Fonda on a plane.

Her work of the late 1990s and beyond has moved towards bluegrass and more traditional folk styles. Despite originally being typecast in many circles as a "Country and Western" singer, Parton later had even greater commercial success as a pop singer and actress. She took to the Nashville Sound many traditional, folkloric elements from East Tennessee and popular music. She moved to Nashville in 1964, and in 1967 was invited to join the weekly syndicated country music television program hosted by Porter Wagoner, with whom she became half of a highly successful duet team.

Born in Sevierville, Tennessee, the fourth of 12 children, she started her entertainment career singing on local radio and television in eastern Tennessee. Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American country music singer, songwriter and actress. Nine to Five (1980). The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982).

Rhinestone (1984). Steel Magnolias (1989). Straight Talk (1992). 1983 "Islands in the Stream" (with Kenny Rogers) #1 US, #7 UK.

1981 "9 to 5" #1 US. 1980 "Starting Over Again" #36 US. 1979 "Baby I'm Burnin'" #25 US. 1978 "Two Doors Down" #19 US.

1978 "I Will Always Love You" (rerecorded version for the film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) #53 US. 1978 "Here You Come Again" #3 US. 1978 "Heartbreaker" #38 US. 1976 "Jolene" #7 UK.

2003 "Ultimate" #17 UK. 2002 "Halos & Horns" #37 UK. 2001 "Gold - The Hits Collection" #23 UK. 2001 "Little Sparrow" #30 UK.

1997 "A Life in Music - Ultimate Collection" #38 UK. 1993 "Slow Dancing with the Moon" #16 US. 1993 "Honky Tonk Angels" #42 US. 1991 "Eagle When She Flies" #24 US.

1981 "9 to 5 and Odd Jobs" #11 US. 1979 "Great Balls of Fire" #40 US. 1978 "Dolly Parton/Both Sides" #24 UK. 1978 "Here You Come Again" #20 US.

1978 "Heartbreaker" #27 US.