CM Relics

08/26/2026

Dolly Parton famously turned down Elvis Presley’s request to record "I Will Always Love You" because his manager demanded half of the song's publishing rights.

It was 1974, and Dolly Parton was absolutely beside herself with excitement. Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, wanted to record her song, "I Will Always Love You."

Overjoyed, Dolly couldn’t help but tell all her friends and family, staying up late into the night imagining what the legendary singer would sound like on her track.

But the very night before the big recording session, her phone rang. On the line was Elvis’s notoriously strict manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

He laid down a cold, non-negotiable rule: Elvis would not record the song unless Dolly handed over half of her publishing rights.

Heartbroken, Dolly hung up the phone and cried all night. It was one of the hardest decisions of her life, but she stood her ground and told them no, refusing to give away the rights to her own work.

Her fierce independence paid off nearly twenty years later. In 1992, Whitney Houston recorded a stunning pop-ballad version of the song for the movie The Bodyguard.

Unlike Elvis's team, Whitney's camp didn't try to take any of Dolly's ownership.

The song became a massive global smash, and because Dolly had protected her rights years earlier, she earned a staggering $10 million in royalties in the 1990s alone.

Wanting to honor the woman who helped make her a fortune, Dolly took those exact royalties and bought a large commercial building and strip mall in a historically Black neighborhood in Nashville, Tennessee.

Dolly affectionately called the property "the house that Whitney built," beautifully bringing the whole legendary journey full circle.

08/26/2026

Dolly will be missed.

08/26/2026

In the late 1980s, Dolly Parton's home county of Sevier, Tennessee, faced a serious problem. More than 30 percent of students, some sources cite as high as 35 percent, were dropping out of high school before graduating, a crisis that threatened the county's future alongside the students' own.

Parton had launched the Dollywood Foundation in 1988 to help her home community, and the foundation began researching the dropout issue directly. What they found was that seventh and eighth grade were the critical years when kids typically made the decision to eventually leave school for good.

In 1991, Parton brought every seventh and eighth grader in the county to the newly built Dolly Parton Celebrity Theatre at Dollywood for a special assembly. She told the students to pick a "Buddy," and if they didn't have one, she promised to find them one herself. Then came her offer. She would personally give $500 to every student who graduated high school.

There was a catch built into the deal. Students only received the money if their assigned Buddy also graduated. Each pair signed a written pledge committing to hold one another accountable, turning graduation into a shared goal instead of an individual one.

The results were dramatic. The dropout rate for those classes fell from roughly 35 percent down to just 6 percent. In spring 1992, the first group of graduating Buddies received their $500 checks in person, with then-U.S. Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander on hand for the occasion.

The impact reached beyond the numbers themselves. The program's success pushed the wider Sevier County community to develop additional resources aimed at keeping kids in school, creating momentum that outlasted the original Buddy Program.

Parton went on to expand her educational philanthropy across the county, including a $15,000 scholarship awarded annually to five graduating seniors, and eventually launched Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a free book gifting program for young children that has since spread to more than 1,600 communities across five countries.

08/26/2026

12/11/2021

We are pleased to let you all know that Rabbittown will go on with a new owner! Danville is not losing this great Antique mall.

Unfortunately, Chris and I have had to make the decision, due in part to the logistics of our being now three hours away, to leave the Rabbittown family of vendors. We will greatly miss all of you and our Rabbittown friends.

As a Thank You to all of our patrons for your years of support, we will be still offering everything in our booth, #5, at 50% off until the end of the year.

Thanks again for all of the great memories and support from all of you! Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! Chris and Mike

12/03/2021

It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing that Rabbittown Antiques and Artisans will be closing for good at the end of day this coming Christmas Eve, 12/24/21. As vendor number 5 we have been at Rabbittown since the start just over 10 years now. In that time, we have seen many changes, met new friends, and have been blessed to have served you our loyal patrons. We will miss all of you deeply.

With that being said, we are also announcing that EVERYTHING in our booth #5 is now on sale for 50% off until store closing. Our loss is your gain, but more importantly it is our way of saying thanks to all of you for your support throughout the years!

We wish for you a very Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year! May God bless you and yours.

Thanks again… Chris and Mike CM Relics

11/04/2021

Just stopped in at Rabbittown to place some more great items. As you can see the toy soldiers are there to greet you.

From holiday decorations to Christmas gifts, there's something for everyone. Blowmolds, ceramic ware, and unique, one-of-a-kind goodies are waiting for you to enjoy in booth #5 under the tin roof.

The store is looking quite spiffy so come on in to Rabbittown today!

Happy Holidays...

10/02/2021

Here's a few more pics of the goodies in the window...

10/01/2021

Happy Autumn everyone! Just brought in some great stuff to Rabbittown Antiques and Artisans for your Fall and Halloween decorating. Lots of blow mold and ceramic pumpkins as well as a outdoor lamppost pumpkin.
There's some great crates, bushel baskets, a live edge table, and wooden pieces as well.
We have a rare genuine Texas bicycle steer head and some wall decorations made from old barnwood and auto hood ornaments.
You can also find some vintage popcorn plastic Halloween decorations and even a scull walking stick.
Over 100 new items in our booth ( #5) and in the window...
So come on in to Rabbittown and check out all the cool (and ghoulish) goodies.

08/06/2021

Hello, I'm Johnny Cash and I have 13 new albums at Rabbittown in booth #5. My buddy Elvis just placed 3 more himself.
There are all sorts of new goodies including an old drive-in theater speaker and fall decorations.
Come on in to Rabbittown where the AC will keep you cool while you shop for those hot deals!