The special was conceived as part of a promotional stunt to boost sales of Parton's newest album, "Heartbreaker." It was first broadcast on Valentine's Day and included a medley of 27 "Heart"-themed songs. Meanwhile, RCA records supplied over 3,000 American radio stations with copies of the album and heart-shaped boxes of candies for Valentine's Day giveaways.
Carol Burnett's real-life daughter, Erin Hamilton, portrays her child in the "Girl Friends" sketch, which was shot a day before the live audience was brought in.
Rehearsal and shooting occurred at the Ryman Auditorium and Opry Theatre between January 5-10, 1979. The Grand Ole Opry's regularly scheduled show was on January 6, so they took that day off. One of the performers that evening was Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton's former singing partner, with whom she was embroiled in a bitter legal battle.
CBS rebroadcast the special on September 17, 1980.
From 1974-1998, the original Ryman Auditorium was closed for public performances, which is why Parton sings her gospel medley in an empty theater.