Dolly Parton Wows European Fans

Dolly Parton photo courtesy of Sugar Hill Records

March 20, 2007 — Dolly Parton, who is in the middle of her first European tour since the 1970s, is winning over audiences from Norway to Scotland. Tonight's concert in Manchester, England, sold out in less than a day.

I have loved performing since I was big enough to wrestle my little brothers and sisters into sitting long enough for me to sing my latest musical masterpiece," Dolly told the Manchester Evening News. "I just hope ya'll will come out and see this little girl from the hills of Tennessee walk out there on that big ole stage and make her dreams come true."

Dolly, who is as celebrated for her witticisms as her music, shared a few with her overseas fans, including her wig confessional: "wherever I hang my hair, that's my home." She also related the tale that her famous busty blonde image is based on a local prostitute and told the story of the day she lost a Dolly Parton look-alike competition that she had sneaked into unbeknownst to the judges.

In other Dolly news, the first 56 rides on Dollywood's new $17.5 million Mystery Mine roller coaster will be up for grabs in an eBay auction starting Tuesday. The winners get to catch a ride on the Mystery Mine on Friday, April 13, during the grand opening festivities to be attended by Dolly. But don't expect her to be riding along. "I don't ride roller coasters," she said. "I'm chicken. And the more I don't want to ride it, the more popular it'll be."

Proceeds from the auctions will go to Dolly's Imagination Library, which provides a free book a month to preschool children.