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Curving out a career

David Sue
25/ 6/2008

When quizzed about her bold, brassy image, Dolly Parton is renowned for delivering one swift response to journalists.

Parton will tell them: "For me to look this cheap, it takes a hell of a lot of money."

It’s a typically savvy statement from this most robust of pop personalities. Parton, now aged 61, will happily confess to spending a good 40 years building up the cartoon persona we all know her as – the brassy, blonde, big-busted yokel from the poor slums of Tennessee who found fame and success thanks to her wondrous singing talents.

But Parton has spent equally as long cultivating a reputation as one of the shrewdest operators in the music business.

Think Dolly Parton and you’re just as likely to think of her lucrative amusement park, Dollywood. She owns a film company and a clothing line, while Dollywood has taken her fortune up to £110 million.

She’s probably the only female country and western star to have ever made it into the Wall Street Journal’s Ones to Watch powerlist.

She might be a contradiction, but she remains truly magnetic – someone whose mix of vulnerability and high camp have kept her in the limelight for four prosperous decades.

Her brilliantly consistent songwriting has earned her favour with true country and western disciples, while Parton’s cartoonish persona of camp and tackiness has made her an enduring icon for pop fans, gay men, hen nights and, well, most bra manufacturers.

More recently, Parton has even been picking up superlatives from the cool alternative world – Björk has confessed to being a huge fan, whilst The White Stripes recorded a cover version of her classic haunting ballad Jolene.

Not that Parton needs any assistance with refining her image. As the title of her latest album testifies – it’s jokingly called Backwoods Barbie – this is one woman who knows the value of a good punchline, especially if it’s on her.

With this current sell-out world tour and a Dolly Parton musical (based on her film Nine to Five) due to open next year on Broadway, this is one supposed cartoon blonde who seems to get even more animated with each year.

-Dolly Parton will perform at MEN Arena on Saturday, June 28. To check ticket availability and prices visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk or ring 0844 847 8000.