Country music legend Dolly Parton has hit Australian soil (as has her now famous bus)... bringing traffic and turning heads in Perth, Sydney, and everywhere else she goes.
The Better Day world tour has hit Australia and today Dolly put on a wonderful press conference in Sydney at the beautiful InterContinental Hotel.
Dolly was so warm and accommodating to media, and worked the room and camera's like a genius. The press kit was more like a showbag, with her new CD, poster, autographed photo, t-shirt and more.
The 65-year-old country singer was last in Australia nearly thirty years ago, with her tour expected to inject tens of millions of dollars via sales, tourism and use of local suppliers into the economy.
The ultra talented singer of hits such as 9 to 5 and Jolene will perform 12 Australian concerts during the last leg of her Better Day World Tour. So far Sydney looks to have the most passionate fans with two concerts booked. Such is her popularity in Sydney Dolly will perform at All Phones Arena (formally Acer Arena) on both the 15th and 29th November. We were tipped off the second Sydney show was organised less than 48 hours ago.
Described as "the original genuine fake", Parton is expected to attract a Queen's welcome from her huge Aussie fan base during her three-week visit.
Decades after finding fame, Parton, 65, still attracts young fans and she has more than a million followers on Twitter.
In her first Australian show in 25 years, the young at heart buxom blonde demonstrated that she still knows how to work a crowd - fans and media.
Sydney is in for a treat with her Better Day World Tour. Did you know Dolly had 25 hits that reached number one? Not many artists can say that. Jolene has to be heard and seen to be believed.
Dolly has a fabulous sense of humour... "You ever picked one of these banjos up that has the back on it? They’re heavy. That's how I built up my chest. Well, that's one of the ways. It was the cheapest way".
Parton said rap was a genre she discovered while working with Queen Latifah on the set of her soon to be released film Joyful Noise.
Sydney audiences can look forward to some of the kind of banter she told her Perth fans.
“She may be the Queen but I’m the white trash princess. I know your boys are mean but don’t mess with the redneck mafia," she rhymed, much to the dismay of those in the audience who were in possession of seniors cards.
Dolly is also a noted philanthropist and actress, however it's was her energetic and warm performance and on stage persona which has resonated with fans throughout her 50-year career that made it easy for fans of all ages to see why Ms Parton draws a crowd.
The girl still has it. You can't miss her, and if you do, just look for her famous bust. Seriously, she's the total package and if you can take time out to see her, do so, on what is likely her last ever tour of Australia.
Websites
Dolly Parton
All Phones Arena
Chugg Entertainment
Pollack Consulting
InterContinental Hotel Sydney
Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr
Eva Rinaldi Photography