Filed under: Dolly Parton

WATCH LARRY KING'S FULL INTERVIEW WITH DOLLY PARTON TONIGHT!

Filed under: Dolly Parton

NOTE: Watch Dolly Parton tonight on "Larry King Live," at 9pm ET / 6pm PT!

Singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist and Tennessee native Dolly Parton has been named the official Ambassador of the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.

"The Smokies are a part of my DNA," Parton said in accepting the appointment.  "I've always been an ambassador, but I'm particularly honored to become 'official' for this special 75th anniversary."

In this LKL Blog Exclusive, Dolly Parton tells us about her Smokey Mountain memories and her new role.

"My love for the Great Smoky Mountains is easy to explain. I have spent most of my life inspired by them, talking about them and writing songs about them. As long as I can remember, looking up from our little house in Locust Ridge, the mountains towered over my life.

As a child I thought they represented protection to me. As I got older, they became my connection to the wonder of God. Through my life they have represented precious memories of home.

Regardless of where I roamed around the globe, the Great Smoky Mountains travelled with me and kept me grounded. When the Park called and asked me to be their Ambassador for the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I thought it was a natural. I've been the unofficial ambassador for years, singing the praises of God's spectacular beauty all around the world. But I wanted to do more. I wanted to do something special to protect the mountains for generations to come.

I sat back and looked at my mountains from my special retreat not far from the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and put pen to paper. I started writing the music for a new show at Dollywood called "Sha-Kon-O-Hey! Land of Blue Smoke." It was being created to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the park. With me writing the music, hopefully folks everywhere will know what a wonderful treasure the Great Smoky Mountains are.

To create something even bigger I decided to donate the music to the Friends of the Smokies organization for 2009 to generate some income for their Trails Forever program. The mission of the Friends is to protect and preserve the park for the more than 10 million people who visit the park each year. If we could create an endowment to ensure the Friend's work continue, it seemed like the perfect gift back to the park and the mountains that have shaped my life."

– Dolly Parton

If you would like more information or would like to buy a copy of "Sha-Kon-O-Hey!" you can do so at http://www.friendsofthesmokies.org.

Filed under: Dolly Parton • Larry King Live

Jessica Simpson and Dolly Parton have found more to bond over than their blonde locks and country crooning. The famously busty pair found common ground this week over the difficulties of having an ample bosom.

"Aahhh chiropractor... Hurts so good 🙂 you lug these around and see if your back don't hurt!" Parton, 63, posted to her Twitter account Monday morning. Simpson, 29, a longtime fan of Parton's, responded to the tweet with an "Amen sister :)."

Both Simpson's and Parton's double-D breasts have been topics of discussion over the course of their careers. Jessica Simpson's father, Joe, famously praised his daughter's chest in a 2004 interview with GQ magazine.

"Jessica never tries to be sexy. She just is sexy. If you put her in a T-shirt or you put her in a bustier, she's sexy in both. She's got double D's! You can't cover those suckers up!" Joe Simpson said. When Simpson made her country debut at the Grand Ole Opry last year, she offended some of her new fan base by showing off too much cleavage. One fan went so far as to complain to People magazine, "I think she should have put some clothes on."

After spending decades more than Simpson in the spotlight, Parton has always joked that she believes her breasts became more famous than she is.

"My breasts have served me well. I don't know if I'm supporting them or they're supporting me. But of course I've had them jacked up a bit. And they're part of the persona. It always takes a bit of pressure off me," Parton said last year.

(Read more)

Filed under: Dolly Parton • Entertainment • Hollywood

Dolly Parton joins Larry and speaks out on Jessica Simpson's weight controversy, her thoughts on President Obama's economic plan and on her new title:  Ambassador!   Dolly never disappoints!

Here's a video preview:  Dolly reacts to critics of Jessica Simpson on LKL!

Plus, "Entertainer of the Year" Danny Gans! He's the "man of many voices," and brings his Las Vegas show to Larry & you!

Check out Dolly Parton's Exclusive LKL Blog Commentary on her new role as Ambassador and her Smokey Mountain memories HERE!

Filed under: Dolly Parton • Larry King Live

Dolly Parton joins Larry and speaks out on Jessica Simpson's weight controversy, her thoughts on President Obama's economic plan and on her new title:  Ambassador!   Dolly never disappoints!

Here's a video preview:  Dolly reacts to critics of Jessica Simpson on LKL!

Plus, Hollywood money maker Tyler Perry! The actor, producer, director, writer is a modern-day Renaissance man!  See what makes him tick!

Check out Dolly Parton's Exclusive LKL Blog Commentary on her new role as Ambassador and her Smokey Mountain memories HERE!

Filed under: Dolly Parton • Larry King Live